Austin Music Source

By HT

March 6, 2009 4:33 PM | Link to this

I can’t believe they let Susan go. She was the best DJ on KGSR. Best of luck to Susan in the future. Nothing against Andy Langer, but isn’t he the new kid on the block? Why not let him go instead?

Too bad they didn’t lay off Dudley and Bob instead, that probably would have saved a lot more money.

By Chris W

March 6, 2009 4:39 PM | Link to this

They need to lay that carpetbagger Nigel off. He’s a good reason to listen to JackFM on the ride home. Chris

By Cecilia Nasti

March 6, 2009 5:27 PM | Link to this

Holy crap! That is so wrong on so many levels. Susan Castle is not only a terrific on air host, but also a stellar human being. She doesn’t deserve this.

I’m just glad she’s on vacation with a dear friend, and visiting family right now. I wonder if she knew before she left?

Nevertheless, Susan, if you decide to take a new path—there IS life after commercial radio, and KGSR. XO

By toxy73

March 6, 2009 5:45 PM | Link to this

the radio stations here in austin are horrible. obnoxious djs and morning shows that make me listen to am stations. glad i travel, the stations in killeen, waco, and san antonio are much better

By Fiftycal

March 6, 2009 6:24 PM | Link to this

They didn’t lay Jeff Ward off? KLBJ could get rid of his sarcastic babble and improve the ratings and I wouldn’t have to listen to WOAI.

By carrie york

March 6, 2009 6:38 PM | Link to this

Guess i will be listening to something else between 10-2 each day since Susan Castle is gone…..end of an era. I will certainly miss the good ol KGSR that made Austin the Music Capitol of the World. THANK YOU SUSAN for all your love of music for the past 19 years!

By Pati Pooh

March 6, 2009 6:49 PM | Link to this

Oh My Gawwwwd…… Susan Castle is the Queen of Radio……KGSR’s loss. Please don’t tell me KGSR will now be run by a computer? Radio personalities give life to a station and Susan was KGSR’s life-line. Pati

By B

March 6, 2009 6:55 PM | Link to this

Susan, given her tenure, had to be one of the highest paid radio personalities in Austin. There are younger, talented, and lower paid who can ‘fill’ her shoes. That’s the nature of the radio business.

By LB

March 6, 2009 7:11 PM | Link to this

Nothing, against, Andy, Langer? Really?

By Jim O'Brien

March 6, 2009 7:18 PM | Link to this

Man what a complete and utter drag. Susan you will be sorely missed on the airwaves. Corporate America is using the horrible economy (in the crapper thanks to??? wait for it….. Corporate America!) To just clean house with no thought of the person behind the lost job only an eye to bottom line. I wish you all the best luck in the world Susan. A woman with your talents with surely prevail. KGSR nice way to reward an almost 20 year dedicated employee. Shame on you.

By rob

March 6, 2009 7:18 PM | Link to this

its called SATELLITE radio…..

terrestrial radio is dead…..

its boring and sux….

one hour of SIRIUS XMU….and u r never going back…

peace

rob 78704

By Vinnie H.

March 6, 2009 8:45 PM | Link to this

Dudley & Bob (along with Charlie & Angela) are excellent morning personalities. Their show is witty, emotional, irreverent, dysfunctional, humorous, honest, and great fun. The show dynamic is unique, and it would be an unfortunate move to break up the group. My wife and I have enjoyed listening to them for almost a decade. I hope Emmis spares them in any future employee terminations.

By Raymond

March 6, 2009 9:22 PM | Link to this

They should have disassociated themselves from Toby “BuzzKill” Ryan is what they should have done. Even a bean burrito from Taco Bell was overpayment for his segment “Slurping on Moby with Toby”…Right?

By radioman

March 6, 2009 9:34 PM | Link to this

I also heard that KLBJ let go Steven Pickering, the best radio news person in Austin. That is a BIG loss. These stations let go the experienced people - presumably because they made more money - and kept the rookies. That tells you what these stations really think about bringing quality radio to Austin. They are greedy bottomliners and bottomfeeders.

