Newsroom – California State University, Northridge

Music Legend Robert Hilburn Joins KSCN-FM’s Triple A Format

(NORTHRIDGE, Calif., Jul. 11th, 2011) ―

Legendary rock music critic Robert Hilburn will join music industry veteran Nic Harcourt, former longtime host of KCRW-FM’s “Morning Becomes Eclectic,” on California State University, Northridge’s KCSN-FM (88.5) line-up this weekend as part of changes to Los Angeles’ only Triple A (Adult Album Alternative) format station.

Program Director Sky Daniels, himself a longtime Los Angeles music executive who recently joined the station, said the station’s new weekend lineup and new shows “represent KCSN’s commitment to being the best Adult Alternative we can be.”

“Robert Hilburn is more than just the dean of popular music critics in terms of his decades reviewing music for the Los Angeles Times,” Daniels said, “he is probably still the most respected critic in the country. He is, coincidentally, a graduate of California State University, Northridge when it was known as San Fernando Valley State College.”

Hilburn said he was “thrilled” to be joining KCSN’s musical line-up.

He said his program “will focus on the great artists of the rock ‘n’ roll era and my relationship with them—from Bob Dylan and John Lennon to Bruce Springsteen and U2 to Kanye West and Arcade Fire.

“I am doubly pleased,” he added, “to be back on the campus of Cal State Northridge because it was during my years as a student here that I first dreamed about a career in journalism.”

Author of the best-selling book, “Corn Flakes with John Lennon: And Other Tales from a Rock ‘n’ Roll Life,” and the upcoming “In Search of Johnny Cash,” Hilburn’s one-hour show, Rock ‘n’ Roll Times, will be a mix of commercial-free music and stories about the recording artists. It is scheduled to air at 6 p.m. on Sundays.

Harcourt, new music supervisor in residence for MTV, will have a three-hour show from 3 to 6 p.m. on Saturdays called Connections with Nic Harcourt in which he will play music by the top new recording artists that fall into the Adult Album Alternative category and talk about them.

“With the addition of Sky as program director and now Hilburn and Harcourt added to our weekend programming, we think we have significantly strengthened Los Angeles’ only Adult Album Alternative station,” said Karen Kearns, general manager of the member-supported station that broadcasts from new quarters in California State University, Northridge’s new $125 million Valley Performing Arts Center.

“KCSN has an audience reach of 3 million, and we want to provide a compelling and creative station for that metropolitan audience,” Daniels said. “Adding these two giants of the music industry is a significant step in that direction.”

The station offers a 24-hour, commercial-free blend of rock, country, jazz, blues and Americana, including a wide range of artists such as Bruce Springsteen, the Beatles, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan and Norah Jones. The station’s alternative programming also is available on the stations HD1 channel and online at KCSN.org. KCSN offers 24-hour classical programming on its HD2 channel and online at KCSNClassical.org.

KCSN was named “Best Americana Radio Station” in Los Angeles Magazine’s Best of LA 2010 issue. This was the second time KCSN earned recognition from the magazine. In 2006, the magazine named KCSN “Best University-Sponsored Radio Station” in Los Angeles.

 

 

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