{{Short description|Public, listener-funded radio station in Berkeley, California}} {{Use American English|date=February 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox radio station dual | name1 = KPFA | city = Berkeley, California | country = US | area = San Francisco Bay Area | frequency1 = {{Frequency|94.1|MHz}} | branding = Pacifica Radio | language = English | format = {{ubl|Free-form|Progressive}} | affiliations = Pacifica Radio Network | owner = Pacifica Foundation | airdate1 = {{start date|1949|04|15}}<ref name="Lasar">Lasar, Matthew (2006). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=TT1n-pqe6PEC&pg=PA117 Uneasy Listening: Pacifica Radio's Civil War]''. Black Apollo Press. p. 117. Retrieved August 26, 2019.</ref> | callsign_meaning = <!--do not apply special formatting-->Pacifica | licensing_authority = FCC | facility_id1 = 51246 | class1 = B | erp1 = 59,000 watts (horizontal only) | haat1 = {{convert|405|m|ft|sp=us}} | coordinates1 = {{Coord|37|51|54.7|N|122|13|15.8|W|type:landmark_region:US-CA_source:FCC}} | translators = {{Radio Relay|94.3|K232FZ|Monterey}} | repeater = {{Radio Relay|94.1|KPFA-FM3|Oakley}} | webcast = {{listenlive|https://streams.kpfa.org/kpfa}} | website = {{URL|https://kpfa.org/}} | name2 = KPFB | frequency2 = {{Frequency|89.3|MHz}} | facility_id2 = 51243 | class2 = A | erp2 = 4,600 watts | haat2 = {{Convert|72|m|ft|sp=us}} | coordinates2 = {{Coord|37|52|19.7|N|122|16|21.8|W|type:landmark_region:US-CA_source:FCC|name=KPFB}} }} '''KPFA''' (94.1 FM) is a public, listener-funded talk radio and music radio station located in Berkeley, California, broadcasting to the San Francisco Bay Area. KPFA airs public news, public affairs, talk, and music programming. The station signed on the air April 15, 1949,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kpfa.org/about/history |title=The History of KPFA |work=KPFA Official Website |access-date=February 22, 2012}}</ref> as the first Pacifica Radio station and remains the flagship station of the Pacifica Radio Network.

The station's studios are located in Downtown Berkeley, and its transmitter site is located in the Berkeley Hills.

==History== Launched in 1949, three years after the Pacifica Foundation was created by pacifist Lewis Hill, KPFA became the first station in the Pacifica Radio network and the first listener-supported radio broadcaster in the United States.<ref name="Lasar"/><ref>Swanson-Hurley, Matt. "[https://pacificanetwork.org/pacifica-remembers-its-pacifist-roots/ Pacifica Remembers Its Pacifist Roots]", Pacifica Network. May 26, 2015. Retrieved August 26, 2019.</ref><ref>"[https://www.pacificaradioarchives.org/history-pacifica-radio-archives History of Pacifica Radio Archives]", Pacifica Radio Archives. Retrieved August 26, 2019.</ref> Previously, non-commercial stations were licensed only to serve educational functions as extensions of high schools, colleges, and universities. This departure into listener-oriented programming brought many detractors as KPFA aired controversial programming. The first interview with anyone from the gay political movement was broadcast by KPFA, as well as Allen Ginsberg's poem ''Howl'' in the 1950s. In 1954 the broadcast by a group of marijuana reform advocates extolling the pleasures of cannabis resulted in the tape being impounded by the California Attorney General. In the 1960s KPFA and Pacifica were accused of being controlled by the Communist Party, and several challenges to its license were waged, none of them successful.