By Smokestack Jello

March 6, 2009 9:37 PM | Link to this

Listen to KOOP.org, the mighty little jewel of Austin’s airwaves. Saturdays, start with the Lounge Show thru Stronger Than Dirt. Sundays, Jamaican Gold profound reggae, quality hip hop, ending with Commercial Suicide. No commercials, all volunteer, amazing. KOOP 91.7, or stream it.

By Really?

March 6, 2009 9:39 PM | Link to this

I told Dale Dudley on the phone way back many years that I was tired of hearing The Doors everyday on KLBJ and that I would never listen again. I’ve kept true to my word, and now they let Susan Castle go. She was the answer to a trivia question for Christ Sake, come on, this is a crime at the least!!!

By Jennifer

March 6, 2009 10:01 PM | Link to this

Susan Castle had the best voice for radio. I enjoyed listening to her broadcasts daily. She will be missed.

By Don

March 6, 2009 10:15 PM | Link to this

Should have axed Bob Dudley instead of Susan Castle … she’s one of the under-rated radio personalities in the country.

Susan, you will be missed.

By Bee

March 6, 2009 10:16 PM | Link to this

If Elliott is gone, so am I.

By Bee

March 6, 2009 10:20 PM | Link to this

I want Elliott back. He was the best on 101X.

By GMan

March 6, 2009 10:26 PM | Link to this

Get rid of Jeff Ward? Are you kidding me? He is terrific in the afternoons—the sarcasm is what makes the show so good. Jeez.

By Jackson

March 6, 2009 10:35 PM | Link to this

I moved back and forth from Dallas forever, but finally moved to Austin permanently in ‘88. Susan started at KGSR within a year or two. She didn’t start with the same shift she’s ending with, but the voice…the voice. An adult, sexy, intelligent female FM jock. I measure my time here by her.

“What do you want for lunch,” Susan?

It’s on me. You’ll be missed.

By Keith

March 7, 2009 12:33 AM | Link to this

They need to ditch Charlie Hodge for one - he is the dumbest most worthless radio person around, not to mention send Dale Dudley with him. Mr Ego needs to be ditched…..that morning show is so stale….

By Jon

March 7, 2009 12:49 AM | Link to this

I don’t care…I have been listening to uncensored satellite radio for 3 years now. They are going under because they are strangled by FCC regulations and censorship…their target audience is adults but their content is Rated G. The media outlets should stand up to he government and fight for their rights to provide their listeners with the content their listeners really enjoy. Not the bubble gum crap they are now forced to produce. Its never been scientifically proven that the F-word has ever harmed anyone.

By Cornhole

March 7, 2009 1:00 AM | Link to this

Dudley and Bob are great, as soon as their show ends it’s on to satellite radio. Radio in this city is just horrible, unless you like hearing Nirvana or Skynryd repeated all day long.

By Charlotte Shafer

March 7, 2009 1:57 AM | Link to this

e-mail sent to Emmis Communications:

The news is out that Susan Castle is being laid off from KGSR Radio Austin. I must express my extreme displeasure with this decision. KGSR is the heart and soul of the Austin music airwaves, and cannot afford to lose one single piece of the family. Susan has been a devoted employee, a great talent, and a wonderful, charitable person, a huge tribute to KGSR and the Austin community. Please, you must reconsider this decision and let her keep her job. If this decision is not reversed, then there are people including myself who will organize and contact sponsors who will be in touch with you as well to express their displeasure.

By mike

March 7, 2009 2:11 AM | Link to this

aww fiftycal, did Jeff hurt your feelings? go cry somewhere else. youre probably someone that doesnt have a sense of humor. listen to WOAI around that time of the day? you must be some fanatical right wing person. no wonder you hate Jeff.

