More than 200 participants from across California joined LMU KXLU-FM in a day dedicated to celebrating college radio culture, learning from each other’s practices and professionals in the field, as well as building connections between the various stations. The University of California Radio Network (UCRN) brought together music enthusiasts and radio personalities who got their chance to step outside of their usual communities and take the day to engage with and embrace fellow collegiate disc jockeys.
The typically biannual conference hasn’t happened since the last time LMU hosted in 2019, due to pandemic. Now back in full force, participants were greeted on Nov. 4, 2023, with specially designed tote bags, breakfast, and a tour of the LMU KXLU-FM station. The radio stations represented were: KXSC from USC; UCLA Radio; UCI 88.9 from UC Irvine; KSPC 88.7 from Claremont/Pomona; KDVS 90.3 from UC Davis; KZSC 88.1 from UC Santa Cruz; KRFH 105.1 from Cal Poly Humboldt; KCPR 91.3 from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo; KCSB 91.9 from UC Santa Barbara; KUCR 88.3 from UC Riverside; KALX 90.7 from UC Berkeley; and KSDT from UC San Diego. The participants engaged in a day full of workshops, panels, and presentations.
LMU radio includes KLMU, an exclusively online radio station, and KXLU, the FM channel. KLMU offers listeners access to playlists and live-streamed music and serves as an entry point for new DJs to get their footing. LMU KXLU-FM is one of the world’s longest-running college radio stations; it has been running for almost 67 years, since 1957.
Three sessions were during the day, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., were tailored to address participant interests. Session 1 offered “Finding Your Frequency,” where panelists spoke about finding your on-air personality; and “Creating DIY Promotional Materials,” where the Living Room was filled with button makers, customizable stickers and a screen-printing station with UCRN-specific designs. Session 2 included “Training Students and Volunteers,” where students were advised on how to train their peers; “Community-Driven Events,” where speakers discussed the power in community events, and “Professor Hu$$le,” an in-depth look by Mitchell Hamilton, marketing professor at LMU, who shared his story about how Grammy-award winning musician Nipsey Hussle was set to be an adjunct business professor at the institution. Session 3 looked at “From College Radio DJ to Music Supervisor,” and “Life After College Radio.”
The KUCR panel on “Media and Democracy” was canceled because the panelists were assigned to cover the Israel-Palestine crisis. As it happened, the LMU Journalism Department was hosting a journalism seminar nearby organized by the Radio Television News Association of Southern California and invited UCRN participants to sit in. A handful of people attended who were interested in news and sports broadcasting.
Following the last session came a keynote presentation from Joel C. High, a music supervisor, producer, and current president of the Guild of Music Supervisors. He shared his insights about the music industry and college radio’s vitality.
