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Tom Kremer
Listener-SupporterWhere are the Fine Arts” in this recent controversy? They certainly are poorly represented on KUT these days, and fading fast. John Aielli still manages to squeeze in a brief mention for an ASO concert, or a short movement from a concerto, but classical music is scarce on Eklektikos under the current management.
Opera is completely verboten and there are no more on-air interviews for upcoming theatre, ballet,
opera or symphony performances. John’s on-air enthusiasms for the excellence of Austin arts has filled many a venue, and peopled many a performance that otherwise might have been missed. That exposure has now dwindled to near zero under the dictums of the Vanderwilt-Mendenhall regime at KUT.Yes, they threw the arts a bone by giving us the “Aielli Unleashed” blog, which John quickly filled with interviews artful and eclectic, but the faded link to his blog was buried on the KUT website, overshadowed by prominent pitches for “Texas Music Matters”. The “numbers” dictated its demise, we are told.
Now that “Aielli Unleashed” has been dispensed with it does not require many tea leaves to see that Aielli himself and “Eklektikos” remain solely through Aielli’s large and loyal audience with their generous contributions. Even with that his show has been cut from five to three hours over recent years and he only survived a much earlier attempt at axing because Liz Carpenter fired a shot across their bow.
Why a management so obviously business oriented is ignoring the influential and well-heeled audience for the arts in Austin does not really compute. This is the audience that supports, attends, and indeed has built venues like UT’s Performing Arts Center, the Zachary Scott Theater Center, the Blanton Museum, the Paramount Theater and of course the new Long Center for the Performing Arts, not to mention the many smaller and equally important outlets for art exhibitions, music, theatre and dance.
Where are the Austin fine arts supporters now?
Austin is a great arts community, and I mean all the arts. Why shouldn’t our public radio station be dedicated to the task of presenting diversity, not only the most recent or most popular of musical styles. I would hope that a major component of any public radio station program is education, as well as entertainment, and that introducing and supporting a wide range of music and other arts is a major part of the KUT mission. It will only be so if the community of supporters insist.
Clearly the current regime at KUT has its own agenda: a big gulp of NPR news (Is the same story really news four times per day?); airing primarily music that is pre-selected and must be played as directed, “the rotation” as it’s called; replacing beloved and long-time employees, (Perhaps just before they were eligible for full retirement benefits?), with overpaid outsiders who simply do not have a feel for the Austin community, let alone represent its voice; and directing that staff members not discuss potentially unpopular management polices and changes at KUT with the public—at a public radio station. All this happens in the context of ever-escalating fundraising goals, increasing top-level management compensation, and a dramatically larger overall budget during the current administration.
Sounds all too familiar doesn’t it, regime change anyone?
Debby Kalk
Listener
thanks for organizing and driving this effort. I’m still at a loss every Thursday evening.
Barbara Grove
Listener
I have listened to KUT for many years. Over the last two years, I have faithfully listened, wondering why programming seemed to be drastically changing. I was dismayed when Ekletikos (John Aielli) played less and less classical music. Over the last few months while listening, I’ve wondered about the target audience! Unfortunately, it isn’t me! Except for what is left of Ekletikos and Horizontes, I listen to nothing else and I’m so sad about that! What KUT has contributed to the community’s enjoyment with diverse programming has been lost. I’m sure the bottom line is money.:(
Richard Peavey
I love Larry Munroe and Paul Ray’s programs and hope that KUT will reconsider their cancellation. One of KUT’s strengths has always been in the very local tenor it sets and the variety of it’s hosts. Each of these gentlemen have a distinctive voice, both at the microphone and by the unique music which they chose to play; it won’t be KUT without them.
Pat Hillman
Listener
In full support of Save KUT Austin.
Alan Hampton
Listener
I try to be open-minded, but the “new” KUT just doesn’t make me want to listen. Get rid of the playlists and canned music shows – bring back the real KUT.
Max Daniller-Varghese
Listener
What can I say? I simply miss Larry Monroe and Paul Ray. KUT just isn’t the same without them.
Martha Cluett
Listener from Santa Fe
Count Me In
Philip Ray Johnson
Listener/Supporter
I am a long time supporter of KUT who wishes they would bring back Phil Music.
Louis Armendariz
Listener
Save KUT!!
Dave Mandot
Listener (Former member, for many years, until they p****d me off) since 1970.
Denny Bahm
Listener and employee of Austin Music Venues.
Been here since 1973.
Jennifer Catherine-Oines
Listener
Blanco, Texas
I am delighted to add my name publicly to the Larry Monroe and Paul Ray support list. I am a listener, a huge fan of these guys from whom I have learned so much, and (was) a consistent, generous donor to KUT. Thank you for all you are doing. I am eager to help.Please note, my full name is Jennifer Catherine Oines. I believe I joined facebook as Jennifer Catherine, and I did not provide any information about myself I was not required to provide. I must say, I had never in my life planned to join Facebook, but decided that helping to get Larry & Paul fully reinstated to their rightful airwaves was more important than my reluctance!
Please feel free to contact me anytime.
priscilla dougherty
Listener in support of Larry and Paul.
Megan Scarborough
Listener
Thanks for leading this. I’ve been increasingly frustrated with KUT
over the years. Where’d the music go? Who needs a block of 5 hours of news?? When they do play music, why does it sound more and more like KGSR???
cindy dawn schindler
Listener/Supporter
thanks for taking this worthwhile cause on! i am a dues paying listener and NO ONE asked me if i might have an opinion on this huge change – and i DO!
Jun Hurt
Listener
Thanks for your work supporting Larry Monroe and Paul Ray and our old beloved KUT!
Pamela Daggett
Listener/EX-Long time KUT Contributor
Count me in! KUT and Public Radio have been a bright spot in a often-bleak landscape. Changes have been eating at the edges for quite some time. The latest changes have challenged my skill at denying something has gone terribly wrong. Losing such a valuable asset rips at my heart! I have to hope our outcry can be heard….the alternative is just too sad.
