KCPR

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KCPR is a non-profit freeform college radio station at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), San Luis Obispo, California. Its operating frequency is 91.3 MHz FM and covers approximately a 50 mile radius from San Luis Obispo.

[edit] History

KCPR started as a senior project and went on air in 1968. The first words over the air were "Is this the damn switch?" The station remained mostly an experiment until 1976 when major upgrades to the control room and the station began airing in stereo. To fund the upgrades a live auction was held over air in which listeners called in and placed bids on donated items. Since then the live auction has been the station's main source of funding. In the 1970s the station played mostly Top 40 but gradually shifted to the primarily freeform format that it uses today, running on the idea that "if it's heard elsewhere, why play it?" as the antithesis of the prior Top 40 format.

[edit] General Information

KCPR is a non-profit organization run by an all volunteer staff of DJs. The station is located in the Graphic Arts building on the Cal Poly campus. The antenna is actually a telephone pole rigged up on a low-lying hill, shared by another local station. If you see something that looks like a proper antenna, the KCPR pole is just below that. Due to the antenna location, the broadcast area doesn't reach far north, and gets stopped in the Pismo Beach area by low-lying hills. The reception continues south, and can be heard as far south as Santa Maria. There is a pending antenna move that should boost the signal area greatly, but that is currently in the works.

In radio, KCPR is among the last stations in the country to be run by live DJs the vast majority of the time. There are a few re-broadcast shows, including MaximumRockNRoll Radio, Democracy Now! and the New York Met Opera, as well as spots of Otto (the station's automated music player). There are two types of shows that air on the radio station: regular format shows and special format shows. The station schedule changes every academic quarter (lasting 10 to 11 weeks). Some shows stay in the same timeslot for years, while others move quarterly.

[edit] Regular Format

The regular format shows cover a variety of musical styles. DJs who have regular format shows play new music that is added to the station every week, and their plays are charted through College Music Journal (CMJ). A regular format show thus consists of selections from our new releases (minimum of six per hour) and the DJs choice of any music the station has previously added since 1968. This often provides for an eclectic listening experience that is the unofficial mark of a College station.

[edit] Special Format

Special format shows focus on a particular genre of music or music from a specific period. Special format shows include everything from country western (Burnt Dog Rodeo) to house and club music (Club 91) to 90s R&B pop classics (Ride My Pony). The lifespan of special format shows varies greatly, with some shows lasting one quarter, while others have lasted up to a decade. In the latter case, it is common for the show to go through a number of different hosts.

[edit] The Disc Jockeys

KCPR's DJs are a fun loving crew of students and town residents living in San Luis Obispo. KCPR DJs hand pick songs from a vast collection of Compact disc and vinyl records, operating on the CD players, turntables, mixer and a MiniDisc player during their own show. The DJs not only host radio shows but they also run the station's daily affairs. This includes fund raising, music selection, and organizing concerts. DJs from the stations are also hired to DJ at local parties and social events. Oftentimes the station holds its own dance parties which usually have a wild theme. This year KCPR has had a mustache party, a future party, and even a Roald Dahl-themed party.

[edit] External links

• KCPR's official web site
• KCPR from 1975 to 1977