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Many nationally known musical artists—such as R.E.M., Metallica, Nine Inch Nails, and Devo—got their early breaks on college radio. WCSB was often a go-to destination for these emerging artists to promote their music, especially when mainstream commercial radio wasn’t interested. Acts of all kinds knew WCSB as the place to be if you wanted to break into the music industry.
Many former WCSB DJs went on to have successful careers at WMMS, a station that was instrumental in bringing the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame to Cleveland. Names like Kid Leo, Jeff “Flash” Ferenc, and Jeff Kinzbach—who all got their start at WCSB—are part of that legacy.
WCSB was a cornerstone of Cleveland's cultural, artistic, and musical scene. And now, all that history and community involvement has been discarded—thrown into the wastebin—so a few wealthy donors can listen to jazz all day. One has to ask: what serves the public better—offering a wide diversity of art and ideas, or playing just one genre of music around the clock?
WCSB was more than just CSU's station—it was Cleveland’s station. Students didn’t just contribute; they ran the day-to-day operations. In addition, countless volunteers from the community gave their time to provide their expertise in a wide array of musical genres, such as blues, soul, metal, punk, funk, reggae, and folk. And other community volunteers provided programming that reached Cleveland’s many ethnic communities, including Latino, Arabic, Hungarian, Polish, German, Chinese, and Slovenian listeners. These communities looked to WCSB not only for music and entertainment in their own languages, but for vital information about their countries of origin. How many stations can say that? Not many—and certainly not in Cleveland.
As for CSU and Ideastream touting “internship opportunities” for students, they’ve failed miserably to recognize the stark difference between working in a controlled, limited internship and participating in an open, creative environment that fosters real self-expression. Their claim that students can simply “go online” to continue their programming is a hollow substitute. There’s a vast difference between running a real radio station and uploading content to a website.
Let’s also not forget that not everyone can afford a smartphone or computer to stream content. Many rely on terrestrial radio—and CSU and Ideastream have now taken that away from them, likely for good.
Broadcast radio operates under federal regulations. Students at WCSB learned firsthand about FCC compliance, indecency laws, Emergency Alert System protocols, and station identification requirements. Streaming platforms are not bound by these rules. Every licensed radio station in the U.S. requires staff who understand regulatory compliance—something you cannot learn from podcasting alone. Will students learn this through Ideastream internships? No one knows. There’s been zero planning.
On live radio, there is no “pause” button. Students learned to solve technical issues in real time, operate sound boards during live shows, take calls, and respond to breaking news. These real-world broadcasting skills cannot be developed through pre-recorded podcasts. And Ideastream has no intention of offering students any over-the-air experience like WCSB did.
At WCSB, students also learned radio frequency engineering, antenna systems, and transmitter maintenance. They handled real transmission problems affecting thousands of listeners. This type of hands-on technical knowledge is specific to over-the-air broadcasting. Streaming requires only basic digital audio skills by comparison. Broadcast engineers are essential to every radio and TV station—and this kind of expertise is not gained from streaming.
FCC-licensed stations are required to serve the public interest. WCSB gave students a platform to learn community engagement and how to handle emergency broadcasting during severe weather or local crises. Streaming platforms have no public service obligation. Broadcasting exists to serve the public; streaming exists to entertain consumers.
A student who operated an FCC-licensed station like WCSB has tangible broadcast experience—far more meaningful than a one-semester internship or a podcast that competes with millions of others recorded in bedrooms. Broadcast hiring managers know the difference. And as of now, no one at CSU or Ideastream has outlined what students will actually be learning in these supposed internships. The pitch sounds good—until you look at the details. Then it falls apart. And right now, there are no details at all.
Finally, I want to publicly condemn Cleveland State University for its shameful treatment of its own students. Taking a recognized and active student organization, changing its mission without any student or faculty input, doing it under the cover of an NDA, and then informing students just 15 minutes before the change—while summoning the police to remove them—is the height of hypocrisy from a university that claims to promote “student belonging and success.”
Nothing says “you belong” quite like dismantling something without cause or warning, and then calling the authorities on your own students as if they were criminals. Cleveland State University should be deeply ashamed of its actions.
I would like to know why this decision was made without consulting the students, alumni, volunteers, or members of the community. We don't need a new jazz station; we want to see local voices and local music thrive.
WCSB provided that platform for nearly 5 decades.
I strongly oppose the takeover of 89.3 WCSB by Ideastream. I urge you to listen to the community and reconsider this decision. Thank you for your time.
49 1/2 years. That is a very long time. That’s how long this station has been on the air. 1 year less than I have been around. How can we stand by and let a conglomerate company silence a perfectly good station that delivered a wide range of genres , including ethnic programming that drew in listeners around the globe. They took over and play jazz. That’s it. Jazz 24/7. How does that help the community? How does that help students who want to make a career in radio broadcasting? Losing this station is not a win/win for anybody. The way it was lost was despicable and cowardly. Cutting the signal, escorting the students from the building, and locking everyone out. That is a textbook station takeover.
At least they could have set a date, and gave the station a send off, giving DJ’s time to say goodby to their listeners. Not a complete and sudden end that blindsided every listener. Please fight the good fight and bring the station back to the community where it belongs.
Sincerely,
Matt Vale
-a listener since 1996
I once believed that there was a part of society that held the rights of voices dear.
Ideastream perpetuating this and for no good reason makes me realize everything and everyone must be broken.
My thoughts center around two things that I am certain were not in consideration upon making this decision. The charitable donations each year to THE STATION . Money donated for continuation of the station and programs that people listening all over the world added to over the years. What must they be thinking right now?
Secondly, so many listeners no longer with us have donated music collections to the station, now sitting empty and unused. Is that forever now, as I'm sure JAZZ NEO has no use for them? What would it take to organize the programming separately so we can take a step forward rather than ten steps backwards as this has become a multi-faceted argument about much more than Cleveland and music.