WUSC FM 90.5

A student-run, non-commercial educational radio station operating at 90.5 MHz, licensed to and operated by the University of South Carolina in Columbia. Its stated purpose is to educate and inform listeners and DJs by providing musical diversity, information about student life and community events, and public service announcements. The station is not affiliated with KUSC, the classical station of the University of Southern California, despite the shared initials. WUSC-FM operates as a free-format station with a distinctive programming philosophy: its policy prohibits airing music currently in rotation at other local stations or that has appeared on Top 40 charts within the past 40 years. DJs hosting specialty shows focus on a single genre such as soundtracks, hip-hop, or electronic music, while free-format show hosts are required to present at least three genres per broadcast and pull 50 percent of their selections from the station's heavy and light rotation. The station's longest-running program, Red Bank Bar and Grill, has aired intermittently since 1978 and remains the only show that runs three hours year-round. Governance rests with the Board of Student Publications and Communications, the Department of Student Life, the Director of Student Media, and the USC Board of Trustees, which holds the broadcast license. While the majority of DJs are current students, faculty, staff, and alumni may also host programs.