On June 11, 1935 in Alpine, N.J., Columbia University professor Edwin H. Armstrong gave the first public demonstration of his invention, Frequency Modulation, to a skeptical audience of radio engineers. From Armstrong’s peculiar FM receiver, attendees heard live music with remarkable clarity without the static familiar to listeners of Amplitude Modulation (AM) radio.
According to reports, however, “they refused to believe what they had heard.” FM radio threatened the existing AM industry and faced extensive pushback and legal attacks. Not only did the Federal Communications Commission initially refuse to give Armstrong a license for FM, his own father denied his son’s request for $150 to cover the cost of patenting the invention.
FM technology, so much better than AM, seemed doomed until the late 1960s. Eventually, two other pioneers of radio recognized FM’s promise, long before FM broadcast licenses became immensely valuable commercial properties. Pacifist writer Lewis Hill envisioned a type of station funded not by advertising, but by listener subscriptions. In the 1960s and 70s, Hill’s Pacifica Foundation established non-commercial FM stations in Los Angeles and other cities - including Houston, where local Ku Klux Klan members twice bombed station KPFT off the air. The station recently celebrated its 55th birthday.
Inspired by Hill’s example of antiwar broadcasting, Lorenzo Wilson Milam tried to start a Pacifica FM station in Washington D.C. After lengthy FCC delays, the commission denied Pacifica any more licenses, believing the left-leaning foundation to be a Communist cabal.
Undeterred, Milam successfully started station KRAB in Seattle, launching the modern era of independent, non-commercial, non-university FM radio stations - supported not by the usual ads for jewelers, furniture stores and car dealers, but by donations from the communities they serve. Dozens of such stations took to the air in the following years. After techno-political struggles of the 90s recounted in our June 1 column - the FCC permitted an additional category of non-commercial low-power FM (LPFM) stations where none had been allowed before. KZSM 104.1 is one of those latest generations of LPFM stations, broadcasting the voices of the community in music and conversation, online at KZSM.org as well as onair. KZSM is bent on expansion, moving to a new tower and increasing broadcast power to make reception easier across the city.
You can help with your volunteer involvement and financial support. Visit our newly refreshed website at kzsm.org
SUNDAY
12:30 P.M. – 1 P.M.
KZSM Kids - Kali Rose KB
3 P.M. – 4 P.M.
Big Up Reggae - Lady K
5 P.M. – 7 P.M.
Revolving Door - Rob Roark 7 P.M. – 8 P.M.
Raices - Cathy Lara 8 P.M. – 9 P.M.
Musica con Ganas - El Tío 11 P.M. – 1 A.M.
Sundays Free with JJB Justin James Bridges
MONDAY 9 A.M. – 10 A.M.
Democracy Now! - Amy Goodman & Juan Gonzales 11 A.M. – NOON
Freethought Radio (Recorded) - Dan Barker & Annie Laurie Gaylor
NOON – 1 P.M.
Veterans Hour - Diesel Dee
1 P.M –2 P.M.
Make Believe Ballroom (Recorded) - Jeff Bressler 2 P.M – 3 P.M.
Dance Time in Texas (Recorded) - DJ Mike 4 P.M. – 6 P.M.
Sid’s Place (Recorded) - Sid Braverman
8 P.M. – 9 P.M.
Searching for the First Rock and Roll Song (Recorded) - Jamie Dell’Apa 9 P.M. – 10 P.M.
The Mop Tops & the King (Recorded) Steve Chelmsford 10 P.M. – MIDNIGHT Vinyl Confessions - The Wiz
TUESDAY 9 A.M. – 10 A.M.
Democracy Now! (Recorded) - Amy Goodman & Juan Gonzales 10:30 A.M. – 11 A.M.
Choose to be Curious - Lynn Borton 11 A.M. – 11:30 A.M.
Mothering Earth (1st, 2nd & 3rd Tuesday) - Salwa Khan
11:30 A.M. – NOON
Come Heck or Hot Water (1st Tuesday) - Meadows Center Wonderful World (2nd & 4th Tuesday) - Dianne Wassenich San Marcos In Focus (3rd Tuesday) - Rob Roark
NOON – 4 P.M.
PRX Remix (Recorded)
4 P.M. – 5 P.M.
Bookmarked – Priscilla & Guests 8 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Smooth Honey Bear Blues - Jim Wagner
WEDNESDAY 9 A.M. – 10 A.M.
Democracy Now! (Recorded) - Amy Goodman & Juan Gonzales NOON – 3 P.M.
Open Door - Rob Roark 3 P.M. – 4 P.M.
Big 80s Radio (Recorded) - Star 4 P.M. – 6 P.M.
The Henry Invisible Show (Recorded)- Henry Invisible 7 P.M. – 9 P.M.
It’s What’s New - KZSM Staff 9 P.M. – 10 P.M.
Eclectic Mind of an Earthmen - Lanny Smith THURSDAY 9 A.M. – 10 A.M.
Democracy Now! (Recorded) - Amy Goodman & Juan Gonzales 11 A.M. – NOON
Aging Matters (Recorded) - Cheryl Beversdorf NOON – 2 P.M.
Open Door - Rob Roark 3 P.M. – 4 P.M.
Uncharted Frequencies - Mitchell Blair
5:30 P.M. – 6 P.M.
(2nd Thursday) Downtown Discoveries - Jovan Marin 6 P.M. –7 P.M.
Wax Static - Syd the Kid 10 P.M. – MIDNIGHT
Metal Mark Live - Metal Mark
FRIDAY
9 A.M. – 10 A.M.
Democracy Now! (Recorded) - Amy Goodman & Juan Gonzales 10 A.M. – NOON
Into the Gray - Ray Howard NOON – 2 P.M.
Texas Highway 261 - Jason Woolery 3 P.M. – 4 P.M.
Science Stories (every other Friday) - Mateo Garcia
7 P.M. – 8 P.M.
We the People - Rob Roark
9 P.M. – 10 P.M.
Viva La Ronny - Ronny & Joey
10:30 P.M. – MIDNIGHT
The Eternal Beat - Thomas Jaramillo SATURDAY 11 A.M. – NOON
The Blitz - Damian & Guests NOON – 2 P.M.
Celtic Corner (Recorded) - Limey’s Lass 10 P.M. – 11 P.M.
The Lit Mix (Recorded) - Lovely Jaycee
SAN MARCOS COMMUNITY RADIO
This schedule is subject to change throughout the month.
104.1 FM | KZSM.org
