College Radio: The Invisible Pulse That Kept 70s‑80s Punk Alive

This episode uncovers how college radio stations from WERS in Boston to KZSU in Berkeley became the lifeblood of punk’s underground network, giving bands like Minor Threat and Black Flag a platform before any major label heard them. By examining playlists, DIY promotion practices, and the tight web of fanzines, record stores, and mailing lists that fed these airwaves, we see how students’ refusal to pay for commercial content forged a nationwide chain of punk dissemination.

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