XCSB Signs Five Year Lease for Studio Spot in Waterloo

Ten months after Cleveland State University unceremoniously shuttered WCSB and booted members and producers of its college radio station, its guerrilla offshoot officially set up digs with a five-year lease in the city’s Waterloo District.

A storefront at 15721 Waterloo Road is the new home of XCSB, the group announced this week. That space is the streetfacing part of the Cleveland Rocks Shop at the Northeast Ohio Music Arts Development Hub, or NOMAD.

“We are extremely appreciative of the CRPPF team and their belief in what XCSB has to offer, and this long-term lease means we will be a part of the Waterloo Arts District for years to come,” a station spokesperson wrote in the release.

“We can’t wait to begin broadcasting live from next door to the Beachland Ballroom later this year,” they said.

Since last October, DJs and supporters of Cleveland State’s former college station have attempted to recreate an operation 50 years in the making on their own in an independent streaming version.

As Cleveland State’s decision made national news, ex-members of the station sued CSU and President Laura Bloomberg, arguing that WCSB was being reprimanded for openly criticizing school admins over its airwaves. Those who, the suit argues, conspired in secret to take WCSB off the air.

But ten months later, it is clearly anything but silent. Regularly scheduled programming can be listened to via XCSB’s new app.

Cindy Barber, the owner of the Beachland Ballroom next door and founder of Cleveland Rocks, told Scene XCSB’s pursuit of new digs lined up nicely with her goal of solidifying the surrounding blocks as a nexus of music production and part of the mission of supporting local bands.

“The timing is great with XCSB renting space in our empty storefront at the same time we are building out the black box space in the rear of the building that will be the Cleveland Rocks: Past Present Future’ NOMAD Music Hub,” Barber said in a text message.

“Hopefully we can all help shine a spotlight on our local talent and amazing music scene,” she said.

Donations to XSCB can be made here.

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