Austin Music Source

By Kim

July 28, 2009 1:29 PM | Link to this

Can we also talk about getting rid of Prairie Home Companion and cutting back John Aielli to just one hour, at most?

By syberlion

July 28, 2009 8:10 PM | Link to this

Getting rid of PHC? P-leease, it’s the only thing that let’s me know Texas isn’t the only place with down-home humor. It’s a throw-back to the golden age of radio and for just an hour out of a whole week of programing it is worth it’s proverbial weight in golden biscuit flour.

How about removing some of the modern jazz or other dis-harmonious noise that sounds like my 5 year old nephew banging on pots and pans? There’s a way to improve a radio station…

By Community Radio Fan

July 28, 2009 11:47 PM | Link to this

It’s not a real Community Radio Station if it doesn’t make everyone turn the radio off at least one time per week. Real radio is diverse and that diversity won’t fit everyone 100%. Community Radio does not win people over by getting them to listen 100%. The beauty is with the 75% they do listen being done so well by expert DJs. —- The option KUT is taking is to have strict programming guidelines and playlists approved by management to make ONE sound for a mass market. They are developing a rigid format like Commercial radio stations. Why copy the failing model of commercial radio?

By Miss Claire

July 29, 2009 12:02 AM | Link to this

I reacently donated my car to another non-profit, but took the time to email KUT and let them know why they lost that donation. If people will take time to email and call now, plus during the next fund drive, perhaps management will see just how many people listen to KUT for Larry Monroe and Paul Ray’s programs. Now Kim, I like PHC, but John Aielli spends more and more time rattling on about topics he knows nothing about. Then he gives away tickets with the answer to the burning question “what color are my shoes!”

By Eddie Fariss

July 29, 2009 1:51 AM | Link to this

I agree with Kim. When I tune in to KUT and hear Prairie Home Companion or John Aielli, I immediately change the station. Please KUT, bring back Larry and Paul.

By Stephen

July 29, 2009 11:10 AM | Link to this

Why don’t you just buy an HD radio and listen to KUT’s jazz station all day long?

By John

July 29, 2009 11:45 AM | Link to this

Community Radio Fan: at what point in this matter did ANYONE ever say that KUT has “playlists approved by management?” That’s simply 100% inaccurate. The on air talent is allowed to play whatever songs they choose, and of course if they’re working within the context of a show that caters to one genre they’ll stay within those boundaries but otherwise it’s up to them.

By norm

July 29, 2009 12:01 PM | Link to this

There’s a lot that needs to be talked about besides restoring Paul Ray’s Jazz and Phil Music. Like putting a local DJ in the overnight slot. And maybe Kevin Connor is not the right guy to be hosting Folkways.

By mrtexian58

July 29, 2009 3:03 PM | Link to this

Once again real jazz programming gets axed in favor of KGSR-type programming. Everybody move to the middle at the behest of the accountants and the timid. KUT has been playing real jazz since it came on the air. I used to listen to Larry Rourke in the 70’s. How will young people now get exposed to it? One or two Miles Davis songs here and there? Right.

Matt seems a good, actual radio guy. I like some of his play selections but it’s not particularly different and it’s not Real Austin. Real cities have real jazz programming, not that candy-*** stuff people think is jazz these days. If Austin really believes it’s a real city it needs a more grown-up radio landscape than more Slaid Cleaves type stuff. San Francisco, Chicago, New York all have real jazz like Paul Ray played. I am an Austin native, but this place is still just a burg in so many ways. Prarie Home Companion is irrelevant to Austin, it’s Minnesota humor (is that an actual thing?). I agree John Aielli is pompous, but he’s definately Austin.

You guys have fouled your own nest and sold out for mediocrity. For shame.

By Community Radio Fan

July 29, 2009 7:40 PM | Link to this

John, I over simplified, KUT does not preapprove song lists, but has control on songs played. A good manager molds the employee’s work w/o the employee realizing they really have no choice. For ex., Aielli HAS to play more new songs, so it looks like he has control, but not 100%. KUT had no Program Director from ‘82 to ‘01 until Hawk M. Hawk’s job is to listen and mold the sound into plan. KUT format has slowly changed since ‘01 and will continue. If DJs had 100% control, then Jay T could do a full Jazz hour, or John A a full classical hour (like they both used to). If either tried that, mgmt would be on them.

By Slim

July 30, 2009 8:52 AM | Link to this

What irony in the pull quote that the Statesman uses today in the article about Matt Reilly: “I knew I didn’t want to go back into commercial radio. You can wake up and the whole station is gone.” With all the commercials KUT has on (whoops—they call them sponsors, not advertisers, uh huh), and the KGSR-sounding play lists that the Ray and Monroe replacements are drawing from, I have to ask, where did KUT go? I want my radio station sounding like it comes from Austin, and so do listeners on the internet all over the world! I want my KUT back! I want Phil Music and Paul Ray’s Jazz, and while I’m at it, how about bringing Femme FM back! Let the new guys earn their spots by doing the overnight shifts. (Matt, I’m sure you’re a great guy, but fair is fair.)

By WeirdAustinite

July 30, 2009 12:38 PM | Link to this

Larry Monroe is boring and he plays the same old boring music we have all heard before, time and again. Time for a change.

