When actively broadcasting, the radio station airs a mixture of live and pre-recorded programming from Studio Red based in the Student Media Centre on the main campus 24 hours a day.
The station has and continues to aim to host a diverse range of daytime, specialist music, and speech-based radio programming.
[5] Following its first anniversary, the station held workshops for young individuals from the Canterbury community, teaching key skills in radio and music - a project forwarded for a Times Higher Education Award.
By 2009, the station was typically broadcasting 12 hours of output per day and hosted BBC Radio Kent's local music programme 'BBC Introducing'.
After achieving silver, in 2010, the student radio association awarded CSR FM 'Best Outside Broadcast' for coverage of the then Lounge on The Farm music festival.
[6] Broadcasts were made from a disused pig sty with a team of 15, who overcame technical difficulties, held several live sessions and aired feeds from all stages.
Additionally, 'The Youth Academy' was launched with the aim of teaching young people transferable skills in broadcast media and music.
In 2014, the Student Media Centre building was opened by then BBC Radio 5 Live presenter Charlotte Green, providing facilities to all Kent Student Media outlets, including for CSR FM a studio booth known as Studio Red, which remains in current operation.
[10] Also marking its debut was 'CSR Presents', an evening broadcast covering live and local music performed primarily at the Ballroom.
While the programme was also nominated for an I Love Student Radio Award, the Youth Academy won the 'Best Outreach Project'.
Since July 2022, the station has experienced continued technical difficulties, ultimately leading to the discontinuation of its livestream for almost a year from November 2022.
However, in an attempt to increase student listenership and popularity, the station changed its focus to chart/hip-hop/dance based genres and played out live in university outlets including Woody's and the Gulbenkian Theatre.
On Fridays-Sundays from 5 pm, a throwback hour playlist would air well-known popular tracks alongside RnB, hip-hop and dance anthems from the 1980s through to the present.
CSR FM conducted several outside broadcasts from festivals including Lounge On The Farm between 2010-2014 and the University of Kent's live music event Keynestock.
[21][22] Notable performances broadcast live from the 2011 Lounge On The Farm festival included Ellie Goulding, Katy B, Everything Everything, and Echo & the Bunnymen.
These awards are judged by media industry experts and professionals including established radio DJs, producers, journalists, filmmakers, directors, etc.