Live From KCR
SDSU's student-run radio station has been on campus since 1969.
Tucked away in the western wing of Hepner Hall resides San Diego State University's hidden gem for student broadcasting — KCR Radio.
It's a modest setup — the room the radio station operates out of is no larger than a standard dorm room, packed with equipment, cassette tapes and die-hard music fans. But what the station lacks in size, it makes up for in quality content programming, with shows ranging from underground hip-hop to live broadcasts of SDSU hockey games.
KCR's mission is to give SDSU’s aspiring disc jockeys, newscasters, sports broadcasters, radio personalities and other radio station personnel an opportunity to hone their skills and to serve the university and community through diverse, compelling content.
KCR history
KCR has been in continuous operation since 1969.
In the 1970s, the station focused on promoting underground, non-mainstream content, boasting, "If you hear it on commercial radio stations, you won't hear it here."
Original broadcasts took place over cable systems and on 1610 AM.
Considered one of the nation’s original college radio stations, KCR has always maintained the same mission — to deliver quality, unique broadcasting relevant to the campus community.
A non-traditional tradition
If you tune into the standard AM/FM radio waves, you won't find KCR.
Instead, the entirely student-run station broadcasts live online for the SDSU and greater San Diego community.
"Students can express themselves freely, and audiences get to experience the independence and creativity of a college radio station," said Olivia Hill, manager of KCR.
Hill, a senior studying television film and media, was hooked on KCR as a freshman. "As soon as I found out SDSU had a student-run station I knew I had to get involved," she said. "It's been a great experience ever since."
All shows are hosted by current students, with the exception of a few KCR alumni.
Bright futures
Because KCR is entirely student-run, students gain valuable experience creating content, operating the equipment, live broadcasting and running the station.
"We are students creating content for our fellow students," Hill said. "These are your peers and your friends running a radio station directed toward college students."
KCR boasts an impressive list of high-achieving alumni, including Bryan Scott and Lisa Tucker, who are Emmy-award winning producers; Emmy-award winning San Diego radio host and television reporter Ken Kramer; and Mort Marcus, a former executive of Miramax and Disney.
The students are constantly devising ways to drive traffic to the KCR website to increase listeners. Recent plans include interviewing musicians and creating a mobile application for easy access.
"Something I'm proud of is how much more professional KCR has become," Hill said. "Although the mission and goals of the station have stayed the same since the beginning, we've definitely come a long way."
