KQED-FM
Encyclopedia
KQED-FM is an NPR-member radio station
owned by Northern California Public Broadcasting
in San Francisco, California
.
KQED-FM was founded by James Day in 1969 as the radio arm of KQED Television. The founding manager was Bernard Mayes
who later went on to be Executive Vice-President of KQED TV and also co-founder and chairman of NPR (National Public Radio). KQED-FM was first located in a former church building where the Presbyterian church ran station KXKX-FM the licence of which was sold to KQED. The first programming of KQED-FM included news feeds from NPR, 'street radio' broadcast live from local street corners, drama and music. Later, due to reduced funding, Mayes opened the air to 'Tribal Radio' - productions by local non-profit groups, some in their own languages. Today, KQED-FM is the most-listened to public radio station in the United States, and as of the fall 2005 Arbitron
ratings, the station ranks third in the San Francisco market. In addition to local programming, KQED-FM carries content from major public radio distributors such as National Public Radio, Public Radio International
, BBC World Service
and American Public Media
. Among the locally produced shows are Forum
with Michael Krasny
, The California Report, Perspectives and Pacific Time
.
In addition to over-the-air broadcasts, KQED-FM audio is carried on Comcast digital cable
channel 960 and is webcast
with live streaming audio around the clock with Forum
, and Pacific Time
carried live with nationwide coverage on Sirius Satellite Radio
. KQED also offers an extensive audio archive and podcasts of previous shows for download.
One of the most famous programs to have been broadcast on KQED was An Hour with Pink Floyd, a sixty minute performance by Pink Floyd
recorded in 1970
without an audience at the station's studio. The program was broadcast only twice—once in 1970, and once again in 1981. The setlist included "Atom Heart Mother", "Cymbaline
", "Grantchester Meadows
", "Green Is the Colour
", "Careful with That Axe, Eugene
", and "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun
".
area by purchasing KEBR-FM in North Highlands
from Family Radio
, a religious broadcaster based in Oakland
. Some residents and management at KXJZ
, the NPR station already serving the Sacramento area, criticized the move, saying that KQED would only duplicate KXJZ programming. KXJZ's parent company, Capital Public Radio, also had plans to purchase KEBR. CPR's plan was to broadcast jazz on KEBR and convert KXJZ into an all-news station. Indeed, KQED and KXJZ carry Morning Edition
, Talk of the Nation
, and All Things Considered
at the same times opposite each other. KQED argues that it carries more regional news programming during the middle of the day, and news programs at night, while KXJZ has a smaller news bureau and music programming overnight. Capital Public Radio and community residents argued that duplication of exactly the same NPR programming serves no one, and that it is very unusual for one NPR station to move in on the territory of a successful existing station. KXJZ has also increased its local midday programming with the addition of Insight, a daily interview program.
This was not the first time KQED-FM changed its format, to the chagrin of its competition and listeners – when they converted to an all news and information format by dropping classical music
during the day, management and listeners of the other San Francisco public radio station, KALW
, claimed their format had been stolen. KALW previously ran news and information programs during the day.
KQED and KQEI also broadcast in HD Radio
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
owned by Northern California Public Broadcasting
Northern California Public Broadcasting
Northern California Public Broadcasting was formed on May 1, 2006 when the boards of KQED, Inc., and the KTEH Foundation agreed to merge, forming the "most watched public television broadcaster and the second most listened-to public radio broadcaster in the country."NCPB operates:*KQED Public...
in San Francisco, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
KQED-FM was founded by James Day in 1969 as the radio arm of KQED Television. The founding manager was Bernard Mayes
Bernard Mayes
Anthony Bernard Duncan Mayes is a retired teacher, broadcaster, university dean, lecturer and author. Born in Britain, Mayes is now a citizen of the United States of America. He lives in San Francisco...
