In last Wednesday’s (2/12) Los Angeles Times, Stephen Battaglio writes, “Los Angeles will soon be sharing its venerable classical music radio station KUSC with San Francisco. Starting this summer, KUSC and the Bay Area’s KDFC will combine their programming and on-air staffs. Both USC-owned stations will present their broadcasts in a single audio feed under the moniker Classical California, which has been used in their branding for the last three years…. KUSC has been synonymous with classical music in Los Angeles since it was founded in 1947. USC acquired KDFC in 2011. James Muhammad, president of Classical California, the nonprofit entity that operates both stations … said the announcer staffs on KUSC and KFDC will be retained and continue to broadcast from their studios in downtown Los Angeles and San Francisco’s Civic Center…. KUSC’s programming is heard on stations in Oxnard, Palm Springs, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo. KDFC is also heard on stations in Ukiah, Monterey, Silicon Valley and Napa Valley. Muhammad said the merger … will help provide resources for expansion…. Like other radio stations, Classical California has used streaming audio channels on its website to provide more niche musical programming … Beyond playing music, classical radio stations serve as a connection to fine arts institutions such as opera companies and symphony orchestras.”