Robert L. Frazier
Count me in as a listener and contributor of KUT.
Jamie Mitchell
Listener/Contributor
Listener and former contributer who now contributes to KOOP until Larry is given full health benefits
Lynn Rich
Listener
Larry Monroe and Paul Ray are as much responsible for Austin being known as The Live Music Capital of the World as the musicians who made the music. With those two, it’s Always been about the music. And their personal tastes and their personal choices, based on this passion, have created nothing less than an atmosphere for us to live in, that famous Austin Atmosphere that everybody talks about; in our homes, in our cars, at work, at school, exposing us to the incredible music being made locally, nationally, internationally and historically. Is there a radio show more unique than Phil Music? Is there a disc jockey more laudable than Paul Ray? These two are our soul brothers. Really. Count me in.
Daniel Day-Woodruff
Listener
I Love Larry Monroe. it’s one of the things that keeps me coming back to KUT off hours.
Brian Dupre
Loyal listener
Mojoelvis
Listener
life hasn’t been the same since Phil went away
Clair Lavaye
Listener
Not interested in listening to formula canned shows from elsewhere. Quit wasting money paying for national shows when we have local talent that we would prefer to hear.
Debbie House
I am a big time listener, and support KUT with highest regards.
Kaye Beneke
KUT Subscriber
Linda Egg
long time listener and contributor
paul reevesman
Listener
Please count me in…
Will Ravenel
Austin listener
Save Larry’s Show!
Larry Monroe has impeccable taste, and whoever’s grabbed his
well-earned time slot where The Phil Music Show used to be has ruined it for good. give Larry back his show, d***it!
Chris Lagarde
Bring Back The Local KutI
I’m a listener who is saddened by KUT’s programming change for the worse. I’ve got a memory like an elephant KUT management. This won’t be forgotten!
Brooke Allen
Listener
Please put me on the public list for Larry and Paul….Thank you:)
Cathleen M. and Tom McGarity
Listeners
please feel free to add my name (Cathy McGarity) and my husband’s (Tom McGarity) to your list of listener supporters. For several years (ever since our son-in-law introduced us to jazz) we have been enjoying Paul Ray’s Jazz, and we are heartbroken that KUT has chosen to eliminate the program.We will not be supporting KUT in future fund drives unless the management relents and restores Paul Ray’s Jazz and Larry Monroe’s Phil Music Program to their former time periods. And we will certainly support your efforts to resurrect KUT as our source for quality local programming.
Thanks for what you are doing.
Linda Dickens
Listener and Contributor
Make Kut Local
Philip Johnson
I am a long time listener and would be very grateful to have Phil
Music return.
Melissa Riddle
I am a Listener
KUT has been one of the best things about my 15 years in Austin! Larry Monroe, Paul Ray, and many others have been with me throughout my great, and not so great, moments in Austin. I hate to think of the hole that would be left in our community without
the musical freedom, creativity, and knowledge brought to listeners and musicians, old-timers and new folks, and most certainly, the lovers and fighters that keep this great city humming with the pride of our unique ways. KUT is simply Austin.CORPORATE RADIO IS FOR ROBOTS, NOT FOR AUSTINITES!!!
Mkhatie
Listener
Bring back Larry Monroe and Paul Ray. Its just that simple.
How can you possibly continue to ignore the obvious and justified
outcry to reinstate programs that are so widely supported and
appreciated by your audience. Hard times, yes, that is irrefutable.
Even more of a reason to uphold the quality of programming these men provide. Have you listened to other radio stations across the nation? No one comes close to them. If you’re forced to cull the herd, the idea is to retain the best. Please bring them back for they are sorely missed and have not been adequately replaced.
Shirley Middleton
Listener
I consider myself a listener although I moved away from Austin in
2004. I had KUT on my computer and have always had a warm spot in my
heart for KUT, in large part because of Larry Monroe and Paul Ray.
I’ve worked as a D.J. and know that those with as vast a musical
knowledge as Larry and Paul are treasures. They helped make KUT
noteworthy and I always recommended them to friends in other places. I’m sad to see that people with no appreciation for the wealth that KUT had have decided on some other criteria for what goes on over the air. If it is not corrected, I see KUT sinking into the cesspool of mediocrity.
Brenda Robillard
Listener
Please don’t cancel or cut back on Paul Ray and Larry Monroe’s air
time on KUT. As a listener for many years these guys have contributed more than just air time to your radio station. They have been the heart and soul of KUT. Your listeners need to know that Larry and Ray will be on hte airwaves for many more years to come.
Diane J. Hernandez
Listener
Count me in as a public supporter!! I Support Larry Monroe And Paul Ray
Russ Strom-Olsen
Listener/ Contributor (in the past, anyway..)
Austin, TX
Roger Stryker
I am a listener! Please add me to the list of supporters…
Samuel Day-Woodruff
Listener, Avid
Ruth Kubacka
Ruth Kubacka…Listener…and former volunteer
Laurence Miller
Listener and long time fan…
Alfred Stanley and Kathleen Guido Kevin Stanley Rachel Stanley David Stanley
Longtime KUT supporters and listeners. Alfred’s business is Stanley-Garrison & Associates. You can count that too.
Harry A. Edwards
Listener
Please add my name to your Listener support group.Although much less of a listener of late. On your Listener page, Slim writes:
The following Triple A stations are sending staff to the conference: WFUV New York, KCRW Santa Monica, WXPN Philadelphia, KERA Dallas (planning new AAA format on new sister station), WTMD Baltimore, KCMP/The Current Minneapolis, WYMS/Radio Milwaukee, and KUT Austin, among numerous others.
I listen to the first-mentioned station, WFUV in New York, far more often these days than KUT. And I live in Austin.
