LA’s sparkling classical radio station KUSC has been bucking trends for a while now, and I’m happy to report that they’ve bucked another one, to the benefit of central California. While everyone else is cutting costs, KUSC has gone out on a limb and bought another station. We reported back in October that KUSC would be expanding their signal. Because of legal complications, that particular transaction fell through, but now the station has purchased KESC in Morro Bay for $1.2 million.
KUSC General Manager Brenda Barnes was interviewed by the L.A. Times for a story in yesterday’s paper.
The decision to expand was motivated by several factors, Barnes said: There was no other full-time classical station in the area, a lot of former L.A.-area residents who are familiar with KUSC have moved to the central coast to retire, and new listeners means potential new financial donors.
“We believe the investment will pay for itself over time,” she said.
You can now listen to KUSC in Palm Springs, Santa Barbara, Thousand Oaks, and San Luis Obispo. You can also hear the station in parts of San Diego with a good receiver.
Bravo, you guys. You’re an inspiration!
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I am a fan of Brenda Barnes. I was a member of KUSC, maybe the only New Jersey member? Because we had lost daytime music at WNYC.
(see http://www.gregsandow.com/WNYC_cuts.htm)
When I was a member, Brenda was always generous to me with her time, answering my screeds and diatribes about what KUSC should be doing in New Music, where their only entry is Alan Chapman’s “Modern Times” on Saturday nights 10:00PM – Midnight.
Since the advent of wnyc2, that is where all of my member dollars go; but Brenda still answers my email.
I really wish KUSC only the best.
Brenda gets it when she recognizes that “…new listeners means potential new financial donors….”
US$1.2 million is quite a price tag. I wonder if they might have tried a campaign to get internet listeners and members. Brenda is familiar with what goes on at WCPE, Winston-Salem, where their signal goes out beyond all reason, and outlying listeners do financially support the station proportionally to local members.
Please visit my weblog, “Whither Public Radio and serious music at http://richardmitnick.wordpress.com
Marty,
Thank you so much for your kind words. We are very excited to expand to the central coast and we plan to keep bucking the trends.
Brenda
Keep Bucking, Brenda! Someone’s got to!