Students on their way to Riley's for a drink may walk right past the snug little building that houses Chico State's radio station, KCSC, and miss it if they blink, but the station won't go unnoticed this Sunday when listeners around the world will be able to rock out to KCSC by tuning into XM radio.
The student-run station started in 1951 as part of Chico State's speech and debate department, according to KCSCradio.com. Since then, it has changed and evolved into a commercial-free station that reaches out to listeners all over the world by broadcasting on the Internet. It was one of the first college radio stations to do so.
Production director and DJ Zeph Mattey crossed over from mainstream radio with an internship-turned-job from ZRock to KCSC about two years ago, he said.
"KCSC has gone through phases of broadcasting, from FM to cable only," Mattey said. "But we're sticking to the Internet now because as much as we're local, we are global."
Mattey's trip from FM to the Internet was a change in and of itself, he said.
"It's like apples and oranges, although that's cliche," Mattey said. "KCSC is great, there's more of a freedom of expression that you don't get from any FM stations in town."
KCSC broadcasts 50 shows a week from the cozy building on Fifth and Ivy streets, which dedicates half of its space to 20,000 CDs and records. The other half is flooded with indie band posters and radio equipment. The station's small but colorful space showcases art and expression oozes out of every corner.
Juan Gomez, also known as DJ Dr. Bones has been working with KCSC for almost three years, he said.
More than 80 students from all areas of study are involved in running the station, Gomez said. The station also serves on-campus organizations and other groups through public service announcements and speciality shows.
Specialty shows range from playing indie-rock favorites to underground hip-hop to talk shows. The station's overview on its Web site, KCSCradio.com, states clearly, "We don't play Britney Spears."
One show that has been a popular hit with fans is Plastic Cup Politics, hosted by Dr. Bones and DJ Skippy McSkipperson also known as Skipp Guadagnolo.
The two-hour music and talk show, which airs from 4 to 6 p.m. every Wednesday, focuses on playing conscious music and politically moved musicians who have meaningful lyrics, Gomez said.
There's always a vegetarian recipe of the week, too, Guadagnolo said.
The original concept of the show plays well with the eclectic style of KCSC.
Irma Rivera, RPM director and DJ for her show "Familiar Ground" featuring electronica music, named some bands that are favorites of the station.
"We play a variation of music," Rivera said. "Some bands like Hot Chip, Management and Vampire Weekend."
Those bands, along with others, will be streaming through the sound waves on channel XM 43 from 1 to 3 p.m. April 13.
This isn't the first time the station has made waves on XM. In February KCSC was chosen to guest spot on the weekly XMU show, "Student Exchange Program," which features college radio stations from around the country.
"It's great for us because people all over the world can listen to XM," Mattey said.
Anyone who doesn't pay for radio can log on to XMradio.com for a trial membership to hear Chico's own, live on air, Rivera said.
For an opportunity with such big exposure, some would get nervous, but not these college pros, Gomez said.
"We're all like family here," he said. "We all hang out when we're not at the station, even though we're all from different walks of life."
Guadagnolo won't be breaking a sweat either, he said.
"It's like talking to my buddies when I'm doing the shows," Guadagnolo said.
As for what KCSC will bring to the table, the station's freedom of expression is obvious.
"It's night and day from FM," Mattey said. "People can tune in to us and hear something other than corporate radio and something that is different from anything else."
To hear the diverse sounds of KCSC radio visit KCSCradio.com, view its MySpace page or check it out on iTunes under eclectic and alternative music.
Emily Whitehead can be reached at ewhitehead@theorion.com
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