Reporter

A local public access radio station, KSVG 89.7 FM Savage Radio, wants to serve as Bakersfield’s college radio station.

“We’re Bakersfield’s only community radio station, and we do serve the community,” said Jake Chavez, who is KSVG’s co-founder and general manager of daily operations. “We address local issues, offer a music alternative, and educate the public on whatever comes up.”

In addition to news, the station also plays a variety of music, including indie rock, punk, reggae, and other genres not usually played on commercial radio stations.

“We’re playing what the college radio stations would be playing,” said Chavez.

Veronica Rios, a sophomore majoring in marketing, said that she likes the “hipster music” and positive news stories featured on the station.

“I like it because it also talks about what’s right and wrong…Instead of fighting, it’s always looking for a solution,” she said.

Neither CSU Bakersfield nor Bakersfield College has a functioning radio station, so students interested in pursuing a radio career are encouraged to volunteer at KSVG.

“We don’t really turn down a lot of people,” said Chavez. “We’re always willing to teach here.”

In the future, Chavez said that he would like to see a partnership with the radio station and CSUB. There may be future opportunities for student DJs and journalists, as well as marketing interns. Chavez said that this partnership could provide help for the station, experience for students, and publicity for university events.

The concern, however, is that some lower-quality antennas cannot pick up the station, especially around CSUB. Because of this, many students are not even aware that the station exists.

“Never heard of it,” said Ify Mordi, a graduate student of healthcare management.

To solve this issue, the station is in the process of applying for a loan in order to buy a translator, which is a smaller station that gives greater access to more radio wave space. This equipment would triple the station’s possible audience from about 250,000 to 750,000 people.

It KSVG is approved for the $25,000 loan, the station may hold fundraising events in order to pay it off.

For now, the station sponsors a KSVG Night featuring DJs and local bands every first Saturday of the month at Sandrini’s Italian and Basque Restaurant and Bar, located on Eye Street.

Savage Radio is already preparing for a “Rocking Out Thanksgiving.” Greg Looney, the station’s music and programming manager and co-founder, is currently involved in the long process of picking out songs to program into the station’s automated playback system. On holidays, the station usually plays ‘80s music, but this Thanksgiving and Black Friday, it will feature various kinds of rock music, including punk and rockabilly.

“He has vision, and I love that he has passion and vision, so I let him go with it,” said Chavez of Looney, his co-founder. “If it has to do with business, I’m handling the business side of it. He doesn’t question what I do, so I don’t question what he does. It’s a perfect marriage.”

This partnership has worked well so far, and it will likely continue to as Savage Radio seeks to expand.

“I’ve reached my dream,” said Chavez. “Now the next part of my dream is to make it the biggest, best radio station in Bakersfield.”