KVSC

KVSC

St. Cloud, Minnesota
Frequency	88.1 MHz (HD Radio)
Branding	KVSC, Your Sound Alternative
Programming
Format	College/Eclectic
Subchannels	HD2: KVEX-LP simulcast (Classic Alternative Rock) HD3: Jazz HD4: The Ice (Hip Hop)
Affiliations	AMPERS
Ownership
Owner	St. Cloud State University
Sister stations	KVEX-LP
History
First air date	May 10, 1967
Call sign meaning	The Voice of St. Cloud
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	62112
Class	C2
ERP	16,500 watts
HAAT	136 m (446 ft)
Repeater(s)	89.9-3 KMOJ-HD3 (Minneapolis-St. Paul)
Links
Public license information	Public file LMS
Webcast	Listen Live
Website	kvsc.org

KVSC (88.1 FM) is a non-commercial college radio station in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. The station is operated by St. Cloud State University (SCSU). KVSC-FM is run by a combination of student employees and community volunteers, broadcasting an eclectic range of music with an emphasis on modern alternative and indie rock. KVSC is well known for its annual 50-hour trivia competition. KVSC is a charter member of AMPERS (The Association of Minnesota Public and Educational Radio Stations).

Prior to KVSC's creation, St. Cloud State University students had no on-campus radio broadcasting opportunities. The university's first foray into radio started in 1960 with the formation of SCSU's Radio Guild. The Guild pre-produced programming in university studios for later broadcasting on WJON (1240 AM), but their members began wanting to develop programming that didn't fit the station's Sunday evening campus show. Due to increasing interest from the student population, it was decided that there was a significant need for St. Cloud State University to have it's own radio broadcast facility - and KVSC was developed.^[2]

KVSC first began broadcasting at 88.5 MHz operations as a 10-watt, Class D broadcast facility on May 10, 1967.^[3] The call letters were selected to signify that the station would serve as The Voice of Saint Cloud. The station was financed by the student activity fees and the Mass Communications department, required minimal funding outside of equipment acquisition and repair. KVSC initially only broadcast with limited hours during the school year - with the station's music format being predominantly classical.^[4] By the mid-1970s, KVSC had transitioned to a progressive rock radio format - with smaller percentages of folk and jazz sprinkled in.

On numerous occasions throughout the 1970s, KVSC to increase its broadcast power. After securing approval in 1981. KVSC officially moved down the dial to 88.1 MHz and increased power to 5,200 watts on February 8, 1983. KVSC was amended to a radio class C2 operation, and licensed to operate 20 hours per day. Unfortunately, broadcasting at this new level caused interference with local television reception. Just over one month after the long-awaited increase, St. Cloud State University voluntarily elected to reduce KVSC's output power to 1,300 watts until a more permanent solution to this interference could be found.^[5]

In 1983, KVSC rebranded itself as "Your Sound Alternative" due to their giving significant coverage of the burgeoning college rock scene. However, In June 1984, student directors elected to change KVSC to a Top 40 "hit radio" format. During this period, KVSC lost its unique listener appeal and experienced numerous staffing changes. In the spring of 1985, university administration made the decision to override the student directors' decision and revert KVSC's format back to alternative.^[6]

During the summer of 1986, the university administration approved the institution of KVSC's first full-time paid staff position. Kevin Ridley was a graduate of SCSU's Mass Communications program. He took on the position of Station Manager, acting as a full-time liaison between the university administration and the KVSC staff from 1986 to 1991. He was succeeded by Jo McMullen-Boyer, another graduate of the Mass Communications program at SCSU.^[7] During her tenure, KVSC began broadcasting 24 hours a day in 1994 - a practice that has continued through the present. McMullen-Boyer retired from her position in 2023. The current Station Manager is Dan Seeger.^[8]

KVSC broadcasts with a power of 16,500 watts with an approximate listening radius of 70 miles, reaching Stearns, Benton, Sherburne, Wright, Meeker, Kandiyohi, Todd, Morrison, Mille Lacs, Kanabec, and Isanti Counties. The station's frequency is 88.1 MHz - which has resulted in the station's secondary tag line, "The Farthest Left on Your FM Dial." Its transmitter is located near Highway 15 and Interstate 94 south of St. Cloud proper.^[9] In addition to a standard analog transmission, KVSC simulcasts to the Twin Cities metropolitan area via the third HD Radio digital subchannel of KMOJ 89.9 and streams online via the TuneIn app.^[10][11] KVSC began broadcasting its radio signal on the Internet in October 1999.

