KSQD 90.7 FM, your community radio station in Santa Cruz, launches its capital campaign on October 1st during its on-air fall pledge drive, with the goal of acquiring two new radio licenses to broadcast at 89.7 and 89.5 on the FM dial. The new frequencies, broadcasting from Fremont Peak and Mt. Toro respectively, will triple the station’s audience reach to the communities of Watsonville, Hollister, Prunedale,Monterey, Carmel, Salinas and beyond.
Natural Bridges Media, has entered into an agreement with Educational Media Foundation (EMF) to purchase the F.C.C. licenses. The station broadcasts a variety of locally-focused news and cultural programs, as well as syndicated shows like Democracy Now! and Thom Hartmann. It plans on including new programs from members of the public in the newly-reached communities.
KSQD, which launched in 2019, has raised over 70% of its capital campaign goal of $400,000, with contributions from the Rex Foundation (The Grateful Dead’s Family Foundation), the Kaphan Foundation, Rowland and Pat Rebele, and many more. The station seeks to raise the remaining funds between now and January. In addition, KSQD has a goal of raising $35,000 to operate 90.7 FM during its upcoming pledge drive. Once the purchase is made, the licenses will transfer owners from EMF to Natural Bridges Media. Broadcasting on the new channels is expected to begin spring of 2023.
KSQD, “K-Squid”, has been instrumental in reporting essential community information during fires, pandemics, and floods since going on the air in 2019. K-Squid will celebrate its 4th birthday on February 15, 2023. Natural Brdiges Media is operated by a board of 9 local leaders. 120 KSQD volunteers present locally-curated music shows and over 27 original talk shows, including Ask Dr Dawn, Talk of the Bay, Be Bold America, In The Garden, The Dream Journal, Katz On Dogs, The Computer Man Show, and the award-winning, The Kitchen Sisters. Music shows include Jazz, Folk, Bluegrass, Hawaiian, Brazilian, Celtic, Classical, Opera, Gospel, The Grateful Dead Zone, and lots of Rhythm, Blues, Funk and Reggae on the weekend.
KSQD 90.7FM is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit community broadcast station with studios located at 399 Encinal Street in Santa Cruz, California, broadcasting on a 24/7 basis. The mission of Natural Bridges Media/KSQD is to build community through quality broadcasts, podcasts, training programs and community events. We celebrate the uniqueness of our region through news, arts, and culturally diverse programming.
To make a donation to the capital campaign, make a donation here or mail your pledge form to KSQD, P.O. Box 5551, Santa Cruz, CA 95063 All pledges to the capital campaign will be called in within a week of KSQD reaching its goal of $400,000.
