WSBF-FM
Encyclopedia
WSBF-FM is a college radio station licensed to Clemson, South Carolina
. The station is owned by the Clemson University Board of Trustees and serves the Clemson University
community. It is entirely student-managed and features an alternative music radio format
.
) still exists, and has been preserved. The station quickly became known as "wizz-bif," and in the early days broadcast such shows as Bob Mattison's (the "Voice of Clemson") agricultural shows, which were also broadcast on AM stations in Anderson
, Spartanburg
, and Columbia
. Other early shows included a show broadcast from Harcombe Commons dining hall in the mornings, a "Late, Late" show featuring old standards, and a "Concert Hall" show featuring the classics, "Night Beat," and "East of Midnight." In 1961, adverts in The Tiger
, the student newspaper, proclaimed that the station offered the most news of any radio station in the Upstate. By 1965, WSBF had changed format to include "The Frank Howard
Show," "Pigskin Preview" show featuring old standards, and a "Concert Hall" show featuring the classics. The purpose was to provide students with educational entertainment, news, and music. Music format ran to the Top 40 model in the mid to late 1960s. The studios were located on the eighth level of the Johnstone Hall complex, two floors above the Loggia.
The next major format change occurred under programming director Woody Culp, changing to "progressive," in the spring semester of 1972. An article in The Tiger
on November 12, 1971, states that the decision to change followed a telephone survey of listeners several weeks before, and that the response was favorable. This coincided with the national rise of previously under-valued FM stations all across the dial as a source of "underground" and alternative formats. The strategy at that time was to give heavy airplay to new artists. Off-beat news stories and non-Top 40 music was emphasized.
The current format has evolved from "progressive" to "alternative," a shift taking place in the mid 1980's. The alternative format included progressive, but also includes other genres of music such as classical, rap, jazz, punk, industrial, indie, talk, and many others. The "alternative" name implies alternative in any genre, not just "alternative rock". The current stated goal of WSBF is: "We educate the listener by exposing him/her to new genres and to the leading edge of more familiar genres, such as rock. We play what other stations cannot and do not."
Clemson, South Carolina
Clemson is a college town located in Pickens County in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 11,939 at the 2000 census and center of an urban cluster with a total population of 42,199...
. The station is owned by the Clemson University Board of Trustees and serves the Clemson University
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
community. It is entirely student-managed and features an alternative music radio format
Radio format
A radio format or programming format not to be confused with broadcast programming describes the overall content broadcast on a radio station. Radio formats are frequently employed as a marketing tool, and constantly evolve...
.
History
WSBF-FM began as a closed-circuit broadcasting facility of 600 kilocycles on May 1, 1958 with the words "Good Afternoon, this is the high fidelity voice of Clemson College". It made its first over-the-air broadcast on April 1, 1960. The original transmitter unit that powered the station via the electrical system in the dormitories (primarily Johnstone HallJohnstone Hall
Johnstone Hall is a dormitory at Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina that has housed several generations of Clemson undergraduates. Located on west campus, it originally overlooked the student laundry, the coal-burning Physical Plant and the university fire department, and beyond that the...
) still exists, and has been preserved. The station quickly became known as "wizz-bif," and in the early days broadcast such shows as Bob Mattison's (the "Voice of Clemson") agricultural shows, which were also broadcast on AM stations in Anderson
Anderson, South Carolina
Anderson is a city in and the county seat of Anderson County, South Carolina, United States. The population was estimated at 26,242 in 2006, and the city was the center of an urbanized area of 70,530...
, Spartanburg
Spartanburg, South Carolina
thgSpartanburg is the largest city in and the county seat of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. It is the second-largest city of the three primary cities in the Upstate region of South Carolina, and is located northwest of Columbia, west of Charlotte, and about northeast of...
, and Columbia
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
. Other early shows included a show broadcast from Harcombe Commons dining hall in the mornings, a "Late, Late" show featuring old standards, and a "Concert Hall" show featuring the classics, "Night Beat," and "East of Midnight." In 1961, adverts in The Tiger
The Tiger (Clemson University newspaper)
The Tiger is the student newspaper at Clemson University in South Carolina. It was first produced on January 21, 1907, and as of 2009 is publishing Volume 103. It is the oldest student newspaper in the State of South Carolina and publishes on a weekly basis during the fall and spring semesters,...
, the student newspaper, proclaimed that the station offered the most news of any radio station in the Upstate. By 1965, WSBF had changed format to include "The Frank Howard
Frank Howard
Frank Howard may refer to:*Frank A. Howard , Louisiana state representative*Frank Howard , American college football player and coach*Frankie Howerd , English comedian...
Show," "Pigskin Preview" show featuring old standards, and a "Concert Hall" show featuring the classics. The purpose was to provide students with educational entertainment, news, and music. Music format ran to the Top 40 model in the mid to late 1960s. The studios were located on the eighth level of the Johnstone Hall complex, two floors above the Loggia.
The next major format change occurred under programming director Woody Culp, changing to "progressive," in the spring semester of 1972. An article in The Tiger
The Tiger (Clemson University newspaper)
The Tiger is the student newspaper at Clemson University in South Carolina. It was first produced on January 21, 1907, and as of 2009 is publishing Volume 103. It is the oldest student newspaper in the State of South Carolina and publishes on a weekly basis during the fall and spring semesters,...
on November 12, 1971, states that the decision to change followed a telephone survey of listeners several weeks before, and that the response was favorable. This coincided with the national rise of previously under-valued FM stations all across the dial as a source of "underground" and alternative formats. The strategy at that time was to give heavy airplay to new artists. Off-beat news stories and non-Top 40 music was emphasized.
The current format has evolved from "progressive" to "alternative," a shift taking place in the mid 1980's. The alternative format included progressive, but also includes other genres of music such as classical, rap, jazz, punk, industrial, indie, talk, and many others. The "alternative" name implies alternative in any genre, not just "alternative rock". The current stated goal of WSBF is: "We educate the listener by exposing him/her to new genres and to the leading edge of more familiar genres, such as rock. We play what other stations cannot and do not."
Notable alumni
- David DonderoDavid DonderoDavid Dondero is an American songwriter, guitarist, former lead singer of the band Sunbrain. In 2006, NPR's All Songs Considered named David one of the "best living songwriters" alongside Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney and Tom Waits...
- Gary ParsonsGary ParsonsGary Parsons is the former chairman of the board for Sirius XM Radio. Mr. Parsons was also formerly on the board of WorldSpace.-Biography:Parsons was with MCI Communications Corporation where he served in a variety of roles from 1990 to 1996. He served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for XM...
, chairman of the board for XM Satellite RadioXM Satellite RadioXM Satellite Radio is one of two satellite radio services in the United States and Canada, operated by Sirius XM Radio. It provides pay-for-service radio, analogous to cable television. Its service includes 73 different music channels, 39 news, sports, talk and entertainment channels, 21 regional...