KQED-FM, radio station
KQED-FM is a public radio station in San Francisco, California, broadcasting news, culture, and entertainment to listeners across the Bay Area and beyond. The station operates studios in the Mission District and uses a transmitter on San Bruno Mountain to deliver programs through traditional FM radio, digital cable, and online apps.
The station began in 1963 under religious management but became part of public broadcasting in the late 1960s and took the name KQED-FM. In 2003, the station expanded its reach by acquiring an existing station in Sacramento, making its programs available to listeners in that region as well.
The name KQED-FM reflects the station's deep connection with local artists and independent filmmakers whose work reaches a broader audience through its broadcasts. The station serves as a platform for community voices and encourages dialogue about local culture and the issues that matter most to people in the region.
The station is located on Mariposa Street in the Mission District and is easy to spot by its signage; you will see a simple storefront from the street. You can listen via traditional FM radio, digital cable, its website, or an app like iHeartRadio, and you can access broadcasts and podcast archives anytime.
A notable story involves a live recording of Pink Floyd in 1970 in the studio with no audience, which was broadcast again in 1981 and drew a small crowd of fans wanting to hear the performance. This unique recording remains part of the station's archive and shows how timeless music can reach people long after its original capture.
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