WVUM revives III Points partnership with 30-year-old show format

Since 1993, University of Miami radio station WVUM has aired a specialty program dedicated to electronic dance music. The show, originally called Outlands, was founded by Alex Caso to showcase UK-based artists. It has since evolved into Electric Kingdom Live, the station's longest-running specialty show.

Gabriel Izaguirre now hosts the program. In 2025, he relaunched a segment called Road to III Points on the show's 30th anniversary. This initiative revives a long-standing relationship between WVUM and the III Points festival, which dates back to the 2000s. That connection was weakened during the 2010s and the pandemic.

The Road to III Points series invites performing artists into the studio for an interview and a live DJ set. Izaguirre intentionally selects local and smaller artists, often Latino musicians. He cites Miami's demographic and the timing during Hispanic Heritage Month as key reasons for these choices.

Izaguirre describes the format as a way to remove barriers between celebrities and the public. He seeks to create an intimate conversation rather than a standard promotional backdrop. The goal is to let listeners see inside the artist's world before they perform on major stages.

The DJ sets differ from typical club performances. Guests play for approximately one hour and must follow FCC radio guidelines to remain family-friendly. Izaguirre does not believe these limits severely restrict creative freedom. He notes that DJing is an expensive hobby with a low return on investment, as performers often pay venues for exposure.

Izaguirre highlights past interviews that went beyond music. In a special Art Basel edition, he spoke with L3AN about the Latin diaspora in Miami. During Black History Month, he interviewed Pressure Point about the Black roots of EDM and the need for proper recognition of Black artists and communities.

The station maintains a pipeline to Club Space, where many WVUM alumni have become DJs. Izaguirre views this as a reciprocal relationship where local radio exposes listeners to musicians before they reach larger venues. He hopes to keep the show alive by encouraging more people to support legacy programs.

Izaguirre believes that while hosts and DJs will change, the show must remain to document the scene. He stated, "Instead of building new houses, we need people to take care of the houses that are already there."