WFUV is affiliated with Fordham University and rarely mentions a sponsor, corporate or otherwise, on the air. The DJs all appear to be middle-aged and are extremely knowledgeable about music from the 60s to the present. They never get bogged down in programming for a particular “demographic.” In other words, lots of good music without commercials, something KUT could still innovate in, inspite of Huckster Mendenhall’s “content.”
Onward,
Harry
Kay (KK) McMillan
I am a long time listener………can’t really do anything to help at this time but would like to stay on the mailing list. As soon as I am able to get active I will!! Thank you guys for everything you are doing. My heart and soul and prayers and good energy are with you daily! Life is what you make it so make it great!!
Christine Wagner
Save kut!
listener
Ellen Hinds
Larry Monroe is the only reason to listen to the radio on Thursday night! Please give us our Phil Music back!
Kathlene Ritch
KUT is a staple on my radio list and especially Eclecticos. PLEASE! let John Aielli go back to the programming that he has been known for for the past 20+ years. It bothers me as a listener to hear his ingenuity being stifled.
Jeffery Kingore
I thought this was Austin.
Sally Spring
Listener And Musician
please reinstate Larry Monroe’s and Paul Ray’s programs on KUT!! and keep playing that Texas music! and add “Texas Radio” back
Carolyn Cates Wylie
I am a KUT listener and soon-to-be-former contributor appalled by the cutbacks. I will be happy to donate to your group the money I would otherwise have sent to KUT.
Elisa Ferrari
Musician
Please keep me up to date on events. We would be happy to perform in any upcoming events for this cause!
David Nielsen
Listener And Musician
Please don’t take John Aielli’s program off the air. It’s been the best voice for local musicians and artists. I’ve greatly enjoyed listening to and performing on his program.
vincent jordan
Music fan, listener when I’m in town and supporter!
Robert C. Ryland
Listener
Bring ‘em back!
Betsy Sanders
Musician And Listener
Whatever it takes, save KUT
Craig Matthews, Massage Therapy
Business
Massage therapy since 1993.
Relaxant
Listener And Musician
Been a listener since 1993.
Kenn Wells
2nd Tenor With Ccmc Chorus
Austin cannot afford to lose “Ailli Unleashed”. It is a program that not only supports the arts, but IS ITSELF,an art force of the city. We are fast becoming an important center, where many diverse cultures want to live now. PLEASE, be sensible and keep this outlet alive and thriving, and representative of all that is good and interesting in the arts and music world.
Charles K. Castle
musician, librarian, gardener, Austin citizen, UT
graduate (3 times)
Business, Listener, Musician!
I was floored to hear that KUT has even considered to further destroy the presence of John Aielli and his programs on this station. I have supported KUT since I arrived in Austin in 1972 solely because of his phenomenal programming. Granted, my support for the last few years has been grudgingly given because of the gross restrictions under which he has been forced to operate (due to HIS supervisor), but I HAVE continued to support KUT BECAUSE of Mr. Aielli’s extraordinary capacity to present ALL of Austin’s Musical Offerings in an interesting, timely and intelligent format. His programs have provided a great access to Music Austin, such a joyous experience. PLEASE continue it, or I have no reason to continue to support KUT.
Ora Shay
Listener
Tell me it is not true. Aielli Unleashed has been cut? It is bad enough that Aielli’s real on-air presence was eviscerated, but knowing that Aielli Unleashed was still there made it possible to hear local and world musicians and get the word on local music and events. The broad knowledge and inclusive nature of John Aielli is an asset to Austin listeners. KUT needs to bring him back!
Ralph Macphail, Jr.
Listener
John Aielli’s support of the productions of The Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Austin has been invaluable and appreciated. His interest in our shows and enthusiastic broadcasts have been helpful, of course, in our efforts to promote our productions, but they’ve also been wonderful opportunities for our singers to experience broadcast conditions with a wonderful host. John Aielli always makes us feel welcome and extends his hand of friendship, literally and figuratively, to each participant, now matter how large the ensemble. May he be allowed to continue in this valuable mission of promoting musical Austin.
Dr. Michelle Schumann
It has been worrisome over the years to see how John Aielli has been stripped of his prerogative to present and promote classical music in Austin. Classical music used to play a much larger role in his show, to the delight of all listeners, and then became the step child through Aeilli’s “Unleashed” blog. Now, that blog has been cut. What more?! Unleash the man!!! He does an incredible service for our community and for our soul!
Ingrid Weigand – video/music industry
George Dolis – video/music industry
Tim Moore
Listener, Musician
I am especially upset at the elimination of “Aielli unleashed”.
Mary Pruet
Listener
Please keep Austin’s public radio by and for Austin!
Please “Save KUT”
Mark Rodgers
Listener
Formatted music is what has forced me to stop listening to commercial radio. Public Radio, at least in Austin, had not stooped to formatted music. It is entirely sad to see that this has changed. Larry Monroe, Paul Ray and others at KUT have long been the reason – the ONLY reason that I have continued to listen to radio. They have also been instrumental in making me feel obliged to contribute money to KUT. If Larry and Paul cannot continue with their extraordinary programming at KUT, I do not see how I can continue to contribute to KUT.
Blake Smith
Bring back Phil, Paul Ray, Teresa & Larry!!
Jeffrey Jones-Ragona
Let John Ailelli run his show, and his blg as he wants to. KUT should support the community0- or the community is no longer under any obligation to support KUT.
Freddy And Catherine Powers
musician and listeners
Peter Hess
I support Paul Ray and Larry Monroe.
Patricia Tierney Alofsin
Listener.
Mark Southern
Listener
Thanks for all you’re doing to restore the soul of Austin. Count me in!
Leslie Forbes
Listener
This radio station is about passion, education, diversity, and sharing. It was never about money or ratings. It should never be about money. Where did we veer off the soulful path?
