Now the Biggest Radio Controversy in Texas
This is posted to address some of the silly comments being left by some alleged
listeners over on the Austin American Statesman Music Source Blog:
Thanks to the hundreds of concerned, or at least interested, folks who taken time to comment on the growing KUT controversy. Most of the comments are very supportive, thank you, and a few a little bit off the mark, if only that most folks don’t know that much about how radio REALLY works, and how PUBLIC radio (Read: NPR affiliates at major universities) operates.
Mr. Sux is not even worth responding to.
However, Steph Beasly IS worth responding to! Ms. Beasly wrote: “wouldn’t it be fiscally responsible to see what effect these program changes have on the listenership and donations to KUT before we break out the lynch mob?”
Well it’s not QUITE like selling cornflakes at the grocery store. The mngmt at KUT ALREADY know how many folks are listening and how much they are contributing. Guess which way the numbers are going? Sure, down! They are going down across the dial! Radio listenership is plummeting. (How many 19 y.o.s you know listen to AM radio? FM radio? ANY radio?)
KUT bases its numbers on Arbitron, which was never intended for NON-COMMERCIAL use, and is being SUED around the country for under-reporting minorities.
The point is: Austin REALLY IS different than most cities, and if it means keeping these iconic DJs, with their encyclopedic knowledge of Austin/Texas music on the air, then we are content for KUT to be the SECOND highest rated station in town. After all, WE are paying the bills.!
86% 86%! of KUT’s funds come from AUSTIN
underwriters and indy listeners. YOU! Did you get a tweet asking your opinion? Would you support KUT having a Community Advisory Board made up folks like yourself? Wouldn’t cost the station a dime. It would provide a PUBLIC forum, for PUBLIC input (that’s you all…) for our great PUBLIC radio station at our big ol’ PUBLIC UNIVERSITY. (That’s yr “lynch mob”!?)
And, ya’ know, it sorta’ LOOKS like they are pushing out the old guys for the young guys. Um, age discrimination would be a nasty, costly case for UT to defend. Whole LOTTA’ your pledge dollars!
BTW- you DO know the GM is pulling down a $140,000 a year, and that they are raising funds for a new, state of the art, $11 million building?
They didn’t tell you that?
Now ya’ know! (Source: UT Open Records Request)
We are working HARD to RESOLVE this issue!
THERE ARE NO LYNCH MOBS Ms. Beasley. That is not helpful language, ya know what I mean? In this day and age and president, okay? > We ask folks not to “flame” on individuals or the issue…whatever side of the issue they are on.<> WE ARE KUT’s BEST FRIENDS <
We welcome you to join the THOUSANDS of Austinites, musicians, businesses, underwriters, Fb mavens, et al, in quickly and fairly resolving this important issue,
NOW THE BIGGEST RADIO CONTROVERSY IN TEXAS.
We’re also sticking up for our friends, Paul Ray and Larry Monroe. I’m sure you would stick up for your friends if this happened to them.
Thanks for your comments. We will try to respond as best we can. There are now HUNDREDS of messages coming in.
cheers, jim radio designated radio nerd
SaveKUTAustin Committee