 "Photo: Michael Laforgia")
USC's student radio station is installing new equipment to allow live, electric performances.
WUSC is eyeing April 30 for starting the live shows and plans to feature bands I am the World Trade Center and Paper Lions.
Station manager and fourth-year philosophy student Elyn Blackman came up with the idea for the Russell House studio after she realized that musicians couldn't perform their music on WUSC live because of small space and a lack of equipment.
"We've only had live acoustic music with the equipment we've had. Now we'll be able to do electrified music," Blackman said.
The previous live performances WUSC featured consisted of a musician with an acoustic guitar next to the microphone.
Now, in a room next to the announcers studio, musicians can set up their instruments and play with the sound controlled with a soundboard across the hall.
"We're hoping to schedule a specific block once a week for live music, starting in the summer," Blackman said.
The equipment costs between $2,500 and $3,000.
The operating budget, along with the allocation from Student Media, paid for the equipment and set up.
The studio will require no construction, and the equipment will have no effect on the station's broadcasting and airtime.
The connection cables will be routed through the production room and sound checks will be run through there.
"We have everything now. It's just a matter of training the staff and testing it all through, making sure we have all the kinks worked out," Blackman said.
Public Affairs Director and second-year electronic journalism student Marti Hause said she's looking forward to the positive effects the addition will have for public affairs.
"Our job is to bring in interviews. With the studio conversion, it'll be more worth their while because they'll be able to play live," she said.
Hause said the station is also in the process of interviewing other potential bands to try out their new studio, including Cool Hand Luke, River City High, Minus the Bear, and Jet By Day.
"It's exciting. I go out to a lot of shows. It's going to be great for listeners and DJs to have bands that they play come to the station and play live and in person," Co-music director and third-year English student Jordan Redmond said.
Blackman said the station also hopes to record performances of the bands who play in the studio.
Seventy-five WUSC announcers spin music daily throughout the year with the exception of Christmas Day, Thanksgiving Day and sometimes New Year's Eve.
Monday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., WUSC had to go off the air due to tower repairs.
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