KCSN makes a couple of moves

KCSN-FM (88.5) announced two developments this week that continue to extend the Cal State Northridge-based non-commercial station’s efforts to raise its profile in the crowded greater Los Angeles radio market, with the naming of program director Sky Daniels as interim general manager and the addition of a new show to be hosted by longtime L.A. radio deejay Nic Harcourt.

Daniels succeeds General Manager Karen Kearns, who is returning to teaching in the broadcast school. She oversaw KCSN’s switch three years ago from a primarily classical format to the current adult album alternative (AAA) format. She hired radio veteran Daniels last year as the program director.

The Harcourt-hosted show, “Connections Made by Guitar Center,” supersedes (and will air in the same time slot, Saturdays at 4 p.m., starting June 2) as his current “Connections With Nic Harcourt” show. It’s a partnership among the station, Guitar Center and Filter magazine designed to highlight emerging talent.

“There is more good music being made today than ever before,” Harcourt said in a statement. He came to KCSN last year from KCRW-FM (89.9), where he had once been music director and host of “Morning Becomes Eclectic.” “If you don’t have the time to troll through the vast array of music blogs, YouTube and social spaces, ‘Connections’ is a place where we’ll do it for you.”

In addition to airing on KCSN, the program is being syndicated nationally, and will be available as a free on-demand stream at guitarcenter.com/connections.

“The Guitar Center show is a true ‘pay it forward’ idea,” Daniels said Thursday by email. “We are joining together to expose unsigned artists from around the nation. I am building a consortium of stations in several markets as correspondents to participate in the search for great local talent.”

Since Daniels came aboard, KCSN has emphasized a broad mix of contemporary and veteran rock, pop, R&B; and alternative music. At the same time, Daniels and station operators have been working toward expanding the reach of its signal.

A signal upgrade scheduled to become operational on July 1 will boost the signal so it reaches across the entire L.A. basin, said Daniels, who added that Clear Channel, the nation’s largest owner of radio stations, has chosen KCSN as one of four featured public radio stations that will be highlighted in the media giant’s next “IHeartRadio” campaign.

Last fall, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers played benefit concerts for the station in CSUN’s 500-seat campus performing arts theater because Petty said he supports the station’s maverick spirit.

“Young musicians I talk to now have no interest in radio at all because there are so many other ways to get new music,” Petty told The Times in October. “I feel that radio could and should offer a sense of discovery of new music. There’s no reason the Fleet Foxes shouldn’t be played alongside Pink Floyd.”

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randy.lewis@latimes.com