KUT launches sister station

AUSTIN (KXAN) - KUT Radio has been an Austin favorite for decades, known for its news and eclectic music and Wednesday it officially launched the best of those formats as its own station..

"These opportunities don't really come around any more and you add to the fact that it's public radio and the not a long box of commercials,” said Matt Reilly, program director for the new KUTX .  “As a radio geek, this is an amazing thing to be able to do in Austin Texas,”

KUTX 98.9 FM will be purely music all the time while it’s sister, KUT 90.5, will be news and talk radio.   

"Honestly we're one of the last state capitals to not have a full time public radio news station and so we have that on 90.5 but we didn't get rid of the music we're expanding the music and KUTX 98.9 will have the music experience,” said Stewart Vanderwilt, general manager of both stations.

Over the summer, the University of Texas System Board of Regents approved the purchase of 98.9 FM.  The university and KUT were able to get a deal through Public Radio Capital, an independent non profit which helps public stations, to buy 98.9 from Border Media Business Trust for $6 million. 

"Well we've been calling it an adventure and it feels like a really big adventure and a fun new chapter in Austin and I am honored to be the first one on the air here,” said Susan Castle.  She was the first person to officially kick off the program at Wednesday morning at 6. 

KUTX, the Austin Music Experience, will feature an array of music from local artists as well as unique music.  A lot of the programming that used to be on the old format of KUT will transfer over to the new station.  Live performances, interviews, programs like  “Texas Music Matters”  along with new shows will constantly run on 98.9 FM.

Along with the new frequency, they needed a new facility to house the two stations.  The station is now in the new state of the art KUT Public Media Studios.  It includes performance Studio 1 A which gives bands the opportunity to play on-air live in front of a audience.

The studio is equipped with drums, amps and the acoustics for bands to perform without having to worry about the hassle of transportation.

Currently there are 300 bands booked for the next year.  Reilly said there could be up to three live performances a day.

"The key thing is we are engaging with the Audience, it's not like we're some monolithic thing just putting out songs and we hope you listen, we want you to come in here we want you to be a part of this and we want to interact and have a dialogue with you,” explained Reilly.

Many people have wondered how exactly both stations will function when it comes to donations.  All the money raised from drives or donations will go to the same budget.  Reilly said about 80 percent of their bread and butter comes from loyal listeners.   The money used to buy the new signal has to be paid back overtime. 

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