Editing KCSN (section)

==History==
KCSN came to air as KEDC-FM in late 1963. The station signed on with 10 watts, using a transmitter donated by [[Saul Levine]], and broadcast four hours a day of [[jazz]] and [[classical music]], in addition to hourly news bulletins produced by San Fernando Valley State College journalism students.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31839472/|work=Los Angeles Times|title=FM Station Operating at Valley State|date=December 9, 1963|access-date=May 22, 2019}}</ref> Power was increased to 320 watts in 1967 and 3,000 watts in 1970. The 1970 power increase shut out a proposal by the Mexican-American Communication Foundation to build a station on the frequency in [[East Los Angeles, California|East Los Angeles]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31839552/|work=Van Nuys News|date=October 13, 1970|title=Valley State Given Permit for Bigger Radio Station|access-date=May 22, 2019}}</ref> It became KCSN on February 1, 1973, months after the school became California State University, Northridge; the station was known as "Radio Free Northridge" since 1971.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31839591/|work=Valley News|date=February 6, 1973|title=Call Letters Changed on CSUN Station|access-date=May 22, 2019}}, KEDC-FM program guide</ref>

Beginning in 1987, KCSN aired an [[country music|all-country]] format, "Kissin' Country" (a play on how the call letters "KCSN" might be pronounced). The format switch was controversial, earning the station additional donations but alienating it from its student body base.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31839741/|title=It's Country—but Is That Cool?|work=Los Angeles Times|first=David|last=Wharton|date=September 15, 1989|access-date=May 22, 2019}}</ref> The station also took fire from students who worried that they had less and less of a role in its operation as professional staff were added, in part because KCSN received [[Corporation for Public Broadcasting]] grants.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31839664/|work=Los Angeles Times|first=Pamela|last=Moreland|date=November 9, 1987|access-date=May 22, 2019|title=New Signals at KCSN}}</ref> In November 1989, two months after classical music station [[KRRL|KFAC-FM]] (92.3) was sold to Evergreen Media and flipped to a "rock with a beat" format, KCSN made a play for those listeners and went all-classical, drawing the ire of the country fans.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31840065/|title=Classic Confrontation Splits KCSN Country|work=Los Angeles Times|first=Michael|last=Arkush|access-date=May 22, 2019|date=November 24, 1989}}</ref>
As a classical station, KCSN also aired specialty shows on weekends and in late night. As the "Best of Public Radio," KCSN's specialty shows were devoted to German music, Broadway showtunes, children's music, soundtrack music, hip-hop, Hawaiian music, blues, folk, the Beatles, surf music, cocktail tunes, electronic music, and more.

KCSN went to an [[broadcast automation|automated]] [[adult album alternative]] (AAA) format from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. in 2008, removing most of the specialty shows.

==="Smart rock"===
On March 1, 2010, KCSN moved all classical music from its primary FM signal to its [[HD radio|HD2]] channel. The main FM/HD1 channel was switched to an all-[[adult album alternative|AAA]] programming format without news.

Under the guidance of radio and record company veteran Sky Daniels, some of Los Angeles radio's legendary hosts were hired to host shows on KCSN, including former [[KCRW]] host [[Nic Harcourt]]; [[Mr. Shovel's Check One Two|Mark Sovel]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mr. Shovel joins KCSN as part of revamped lineup |url=https://buzzbands.la/2012/01/11/mr-shovel-joins-kcsn-as-part-of-revamped-lineup/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Nic Harcourt to take over daily morning show at KCSN; Mark Sovel named station’s music director; Jackson Browne to headline big benefit on Nov. 18 |url=https://buzzbands.la/2012/01/11/mr-shovel-joins-kcsn-as-part-of-revamped-lineup/}}</ref> the founding music director of [[Indie 103.1]]; long-time [[KROQ]] host [[Jed the Fish]]; and [[Robert Hilburn]], the thirty-year Music Editor for the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''.

In the same time period, [[Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers]] played two small-hall benefit concerts for the station.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2011/10/tom-petty-kcsn-benefit-concert.html|title=Tom Petty on lending a hand to underdog radio station KCSN-FM* [Updated]|date=2011-10-12|website=LA Times Blogs - Pop & Hiss|language=en-US|access-date=2017-11-01}}</ref> Subsequently, [[Jackson Browne]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-xpm-2012-oct-03-la-et-ms-jackson-browne-kcsn-benefit-nic-harcourt-radio-20121003-story.html|title=Jackson Browne headlines benefit for the still-expanding KCSN-FM|last=Lewis|first=Randy|date=2012-10-03|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2017-11-01|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}}</ref> [[The Rides]], [[Ryan Adams]], [[Conor Oberst]], [[David Gray (British musician)|David Gray]], [[Sarah McLachlan]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-kcsn-announces-benefit-concerts-feat-ryan-adams-sarah-mclachlan-more-20141012-story.html|title=Ryan Adams, Sarah McLachlan to headline KCSN-FM benefit gigs|last=Roberts|first=Randall|date=2014-10-13|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2017-11-01|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}}</ref> and [[Bonnie Raitt]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://csunshinetoday.csun.edu/arts-and-culture/kcsn-88-5-fm-benefit-concert-to-feature-bonnie-raitt/|title=KCSN 88.5-FM Benefit Concert to Feature Bonnie Raitt {{!}} CSUN Today|website=csunshinetoday.csun.edu|date=December 2015 |language=en-US|access-date=2017-11-01}}</ref> performed at the station's annual benefit concerts. [[Sting (musician)|Sting]] also premiered new songs from the station in August 2016.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-sting-album-kcsn-premiere-20160831-snap-story.html|title=Sting unveils new album during intimate KCSN radio session|date=2016-08-31|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2017-11-01|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}}</ref>

