MISSION CRITICAL 

KCRW Champions Betsy Burnham and Mark Stern challenge you to donate RIGHT NOW. If we can raise $10,000 by midnight, they will MATCH it.

donate now

KCRW

On Air | Now Playing

FREAKS ONLY 3 - 5AM PT

Upcoming Event

Cruel World Festival
May 17

Goldenvoice

Cruel World Festival

Brookside at the Rose Bowl

All Events
A new proposal for a 100% tariff on foreign-made movies has industry professionals seeking to understand what this could mean for the future.

A new proposal for a 100% tariff on foreign-made movies has industry professionals seeking to understand what this could mean for the future.

from The Business

Waist deep in churning water at night, 'wetsuiting' is a sport for danger junkies

Tyler Harper dons a wetsuit, often during storms, and heads out into the turbulent surf to fish for striped bass in the secretive sport known as "wetsuiting."

Afrikaners arrive in the US as ‘refugees,’ fleeing what?

The white South Africans were granted refugee status by the Trump administration, despite no evidence they face more danger than Black South Africans.

‘Uptown Girl’ Christie Brinkley reveals her marriage to Billy Joel

“Uptown Girl” Christie Brinkley is out with a new biography about becoming the biggest model of the 1980s.

What’s screening at Cannes?

The Cannes Film Festival kicks off today. There’s a new “Mission: Impossible” and films from Spike Lee, Ari Aster, and Lynne Ramsay.

Featured Shows

All Shows >
KCRW's signature daily music show. New releases, live performances, and interviews.

Morning Becomes Eclectic

KCRW's signature daily music show. New releases, live performances, and interviews.

 It’s about the things we obsess over in our free time: TV and movies, music and celebrities, Internet and memes, and the people who make it. No topic is too big or small.

The Sam Sanders Show

It’s about the things we obsess over in our free time: TV and movies, music and celebrities, Internet and memes, and the people who make it. No topic is too big or small.

 Left, Right & Center is KCRW’s weekly politics show where we take on the tough, divisive issues you’re afraid to talk about with your own family.

Left, Right & Center

Left, Right & Center is KCRW’s weekly politics show where we take on the tough, divisive issues you’re afraid to talk about with your own family.

 Reporter Brian Reed re-examines everything about journalism, the profession he thought he knew. In the middle of making his second hit podcast, Brian got sued. Accused.

Question Everything

Reporter Brian Reed re-examines everything about journalism, the profession he thought he knew. In the middle of making his second hit podcast, Brian got sued. Accused.

Latest DJ Shows

Morning Becomes Eclectic

KCRW's signature daily music show. New releases, live performances, and interviews.

May. 13 2 hr, 49 min

José Galván

An infectious harmony of varied sounds and melodies that bridge cultures and genres.

May. 12 2 hr

FREAKS ONLY

Future beats and a mind-melting mix of fuzz, bass, and funk. Served fresh every weeknight.

May. 12 1 hr, 59 min

LeRoy Downs

A varied sonic experience to jazz, blending music, style, and culture.

May. 11 2 hr

Jason Kramer

Carefully curated music from around the world.

May. 11 1 hr, 59 min

All DJ shows

Live Playlist

FREAKS ONLY

Full playlist

Upcoming Events

Lucy Dacus
May 14

Live Nation

Lucy Dacus

The Greek Theatre

James Bay
May 14

The Bellwether

James Bay

The Bellwether

All events

Los Angeles

 Artists bring sparks of life to Altadena’s burn area

Artists bring sparks of life to Altadena’s burn area

 KCRW Features

Soil testing in fire zones reveals toxic material left behind

 KCRW Features

4 months post-fire, KCRW staffer wants to leave grief behind

 KCRW Features

Food & Drink

 Waist deep in churning water at night, 'wetsuiting' is a sport for danger junkies

Waist deep in churning water at night, 'wetsuiting' is a sport for danger junkies

 Good Food

Capturing the dying tradition of harpoon fishing on an ancient river

 Good Food

How a daughter made her mother a viral Korean cooking star

 Good Food

Politics

 Afrikaners arrive in the US as ‘refugees,’ fleeing what?

Afrikaners arrive in the US as ‘refugees,’ fleeing what?

 Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Trump is in the Persian Gulf region to make deals. Ethics concerns are baggage

 Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Will LA City and County clash over separate homeless agencies?

 KCRW Features

Best New Music

 Morning Becomes Eclectic playlist: May 13, 2025

Morning Becomes Eclectic playlist: May 13, 2025

 Morning Becomes Eclectic

Today’s Top Tune: Allison Russell – ‘Superlover (Feat. Annie Lennox)’

 Today's Top Tune

José Galván's playlist, May 12, 2025

 José Galván

Arts

 Filmmakers Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck talk ‘Freaky Tales’

Filmmakers Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck talk ‘Freaky Tales’

 The Treatment

Kerry Washington gets us excited to check out her boat driving skills

 The Treatment

James Mangold talks ‘Sweet Smell of Success’

 The Treatment

Entertainment

 Proposed film tariffs put Hollywood on its heels

Proposed film tariffs put Hollywood on its heels

 The Business

What’s screening at Cannes?

 Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Did ‘Conclave’ director Edward Berger rollerblade his way into a career?

 The Business

This Week on KCRW

Qatar plans to give President Trump a plane to use as Air Force One, which even some supporters say crosses a line. But the appearance of corruption doesn’t stop there.