Ken Hoge
Listener
Even though I live in Houston now, I still stay connected in no small part due to Paul and Larry and streaming KUT. What kind of idiot would cut back on their programming? He can come to Houston and listen to our crap and I’ll come there if it pains him so.
Terri English
musician
Pam Wood
Listener
Do the right thing. give them insurance
Lynn Robbins
Listener
Back in the ’80s KERA in Dallas used to have a good public radio station until they sold out. They went from great music to all news. I hope KUT doesn’t sell out too.
harry bodine
Listener
Cliff Katz
Listener, Friend, Former Consultant To Kut
I travel around the country and always listen to NPR stations, but none can really compare to KUT. The primary reason is the local programming and the highly knowledgeable on-air talent, in particular, Larry Monroe, Paul Ray, and the other veterans of both the music world and radio land. We need more, not less, of their of their unique and invaluable programming if KUT is going to avoid becoming just another purveyor or syndicated KPR/PRI programming.These guys have devoted much of their lives and all of their talen to making KUT great. I would hate to see KUT lose or diminsh it “soul” by continuing down this path.
Keep up the great work and know that you are revered by the many in the Austin listener/member audience.
Chuck Foote
long time member of KUT, seeks admittance to your cabal. Thank you in advance for my inclusion.
Tom’s Tabooley
Business
Really miss the Phil Music show. If I wanted KGSR… I’d tune to KGSR.
Lori Hansel
you can list me as a listener, or you can list me in your business listings as lori jo hansel, lawyer. thanks for all the hard work you are doing.
Mark A Johnson
Musician
Please!
Jason Cassady
Listener
Ray Holland
Musician & Listener
I support Larry and Paul. Please add me to the list of supporters.
Becky Holland
Musician & Listener
Please add me as a supporter of Larry & Paul!!!!
Randy Speight
ListenSam Palasotaer
bring us back our music-please
All Of The Above
No News For Blues!!!!!
Roberto Llorente
Listener
I was dumfounded when KUT pulled the plug on Paul Ray’s show. How can
KUT (and Austin for that matter) seriously maintain it’s reputation in
the world of music when it chooses to discard one of the city’s few
remaining outlets for so elemental and so soulful a style of music as
that of Jazz? KUT has very diligently managed to embarrass me both as
Austinite and as a listener of Jazz.
Will Randazzo
Listener
That the heavy-handed tactics of Vanderwilt and Mendenhall [outsiders
both] would adversely affect the unique [even among NPR-affiliated
outlets] and obviously special sound of KUT became apparent almost
immediately upon their arrival in Austin. Their at-first-glance
“gentle repositioning” of longtime local-programming favorites
-consistently recognized as exceptional for the prior twenty years-
has culminated in the unceremonious Independance wknd.”dumping” of our
radio icons. That Austin listeners had loyally supported this station
year-in and year-out with our hardearned dollars – regularly
surpassing fundraising efforts in much-larger markets – has apparently
become irrelevant to the bean-counting guns-for-hire now running the
station. The ongoing homogenization of KUT was enough to send my ears
in search of truly local independants -KAZI, KOOP, KVRX. Hawk and Stew
have displayed exactly how much they value dedication and commitment
to quality, by giving Paul Ray and Larry Monroe the proverbial “boot”.
The result: I no longer feel compelled to provide any portion of my
“listener-supported contributions” to KUT. And will actively
discourage other listeners from contributing, at least until Paul and
Larry have been reinstated.
Roberto Llorente
Count me in!!! Please add my name in support of recifying the absurd…in bringing back
Larry Monroe and Paul Ray!
Rick The Stick
Musician
Take kut back for the listeners
Carolynn Campbell Reed
Listener
Ashle Arceneaux
Listener
Please count me in!!
Benny Rowe
Austin Native.Musician. KUT Listener. KUT supporter… haven’t decided about the $$ this year yet.
Business owner. Patron of businesses that support Paul & Larry (if possible).
Steve Kubenka
Listener
Revjim
Listener
I have been listening to Phil Music since it really was “fill music”,
back when KUT broadcast City Coucil meetings on Thursdays. Eventually
even the coucil members got to calling their motion to adjourn the
“Phil Music Motion”. I motion to bring him back !
kellyn gray
I’m a supporter of paul ray and larry monroe, please add my name to any list.
Sergio Santos
Musician
We have a jewell in a jewell city. Let’s not loose it.
Leesa Bolden
Listener
John Moore
Listener
Chascates
Listener
KUT is promoting itself as an Austin station that picks music based on local tastes. Trying to sideline Paul Ray, Larry Monroe, and John Aielli refutes that claim and will lead some of the country’s best music programs into a bland land of programmed selections. NO to the KUT putsch from these carpetbaggers!
Rick Patrick
Listener
I don’t recognize KUT any more, now that it’s been turned into just another pop station. Without Larry Monroe and Paul Ray, KUT has lost its soul. A place as interesting and individualistic as Austin deserves a radio station with a real Austin voice. Bring them back, KUT.
Steve Wood
Count me in!
Charlotte Adams
Yes, Yes, Yes
Bring ‘em back!
Dane Anderson
Add me to the list of Larry Munroe supporters. I am a music writer and a listener.
Carl Hickerson
Please feel free to use my name- Crazy Carl Hickerson-Listener, street corner trombone player, and former business sponsor of KUT.( crazy carl’s custom productions dba Highly Overpriced Flowers)
Andrea Pimentel
Listener
Save KUT Austin!
Douger
Listener And Friend
Things change in Austin and yet some things are there as the foundation of the past and the future. Larry and Paul are two folks linking the past and future of great music/radio in Austin.
Rick Shea
Musician
saveKutaustin
Philip Leigh
Listener
I would like to be added to the public list.
Jennifer Brener Seay
Art + Artisans Consulting, Inc.
