Los Angeles’ Best Classical Music Radio Stations
Contents
Looking for the best classical music radio stations in Los Angeles? Check out our list of the top picks, including KUSC and KMZT.
KUSC
KUSC is a listener-supported classical music radio station broadcasting from downtown Los Angeles. KUSC’s mission is to provide Southern California with the world’s greatest classical music experience. They offer a wide variety of classical music programs, including live performances, interviews, news, and more.
Location
KUSC is located at 91.5 FM in Los Angeles and Orange County.
History
KUSC is a listener-supported classical music radio station licensed to Los Angeles, California. It is owned by the University of Southern California. The station is operated out of USC’s University Park campus in South Los Angeles, and its transmitter array is based on Mount Wilson.
KUSC’s primary service includes regular programmers throughout the day, featuring a wide variety of classical music styles. The station also broadcasts 24 hours a day on its HD Radio multicast channel, KUSC 91.5-2; this features non-commercial, predominantly instrumental music outside of the regular broadcast schedule.
Programming
KUSC’s weekday programming starts at 3 a.m. with an overnight music service called “Music Through the Night.” The first live show of the day begins at 6 a.m. with Classical KUSC Host Alan Chapman. The programming day ends at 10 p.m., when “Music Through the Night” returns for another overnight music service.
KUSC’s weekend programming features a mix of live shows and pre-recorded programs. Live shows include “The Ragtime Radio Show” on Saturday mornings and “Sunday Baroque” on Sunday mornings. Pre-recorded shows include: “The Reel Score,” a film music program hosted by David Garland; “Swapmeet,” hosted by Jim Svejda, which offers listeners an opportunity to call in and trade their unwanted classical CDs for ones they really want; and “The New Releases Show,” hosted by Brian Lauritzen, which features new albums and recordings that have recently been released.
K-Mozart
K-Mozart 105.1 is Los Angeles’ go-to radio station for all things classical music. From Bach to Beethoven, Mozart to Mahler, K-Mozart has it all. The station is also home to the popular K-Mozart Concert Series, which features live performances from some of the world’s top classical musicians.
Location
K-Mozart is a classical music station in Los Angeles, California. It is owned and operated by the Pasadena Symphony Association.
History
K-Mozart is a non-profit public radio station in Los Angeles, California, broadcasting at 105.1 MHz FM. The station is owned and operated by the Mozart Society of Orange County, a 501(c)(3) organization.
K-Mozart programming consists of classical music and opera, with an emphasis on works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The station’s main transmitter is based on Mount Wilson, above Pasadena, while its two backup transmitters are located in Laguna Nigel and Chino Hills.
The station originally signed on the air in 1992 as KMET-FM, simulcasting the adult contemporary format of then-sister station KMET (now KTWV). In 1996, the station was acquired by Crawford Broadcasting, who flipped it to a classical music format as KFAC “Fine Arts Radio”, before selling the station to its current owner in 1998.
Programming
K-Mozart programming consists of classical music played mostly by the great orchestras and soloists of the world. The pieces are generally longer than what is heard on other classical music stations.
There are several live concerts broadcasted each week from various venues, and these are announced in advance on the website so that listeners can tune in. K-Mozart also features a weekly series of educational programs called K-MOZART salons.
These programs feature interviews with musicians, conductors, and other experts in the field, and offer listeners the opportunity to call in and ask questions.
K-Bach
K-Bach is a public radio station in Los Angeles that specializes in playing classical music. The station is owned and operated by the University of Southern California. K-Bach was founded in 1961 and has been broadcasting classical music 24 hours a day since then. The station’s mission is to “advance the arts and humanities through the power of classical music.”
Location
K-Bach broadcasts at 89.5 FM in Los Angeles and 99.7 FM in Santa Barbara. The station is owned by National Public Radio and is a member of NPR.
History
K-Bach, which first took to the air in 1961 as KUSC, is a non-profit public radio station based in Los Angeles, California. It is one of the nation’s largest classical music stations. K-Bach is owned and operated by the University of Southern California and is a member of National Public Radio.
K-Bach’s mission is to enrich the lives of its listeners with great music, whether it’s contemporary or classical, Western or Eastern, familiar or unexpected. The station strives to present a wide range of classical music programming that Inform, Entertain, and Inspire its listeners.
K-Bach reaches listeners all over Southern California on eight different frequencies: 88.5 FM in Los Angeles; 89.9 FM in Santa Barbara; 90.7 FM in Joshua Tree; 91.5 FM in Palm Springs; 88.1 FM in Ridgecrest; 99.7 FM in Yucca Valley; 94.7 FM in Idyllwild; and 89.1 FM in Big Bear Lake. The station’s website also streams live programming 24/7 for classical music lovers all over the world.
Programming
K-Bach’s programming is mostly classical music, but also features NPR news in the mornings and evenings.