By Susan

March 7, 2009 2:14 AM | Link to this

Rob is absolutely correct. Terrestrial radio is a dying wasteland of commercials, hacky talent, and very limited variety. Satellite radio has a channel of music for every music niche and the music is COMMERCIAL FREE. For those of you who say that you would never pay for something that you can get for free, how many of you pay for cable television? Which has the more varied content, network television or cable? The same argument can support satellite radio. Oh yeah, BABA BOOEY.

By Carl

March 7, 2009 2:19 AM | Link to this

Thats a crying shame. Susan was awesome on KGSR, and has been instrumental as one of Austin’s best djs. I’ll have to be one that agrees that if they were cutting staff, they should’ve given Nigel the toss (how I miss the days of Johnny Walker).

Anyone know a place where they’ll list the entirety of the layoffs?

By Frank M

March 7, 2009 5:45 AM | Link to this

I’m guessing that after 20 years, she was making the most money-that’s who usually goes.

By jn

March 7, 2009 6:46 AM | Link to this

Welcome to corporate America! Layoffs: this is where the free-thinking Liberal Arts majors butt heads with the solid thinking Business majors.

Emotions aside, the bottom line is the fiscal bottom line and in today’s economy, businesses have to look past the fluff (i.e., hope and belief) and take a good hard look at their books – as in credits and debits - which leads to these tough decisions such as layoffs.

Thanks to our new administration in Washington, ALL businesses are being faced with tax burdens and additional fiscal obligations like they have never seen before. Success is being punished while sloth is being rewarded.

Unfortunately, the comment by B about Susan’s pay and that there are younger and lower paid candidates who can ‘fill’ her shoes is probably correct for the entertainment industry, although I don’t know if any of them are better talented.

By Michelle

March 7, 2009 7:35 AM | Link to this

They probably laid Susan off for the same reason corporations dump their most experienced people. She probably had the highest salary. That sucks. Dump the newbies. They have less to lose!

By S

March 7, 2009 7:58 AM | Link to this

I can promise you that Emmis management in Austin didn’t take these cuts lightly. Tough call during tough times. Hang in there Austin, KGSR and KLBJ are still you best places on the local dial.

By norm

March 7, 2009 9:35 AM | Link to this

I think it will be good for KGSR to have a new music director. After so many years, it’s been too much of the same old, same old.

By jazzbo

March 7, 2009 10:09 AM | Link to this

i havent listened to austin radio for years and years, as it is the worst market for radio anywhere. go online and check out KRTU. the best jazz i have found anywhere.

By Mick

March 7, 2009 11:46 AM | Link to this

Get rid of the music director at 101x please- I can’t believe they still play-bush-nirvana-alice in chains etc…There will never be a grunge revival-cuz stations like 101x never let it go away.

Sirius saved my ears

By Dray

March 7, 2009 12:07 PM | Link to this

When I first read the headline this morning I couldn’t help but get excited to think that maybe the changes are coming to KGSR that are truly needed. I was shocked to see Susan Castle leaving. I could not believe this. Why not get rid of the two most stale Disc Jockeys on the air. Andy Langer and Jody Denberg. These two gentlemen alone have set Austin Radio back 100 years. The two jockeys that use to be so innovated on how they delivered Austin music to us are just a waste of air time now. They have both failed to recognize all the new hot upcoming bands in the Austin area and are more concerned about promoting bands outside of Texas that are nothing but crud. As bad as Langer is, Jody Denberg is the worst. Listen to him for a week straight and I guarantee you that you will give up radio for the rest of your life.

By Janice

March 7, 2009 12:18 PM | Link to this

I crossed paths 20 years ago with Susan Castle and thought she was the hippest, coolest woman I’d ever met. I was thrilled when I moved to Austin 10 years later to actually get to listen to her and run into her from time to time. More recently I’ve gotten to know her more and found out how hip and cool she is off the air. She is a sincere, loving human and she will rise above this and she doesn’t need corporate radio to still find her place in Austin, but we, sadly, will miss her in our daily lives. ,,, when the Johnsons sold their stations, I knew this was on the way.

