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KUT, hosts’ fans aren’t on same wavelength
Daryl Slusher was among the Austinites who spoke at a town hall meeting Wednesday about KUT’s decision to cut the shows of two hosts. Cody Duty AMERICAN-STATESMAN
Never let it be said that terrestrial radio is a dead or dying medium.
Based on the levels of passion and sheer energy expended on both sides of the debate about the downsizing of Paul Ray and Larry Monroe at public radio station KUT (FM 90.5), radio, at least in Austin, is vibrantly alive.
A recap: Early last month, KUT announced that three shows — “Paul Ray’s Jazz” (8 to 11 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday) and Larry Monroe’s “Phil Music Program” (8 to 11 p.m. Thursday) — were being replaced by “Music with Matt Reilly,” hosted by KUT’s new assistant music director. In addition, KUT announced it would air “Undercurrents,” a three-hour national music show hosted by Gregg McVicar, at midnight Monday through Thursday to replace overnight programming hosted by Monroe and Ray. The John Aielli podcast “Aielli Unleashed” also was canceled (Aielli’s “Eklektikos” still airs from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday). Ray lost 14 hours of air time a week, Monroe 10. Ray and Monroe will continue to host their popular weekly “Twine Time” (7 to 11 p.m. Saturday) and “Blue Monday” programs, respectively.
The news dropped at the start of the July 4 holiday weekend — probably not the best PR move on KUT’s part.
KUT management has said it made the changes for financial and business reasons, that the programs weren’t increasing the station’s audience and that the $120,000 cut had to be made somewhere. Opponents of the change say it’s another step in what they call the ongoing homogenization of KUT (or, as many online commentators put it, “sounding like KGSR”).
The online comments continued in a steady stream, and a Facebook group, “Support Larry Monroe and Paul Ray at KUT,” was created. (As of Monday, the group was up to 834 members and 158 wall posts.)
KUT began spinning the story, sending out clarifying e-mails to supporters and running on-air bumpers about the changes. Initially, KUT management indicated that the $120,000 saved by these cuts was being redirected in the budget. At the end of last week , program director Hawk Mendenhall said that, in fact, the money was being cut entirely.
KUT’s 2008-09 fiscal year budget was $6.4 million. It’s $5.9 million for fiscal year 2009-10. According to the University of Texas Office of the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, the downsizing will put Monroe and Ray well under the minimum number of hours required to retain health insurance.
Cleve Hattersley of Greezy Wheels — who already had sent an angry mass e-mail about the changes — organized a town hall meeting Wednesday to discuss the downsizings and ways to reverse them.
“The one thing that I think we all agree on is the fact that we want Larry Monroe and Paul Ray back on the air,” Hattersley said at the meeting in the beer garden at Threadgill’s South. “We want to hear what we want to hear.”
Mendenhall said he was not surprised by the reaction to the changes.
“When ‘Car Talk’ came on Saturday mornings, I got people telling me Austin didn’t want to hear laughter that early in the morning,” Mendenhall said last week. “I had my life threatened over ‘Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me,’ which is a Saturday morning hit and raised $20,000 in one hour of pledge drive.”
KUT management says they initially received only a handful of phone calls about the changes.
“Anytime we make a change, it’s hard for all involved,” KUT general manager Stewart Vanderwilt said Wednesday (before the meeting, which he did not attend). “When you’re looking at fiscal challenges, you have to look at everywhere. Late overnight has a very small audience, and the investment there, unfortunately, just didn’t make sense.”
Mendenhall said he and Stewart looked at 10 years of data in making their decision, which revealed that while the audience for many shows (“Eklektikos,” “Twine Time,” Jay Trachtenberg’s afternoon music shows) has grown with Austin’s population, the draw for the “Paul Ray’s Jazz” and “Phil Music” programs has remained stagnant — about 1,800 in the evenings (before midnight) and 300 overnight.
“One thing that’s kind of keeping KUT going in a really down market is the fact that our audience is growing,” Vanderwilt said. ” ‘Twine Time’ is a force unto itself, and ‘Blue Monday’ has a tradition and a connection to the blues roots of Austin, but the other programs just weren’t moving the station forward.”
And Mendenhall admits that Reilly’s show is a bid for a wider demographic, if not necessarily younger. He added that music director Jeff McCord’s Friday night show “Left of the Dial” was a good model for the sort of music mix he’s aiming for in the overnight slots. McCord’s recent playlist includes artists such as Black Moth Super Rainbow, Jimi Hendrix, the Monahans, Television, Ornette Coleman and Wilco.
At least 100 people attended Hattersley’s town hall meeting, where suggestions for action included cutting off donations to KUT , a position not endorsed by everyone.
“I personally will not withhold my support of KUT financially,” said Charlotte Hursley, a KUT contributor at the Leadership Circle level. She suggested aiming pledges at specific shows, such as “Blue Monday.”
Monday, Hattersley said the group was leaning toward a boycott, perhaps putting donations in an escrow account until demands are met.
“The biggest job will be to identify and contact local contributors of every stripe, individual or corporate,” he said. “We intend to try to speak directly to absolutely everyone who has given KUT any money over the last 10 years.”