Trump is in the Persian Gulf region to make deals. Ethics concerns are baggage

Qatar plans to give President Trump a plane to use as Air Force One, which even some supporters say crosses a line. But the appearance of corruption doesn’t stop there.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

KCRW's signature music program features new releases, live performances, and artist interviews hosted by Novena Carmel.

Morning Becomes Eclectic playlist: May 13, 2025

KCRW's signature music program features new releases, live performances, and artist interviews hosted by Novena Carmel.

from Morning Becomes Eclectic

Which Canadian dreampop band — who've recently dropped three albums in as many months — just made their way to no. 1?

KCRW’s Top 30: Men I Trust, BADBADNOTGOOD, Mark Pritchard & Thom Yorke

Which Canadian dreampop band — who've recently dropped three albums in as many months — just made their way to no. 1?

from Music Special Programming

Anaheim officials tore down and replaced its “Willkommen” signs that paid homage to the city’s German immigrant founders.

Anaheim destroys historic German heritage sign amid renovations

Anaheim officials tore down and replaced its “Willkommen” signs that paid homage to the city’s German immigrant founders.

from KCRW Features

Singer, actor, and activist Allison Russell invited the legendary Annie Lennox to collaborate on a beautiful ballad that begs the question: How are you a “Superlover?”

Today’s Top Tune: Allison Russell – ‘Superlover (Feat. Annie Lennox)’

Singer, actor, and activist Allison Russell invited the legendary Annie Lennox to collaborate on a beautiful ballad that begs the question: How are you a “Superlover?”

from Today's Top Tune

LA County supervisors approved a plan to create a county-only homeless agency after years of joint partnership with the City of Los Angeles.

Will LA City and County clash over separate homeless agencies?

LA County supervisors approved a plan to create a county-only homeless agency after years of joint partnership with the City of Los Angeles.

from KCRW Features

An infectious harmony of varied sounds and melodies that bridge cultures and genres.

José Galván's playlist, May 12, 2025

An infectious harmony of varied sounds and melodies that bridge cultures and genres.

from José Galván

New music. Emerging artists. No boundaries. Served fresh every weeknight, 8-10pm, only on FREAKS ONLY by Travis Holcombe.

FREAKS ONLY playlist: May 12, 2025

New music. Emerging artists. No boundaries. Served fresh every weeknight, 8-10pm, only on FREAKS ONLY by Travis Holcombe.

from FREAKS ONLY

On May 15, the Supreme Court takes up President Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship for certain children of immigrants, but this case is really about the power of…

Supreme Court’s birthright citizenship case could alter lower courts’ ability to rein in Trump

On May 15, the Supreme Court takes up President Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship for certain children of immigrants, but this case is really about the power of…

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

As surgeon general, Casey Means would be able to advocate for alternative medicines that may not have been scientifically vetted.

LA wellness influencer Casey Means is nominated to be next surgeon general

As surgeon general, Casey Means would be able to advocate for alternative medicines that may not have been scientifically vetted.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Patrick Riley and Alaina Moore originated with breezy, seaside tunes and evolved to churn out synth-pop and rock with R&B influences.

Tennis on making music as a married couple, forgoing parenthood

Patrick Riley and Alaina Moore originated with breezy, seaside tunes and evolved to churn out synth-pop and rock with R&B influences.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Grammy-winning soul expansionist Bilal brings literal “Sunshine” and other delights from his 2024 LP “Adjust Brightness” to KCRW’s Annenberg Performance Studio.

Morning Becomes Eclectic playlist: May 12, 2025

Grammy-winning soul expansionist Bilal brings literal “Sunshine” and other delights from his 2024 LP “Adjust Brightness” to KCRW’s Annenberg Performance Studio.

from Morning Becomes Eclectic

KCRW's all-music channel blending the collected talents and tastes of all KCRW's DJs into a single voice streaming 24 hours a day.

Eclectic 24

KCRW's all-music channel blending the collected talents and tastes of all KCRW's DJs into a single voice streaming 24 hours a day.

KCRW's all-music channel blending the collected talents and tastes of all KCRW's DJs into a single voice streaming 24 hours a day.

Eclectic 24

KCRW's all-music channel blending the collected talents and tastes of all KCRW's DJs into a single voice streaming 24 hours a day.

Disco innovator and disability rights activist Cola Boyy ’s posthumous sophomore album, Quit To Play Chess, serves as a soundtrack against ableism and inequality.

Today’s Top Tune: Cola Boyy – ‘Walk Again’

Disco innovator and disability rights activist Cola Boyy ’s posthumous sophomore album, Quit To Play Chess, serves as a soundtrack against ableism and inequality.

from Today's Top Tune

"Just Jazz" with LeRoy Downs. Downs' goal is to bring a varied sonic experience to jazz, while blending music, style, and culture.

LeRoy Downs' playlist, May 11, 2025

"Just Jazz" with LeRoy Downs. Downs' goal is to bring a varied sonic experience to jazz, while blending music, style, and culture.

from LeRoy Downs

Featuring selections that range from carefully curated music from around the world with unique gems and quality tracks that will satisfy the needs of even the most discerning music…

Jason Kramer's playlist, May 11, 2025

Featuring selections that range from carefully curated music from around the world with unique gems and quality tracks that will satisfy the needs of even the most discerning music…

from Jason Kramer

A sonic trip through the past, present and future of roots music.

Jeremy Sole's playlist, May 11, 2025

A sonic trip through the past, present and future of roots music.

from Jeremy Sole