By Andrew

March 7, 2009 12:56 PM | Link to this

Hmm, should have dumped Jeff Ward with his “holier than thou” act and the puritanical Mark Ceaser… I’m sure their overpriced salaries would have saved several other jobs with more talented people! but then, that’s why most of us do listen to San Antonio radio instead—-quality over junk!

By l

March 7, 2009 1:07 PM | Link to this

Heard they let go of Petty Simmons too…not good

By Matt

March 7, 2009 1:51 PM | Link to this

Dudley and Bob (and crew) are the best around. If you don’t get the show (HT), don’t wish them harm. How would you like it if someone wished for you to lose your job as a janitor?

By SeaJay

March 7, 2009 3:17 PM | Link to this

“Too bad they didn’t lay off Dudley and Bob instead, that probably would have saved a lot more money.”

Dudley and Bob (Charlie too) are big reasons why Emmis Austin makes money…

…and Satellite radio? Really? They let anyone have a show on satellite. Satellite sucks. Why do you think Sirrus and XM had to merge? Satellite is failing! Radio has been “dying” since the advent of television… but it’s still here!

It is very unfortunate Susan was let go but that’s the biz. Radio is evolving and sometimes it’s best to cut the big salaries if that’s what it takes to keep bodies in the studio.

By JL1980

March 7, 2009 3:21 PM | Link to this

When has KGSR EVER got ratings higher than Dudley & Bob? Never that’s when.

By bluedog78

March 7, 2009 3:58 PM | Link to this

Susan Castle is one of the best DJs around! I also enjoyed her soothing voice, as she didn’t scream into the mike, she simply spoke. I will miss her for sure. Good Luck, Susan. Too bad it wasn’t extended to other stations-Bobby Bones is an idiot: I’m perplexed how such an immature boy is still on the air! ISH!!

By GH

March 7, 2009 5:17 PM | Link to this

When did 101X become a classic rock station. Nirvana, Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots, Alice In Chains. Greats bands. But past its time, hence a classic rock station.

Andy help them out.

By cd

March 7, 2009 5:23 PM | Link to this

jeff ward has won his time slot for years. he packs in the ratings. it’s why everyone wants on his show. sucks for susan..i liked her. i could have stood for a change with dudley and bob. the show has run its course.

By mr radio

March 7, 2009 6:30 PM | Link to this

Calm down, y’all. The bloodlet was not the only serrated knife-cut made at the radio ranch. This one ran right up the ladder. A lot of people are having to mentally adjust to this and try like hell to keep it from being noticeable on-air. People are not spending money. Austin institutions are suffering.

By mikimoto

March 7, 2009 6:41 PM | Link to this

Emmis should have used this opportunity to terminate Sam Cox.

By Frank

March 7, 2009 7:11 PM | Link to this

I think it’s ridiculously annoying how 101X plays the Nirvana Unplugged album as if the damn thing came out yesterday. Radio in Austin does suck.

By teresa

March 7, 2009 7:31 PM | Link to this

I’m with Carrie D - 107.1 just lost it’s permanent home on my dial. Too bad Emmis was so shortsighted that they have have now lost one of the pillars that made them what they WERE. On the other hand, I excited to see where our Diva of Daytime radio will land next. Maybe Thanks are in order to Emmis after all…

By Dillhole

March 8, 2009 12:41 AM | Link to this

They should have got rid of Nigel on KLBJ. He is one of the reasons radio is so bad here in Austin. They can’t be paying him too much though considering his talent.

By stevie t

March 8, 2009 6:07 AM | Link to this

Not sure exactly what Emmis was thinking letting Susan go. KGSR is the only unique station its group and Susan is a huge reason for that. I can go to any other large/mid-size market and find that town’s version of KLBJ, 101X, etc. Can’t say the same about KGSR. Well, maybe can now. Susan, you are the standard. The pleasure was indeed all on this side of the dial.

By w_roos

March 8, 2009 10:48 AM | Link to this

While I am very disappointed by KGSR’s latest cost cutting move, I am not surprised. The station has been going downhill for years. When I first moved here in late ‘90, it was a great station.