I am a Listener and Business Sponsor of KUT. Please save our local programming!! It’s what makes KUT so treasured and unique to Austin.
Richard
Listener
These shows and DJ’s make this station what it is. Without them, its just another vanilla radio station. If these shows aren’t drawing the listeners, dont cut them, just have them find or create something different!
Jeannette Macdougall
Long-Time Listener
I have been listening to these 2 hosts for over 20 years. I am put off by the hosts who have replaced them. the new “non-locals” do not interlace the Austin insider tidbits we all count on. what’s the question. Please give us the real voice of Austin. – J Mac
Bob Oldreive
Listener And Musician
Larry Monroe and Paul Ray have enriched and enlightened Austin music fans for years. The classic R&B, blues and jazz that they offer help to influence a new generation of musicians. It’s their knowledge and taste that help make KUT the wonderful and diverse resource that it is.
Ike Eichenburg
Musician…
Count me in …save Paul Ray and Larry Monroe…save kut..
I am a musician and a listener (in Santa Monica). Larry Monroe is my radio hero, and so are his broadcasting friends.- Matt Cartsonis
I have been a listener for 10 years. – Leslie Forbes
I’m willing to add my name to the list of KUT listeners who believe the downsizing is unfair to two splendid pioneers and chroniclers of blues, soul, jazz, and Texas music programing and contend their loss of hours dilutes what has been a fine station. – Jan Reid
I will be proud to have my name displayed as a supporter of this group, and I will not pledge another dollar to KUT if the situation (especially the backhanded ways of denying benefits to our friends) does not change. I miss these shows, respect these men, and pledge to make a stand on this issue. – Michael A. Bradshaw
keep independent programmers on the air . . . there ain’t no clear channel with clear channel it’s clear to see! – Cindy Wexler
Please listen to these people. We miss KUT - Mary Reyes
I am a listener and long time member and volunteer for KUT. I am also an attorney. - Robert Notzon
I am a musician and listener. While I was working in Austin, KUT, and Larry Monroe were always on the schedule for a listen. Don’t lose this treasure! – Patrick Louden
KUT, please come to your senses and give these guys back their shows, and Austin back its music. – Joi Holcomb
I should be on the fading listener and future non-contributor list as well. – David Weaver
Dear KUT – We love you. It’s ok that you made a mistake, we all do at times. But you fix it and go on, right? So just give the guys back the shows that hundreds of us are missing and let’s go on, OK? – JK
Long time listener and supporter. – Neil Cozzens
I am a regular listener. Keep KUT awesome, come ON people! – Hilary Nail
Please add my name in support. I am a Listener and long-time
contributor (but no more, currently) to KUT. – Natasha Sinutko Morgan
Please add my name to your list of supporters. – Deborah Ford Femat
No more $$ support until KUT-FM agrees to the Mission Statement of
Save KUT Austin – John Harms
Listener since 1974 – Edd Patton
Listener and young business, who was seriously considering purchasinga business membership for the first time, this Fall. – Ellen Cartsonis
Slim
Though they say their music programs are “hand-picked” by the hosts, the following is proof positive that KUT is now using a “format” very similar to commercial radio stations like KGSR. KUT management tries to imply that their program hosts are “asked” to play from a group of new releases selected by the music committee, while the actual fact is the hosts are ordered to play from this group of cds. That is a format, plain and simple. And it is a format that many public radio stations, including KUT, are now employing.
The following is from a blurb about the Public Radio Development & Marketing Conference held in early July in San Diego. This proves that KUT is part of a nation-wide move to a commercial radio type format on NPR affiliated stations.The Public Radio Development & Marketing Conference – public radio’s most “well-attended” conference – opens in San Diego today at the Hilton Bayside Hotel July 8–10, 2009. The PRDMC is attended by all formats in public radio (News/Jazz/Classical), including the steady growing Triple A format.
With a total of 85 concurrent breakout sessions and 5 general sessions planned in fundraising/major giving, corporate underwriting, and new media marketing, the conference is energized this year with the potential offered by emerging new media platforms. The following Triple A stations are sending staff to the conference: WFUV New York, KCRW Santa Monica, WXPN Philadelphia, KERA Dallas (planning new AAA format on new sister station), WTMD Baltimore, KCMP/The Current Minneapolis, WYMS/Radio Milwaukee, and KUT Austin, among numerous others.
As more non-commercial stations consider a move to the format to attract younger digital media-savvy demographics to the left side of the dial, Deborah Lein, DEI VP/COO and PRDMC coordinator told TripleARadio.com, “The Triple A stations have such a potential edge in the new media arena, they could be the new vanguard (in public radio).
“The statement above is further proof that KUT management would prefer its older DJs disappear in their effort to attract a younger audience. I have it on good authority, however, that KUT’s age demographic is 35-64 and is unlikely to change.
Bob Blair
“Just who phrased ‘the draw for Paul Ray’s Jazz and Phil Music programs has remained stagnant’?” – Steve Vanderwilt. It was in his email. We get to frame them as corporate bullies, and they get to frame us as a small group of old people clinging to a dieing past. As with all good frames, there’s some truth in both. We’ll probably do a lot better if we can frame the issue as one of basic fairness. Paul and Larry made KUT what it is today. They are still going strong, binding an important set of listeners and contributors to KUT. Why would management punish them? It’s not fair, and it doesn’t make sense.”
Patrick Hurley
Larry was on the air 14 hours each week with 8 of those hours being between 11 PM and 3 AM… The audience after 11 PM — especially after midnight — is rather low. The cost to provide full-time hosting during these late night periods is too high.
1. This does not explain why Larry’s ‘Phil Music’ program from 8 pm to 11 pm was cut. This is Texas music (in the main) at its best – from the acknowledged expert – and to chop it is inexplicable. I simply cannot understand why KUT would replace it.