who later went on to be Executive Vice-President of KQED TV and also co-founder and chairman of NPR (National Public Radio). KQED-FM was first located in a former church building where the Presbyterian church ran station KXKX-FM the licence of which was sold to KQED. The first programming of KQED-FM included news feeds from NPR, 'street radio' broadcast live from local street corners, drama and music. Later, due to reduced funding, Mayes opened the air to 'Tribal Radio' - productions by local non-profit groups, some in their own languages. Today, KQED-FM is the most-listened to public radio station in the United States, and as of the fall 2005 Arbitron
Arbitron
Arbitron is a consumer research company in the United States that collects listener data on radio audiences. It was founded as American Research Bureau by Jim Seiler in 1949 and became national by merging with L.A. based Coffin, Cooper and Clay in the early 1950s...
ratings, the station ranks third in the San Francisco market. In addition to local programming, KQED-FM carries content from major public radio distributors such as National Public Radio, Public Radio International
Public Radio International
Public Radio International is a Minneapolis-based American public radio organization, with locations in Boston, New York, London and Beijing. PRI's tagline is "Hear a different voice." PRI is a major public media content creator and also distributes programs from many sources...
, BBC World Service
BBC World Service
The BBC World Service is the world's largest international broadcaster, broadcasting in 27 languages to many parts of the world via analogue and digital shortwave, internet streaming and podcasting, satellite, FM and MW relays...
and American Public Media
American Public Media
American Public Media is the second largest producer of public radio programs in the United States of America after NPR. Its non-profit parent, American Public Media Group, also owns and operates radio stations in Minnesota, California, and Florida. Its station brands are Minnesota Public Radio,...
. Among the locally produced shows are Forum
Forum (KQED)
Forum is a two hour live call-in radio program produced by KQED-FM, presenting discussions of local, state, national and international issues, and in-depth interviews. The program began in 1990 as a politics-oriented talk show, created and hosted by Kevin Pursglove...
with Michael Krasny
Michael Krasny (talk show host)
Michael Krasny is host and senior editor of KQED-FM radio's award-winning Forum, a news and public affairs program covering politics, culture, the arts, health, business and technology. Krasny has served as the host of Forum since 1993....
, The California Report, Perspectives and Pacific Time
Pacific Time (radio show)
Pacific Time was a weekly radio program that covered a wide range of Asian American, East Asian and Southeast Asian issues, including economics, language, politics, public policy, business, the arts and sports...
.
In addition to over-the-air broadcasts, KQED-FM audio is carried on Comcast digital cable
Digital cable
Digital cable is a generic term for any type of cable television distribution using digital video compression or distribution. The technology was originally developed by Motorola.-Background:...
channel 960 and is webcast
Webcast
A webcast is a media presentation distributed over the Internet using streaming media technology to distribute a single content source to many simultaneous listeners/viewers. A webcast may either be distributed live or on demand...
with live streaming audio around the clock with Forum
Forum (KQED)
Forum is a two hour live call-in radio program produced by KQED-FM, presenting discussions of local, state, national and international issues, and in-depth interviews. The program began in 1990 as a politics-oriented talk show, created and hosted by Kevin Pursglove...
, and Pacific Time
Pacific Time (radio show)
Pacific Time was a weekly radio program that covered a wide range of Asian American, East Asian and Southeast Asian issues, including economics, language, politics, public policy, business, the arts and sports...
carried live with nationwide coverage on Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio is a satellite radio service operating in North America, owned by Sirius XM Radio.Headquartered in New York City, with smaller studios in Los Angeles and Memphis, Sirius was officially launched on July 1, 2002 and currently provides 69 streams of music and 65 streams of...
. KQED also offers an extensive audio archive and podcasts of previous shows for download.
One of the most famous programs to have been broadcast on KQED was An Hour with Pink Floyd, a sixty minute performance by Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
recorded in 1970
1970 in music
- Events :*January 3**Davy Jones announces he is leaving the Monkees**Former Pink Floyd frontman Syd Barrett releases his first solo album The Madcap Laughs....
without an audience at the station's studio. The program was broadcast only twice—once in 1970, and once again in 1981. The setlist included "Atom Heart Mother", "Cymbaline
Cymbaline
"Cymbaline" is a Pink Floyd song from the album, Soundtrack from the Film More. Its lyrics vividly tell the tale of a "nightmare", which was the title of the song when it was first introduced in Floyd's The Man and the Journey shows....