In the early 60's Phil Lesh, future founding member and bass player for the Grateful Dead, worked there as a volunteer recording engineer.<ref>{{Cite web|title=How Phil Lesh Became Phil Lesh|url=https://www.trippingdelightfantastic.com/home/how-phil-lesh-became-phil-lesh-1|website=TrippingDelightFantastic|date=October 2, 2021|access-date=December 2, 2025|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Phil Lesh, bassist for Grateful Dead, dies at 84|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2024-10-25/phil-lesh-grateful-dead-bassist-dies-at-84|website=Los Angeles Times|date=October 25, 2024|access-date=December 2, 2025|language=en-US|first=Stephen Thomas|last=Erlewine}}</ref>

KPFA was the first station to broadcast a radio show specializing in space music, with the debut of Stephen Hill and Anna Turner's ''Music from the Hearts of Space'' in 1973. Ten years later, the show&nbsp;– now known by the shorter title ''Hearts of Space''&nbsp;– was syndicated in the U.S. to NPR stations, while remaining at its first home at KPFA.

In the 1970s and 1980s, it broadcast a weekly long-running radio program called ''Fruit Punch'' for gay and lesbian listeners.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Woolhouse |first=Bob |date=December 18, 1986 |title=Spiking Up Fruit Punch |volume=16 |pages=30 |work=Bay Area Reporter |issue=51 |url=https://archive.org/details/BAR_19861218/page/n29/mode/2up |access-date=June 14, 2022}}</ref>

Since 1981, the station is known for airing the pioneering culture jamming sound collage show ''Over the Edge''. Originally hosted by Don Joyce of Negativland, it is the longest-running block of free-form audio collage in radio history.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://archive.org/details/ote?tab=about |title=Over the Edge Radio - Internet Archive |accessdate=October 25, 2023 }}</ref>

KPFA is also known for Puzzling Evidence, the longest running radio program of the Church of the Subgenius hosted by Doug Wellman and Harry S. Robins. The program was the inspiration for the Talking Heads song of the same name from the band's film ''True Stories''.

==Labor disputes== In 1999 the station was effectively taken over by KPFA's governing Pacifica Foundation, after Dennis Bernstein, the long-established host of the station's ''Flashpoints'' news magazine, was forcibly removed by police for airing grievances on air over a labor dispute.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/KPFA-Broadcaster-Dragged-Away-From-Studio-2919878.php |title=KPFA Broadcaster Dragged Away From Studio: Police arrest supporters of program host |work=San Francisco Chronicle |author=Henry K. Lee |date=July 14, 1999 |access-date=February 22, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/1999/07/15/MN64513.DTL |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000118110048/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/1999/07/15/MN64513.DTL |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 18, 2000 |title=Battleground at KPFA -- Employees Locked Out: Hundreds of fans protest changes at Berkeley radio station |work=San Francisco Chronicle |author=Charles Burress |date=July 15, 1999 |access-date=February 22, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/1999/07/16/MN95131.DTL |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121210184329/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/1999/07/16/MN95131.DTL |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 10, 2012 |title=Legislators Step Into KPFA Clamor: Hearing demanded as protesters besiege Berkeley station a third night |work=San Francisco Chronicle |author=Charles Burress, Janine DeFao |date=July 16, 1999 |access-date=February 22, 2012}}</ref> A broad cross section of protesters joined in direct action outside of the station<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/1999/07/17/MN64131.DTL&type=printable |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120910131459/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/1999/07/17/MN64131.DTL&type=printable |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 10, 2012 |title=Berkeley Gets Radical Over KPFA Lockout: Anyone with a cause welcome to protest |work=San Francisco Chronicle |author=Michael Taylor |date=July 17, 1999 |access-date=February 22, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/e/a/1999/07/29/NEWS5289.dtl&type=printable |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120911010526/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/e/a/1999/07/29/NEWS5289.dtl&type=printable |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 11, 2012 |title=KPFA's owners reopening station in "goodwill gesture': Pacifica Foundation to take 6-12 month management hiatus |work=San Francisco Examiner |author=Julie Chao |date=July 29, 1999 |access-date=February 22, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/1999/07/29/BU107511.DTL&type=printable |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120909221745/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/1999/07/29/BU107511.DTL&type=printable |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 9, 2012 |title=Silenced KPFA Dissidents Put Out the Rallying Cry in Cyberspace: Back in the '60s, it was mimeographs -- today, you just log on |work=San Francisco Chronicle |author=Dan Fost |date=July 29, 1999 |access-date=February 22, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/e/a/1999/07/30/NEWS12968.dtl&type=printable |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120910093627/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/e/a/1999/07/30/NEWS12968.dtl&type=printable |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 10, 2012 |title=KPFA olive branch sparks mass confusion: Station tells workers to return, but protesters want offer in writing |work=San Francisco Examiner |author=Jim Herron Zamora, Larry D. Hatfield and Julie Chao |date=July 30, 1999 |access-date=February 22, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/e/a/1999/08/03/METRO14918.dtl&type=printable |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120911075741/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/e/a/1999/08/03/METRO14918.dtl&type=printable |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 11, 2012 |title=KPFA transmitter still off-limits to staff: Employees return, but tower continues to broadcast signal from Houston |work=San Francisco Examiner |author=Robert Selna |date=August 3, 1999 |access-date=February 22, 2012}}</ref> in a weeks-long lockout during which station management spent over half a million dollars on security measures.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/1999/09/08/MN4696.DTL&type=printable |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912083722/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/1999/09/08/MN4696.DTL&type=printable |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 12, 2012 |title=Nearly $500,000 Spent During KPFA Lockout |work=San Francisco Chronicle |author=Debra Levi Holtz |date=September 8, 1999 |access-date=February 22, 2012}}</ref> At one point, listeners created a separate fund to accept listener pledges that would be directed away from the Pacifica Foundation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/1999/10/19/MN25229.DTL&type=printable |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120909205646/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/1999/10/19/MN25229.DTL&type=printable |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 9, 2012 |title=KPFA Fans Create Separate Fund |work=San Francisco Chronicle |author=Debra Levi Holtz |date=October 19, 1999 |access-date=February 22, 2012}}</ref>