Harcourt, who stewarded KCRW's ''[[Morning Becomes Eclectic]]'' to international recognition, hosts the 6-10 am slot, which he sometimes refers to on-air as "Mornings Are Electric."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/92831/nic-harcourt-to-join-kcsn-los-angeles|title=All Access|website=All Access}}</ref> KCSN is also the L.A. radio partner of ''[[World Cafe (radio program)|World Cafe]]'', the program hosted by Raina Douris of [[WXPN]]/Philadelphia.

KCSN also supports local music in the Los Angeles market. Kevin Bronson, the director of Buzzbands L.A., has a show devoted to supporting local musicians. The station's new music library typically is represented with local artists by upwards of 30% of the playlist. KCSN has a roster of shows that include [[adult album alternative|AAA]], [[Americana (music)|Americana]], and [[blues]] genres.

KCSN also supports music by hosting live music sessions and interviews with new, local, and legendary artists, the majority recorded by audio engineers Tristan Dolce and Matt Blake.

KCSN's studios are located in the Valley Performing Arts Center on the CSUN campus. The station also opened a satellite studio at The Village at [[Westfield Topanga]] in October 2015.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.dailynews.com/2015/09/05/csun-radio-station-to-open-live-studio-at-the-village-at-westfield-topanga/|title=CSUN radio station to open live studio at The Village at Westfield Topanga|date=2015-09-05|work=Daily News|access-date=2017-11-01|language=en-US}}</ref>

==="The New 88.5 FM" and The SoCal Sound===
On September 6, 2017, California State University, Northridge and [[Saddleback College]], owner of [[Mission Viejo, California|Mission Viejo]]–based [[KSBR]], announced the merger of their respective radio stations. The combined operation adopted the branding "The New 88.5 FM".<ref>{{cite news |title=KCSN-KSBR FM merger aims to create new Southland public radio powerhouse |url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-kcsn-ksbr-merge-public-radio-20170907-story.html |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=2018-09-06 |access-date=2018-03-22 }}</ref> On September 12 at 10 a.m. PDT, the FM and HD1 signals of both stations began simulcasting KCSN's pre-existing "smart rock" AAA format, while KSBR's jazz programming would move to their HD2 channels. KCSN's [[Latin Alternative]] relocated to both stations' HD3 channels.<ref>{{cite news |title=KCSN & KSBR to Merge to Cover Majority of Los Angeles Market with AAA |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/119613/kcsn-ksbr-merge-cover-majority-los-angeles-market-aaa/ |date=2018-09-07 |publisher=RadioInsight |access-date=2018-03-22 }}</ref>

On March 21, 2018, 88.5 FM announced that former [[KKLQ (FM)|KSWD]] (100.3 The Sound) radio personality [[Andy Chanley]] would host afternoon drive, taking over for Sky Daniels who continued as General Manager and [[program director#Broadcasting|Program Director]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/167270/andy-chanley-joins-kcsn-ksbr-los-angeles-for-afternoons/ |title=Andy Chanley Joins KCSN/KSBR Los Angeles For Afternoons |date=2018-03-21 |work=Radio Insight |access-date=2018-03-22 }}</ref> Prior to this, Chanley had guest hosted in Daniels' place for several weeks since January.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wagoner |first=Richard |date=2018-01-23 |title=Remembering radio legend Joe Frank and a voice from The Sound returns |url=https://www.dailynews.com/2018/01/23/remembering-radio-legend-joe-frank-and-a-voice-from-the-sound-returns/ |newspaper=Los Angeles Daily News |access-date=2018-03-23 }}</ref>

On August 18, 2022, it was announced that KCSN would change its branding to "88.5 The SoCal Sound" on August 19.<ref>{{Cite web |title=KCSN/KSBR to Become the SoCal Sound |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/238423/kcsn-ksbr-to-become-the-socal-sound/ |publisher=RadioInsight |date=18 August 2022 |access-date=2022-08-20 |language=en-US}}</ref>