Paul Ray’s Jazz, however, is a serious loss.

By Cliff

July 31, 2009 12:12 AM | Link to this

I’ve been listening to KUT since 1983 or so and Larry Monroe’s Blue Monday is what got me into it. Nevertheless I’ve heard him so much that I have to agree that he tends to play the same old stuff - good stuff - but the same old. I like the music played by Matt Reilly, Rick McNulty, Jeff McCord, and really all of the djs except John Aielli. I just wish they wouldn’t play Prairie Home Companion twice and that they’d return to local talent playing the music overnight. I like the comment that it isn’t a real community radio station if it doesn’t make everyone turn off their radio at least once a week.

By Kathy Williams

July 31, 2009 12:18 AM | Link to this

Thank goodness someone is doing something about the KUT mess. Bring back the jazz!!!!

By Kathy Williams

July 31, 2009 12:20 AM | Link to this

Please bring back the jazz and Larry and Paul. I love listening to someone who is intelligent.

By Elizabeth

July 31, 2009 1:43 PM | Link to this

My favorite is Twine Time, but I give respect to Paul Ray’s jazz show and Larry Monroe…the eclecticism of KUT’s DJs is what I like the station for. Ironic that “Eklektikos” is the thing I dislike the most about it.

By Maryann

July 31, 2009 4:33 PM | Link to this

It saddens me to hear yall dissing John Aielli. I love his stream of consciousness approach, being exposed to all kinds of music on his program. Also love “Left of the Dial”, “Phil Music” and “Paul Ray’s Jazz”. I’ve been listening to KUT since the early ‘70 left to in work San Francisco, and happy to come back in the ’80s. San Fran has nothing on the wonderful programming we get from KUT. Don’t muck it up to save a buck!

By Lindsay

August 3, 2009 2:13 PM | Link to this

It is time for a change at KUT. Larry Monroe and Paul Ray have had many, many years to play music for Austin - now is the time to give a new generation a chance. I am 25, and I love listening to public radio. On occasion I enjoyed a pleasant night of jazz. Four nights a week with the same old guys, though, is too much. Repetitive and boring. Turning on the radio one Thursday and hearing Matt Reilly was like the skies had opened up over KUT.

Please give Matt Reilly, and other new DJs, and most importantly, new local music, a chance. I am unable to understand why Austin is so afraid of change when there is so much great new talent and new music out there. KUT will get nowhere by showing that “the sound of Austin” is the sound of people who don’t welcome change.

By Radiohead

August 3, 2009 8:01 PM | Link to this

Lindsay, Your comment is very disrepectful, implying that anybody anywhere over the age of 40 or 50 should loose their job automatically and be put to pasture. That reminds me of Radiohead’s message to Miley Cyrus, “when Miley grows up she’ll learn not to have a sense of entitlement”. Try not to be self centered and respect the experienced and wisened age group in our society.

By Wynn

August 3, 2009 10:59 PM | Link to this

Lindsay, we share some common ground in this controversy. Not all the backlash is centered on Matt Reilly. As you say, we all want to give new DJs and local music a chance. That is why UnderCurrents has to go! If you weren’t aware, UnderCurrents has taken five 3 hour shifts away from local DJs and does not play new local music. At all. Also, if you like Matt Reilly, check out the daytime DJs, it’s the same as Matt’s night stuff. That’s part of the controversy too, as the new music was already well represented on KUT during the day and Left of the Dial.

By Slim

August 4, 2009 3:36 PM | Link to this

How ‘bout letting Matt Reilly take some of those overnight shifts. Let him prove himself as a voice for public radio in Austin before he’s handed three nights of prime time! What happened to working your way up in the company?

This is aside from the fact that there needs to be a place for jazz on the air in Austin. Bottom line!

By norm

August 4, 2009 3:42 PM | Link to this

Yeah, seems like it would be very easy to put Jazz and Phil music back on the schedule from 8-11pm and let Reilly do his thing from 11pm-2am

By Shannon

August 5, 2009 10:57 AM | Link to this

On KUT Texas Music Matters…except for Jazz, I guess.

Blues and Jazz are true American art forms and Texas, including Austin, has spawned its share world class artists in both genres.

To have the premier community broadcaster in a city of our size and distinction in regards to music to not have Jazz programming on their primary channel is shameful. I never thought it would happen here.

Blues and Jazz nights on KUT have become a family event in my house. My kids have grown up listening to KUT DJs spin these genres. What a disappointment.

Yes, I know Jazz is on KUT3. I was going to try and listen to it on the web today to check it out, but it’s not streamed. It’s only available to those who can afford to buy new equipment. I don’t happen to fit in the catagory of folks who can afford to swap out the radios in my work, home, and cars.

I am glad to see Blues are still going to be around….for now.

By Lisa

August 5, 2009 9:25 PM | Link to this

Thank goodness for the NPR App on the iPhone, so I can hear jazz on another station. Too bad it’s not in my community, the Music Capital of the World! Goodbye KUT.

By Krewe de Ozillians

August 7, 2009 1:58 PM | Link to this

WWOZ New Orleans is the world’s premier model on how a radio station can synch up perfectly with the local community. I invite everyone in Austin to listen online 24/7 at wwoz.org on your internet dial.

Yeah you right!