The close of 2025 marks the end of our second year of broadcasting as KZSM 104.1 LPFM and the end of our ninth year of livestreaming at KZSM.org. During that year, we debuted 15 new shows that demonstrate the range of our mission to engage, enlighten, and entertain listeners with programming celebrating the rich diversity of our community.
We proudly broadcast the many voices of our community — whether they’re performing music or discussing issues relevant to our residents. Now, we are adding voices from across the globe — voices that might not be heard anywhere else. For example, we began airing “Democracy Now” (9-10 a.m. Monday through Friday), a daily, global, independent news hour anchored by award-winning journalists Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez. Along with this in-depth news show, we offer “Aging Matters” (11 a.m. Thursdays) also from the venerable Pacifica Network, addressing the growing population of retirees in our community.
Broadcasts with a global and national perspective populate our schedule side by side with unique, locally generated programming. We’ve expanded our ever-widening range of music into the realm of hip-hop and beyond with “Unsigned Hype” (Saturday-Sunday 11 p.m.-1 a.m.) Hosts WestCoast Bang’n (Alaine Mobley Jr.) and Nicki Steals play all genres of music but specialize in old school hip hop and unsigned underground artists.
Like “Unsigned Hype,” our music shows express the unique vision of their hosts. Another new addition is “The Lit Mix” (Saturdays 10-11 p.m.). Host Lovely Jaycee (Javousaime Varela) hopes to introduce listeners to her eclectic taste and personal favorites, blending trendy hits with the underground tracks that defined her early years of collecting and mixing undiscovered music.
These broadcasts exemplify the range of our new 2025 shows — I don’t have the space to discuss them all. In future columns, I’ll introduce a new jazz show, a show celebrating KIND radio, and a radio tour of virtual dive bars.
We at KZSM have much to look forward to in the coming year, beginning with the San Marcos Music Awards. Starting January 1, go to KZSM.org to vote, and join us for the gala ceremony January 30 at the Price Center. Also next year, we will move our transmitter and expand our signal to some 40,000 more listeners, including you.
We are grateful to everyone who has listened, volunteered, and donated during 2025, and we wish you all the best for the New Year!
