For half a century, KZSC Radio has uplifted UC Santa Cruz student voices — whether it be by promoting the community’s local bands and student-run organizations, or broadcasting their favorite music daily on the station’s various programming blocks. 

KZSC Radio held a gala on Oct. 19 at the Quarry Amphitheater to celebrate its 50th anniversary. From its conception, the radio station was student-run, originating independently out of the basement of Stevenson Dorm 2 under the name ‘KRUZ.’ In 1974, they officially acquired their Federal Communications Commission license with the help of the UC Regents, changing their name to KZSC and using the 88.1 FM station ID. 

In addition to keeping the station on the air for the last five decades, KZSC has also brought together the community in other aspects, both physically and audibly. From organizing annual spring festivals since 2003 to bring together the community and celebrate local musicianship, to broadcasting UCSC sports play-by-plays, and even helping DJs continue pursuing their passion during the pandemic, they go far beyond connecting with only radio listeners. 

The organization’s rich history has cemented itself as one of the biggest amplifiers of student voices on campus — both literally and figuratively — and often prioritizes sharing its platform with other smaller student-run organizations. 

“Student orgs have historically and traditionally been a really important way for folks to get exposure to all kinds of facets of personal experience … and I think that non-academic aspect of university experience is very valuable,” said KZSC Broadcast Advisor Richard Baldwin. “We put a call to all the student work on campus [when the event was initially planned] … we wanted to use every opportunity we have to be able to share with people that are interested in us to be interested in them, and vice versa.” 

Among the organizations KZSC invited to come table at the gala were student-run magazines Matchbox and Twanas, which distributed their latest issues to spread awareness of their organizations and attract new members. 

Karen Asakawa, the media design director with Matchbox Magazine, discussed the importance of solidarity between student-run organizations.

“Student organizations, especially media organizations, help us empower student voices,” Asakawa said. “In terms of having other media organizations with us, it makes us feel like we can leverage each other.” 

Aside from having student groups table at their events, KZSC uplifts local voices in the broader Santa Cruz community as well. At their gala, they shone a spotlight on two local bands, Starpower and Plum Skin, by having them provide entertainment. 

Established in 2022, Plum Skin, composed of UCSC students, is an alternative rock band with psychedelic elements. They mainly play in the Bay Area, having performed as a special guest with Hotel Fiction at the Catalyst later that same day.  

“I’m always listening to KZSC. It’s where I get so much music and inspiration and they say really good shit on there about [things] like Palestine and worldly events – that’s really fire,” said lead guitarist Lili Zheng with bassist Melina Ramos adding “They do so much for the community.”

Plum Skin’s Lili Zhang (left) and Mel Ramos (right) onstage at KZSC’s 50th Anniversary gala.

Plum Skin playing an original song by Milo Schechter, Melina Ramos, Lili Zheng, and Sarah Wild (left to right). You can find them on Spotify @PlumSkin

Events like the gala are just one outlet the radio station utilizes to help publicize up-and-coming bands in the area. Other means of promotion they use are the weekly program ‘Local Brew’ from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Sundays and occasional live interviews with the bands. 

Additionally, the station is testing a new series of ‘tiny couch concerts’, which derive inspiration from NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts, that have been hosted live, on-air at the KZSC station since spring quarter 2023. 

“We started doing live performances on-air called tiny couch concert and we did one last spring quarter with a band named Bonesio,” said KZSC Station Manager Aanya Shah. “From there, … through radio and through knowing a lot of people in music …. we started to know people in bands and through that we started asking people if they want to come sometime this year to do a live studio recording of their music and put it on-air.” 

KZSC’s 50th Anniversary Gala was more than an event celebrating the station’s milestone, but a culmination of the organization’s history of platforming, not only the student community on campus but the city of Santa Cruz as a whole. 

STARPOWER, a local Santa Cruz band, performing at the KZSC 50th Anniversary gala. They can be found on their Instagram, @strpwer

“Student organizations are the backbone of rock and roll,” said Crayton, the harmonicist for Starpower, one of the bands at the gala.