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> About Us > Station History > The History of Classical KUSC

The History of Classical KUSC

Classical KUSC began life on October 24, 1946, as a student station broadcasting from the University of Southern California campus. A generous gift from a U.S.C. alumnus, Captain Allan Hancock, made it possible. The FM band was so new that the station identified itself as ‘Frequency Modulated KUSC Radio.’ The broadcast day included a 9 a.m. morning chapel service.

In the early 1970’s, KUSC became part of the new National Public Radio system, going from a student operation to a station serving the community with a professional staff. On April 1st, 1973, a new classical music format was adopted.

Service to Los Angeles is expanded with a new transmitter on Mt. Harvard. Service to Southern California expands with the addition of transmitters in Thousand Oaks, Santa Barbara, Palm Springs, and Santa Clarita. Digital broadcasting begins in 2003. Internet broadcasting brings KUSC’s classical service to the world.

Classical KUSC continues its service to the community with concert broadcasts from the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Los Angles Chamber Orchestra, the Pacific Symphony and the Master-Chorale. It serves the nation with limited programming produced for the C-24 Classical Music Network by American Public Media.

Historical Timeline
1946	Classical KUSC begins operating as a student station.

1949	KUSC student broadcasters inaugurate a 14-hour broadcast day with 9 a.m. Morning Chapel service.

1953	KUSC conduct 9-month experiment in television broadcasting as KTHE-TV, channel 28.

1960s	Student managers Doug Peck and Doug Culver initiate an eclectic format of USC athletics and underground rock.

1971	The Corporation for Public Broadcasting offers a small grant which allows the University of Southern California to hire full-time staff for KUSC and become eligible to broadcast the programming of the newly-founded National Public Radio.

1972	Dr. Wallace A. Smith is hired as the first full-time salaried general manager.

1973	New classical music format greets Los Angeles on April Fools Day. In the fall, Abram Chasins, former music director of the New York Times WQXR, is appointed artistic director.

1976	KUSC signs on in stereo from its new transmitter on Lookout Mountain. Full-time, professional announcers, producers and engineers now staff studios and production facilities on Hope Street.

1977	KUSC's begins fundraising on air.

1980	KUSC is the first public radio station in Southern California to acquire an up-link satellite earth station. Decentralization of public radio programming for NPR system begins.

1982	George Lucas gives KUSC radio rights to "Star Wars" and it is produced for NPR. University of Southern California acquires a second radio station KCPB which is licensed to Thousand Oaks, serving Ventura County.

1983	KUSC assumes leadership in the founding and development of the new American Public Radio network.

1984	KUSC becomes a "superstation" by acquiring two stereo channels on an earth-orbiting satellite and broadcasting the Olympic Arts Festival and New Music LA live to the nation.

1985	The University of Southern California is licensed to build and operate its third radio station KSCA Santa Barbara.

1987	KUSC signs on from a new transmitting facility on Flint Peak high above Pasadena. With power boosted to 25,000 watts, KUSC reaches new audiences to the east and south, more than doubling its potential listenership.

1988	The University is granted a license to construct a new station to serve desert communities. Construction begun on KPSC, Palm Springs. USC Radio established upon the return of Wallace Smith from an 11-month sojourn as Vice President of Radio at WNYC Communications in New York City. The media and entertainment group has responsibilities for the four USC licensed radio stations. Smith is named President of USC Radio and General Manager of KUSC-FM.

1989	KSCA renamed KFAC, as commercial classical station KFAC goes off the air. KUSC doubles its audience and becomes first public radio station in America to surpass the 500,000 listener mark. KPSC Palm Springs signs on. KUSC introduces "new sound of classical music" in response to changing technologies, demographics and audience use of radio.

1990	USC Radio acquires sole production responsibility for top-rated nationally distributed business news show Marketplace and builds new studios to house the production team.

1992	USC Radio Kids Club introduced. Marketplace morning modules introduced.

1993	January, new state-of-the-art on-air broadcast facility was inaugurated. April, after nearly two decades of effort, the KUSC transmitter was relocated to Mt. Harvard, enabling the station to provide full broadcast service to its listeners from a premiere mountain top location.

1996	KUSC returns to classical focus.

1997	Brenda Pennell (Barnes) hired as general manager.

1999	Studio upgrades to digital equipment completed.

2000	Ownership of Marketplace Productions is transferred to Minnesota Public Radio. USC retains its name association with Marketplace and Savvy Traveler in the foreseeable future in its opening credits. April - a new antenna and transmitter are installed at a recently constructed transmission facility on top of Mount Harvard. KUSC goes on air with its increased, newly licensed 39,000 watts signal. Support for this project was provided by the Ahmanson Foundation, the Parsons Foundation and the Rose Hills Foundation.

2001	KUSC moves studios and offices to 21st, 20th and 19th floors of Manulife Building located at Fifth and Figueroa in Downtown Los Angeles. KUSC begins airing one-minute arts reports daily at 9:00, 1:00 and 5:00. The KUSC Board of Councilors is formed to help guide the station's strategic planning. The initial members of the board are Robert F. Erburu and William E.B. Siart along with co-chairs Frank Cruz, Robert Attiyeh and Martha Harris.

2002	KUSC begins producing Los Angeles Philharmonic concerts for broadcast. The concert broadcasts are also distributed nationally. 200 stations carry the programs in the first season.

2003	KPSC, Palm Springs; KFAC, Santa Barbara and KCPB, Thousand Oaks become the first radio stations in each of those communities to begin digital broadcasting.

2004	KUSC becomes one of the first stations in Los Angeles to begin digital broadcasting. Call letters for two stations are changed: KCPB in Thousand Oaks becomes KDSC KFAC in Santa Barbara becomes KQSC

2007	In February, KUSC becomes the only full-time FM station for Classical music in the Los Angeles area, as KMZT moves to AM radio.

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