From its 1976 establishment until October 2025, WCSB operated with a campus radio and free-form format programmed largely by CSU students.
History
WCSB began broadcasting on May 10, 1976, with programming from Cleveland State University students, faculty, and staff members.[2] In addition, members of the Northeast Ohio community not affiliated with the university hosted programs on WCSB.
In 2020, WCSB received a grant from the College Radio Foundation to defray costs of replacing the station's antenna on Rhodes Tower. [3]
At Cleveland State University, WCSB held annual parties and concerts around Halloween. The Halloween Masquerade Ball began in 2009 to show appreciation to the station's listeners and their undying support as a free event offered to the local community. Until 2016, this event was held at the Cleveland Public Theater in the Gordon Square district of Cleveland.
Other events included Radiothon[7], an annual week-long fundraising event in November, and an annual record fair in the summer.
Transfer to Ideastream and switch to jazz
On October 3, 2025, CSU announced Ideastream Public Media would take over WCSB's operations via a public service operating agreement, with Ideastream's "JazzNEO" jazz format supplanting WCSB's campus programming, and Ideastream providing internships and career opportunities for CSU students.[8][9] The transfer was announced by CSU president Laura J. Bloomberg to WCSB management and staff via a Zoom call at 11a.m.;[10] negotiations between the two parties had been in place for several months but bound to a non-disclosure agreement due to the involvement of a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) license.[11] Staff retrospectively told local media of being nervous when scholarships promised to WCSB staff for the academic year failed to materialize and keycard locks to the studios failed to work.[12]
Staff were escorted out of the building by university police and WCSB's website was taken offline; coincidentally, the transfer occurred on College Radio Day and came as the station was preparing to celebrate its 50th anniversary.[13] Under a police presence, students were given limited time to remove assets, memorabilia and personal effects from the station. [14]
WRUW-FM criticized the changeover on their website, saying, "[r]adio, to us, is an act of creative expression that students deserve a right to engage in, regardless of their academic path... it is important to note that students are not solely involved in college radio for career experience".[15]
Prior to the takeover of WCSB, Ideastream was the recipient of a $1million grant from wealthy retiree couple Charlotte "Char" and Charles "Chuck" Fowler that specified new studio facilities for JazzNEO at the Idea Center.[10][16] However, a spokesperson for Ideastream disputed that the Fowler bequest was related to the station closure, calling them "two totally separate transactions."[17]
"[I]t is no understatement to say that college radio pieces together a community that could not exist without it. WCSB did that for fifty years, and Ideastream ought to be absolutely ashamed of themselves. And I hope that we can hold them accountable. I've already canceled my membership. I know that other people have as well. We can demand that Ideastream return programming to the student group. Cleveland State University retains the license for 89.3 FM. [...] They could turn programming back over to the students like that. It's simply a choice."
About 200 students, community members, alumni and former college radio workers attended a silent protest on the CSU campus following the closure.[17] A petition was circulated for the restoration of student programming.[5]
Programming
WCSB currently features a jazz format locally hosted by Dan Polletta, Dee Perry and John Simna; the format originated from, and continues to simulcast over, the second HD Radio subchannel of WCLV,[9] and launched on February 26, 2024.[19]
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