About KPFK 90.7 FM
KPFK 90.7 FM
Independent. Unbought. Unafraid.
KPFK is a listener-powered radio station broadcasting bold voices and urgent stories across Southern California.
Since 1959, we’ve been home to journalists, artists, organizers, and everyday people pushing back against disinformation, corporate media, and silence.
We’re non-commercial by design—no ads, no sponsors, no billionaire backers.
Just people-powered radio, built on resistance, curiosity, and a deep belief in public truth.
Today, with media consolidation accelerating and free speech under attack, our mission matters more than ever.
Unbought. Unafraid. On your dial since 1959.
Support the SignalWhere We Come From
KPFK was founded in 1959 by the Pacifica Foundation—an organization created by WWII-era pacifists determined to build a media platform free from government and corporate control.
From day one, we’ve broadcast with a mission: to serve peace, cultural expression, and public discourse without compromise. KPFK was also the first full-time FM station west of the Mississippi powered entirely by listener support.
We’ve survived FBI surveillance, political intimidation, economic hardship, and internal fights—all because our listeners had our back. This isn’t just a station. It’s a movement on the airwaves.
Our governance model is unique: a locally elected station board and a national nonprofit structure ensure we answer to people, not profit. KPFK is one of the few remaining media institutions where the public still holds the mic.
Notable Moments in KPFK History
1949 — Pacifica Radio is Born
Pacifica launches KPFA in Berkeley—the first listener-sponsored, non-commercial radio station in the U.S. It lays the foundation for a network committed to peace, free speech, and media democracy.
1959 — Birth of a Broadcast Rebel
KPFK launches from Mt. Wilson as Pacifica’s second station. At 110,000 watts, it becomes the most powerful public radio signal in the Western U.S.
1961 — Peabody Award for Excellence
Just two years in, KPFK wins Pacifica’s second George Foster Peabody Award for fearless, independent journalism that challenged Cold War orthodoxy and media gatekeepers.
1974 — Jailed for Journalism
General Manager Will Lewis is jailed for 15 days after refusing to hand over tapes from the Symbionese Liberation Army. He becomes one of the only U.S. media leaders ever imprisoned for defending press freedom.
1974 — IMRU Launches
KPFK debuts IMRU, one of the first LGBTQ+ radio shows in the country. It's still the longest-running queer program in U.S. radio history.
1986 — FCC vs. “Jerker”
After airing Robert Chesley's AIDS-era play Jerker, the FCC sanctions KPFK for “indecency,” igniting national debate over censorship, queer storytelling, and the limits of broadcast speech.
2024 — New Era, New Leadership
Veteran music director Maggie LePique steps in as interim General Manager, launching a bold effort to refocus the station around mission-driven journalism and community relevance.
2025 — Progressive Realignment
KPFK restructures its lineup, expanding local voices, moving fringe content out of prime hours, and restoring progressive anchors like Background Briefing. The overhaul signals a return to its radical, people-powered roots.
What We Do
We don’t do soundbites. We do signal.
KPFK broadcasts 24/7 with a lineup that cuts through noise—bringing you frontline reporting, subversive art, and stories mainstream media won’t touch. Our airwaves are a home for voices that challenge, inspire, and agitate.
- Investigative journalism: From Palestine to Pico-Union, the truth gets airtime here.
- Movement music & the arts: Jazz, hip hop, spoken word, and experimental soundscapes.
- Bilingual & community voices: Spanish-language news, Black-led analysis, Indigenous perspectives.
- Public affairs & roundtables: Labor, abolition, climate justice, and cultural survival.
Flagship shows include Democracy Now!, Sojourner Truth, Radio Insurgencia Femenina, Rising Up with Sonali, and more—alongside dozens of DIY programs rooted in LA’s resistance culture.
Who We Are
KPFK is powered by organizers, engineers, poets, punks, scholars, and dreamers. A mix of veteran journalists, next-gen creatives, and community leaders who believe public media still matters—and are proving it every day.
We’re listener-funded and mission-driven, with local input from an elected station board and oversight from the Pacifica Foundation, the nonprofit network that created us in 1959. Everyone on our team is here because they give a damn.
Leadership
- Maggie LePique – Interim General Manager (2024–present); longtime music curator and host since the 1990s
- Gary Baca – Interim Program Director (2024–present); cultural tastemaker and LA radio veteran
- Stuart Landau – Chief Engineer (2004–present); frequency whisperer and station tech lead
- Sabine Blazin – Director of Development & Membership (2024–present); leads fundraising and listener engagement
- Volunteers & Hosts – The backbone of KPFK—from the control room to the frontlines
Get Involved
KPFK exists because people like you refuse to stay silent. This station runs on action, not ads—and we need your voice in the mix.
- Donate – Keep the signal strong. Every dollar helps us stay independent.
- Volunteer – From street teams to studio ops, bring your energy.
- Pitch a Show – Got something to say? Let’s hear it.
- Join an Event – Concerts, protests, panels—we don’t just broadcast. We show up.