I think what happened after that was what happens a lot with restaurants — once a reputation is established, they decide to “coast”, and then the bean counters descend upon it. Let’s replace the butter with margarine, nobody will notice, and we can save 10 cents per patron. Let’s take the cucumbers out of the salads. We can save 20 cents per salad, and make it easier to prepare the salads in advance. Same thing with KGSR. Let’s can the experienced and loved personality with someone else. Let’s add well-worn Rolling Stones tunes to the playlist. Let’s shorten the playlist so that it repeats more often…

Oh well. Now you know why I stopped listening the KGSR about 10 years ago…

By spam

March 8, 2009 4:17 PM | Link to this

I’m moving to Mexico…this country is about to become barren wasteland

By SamIam

March 8, 2009 5:44 PM | Link to this

KLBJ-AM should cut out the entire morning show hosts and put in Alex Jones. He’s been telling ‘the truth’ since the early ‘90’s about the New World Order and how the elitists are going to take over the world. Well, baby, it’s happening. Get ready for global enslavement. I’m going to but me some peanut butter and jelly - hunker down in my bomb shelter - and watch repeats of The Andy Griffith Show, Leave it to Beaver, Gilligan’s Island and Scooby Doo till its all over. Where’s W when you need a true American hero? cough cough…what’s that smell…is that cyernide gas filternin’ in?

By b davis

March 8, 2009 7:35 PM | Link to this

i totally agree with w-roos.kgsr used to be unique,but over the years has narrowed it’s playlists and increased commercials.i now spend my time and money with kut.i am not a big fan of john aielli but i do hear something i’ve never heard before every day,not to forget live music almost every day and lots of local music.i used to like 101x,but they sound like every “alternative” station in america:lame.left of the dial is where it’s at.p.s. 91.7 too.

By moomoo

March 8, 2009 9:34 PM | Link to this

It’s Lynn he is the boss, he is the reason susan castle and elliot are gone, he is reason andy langer has so much sway (ie picking his replacement for the next big thing (who is horrible by the way), and he is the one does the play list on 101x. He is now taking elliot’s spot on 101x and taking over susan castle’s duties as music director on kgsr. Get ready for nirvanna unplugged on 107.1. Yikes!!!

By BOOF SNOOPS

March 8, 2009 10:51 PM | Link to this

I DON’T UNDERSTAND HOW ANYONE CAN LISTEN TO THOSE 2 MONKEYS DUDLEY AND BOB. I’M NOT USUALLY AWAKE THAT EARLY IN THE MORNING BUT ON THE RARE OCCASION I AM, I DON’T ALLOW THE RADIO DIGITS TO GET ANYWHERE NEAR 93.7FM. SAME THING GOES FOR THOSE ANNOYING REDNECKS ON THE 590 KLBJ AM MORNING SHOW. BY THE WAY, WHO IS THE CLOWN THAT ALWAYS MAKES THE STUPID CANNED “YOU’RE LISTENING TO 590 KLBJ” ANNOUNCEMENTS BETWEEN COMMERCIALS??? THAT GUY’S VOICE IS SUPER IRRITATING!! THANK GOODNESS I CAN GET SAN ANTONIO’S 1200 AM JOE PAGS’ SHOW IN THE AFTERNOON.

By porchlight

March 8, 2009 11:05 PM | Link to this

There is an old rule of the radio personality business - you haven’t earned your stripes until you’ve been fired three times. I just hope someone wise enough in this market picks her up, because her talent will reach a new level now. I’ll be listening for you Susan!

By mumford

March 8, 2009 11:41 PM | Link to this

“By spam March 8, 2009 4:17 PM | Link to this I’m moving to Mexico…this country is about to become barren wasteland

HAVE FUN WITH ALL THE MEXICAN CARTEL GANG WARS. ACCORDING TO THE NEWS, MEXICO IS ABOUT AS SAFE AS THE MIDDLE EAST THESE DAYS.

