KCBX Central Coast Public Radio is the community licensed NPR station for California's Central Coast, airing news, jazz and classical music on 90.1 FM from San Luis Obispo and on repeaters and translators across San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Monterey counties.
KCBX Central Coast Public Radio is the NPR member station for California's Central Coast. Founded in 1975 and first on the air on July 27 of that year, it is operated by KCBX, Inc., a community licensed 501(c)(3) nonprofit, from studios on Vachell Lane in San Luis Obispo. KCBX describes itself as a cultural resource that exists to enlighten and enrich the quality of life for its listeners, combining news and public affairs with jazz, classical and other musical arts.
The station broadcasts on KCBX 90.1 FM in San Luis Obispo and the full power repeater KNBX 91.7 FM for Paso Robles and southern Monterey County, with translators serving Cayucos, Avila Beach, Cambria, Lompoc and Solvang, and it streams two services online. Its newsroom covers the Central Coast from Salinas to Santa Barbara with local segments in Morning Edition and All Things Considered, and the station produces local music programs, Central Coast Sessions, a weekly newsletter and a community calendar. KCBX also presents the Live Oak Music Festival.
KCBX has a professional staff of about nineteen working alongside community volunteers, in news, on-air hosting and production, operations and engineering, membership and underwriting, and administration. Openings are posted on the station's employment page with applications by email. Chris McBride is president and general manager.
