CONCORD, CA (June 18, 2025) — As you may have heard by now, Concord’s student-built radio station, 90.5 KVHS, is set to go dark around June 28. For details on why this is happening and updates on the station’s future, visit savekvhs.com.

For generations, KVHS has been an FM staple in the Diablo Valley, and a soundtrack to countless lives. Understandably, its likely fate is deeply upsetting for many in our community.

As a Central Coast transplant, I don’t share that lifelong connection, but I’ve always admired how cherished this local institution is. I’m honored to have played a small part in its recent history through my weekly local music program, “The Beat of Diablo.”

As this chapter closes, I can’t help but reflect on nearly 200 consecutive weeks of bringing local music to our FM airwaves.

My journey with KVHS began in 2021 when KVHS alumnus Phil Moore became the volunteer manager. The station was transitioning from “90.5 The Edge” (nu-metal, hardcore, etc.) to “freeform radio,” emphasizing progressive rock and classic rock deep cuts.

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It was unique, but I saw an opportunity for it to truly differentiate itself from the rest of the dial by featuring something entirely unavailable elsewhere – original, local music. I reached out via email to see if there was any interest in this.

The initial response wasn’t “no,” so I quickly created a pilot episode, featuring some recent local releases and some audio from performances on “Concord Couch Concerts,” the pandemic-era music platform I helped produce.

I pitched the radio show as a weekly, pre-recorded local music hour that I’d produce at home and send into the station as an audio file for review a few days ahead of the scheduled airtime.

Was I feeling imposter syndrome? Absolutely!

I had zero radio experience and no affiliation with the station or its legacy. I didn’t quite have my “chops” yet as a DJ either! My initial on-air delivery was a subdued, NPR-esque voice – fine for news, but not great for a music DJ.

Despite these pitfalls, I trusted my own expertise on the content, and frankly, had nothing to lose by asking.

When I first spoke with Phil on the phone, he asked, “What’s in it for you?” I don’t recall my exact answer, but the question gave me pause. I likely spoke about the importance of celebrating local music, how streaming has made music purchases obsolete, and how original acts struggle to find an audience with our local stages dominated by cover bands and tribute acts.

Something in my ramblings must have resonated, because he eventually responded with something to the effect of, “I like the cut of your jib. Let’s give it a shot.”

The learning curve was steeper than I had imagined.

I had to learn various broadcast restrictions beyond the typical FCC rules, like the licensee’s request to not say or play anything political or religious.

Additionally, due to the type of FCC license, I couldn’t say anything promotional or inadvertently instruct listeners to do anything. I had to train myself to navigate this minefield, but overtime, it became second nature.

Less natural was my initial “host” voice. I think I was subconsciously mimicking Casey Kasem for the first few months. I’ve thankfully found my own voice since, but I still hear that influence now and then.

Once trained up, the work itself was a lot to manage.

This involved sifting through new releases from my ever-growing network of local artists, researching upcoming shows, updating websites accordingly and creating social media content.

As a full-time San Francisco office worker, I had been devoting my BART commutes, evenings and weekends to the show.

Ultimately, the workload-to-bandwidth ratio was unsustainable. I eventually worked out a reduced schedule with my employer, thereby reducing my income by 20%. I was now free to dedicate one entire workday to this effort. But why? Why take the sacrifice? What was in it for me?

That question is no easier to answer today than it was when Phil asked four years ago, but I do know, unequivocally, that it does indeed matter … and not just to me.

This was evident the first time I saw a social media video of a local musician sitting in their car (because that’s often where their only FM player is), getting emotional as they listened to music they created broadcasted on the station they grew up with.

Pure joy.

I’ve saved many such videos, which can be seen on the highlights reels of @thebeatofdiablo on Instagram.It’s too early to say if or how “The Beat” will go on, but I feel like it must. It has to. It simply matters too much.

Contact Dave Hughes at MrDaveHughes@gmail.com.

Read more Beat of Diablo columns.