2. Yes, late night audiences are lower than daytime. However, hopefully, you will agree such audiences are always discerning and loyal. And, without knowing the numbers, there has to be a good number of people who listen to KUT at bedtime and leave the radio on until the “wee” hours.
3. While I do not think that 14 hours a week for the top music presenter in Texas is excessive, I must, of course, accept it is your prerogative to change that. But, to go from 14 hours to four and cut out KUT’s flagship Texas music program in the process is madness on every front.
Haley Gillespie
I can see giving the new guy Wednesday night, but ALL THREE NIGHTS!? with hardly any warning, and hardly any explanation to be had on the website or elsewhere. I may be part of the ‘younger’ demographic KUT is hoping to rope in with the new changes, but I tell you I am disappointed, sad, mad and WILL NOT BE PLEDGING TO KUT again until changes are made.”
Eric Swanson
In 2000 KUT had a budget of $2 million.
In 2006 KUT had a budget of $6 million.
In 2008 KUT had a budget of $8 million. The budget has likely crept back down with the economy towards $6-7 million. How does $2 million no longer pay for nighttime DJs like it did in 2000?
How does $6-8 million not pay for nighttime DJs? Where does that extra $4-6 million of budget go?”
“Vanderwilt is quoted as “Late overnight has a very small audience, and the investment there, unfortunately, just didn’t make sense.”
The article did not mention if KUT thinks investing 6 figures to produce just 2 hours of “Texas Music Matters” makes sense, or compare the cost per hour ratio with the low 5 figure cost of 15 hours of night music. There was also no mention if the big budget to produce the 1 minute of “Austin Music Minute” makes sense either. I actually enjoy both TMM and AMM and don’t think they should be cut, but it just goes to show that some “investments” are made from personal preferences of management.”
Mike Barnes
“It is ironic that Vanderwilt talks about cost cutting. The KUT top management team (Vanderwilt, Mendenhall, Jeff McCord, James Reese, and Director of Marketing Sylvia Carson) makes $500,000 in salaries. Carson oversees the spending of at least $1.5 MILLION in “fundraising” costs.
Dan Foster
“For many years, KUT had a national reputation for successful fundraising. Despite its unorthodox practice of leaving much of the station’s sound to the listeners and on-air staff who were directly involved in the community, the station continued to have consistently astonishing fund-drives. Without the heavy hand of an overly-attentive Program Director, KUT flourished along with the community. It did so not as an observer reporting, but as a member helping to make this a town known for its music.
The fact that the station did quite well financially as a result? That was fine, but it was not the driving wheel.“When Mr. Vanderwilt and Mr. Mendenhall first gained control of KUT, they appeared accommodating, reasonable and full of respect for the station and its legacy. Some may have had misgivings early-on. Many more do now.
Within a year of its arrival, the focus of the management had shifted noticeably from community involvement as an end in itself to community service as a means to market-share. A pattern began to emerge, where local favorites in prime slots were inexplicably moved across the schedule to be replaced by canned, network shows. This pattern of marginalization was applied repeatedly in the ensuing years – as it is now being applied to Paul and Larry.
“I spent some time at KUT. In the 20 years I was there, I noticed that it was always a very low-cost operation. The number of salaried positions in the north end of the building has grown significantly in recent years, along with the increased emphasis on generating revenue. The station now even has a well-heeled “Associate Director of Broadcast and Content”. Although, one ostensible benefit of this expansion is a “news” department, it is doubtful that much hard reporting will come out of the effort as long as corporate largesse remains indispensable to the rising bottom line.“
I think you’d agree that it is not the purpose of public radio to maximize market-share. We have plenty of commercial stations to do that. KUT long provided, and could still provide a unique service to this community, by being directly involved in the life and continuing richness of its musical heritage. That is worth a whole pile of broadcast licenses. Half-hearted news, canned music and weather-on-the-8s barely justify one.” Vanderwilt is quoted as “Late overnight has a very small audience, and the investment there, unfortunately, just didn’t make sense.” Syndicated shows, BTW, are usually MORE expensive to air than paying local deejays”• Paul and Larry were told to put in their retirement papers at the end of August, and come back in the fall to a smaller contract ineligible for the retirement system.
• …confused over the correlation between host expense and listener share on a public radio station – were they having trouble finding underwriters for Larry and Paul? Doubtful. Are underwriting fees based on listener share like commercials? I don’t know. Do people not step up to the plate and pledge for Larry and Paul’s shows during fund drives? Again, I’d be surprised if they didn’t…. Second, when you give “a new host a chance” do you do that in prime time or do you let him warm up a bit? (Todd Jagger) “Put Larry and Paul on when there are more listeners and let the new guy take over the late hours to hone his chops and built the kind of loyal listeners Larry and Paul enjoy.”
Adrienne Evans
“I have been aware for many years that KUT has deliberately shorted Paul and Larry on work hours to avoid paying them health insurance and other benefits that a 20-hour-a-week employee would receive. Many years ago, I once called the station to ask why this was, and got a cursory, unsatisfactory response. It was and is shameful to think of this kind of thing happening.”
Julia Welch
“Though I don’t understand how KUT’s $5 million budget paid for Ray, Monroe, and Aielli Unleashed last year and its $5-plus million budget can’t this year, if you really need to cut somebody, cut David Brown. His Texas Music Matters is basically what Ray, Aielli, and Monroe do, just not as good – and he takes himself way too seriously for anyone else to take him seriously, too. Friday noon and Sunday 6 PM are the only times I turn my radio away from KUT. He was fine on Marketplace; he’s not fine on KUT. Oh, and his $80,000 salary would just about reinstate what you cut, wouldn’t it?
“The word from KUT is that if Phil Music and Paul Ray’s Jazz were as “successful as other music programs”, they wouldn’t have been cut. How do you measure success? A devoted listenership, reliable underwriters, and massive outcry when they’re threatened … that sounds like success to me.”
