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Student radio at UCLA was born in 1962, in the basement of Dykstra Hall. The sixties had not fully begun to swing, but youth culture was on the rise. As the buttoned-down 1950s faded, clothing and hair styles were becoming more adventurous and the airwaves hummed with pop music. DJs on KBRU — as the station was then called — played everything from “Surfin’ Safari” by the Beach Boys to “The Loco-Motion” by Little Eva, as well as the debut album by an up-and-coming unknown called Bob Dylan.
More than six decades later, UCLA Radio remains a cultural force on campus. The station now broadcasts online from studios in Ackerman Union. Despite many changes in musical genres and audio technology, UCLA Radio is proud to be a place where students come together to create non-commercial, listener-supported programming.
Today, UCLA Radio has more than 150 volunteers and is home to a weekly lineup of 125 programs enjoyed by hundreds of listeners every week. Live radio shows cover topics ranging from sports, travel, relationship advice and social justice to the history of recorded sound, concept albums and songs by undiscovered artists. Meanwhile, the station explores L.A.’s rich and varied music scene through events, concert reviews, a blog and partnerships with other local organizations.
Like other non-commercial radio stations, UCLA Radio depends on listener support to cover much of its budget. Spring of 2024 saw the return of the organization’s pledge drive, which ran on the university’s crowdfunding site Spark (now called UCLA Crowdfunding).
A boost for broadcasting Bruins
The organizers of the crowdfunding campaign hoped to meet a number of needs at the station. “It’s no secret that broadcast hardware is expensive,” says UCLA Radio’s Fundraising Manager Luna M. “We take good care of the equipment that we have, but we’ve put off buying new items for many years. That’s limited the number of members of a band who could perform, due to not having enough microphones or even simply not having enough stools in the studio.”
UCLA Radio set a target of $7,500 for its campaign. Organizers were delighted when donors — a mix of students, parents, alumni and community members — came through with nearly $12,000 in philanthropic support. Nearly two thirds of these gifts (63 percent) were sums of under $100, highlighting the grassroots nature of the endeavor.
This generosity made possible a number of important upgrades, including three brand new microphones and a public address speaker. These will allow the station to host shows and other live events, musical and otherwise.
Gifts also helped renew the station’s physical spaces, updating the common area with new furniture and lighting. Station managers hope that all the additions and improvements will allow the station to raise its game and bring in new talent, both on air and behind the scenes.
An active and expanding community
UCLA Radio plans to keep venturing into new areas, broadening the range of voices that it is able to amplify. The programming department aims to expand shows beyond just volunteer members, having been able to attract different clubs to appear on air, as well as inviting professors to host their own shows.
With more than 70 hours of live programming each week, UCLA Radio is more than just a broadcasting hub. Across its 12 departments, students engage in event planning, music journalism, graphic design, website development and more. Even in the internet age, donor-supported student radio is bringing the campus community together, entertaining and informing listeners while helping people from all backgrounds to develop their skills, pursue their passions and showcase their talents.
Visit UCLA Radio to learn more, contact the station or listen online.
