Hard to believe the FM frequency allocated to Leander was never utilized until 1988. I guess Austin was still too small to have the whole “dial” filled up as per older and much smaller markets (*cough!* Milwaukee). For all my digs on KUTX employing stammering DJs, the self-appointed “spirit of Austin” Jody “K-Geezer” Denberg and frequent ads; hey NPR stations, shilling for your sponsors and underwriters…ARE COMMERCIALS; I prefer listening to them unless it’s some crappy, crappy (C)Rap music played by White people trying to prove they’re “open minded.” My iPod remains first pick but there are times it’s not worth the effort when you have a short drive.
I remember all the grief UT received for buying the floundering station from a hedge fund; Bain Capital, Mitt Romney’s job destroying, rapist organization. For over two decades, 98.9 had been multiple formats, namely boring Classic Rock and the biggest waste of the airwaves…Right-Wing Bullshit. Obviously, nothing worked. The university purchased it for a paltry $6 million ($7.8 million today) demonstrating how the old, decaying Media Empires are now overvalued given the public revolt against the constant noise of 20 minutes of ads per hour. The Board of Regents did the morally right thing for a change voting “yes.” It was a steal! When Border Media acquired 98.9 in 2004 (formerly KHHL), they spent approximately $8.75 million; this is a calculation based upon it being in a deal to own eight stations for $70 million.
Today, wounded behemoth Clear Channel, hiding behind the moniker “I Heart Radio” is so strapped with debt from its 2000 outlets pushing Right Wing Noise and Moldy Oldies, continues to lobby Congress for help. Since the airwaves belong to the people, established by a Republican a century ago, we should let Clear Channel, Emmis and the other baronies collapse. Then either repurpose the frequencies for new technologies or allocate them for free to true non-profits who will serve the public interest. As much as I enjoy KUTX, UT isn’t an institution I have much patience with given their highest paid employee is the football coach and not a professor who could change the world. Plus anyone who says the huge public universities in America are non-profits probably can’t say it with a straight face on TV without multiple takes.
In their defense, KUTX was a nice addition to my adopted home. It allowed KUT to move all their existing music shows to a dedicated spot and expand while the elder station could increase its news content; more on par with NPR stations I’ve enjoyed in other cities. Best of all, KUTX has been successful despite the naysayers back then while proving what my friend Mark (M) and I have always known…content matters, not necessarily the tech. You will continue to hear ignorant pundits claim the iPhone (or equivalent) killed FM. They’re so full of shit. If this were accurate, tape decks and the Sony Walkman would’ve started the trend 40 years ago.
Congratulations KUTX, looking forward to you turning 20 and not transforming into an extension of a horrible syndrome called “New Austin.”