88.5 Rebrands As ‘The SoCal Sound’
• Days after being named “Non-Comm Music Station of the Year,” Southern California’s leading Triple A station, 88.5-FM is rebranding as “88.5-FM, The SoCal Sound,” beginning Friday, Aug. 19. The new name formally recognizes the “sound” the station is known for, and also marks the fifth anniversary of the partnership between 88.5 KCSN, housed at Cal State University Northridge, and its simulcast twin, 88.5 KSBR at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo.
“The station’s programming is receiving critical acclaim, including being nominated the ‘Best Public Music Station’ in the country two years in a row by JBE Triple A SummitFest,” said 88.5 GM Patrick Osburn. “Winning the award this year is a huge honor. We thought it was time to reinforce our large geographic reach and appeal in both Los Angeles and Orange Counties, hence our new brand, ‘The SoCal Sound.'”
PD Marc “Mookie” Kaczor concurs, saying, “The new branding represents our steadfast commitment to music fans and to the artist community. You will continue to hear new music, deep tracks and local music every day of the week. The SoCal Sound will bring you superb video content, exclusive artist interviews, podcasts and unique, members-only events all over Southern California. It’s a new era in public radio.”
“We’re beyond fortunate to have a wealth of creative talent in our listening area, and an audience hungry for discovery,” said legendary broadcaster, music tastemaker and longtime morning drive icon Nic Harcourt. “When I open the microphone, I’m speaking to people from Hollywood to Mission Viejo, and everywhere in between. That audience appreciates a dynamic mix of great legacy artists and newcomers, who create the new mainstream. After all, Los Angeles and Southern California drives entertainment trends both nationally and internationally.”
Harcourt added, “The station has a large terrestrial footprint. As artists route their tours through Southern California, you’ll often find them playing venues in both Orange County and LA. I seriously believe that a part of our job, beyond playing the always-evolving best music mix in town and supporting great music and the artists who make it, is to provide a radio home for the community we serve.”
With the new branding comes an updated website, thesocalsound.org, which goes live on Friday.