In 2007, KPFA derecognized its Unpaid Staff Organization. The staff claimed that Pacifica Radio had been making network more corporate, softening its voice of dissent, and attempting to get rid of some of the volunteers at the station. In 2008, a forcible removal by police of a KPFA volunteer highlighted the concerns between management and volunteer staff.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/02/BAF912K36V.DTL&tsp=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080905131014/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/02/BAF912K36V.DTL&tsp=1 |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 5, 2008 |title=Tension high at KPFA after volunteer arrested |work=San Francisco Chronicle |author=Leslie Fulbright |date=September 2, 2008 |access-date=February 22, 2012}}</ref>

A member of the KPFA board suggested that it was problematic that there was no grievance procedure for unpaid staff at the station.<ref name=berkeleydailyplanet.com>{{cite web |url=https://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/issue/2008-09-04/article/31010?headline=Rough-Arrest-at-KPFA-Stuns-Station-Community |title=Rough Arrest at KPFA Stuns Station, Community |work=San Francisco Chronicle |author=Judith Scherr |date=September 4, 2008 |access-date=February 22, 2012}}</ref>

In November 2010, the management of Pacifica laid off most of the staff of the popular KPFA Morning Show. The union representing the paid staff of KPFA claims that the layoffs were done in violation of the union contract.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://labornotes.org/blogs/2010/11/behind-layoffs-kpfa-radio |title=Behind the Layoffs at KPFA Radio |author=David Bacon |author-link=David Bacon (photojournalist) |work=Labor Education and Research Project |date=November 18, 2010 |access-date=February 22, 2012}}</ref> Pacifica management says the layoffs were financially necessary and done according to staff seniority.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pacifica.org/homepage/update-regarding-kpfa-budget-crisis-and-staff-reductions.html |title=Update regarding KPFA budget crisis and staff reductions |author=Arlene Engelhardt |work=Pacifica Foundation |date=December 3, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110101210942/http://pacifica.org/homepage/update-regarding-kpfa-budget-crisis-and-staff-reductions.html |archive-date=January 1, 2011 |access-date=February 22, 2012}}</ref> Pacifica management replaced the paid staff of the Morning Show with an all-volunteer crew.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://kpfaworker.wordpress.com/2010/12/19/pacifica-replaces-union-workers-with-political-allies/ |title=Pacifica replaces union workers with political allies |work=KPFA Worker |date=December 19, 2010 |access-date=February 22, 2012}}</ref>