By Nick

March 9, 2009 12:04 AM | Link to this

From a pure business standpoint, it might seem like a good idea to make these cuts, but Emmis is falling into the same trap as other big radio companies: with every layoff it’s dumping good talent that created good content. When you lose that good content, there’s no reason to listen, so you lose listeners. You lose listeners, ratings go down. Ratings go down, sponsors are less likely to spend money on ads.

Whether it’s Steven Pickering on KLBJ AM or Susan Castle on KGSR, you’ve just lost some big contributors that made these stations what they were. Now they’re just that much closer to the homogenized crap that can be found anywhere else on the dial in any city across America.

What poor decision-making. It’s amazing that they cut people like this, yet talentless bozos like Nigel or that annoying British chick on 101X are safe.

Radio was on a downward slide well before the bad economy. Consolidation, watered-down play lists, stale formats and annoying on-air hosts with the same tired gags, acts and mindless chatter.

I’m quite sure that if Emmis really cared about good radio content, this could have been done differently. I wonder how much of a cut, if anything, a useless GM like Scott Gilmore, who creates NO content, got. What does he do, anyway?

While it may be good business to cut and slice until you’re in the black, Emmis will regret this. It just made a bland Austin radio market even more so, and just gave listeners another excuse to go to their iPods, satellite and internet radio for the content that terrestrial radio has proven it can’t, and won’t provide.

By Psycho

March 9, 2009 8:30 AM | Link to this

I loved Susan, but she wasn’t the first to go. They dumped Bobby Ray for Andy Langer without a word being said about it. I guess they thought that a change was needed, that Andy, as a music critic, brings more to the table, and he probably does.

And as much as I will miss Susan, I don’t feel too sorry for her - she maust have been making the big bucks if she can afford a home out in Westlake, not Austin.

By Oliver @ HRC

March 9, 2009 10:16 AM | Link to this

SUSAN! CALL ME! I am astonished. How to get a hold of you? Let’s have a beer or seven? At least that big dinner. Call me. O Corporate radio killed the radio star…

By Winchester

March 9, 2009 10:49 AM | Link to this

Shame to hear Suasan is gone. One of the few bright spots on a once great station, killed by a narrow play list. It was over for me when The Kevins left. If you want a station with no play list, try KFAN 107.9. And what’s up with KGSR’s Best of 2008, there is no CD list? Does this mean their listeners couldn’t come up with 107 CD titles?

By Jimba

March 9, 2009 6:01 PM | Link to this

Emmis is no different than any other company. Its all about the $ bill. We as workers also contributed to the down fall of this economy, always want more money, more, more, more. Companies had to charge more for there product to pay more and make a profit. Gotta make those stock holders happy. Now we’ve pay raised ourselves out of jobs. Its time to start think of others and help those in need.

By Rick

March 9, 2009 6:47 PM | Link to this

Susan Castle? Wow. The hardest working DJ in Austin laid off? What an abysmally stupid decision. Emmis probably hasn’t a clue why KGSR is successful, or what makes Austin magic and regarded as the “Live Music Capital of the World.” But it’s fading little by little, bit by bit. Even KUT is issuing corporate-type play-lists to its DJs. You corporate cats keep it up and you’ll kill the goose that laid the golden egg. Wake-up and keep Austin weird or become a bland as Anytown, USA, and you guys will lose money, too. Get down on your hands and knees and beg her to come back, you mindless nit wits.

By Bill Vordenbaum

March 9, 2009 10:01 PM | Link to this

Whattya Want For Lunch will never be the same again without Susan Castle. While lay-offs are common in radio, when good people are laid off it really hurts. I guess it is a sign of the times. Where I work, we had a 20% reduction in force before Christmas, and another round of lay-offs last week. I am lucky to still have a job. I hope you will join me in wishing Susan the best of luck in finding a new job. She will be sorely missed!!!

By tyson

March 11, 2009 2:38 AM | Link to this

the day the music died

By Juke

October 14, 2009 3:42 PM | Link to this

Susan Castle defined radio. End of story.