", "Grantchester Meadows
Grantchester Meadows (song)
"Grantchester Meadows" is a song from the second half of the experimental Pink Floyd album Ummagumma. It was written and performed entirely by Roger Waters. The song features Waters' lyrics accompanied by an acoustic guitar, while a tape loop of a skylark chirps in the background throughout the...
", "Green Is the Colour
Green Is the Colour
"Green Is the Colour" is a track on Pink Floyd's 1969 Soundtrack from the Film More. It is a gentle acoustic ballad sung by David Gilmour. A tin whistle is heard in the song, played by drummer Nick Mason's then-wife Lindy....
", "Careful with That Axe, Eugene
Careful with That Axe, Eugene
"Careful with That Axe, Eugene" is an instrumental song by the British band Pink Floyd. The studio recording was originally released as the B-side of their single "Point Me at the Sky" and is also featured on the Relics compilation album; live versions can also be found on Ummagumma and in the film...
", and "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun
Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun
"Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun" is a song by British rock band Pink Floyd and is featured on their second album A Saucerful of Secrets . It was written by Roger Waters and features a drum part by Nick Mason played with timpani mallets...
".
Expansion into Sacramento
In 2003, KQED Radio expanded to the SacramentoSacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
area by purchasing KEBR-FM in North Highlands
North Highlands, California
North Highlands is a census-designated place in Sacramento County, California, United States. It is part of the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area...
from Family Radio
Family Radio
Family Radio, also known by its licensee name Family Stations Inc., is a Christian radio network based in Oakland, California, USA, founded by Lloyd Lindquist, Richard H. Palmquist and Harold Camping...
, a religious broadcaster based in Oakland
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
. Some residents and management at KXJZ
KXJZ
KXJZ is a public radio station in Sacramento, CA. It airs programming from National Public Radio and other public radio producers and distributors, as well as locally produced news and public affairs programs, jazz and blues...
, the NPR station already serving the Sacramento area, criticized the move, saying that KQED would only duplicate KXJZ programming. KXJZ's parent company, Capital Public Radio, also had plans to purchase KEBR. CPR's plan was to broadcast jazz on KEBR and convert KXJZ into an all-news station. Indeed, KQED and KXJZ carry Morning Edition
Morning Edition
Morning Edition is an American radio news program produced and distributed by National Public Radio . It airs weekday mornings and runs for two hours, and many stations repeat one or both hours. The show feeds live from 05:00 to 09:00 ET, with feeds and updates as required until noon...
, Talk of the Nation
Talk of the Nation
Talk of the Nation is a talk radio program based in the United States, produced by National Public Radio, and is broadcast nationally from 2 to 4 p.m. Eastern Time. Its focus is current events and controversial issues....
, and All Things Considered
All Things Considered
All Things Considered is the flagship news program on the American network National Public Radio. It was the first news program on NPR, and is broadcast live worldwide through several outlets...
at the same times opposite each other. KQED argues that it carries more regional news programming during the middle of the day, and news programs at night, while KXJZ has a smaller news bureau and music programming overnight. Capital Public Radio and community residents argued that duplication of exactly the same NPR programming serves no one, and that it is very unusual for one NPR station to move in on the territory of a successful existing station. KXJZ has also increased its local midday programming with the addition of Insight, a daily interview program.
This was not the first time KQED-FM changed its format, to the chagrin of its competition and listeners – when they converted to an all news and information format by dropping classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
during the day, management and listeners of the other San Francisco public radio station, KALW
KALW
KALW is a public radio station based in San Francisco, California. Its HD FM radio signal is broadcast over the immediate San Francisco Bay Area at 91.7 MHz, and is webcast with live streaming audio.-Background:...
, claimed their format had been stolen. KALW previously ran news and information programs during the day.
Additional Frequencies
In addition to the main station, KQED-FM is relayed by these stations and translators to widen its broadcast area.KQED and KQEI also broadcast in HD Radio