It is not related to KUSC, the classical radio station owned by the University of Southern California; the two institutions happen to share initials.

Names in the Spring 2006 semester include "Bitch Stole My Fish", "Concordia Discourse", "Billfred in the Niiiiiightiiiiiiiiime!"

Some notable shows over the years have included Locals Only (featuring bands from South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia), The Columbia Beet (local bands played live in the studio), the Red Bank Bar and Grill (an alternative country program), The Weekend Kicker (on Friday afternoons), Musical Mutiny (Sunday afternoons 1977-8, a progenitor of experimental/mash-up/sampling/"difficult" sounds; "Knox Abbott" was doing guerrilla radio about 30 years before it would become fashionable), Metal Cock Radio (an all heavy metal program), Origami (the station's first K-pop programming block), Blast From the Past (one of the earliest shows to focus on more esoteric music from the 1960s, first aired in 1978 and featuring groups such as the "Chocolate Watchband" and "Lothar and the Hand People"; a few years after the originator of the show had graduated and moved on, more recent listeners remember his apprentice, Freewheelin' Frank assuming the role of host).

Due to the geological lay of the land in relation to the station's antenna, the ten watt signal was known to reach listeners in Elgin, SC to the northeast, as well as South Congaree, SC to the southwest, especially on cloudy or overcast days, even though WUSC's effective radiated range was approximately 2 miles.

In the 50's and 60's, the 10-watt station broadcast on 89.9 on FM, and it had a classical format, including a show on Sundays called the "Operatic Theater."

It began to publish its programming for the first time in "The State" newspaper from Columbia on July 1, 1953 with the frequency listed as 89.9 in the Radio Guide section.

Due to a restructuring of FCC law regarding low power stations across the country in 1982, WUSC had to boost its signal to at least 100 watts or lose its license to broadcast.

Ending broadcast was never considered an option from the moment the FCC announced the new requirements, as WUSC had made its indelible mark on the air waves in Columbia, recognized as a unique and invaluable contributor to the surrounding community.

The 3000 watt signal meant that specialty programming, such as Massive Metal, hosted by "Dredge Slug," aka Carl Singmaster (who later founded Manifest Discs and Tapes), could now easily waft to the metalheads all throughout Lexington County, for example.

Increased listener accessibility from this significantly more powerful signal led to greater regional recognition of WUSC, rapidly becoming more broadly popular across the Midlands.

Although WUSC had a 14K webstream at the turn of the 21st century, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) introduced confusion to all Non-commercial educational (NCE) radio stations shortly afterwards.

The station remained off the air for a brief period before resuming under new leadership and DJs selected by the Board of Student Publications.

Before the new executive staff was selected, the DJs were allowed to play what they wanted, resulting in Top 40 music being aired on the station.