Austin360: Edgar Davis
“This is a no-brainer. I manage a modest trust that makes annual donations totaling $30k to KUT and KLRU. Based on this news, starting on July 6, I will be looking for new causes to whom to give this money. I am not impressed with the new management nor their vision. I want more than anything to Keep Austin, Austin. “That said, Austin is not San Jose. Austin is not NYC. Austin is not Seattle nor Denver nor Santa Monica. Austin is KUT and KUT is Larry Monroe, and Paul Ray and Jay Trachtenberg. and for whatever it is worth, John Aeilli.”
B Moon
“How much does KUT “save” by getting rid of these on-air hours? How much extra are they paying Matt Reilly to pick up 12 hours? How much more does Hawk (or Hack or Buzzard, thanks to earlier posters) Mendenhall make than these guys who actually create these programs? In addition to Mendenhall, how much do Stewart Vanderwilt and Jody Evans make? Where did they come from and why are THEY running our AUSTIN TREASURE? How much money can we “save” by getting rid of them?
Lang Smith
So far KUT has: 1. Hired high-dollar management from OUTSIDE our community (new Program Director Jody Evans) 2. Hired celebrity NPR program hosts (David Brown, former NPR marketplace host. Does he have any business hosting a music program? “Texas Music Matters” is a compilation of recycled KUT studio performances, Austin City Limits archives and interviews made possible by local musicians and KUT’s music department.) And don’t forget the Austin Music Minute! Wow, KUT dedicates one minute a day to highlight local music venues/shows from the supposed Live Music Capital of the World. 3. Is Hiring more “corporate support representatives” 4. Scratched local DJ shows (Larry and Paul) and replaced them with a guy named Matt. 5. Curtailed live in-studio performances 6.Watched donations and underwriting increase while failing to support its own community (Phone solicitations are even outsourced from an area code in Oregon).
Community Radio Fan
“The shows did not have ratings issues. KUT continually ranks #1 and #2 in the 25 & up demo, beating out the 20 other commercial stations in town! Nationally, KUT is among the most successful both ratings wise and donations wise. For example KUT can spend $8 million a year, while San Antonio (a much larger city than Austin) operates with just $2 million a year. The changes were made because management wants night time to “sound” just like the day time programming.”
No longer KUT supporter
“I find it interesting that KUT uses the “lack of funds” explanation every time they make a cut that they know loyal listeners will not support. These statements are made despite successful fund drives and increased sponsorship over the last few years (funny, as a supporter I get newsletters talking about how successful KUT is at raising funds and starting new projects, but continually get solicitations saying they need more money to support the basic services).
“If KUT is looking for ways to save money, maybe they should look at taking KUT 2 or KUT 3 off-line or perhaps canceling some of the syndicated shows on either of these two stations. I would bet that the listenership for any show on these two stations is significantly less than the listenership for Larry Monroe or Paul Ray (especially since these stations can only be accessed by HD or web).
“Also, is this really a cost issue? Are you telling me that it costs more to produce local shows than to, say, purchase the syndicated shows that are on KUT2 and KUT3? Or syndicated NPR shows that are currently broadcast on KUT1? Frankly I don’t listen to these shows on KUT anyway. I go to NPR or the show’s site and listen from there. Seems KUT could save some costs by cutting out shows that are duplicated somewhere else.”
Chronicle: Radiolarian
“Board member Cantilo, Your following statement is the root of the controversy and the dividing line between the two sides: “the station should strive to serve the entire Austin community.” That is the root of all the negative feedback over the past 10 years. Community and public radio was founded with government funds and private charity to serve the underserved parts of the community and give a voice to those not heard. To go for the highest mass market audience contradicts the vision of the founders of KUT and public radio. It is reasonable for KUT to change and grow audience. But you have to decide how big is too big? We feel that KUT has crossed that line and instead of offering a service to the community, they are duplicating the existing commercial services already out there. What good is the KUT service if it does the same thing as the commercial rock station?
“Can you explain how “the exceptional lofty position it now holds among public radio stations in the country” does anything to help the Austin community? It may boost the ego of station management to be praised by fellow station managers, but how is that a tangible benefit to the Austin community? What other station managers think of KUT’s station manager is no benefit to us. It does not serve us, it is only a self serving benefit to KUT management and board members ego.”
TMJagger
“By “right direction” I don’t necessarily mean what I or the thousands of people who are upset about the direction KUT is taking want. I mean the right direction as specified by KUT’s charter and mission statements, which unless I’m wrong tend to favor a diversity of programming not available on other stations. Duplicating commercial radio and playing to mass markets a la Clear Channel would seem counter to that mandate.”
Slim 1
“They have a huge budget right now and I doubt seriously that money had anything to do with Monroe’s and Ray’s hours being cut so severely. I’d like to see a real open door policy with the station management. Please explain why salaries of management positions (some of which didn’t even exist until a couple years ago) have to be so high. Why there is a need for a committee to choose ANY sort of playlist mandated. And why there is a need for another Triple A station in Austin. (I invite readers to compare playlists at KGSR with those of KUT and tell me there’s a distinct difference).”
Kevin Bass (author of story)
“That said, it’s great that Mr. Mendenhall is will to state his position in an open forum. But his comments ignore many of the key issues raised by protesters and the column. Why couldn’t management find a way to ease out Ray and Monroe, honoring their decades of service without alienating their audience? At the very least, it has turned into a public relations disaster at a time when the station apparently can’t afford it.
And why can’t the station afford to pay its best known on-air personalities a living wage? Where does the money go? Nowhere in the rhetoric about “careful consideration” of programming decisions does KUT management emphasize community service and programming for under-served communities—once staples of public radio’s mission. Why?
“These are legitimate issues raised by the protesters. KUT is a public radio station using public airwaves licensed to a public university, and it solicits money from the public. The public has every right to question how station management is running the station.”