KVSC's general programming blocks consist of an eclectic blend of alternative and indie rock - with significant airplay being given to Americana, indie pop, alt-country and local Minnesota artists. The station also has an eclectic roster of specialty programs that specialize in playing specific genres.^[12] Notable examples include Frets (folk and bluegrass), Thrivin' on a Riff (jazz) and Urban Invasion (hip hop).^[13] KVSC has also historically carried syndicated shows such as Live on KEXP and numerous programs produced by Koahnic Broadcast Corporation (Native Voice One).

KVSC has aired a wide variety of news and journalistic programming, which has included coverage of local events (such as the Minnesota State Fair), interviews with local artists, and live broadcasts of St. Cloud State University sporting events.^[14] Notable programming has included An Unbroken Chain, a twelve-part series recounted by Holocaust survivor Henry Oertelt (based on his 2000 memoir of the same name), and the ongoing Untold Stories of Central MN series.^[15] KVSC has also aired special programming prepared outside of St. Cloud, including a docudrama program regarding the Duluth lynchings in the 1920s.^[16] Notable alumni include Dick Bremer, Gwen Flanders (USA Today), Jill Riley (89.3 The Current), and Rob Callahan (City Pages).^[17]

Monday Night Live is a weekly, hour-long live music program that airs during KVSC's Monday local music programming block. The show, which began in the late 1980s, features a combination of performances and artist interviews. Produced by KVSC and UTVS members during the academic year, the program has featured a wide array of Minnesota artists including Semisonic (then performing under the name Pleasure), Trampled by Turtles, Low, Remo Drive, Motion City Soundtrack, 12 Rods, Cloud Cult, Bad Bad Hats, Charlie Parr, The Soviettes, Dosh, and Durry - as well as the occasional non-local artist such as The Dismemberment Plan.^[18] While the majority of programs have historically been broadcast directly from KVSC's location in Stewart Hall, Monday Night Live has also been hosted by The Pioneer Place on Fifth in downtown St. Cloud and SCSU's Ritsche Auditorium. This version of the program (MNL On The Road) has featured artists such as Jonny Lang and Vial performing in front of a live audience.

Granite City Radio Theatre is a old-time-style radio/theater show that has been airing on KVSC since 2012.^[19] The program, broadcast four times per year, features local actors performing a variety of comedic material complemented with live music provided by the house band, Collective Unconscious. The show has featured Gary Louris, Jeremy Messersmith, and Dessa as guest performers.^[20]

KVSC's annual Trivia Weekend began in 1980 with 50 participating teams as a way to entertain students in the residence halls on campus.^[21][22][23] The contest took place over 50 continuous hours during the month of February. Beginning with 1983's E.T. Trivia (Extraterrestrial Trivia), the competition started theming their weekends. Membership hit a high with 80 teams in 2007 for Trivia 28: Around the World in 50 Hours. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, an abbreviated version of the competition, Trivia 41.5: U Can't Touch This, took place in April 2020 - with a record 102 teams participating.^[24] Starting in 2021, KVSC's Trivia Weekend elected not to read questions during the overnight hours of 2-6 am, instead assigning overnight homework that would count towards the final score. The contest is staffed by volunteers and sponsored by local businesses. It is also KVSC's biggest annual alumni event.

The station carries four HD-subchannels. HD-2 is a simulcast of KVSC's sister station, KVEX-LP (RadioX), which specializes in playing classic alternative rock. HD-3 is a simulcast of Jazz24, an online jazz station based out of Seattle. HD-4 is a simulcast of KMOJ HD-2 (The Ice), a hip hop format subchannel.^[25]

• Campus radio
• List of college radio stations in the United States

• KVSC Official Web Site
• Facebook Fan Page
• Official Twitter Page
• Official Myspace Page
• Facility details for Facility ID 62112 (KVSC) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
• KVSC in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
• Trivia 2008 Final Scores
• KVSC Trivia Theme History
• Featuring an aircheck of 1st Trivia Weekend (1980) including announcement of winners plus an interview with Tom & Harry Chapin from 1980.

45°31′01″N 94°13′52″W / 45.517°N 94.231°W / 45.517; -94.231