==Affiliated stations== KPFA's sister stations are WBAI New York, KPFT Houston, KPFK Los Angeles, and WPFW Washington DC. Pacifica continues today to be a listener-supported network of stations. The main KPFA transmitter is a 59 kilowatt class B, though there is a booster '''KPFA-FM3''' in Oakley. '''KPFB''' 89.3 is a smaller station, also in Berkeley, that covers areas of Berkeley that are shielded from the main KPFA signal by the Berkeley Hills. It also carries some separate programming specifically for its Berkeley audience. KPFA programs are also rebroadcast by KFCF in Fresno. KZFR in Chico also carries KPFA's programming from 2:00-6:00&nbsp;a.m. daily. KZSC Santa Cruz simultaneously broadcasts KPFA's Pacifica Evening News on weeknights. In the Bay Area, Comcast carries KPFA's broadcasts on cable channel 967, as part of its digital radio offering. The channel is labeled "Variety/Berkeley".

==See also== {{Portal|San Francisco Bay Area|Liberalism|Politics|Radio|Socialism}} {{Archival records|title=KPFA-FM Music Dept. Collection|location= Other Minds Archives|inventory_number=OMA.COL003.KPFA|description_URL=https://archives.otherminds.org/index.php/Detail/collections/5}} {{Columns-list|colwidth=30em| * Aimee Allison * Charles Amirkhanian * Larry Bensky * Pratap Chatterjee * Laurie Garrett * Adi Gevins * Matt Gonzalez * Doug Henwood * Don Joyce * Pauline Kael * Ramsey Kanaan * William Mandel * Richard Pryor * Kenneth Rexroth * Nicole Sawaya * Bonnie Simmons * Elsa Knight Thompson * Alan Watts * Negativland * ''Over the Edge'' }}

==References== {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==Further reading== * {{cite book |first=Matthew |last=Lasar |title=Pacifica Radio: The Rise of an Alternative Network |series=American Subjects Series |publisher=Temple University Press |url=http://www.temple.edu/tempress/titles/1389_reg.html |date=April 2000 |isbn=1-56639-777-4 |access-date=June 7, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060614051034/http://www.temple.edu/tempress/titles/1389_reg.html |archive-date=June 14, 2006 |url-status=dead }} * {{cite book |first=Matthew |last=Lasar |title=Uneasy Listening: Pacifica Radio's Civil War |publisher=Black Apollo Press |url=http://germinalproductions.com/blackapollo/lasar.htm |date=January 2006 |isbn=1-90035-545-0}} * {{cite book |first=Jesse |last=Walker |author-link=Jesse Walker |title=Rebels on the Air: An Alternative History of Radio in America |publisher=NYU Press |date=September 2001 |isbn=0-81479-381-9 }} * {{URL|https://www.pacificaradioarchives.org/|Pacifica Radio Archives}} * {{URL|www.whitings-writings.com/lengthening_shadow.htm|The Lengthening Shadow: Lewis Hill and the Origins of Listener-Sponsored Radio in America}}

==External links== * {{officialwebsite|https://kpfa.org/}} * {{FM station data|51246|KPFA}} * {{FM station data|51243|KPFB}}

{{Pacifica Radio}} {{SF Radio}} {{Authority control}}

Category:1949 establishments in California Category:Counterculture of the 1960s Category:Culture of Berkeley, California Category:Mass media in Berkeley, California Category:Pacifica Foundation stations Category:Radio stations established in 1949 PFA