Kevin Triplett
In 2002, Larry was given the prestigious “Keeping the Blues Alive” by the Blues Foundation in Memphis: A fixture on Austin’s public radio station KUT FM for more than 20 years, Larry Monroe is the host of one of the longest-running Blues radio shows in the country.
Jim McCurdy
Being the new kid on the block here in Austin, and having a background in broadcasting (Radio and TV) for almost 40 years, I have watched with keen interest what is occurring at KUT. As my friend Lee Cook said, I “don’t have a dog in this fight”, but, I do have an opinion based on a lot of experience. I think the new management at KUT has made a really big mistake in cutting loose Larry Monroe and Paul Ray. These guys are icons here, and you can’t buy that type of respect.
They earned it with their work on the air, and based on what I’ve learned since being here, are a major part of Austin becoming the music capitol of the world. KUT needs to re-think this move. Dance with the one “who brung ya to the dance”. Don’t throw them under the bus for the sake of the almighty dollar, which will apparently benefit only a few exec’s at the station. Public Radio is just that….public….and management needs to listen to the listeners in this case.
Norm Wright
I read what McCord posted on KUT’s website. He wrote “We ask that a selected group of new releases. . . are played with a bit more frequency, to give them better exposure than they would have received in the past” That’s your heavy rotation, just like commercial radio. He also wrote that they created a list of 300 familiar artists and KUT wants the DJs to use some of these in their shows every hour. That’s your core artist group, again just like commercial radio. It’s really sad that it has come to this on our public radio station. McCord also says the DJs need a little guidance, to keep from tipping the balance too far in one direction or another. Tipping the balance is what makes public radio great!
As far as saving money, was it really necessary to create the position of Associate GM/Director of Broadcast and Content? The station could save at least $100K by eliminating this. What about KUT’s HD channels? How much is being spent there and how many listeners for these stations?
Cheryl Bateman
Stewart Vanderwilt took something that was rare, unique and special and made it ordinary. That takes talent, but it’s not one I salute. I worked at KUT for many years, make that many many, and I cry over the changes. Get rid of the syndicated shows and bring back live, free-form music. Bring back the magic.
Jim Vest
If this is a financial decision as Vanderwilt keeps saying ,then how about axing David Brown instead ? His contributions are total fluff pieces and he’s being paid an obscene amount of money for them. One night of Larry Monroe’s Texas Radio said more about Texas music than Brown’s Texas Music Matters has said since created .Our community radio station has been hijacked by people who could obviously care less what the community wants. Write the Dean of Communications, write the business sponsors & support this movement!
Esther’s Follies
Paul Ray has given Austin the gift of his jazz expertise and made KUT a forerunner in the US jazz scene. Larry Monroe has expanded the influence of Austin musicians by playing the best music our town has to offer! Don’t cut back on the quality of KUT’s programming and these incredible DJ’s! I Protest!
Mike Rieman
A big shout out to ALL of the venerable KUT hosts still hanging in there and playing the fantastic Brazilian and Latin American tracks (Michael!) and the amazing world music (Hayes!) And to all the talented and good-vibed Folkways hosts from over the years, not to mention those masterfully clever one-night-a-week overnighters (you know who you are). And everyone else I’m leaving out who have made KUT so damn good all these years along with Larry and Paul. Not to mention Live Set with the superb engineers Cliff and Walter. I was lucky enough to play a few of those in Studio 1A, and let me tell you, if your band had their stuff together that night, you could walk out of the Communications building with a live CD. How could it get any cooler? Stewart and Hawk, you guys are a wrecking crew.
Robin Arott
I lived in Philadelphia for years and was a reluctant listener of XPN (when I wasn’t streaming KUT, before I’d ever lived in Austin, simply because it was amazing). XPN is the quintessential “benign public radio station”, spinning, repeatedly, its widely-palatable darlings, proudly gushing over the latest generic singer songwriter, ad nauseum. Unless Matt Reilly has an as-yet unrevealed need to bust out of the pathetic confines of XPN, he doesn’t seem like an even close fit for KUT. Cutting two beloved and encyclopedic DJs is sad enough, but bringing on someone from the most base, non-offensive, lowest-common-denominator-version-of-”independent”-radio is also a sickening degradation to KUT. I was so grateful to stream KUT when I couldn’t take my (then local) XPN anymore. Now I live in Austin, home of KUT. And XPN has spread here, like a bad virus. What do I stream now to get good radio? Larry and Paul’s new shows from elsewhere, one can hope. But I’d far rather it be from KUT.
Rush McNair
“I think beyond the immediate objective of getting Larry & Paul’s schedules restored (not to detract from that mission; it’s job #1), we need to raise the question of whether the current management team has been a good steward of station resources — beyond any subjective content standard. “Their argument for axing Paul & Larry’s shows is that the benefit (listeners number) is not justified by the cost. When they were hired (in about 2000), their main initiative was a hugely expensive conversion to HD so that KUT 2 and KUT 3 could come on-line. I suspect that there are very few listeners with HD radios, even today. What is the cost/benefit equation for all the money spent on HD? Adding an extra stream or two on iTunes (for example) would have been almost free in comparison. But they’re visionaries, so I shouldn’t question…Input is welcome.”
Patrick Haney (Italy)
“I started listening to KUT in 1981, when I moved to Austin, and have continued to listen on line since I moved to Europe in 2000. The reasons I remained an avid listener were the programming creativity and musical wealth offered by KUT. Had I wanted to listen to mainstream formulas based on market shares and listener surveys, I could have turned the dial to a any number of stations catering musical pabulum to the whim of hoi polloi. The thing that made KUT different was the musical integrity of it’s programming. Two names defined that integrity: Larry Monroe and Paul Ray.I would encourage you to ask yourself three questions: What made KUT the respected station it is; Will it remain as such; And what roll did I personally play regarding its musical integrity.”