For their parts, Monroe and Ray have kept a low profile. Ray, who was recently inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame , did not respond to requests for comment. Monroe said that he was presented with the changes as a done deal — “I was not given any options.”
Monroe has been spending time taking care of dental and medical work before his insurance runs out. He will be working an eight-hour week, which includes “Blue Monday” and the prep time required for the award-winning show, the longest-running blues show in America with a single host. (Blue Monday launched in 1981.) He declined to comment on whether he had been talking to other radio stations, terrestrial, online or satellite.
jgross@statesman.com; 912-5926
Comments
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By Geoffrey
August 10, 2009 4:06 PM | Link to this
Of course, being that KUT’s staff is under the same regulations as the rest of UT, that being the Teacher’s Retirement System of TX, neither of these guys are REALLY unable to continue their health insurance. They’ve got to be old enough now to retire and can then access their insurance as a guaranteed benefit — and could still work for the station as part-time on air employees to boot. This happens all the time in other state and/or university jobs in Texas all the time, so let’s not use the threat of loss of healthcare as a means to rabble rouse.
By Jim Vest
August 10, 2009 10:07 PM | Link to this
By sidney Brammer
August 10, 2009 11:48 PM | Link to this
Geoffrey, you’re woefully misinformed. If their service credit accruals are interrupted by being forced to drop hours below service credit/health insurance eligibility, then their plans for TRS retirement and UT’s retiree insurance benefits will very likely be scotched. One has to sustain employment at a certain level of appointment hours to earn TRS service credit and insurance benefits. It’s an old game by UT management in all departments of the university; reduce appointment hours of older employees to reduce the financial “drag” of those nearing retirement. Nice way to reward those who have given the University the best years of their lives, huh?
By Slim
August 11, 2009 8:57 AM | Link to this
Regarding Vanderwilt’s quote: “When you’re looking at fiscal challenges, you have to look at everywhere.” I suggest they HAVEN’T looked everywhere. There are management positions that didn’t exist a couple years ago that KUT did fine without. There are newer online DJs that cost them a bundle (David Brown, for instance). And then there is the matter of KUT2 and KUT3. How much do they cost, and what is the current value? DJs Paul Ray and Larry Monroe have put YEARS into making KUTfm the unique and beloved station it is…locally and nationally. And this, during KUT’s 50th anniversary year, is how they are rewarded? It is lower than low. I think KUT’s management has got to go!
By Stephen
August 11, 2009 9:39 AM | Link to this
Is this about Ray and Monroe or is it about jazz? If you simply want to hear jazz, get an HD radio and listen to KUT-3. If it’s about Ray/Monroe, I have no idea.
By bob
August 11, 2009 9:53 AM | Link to this
If they are old enough to retire that is (which I am most positive they are)they can get the full deal like Geoffrey says - pension, benefits, the whole thing + work hourly. On Larry’s homepage it says he was born: August 29, 1942 in Hartford City, Indiana which
makes him almost 67, old enough indeed -Could not find an age on Paul - assume he is similar in age?
By Bob Simmons
August 11, 2009 10:25 AM | Link to this
One thing for sure, if Mendenhall or Vanderwilt were being fired or having their hours reduced, no listener would care one bit. Their ingratitude and callow indifference to the people who made their jobs possible is a mark of their character, or lack of it.
By Mark
August 11, 2009 2:17 PM | Link to this
Regarding Jazz, KUT-HD3 is no substitute for Paul Ray’s Jazz. Paul’s informed and varied content can’t be replaced with syndicated elevator music. HD3 programming feeds the lowest common denominator, while Austin was always better after an evening with Paul.
Hamburger is no substitute for steak, no matter how much sauce you put on it (apologies to my vegan friends, but you get the idea). And, regarding the demographics, you’ll need to grow like a weed to replace my contributions (which are generously matched by my employer).
By austingoober
August 11, 2009 2:18 PM | Link to this
The listener numbers don’t lie, these are not popular programs and a programming change is needed. I will give more money to KUT, since I now find me evening listening enhanced. It figures that overpaid bureau-hack Daryl Slusher would be involved. It should be illegal to move from city council to an overpaid city position like Slusher did. I support KUT on this change.
By Slim
August 11, 2009 3:56 PM | Link to this
I’d like to know where these “listener numbers” come from! There are over 900 people now in the FaceBook “Support Larry M and Paul R on KUT” group, and I’ll guarantee that none of them have ever been called and asked what they listened to. And that doesn’t account for the folks not on FaceBook.
I’ve always called in pledges during the day, because that’s when I’m near a phone and it’s easily done. But it doesn’t mean I wasn’t listening to the Phil Music Show or Paul Ray’s jazz. Daytime listeners are more likely to be captive audiences and, like me, ready to pick up the phone.
Which doesn’t account for the downright sleazy way this was handled. They were chopped off at the knees the same day Sarah Palin resigned—right before the holiday weekend. No advance warning. The benefit thing is at the very least, dicey. But this is how they’ve made a living. And helped make this station what it is. (And just as an added note: Paul Ray is being inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame this fall. Glad to see SOMEBODY is paying attention.) And to (dis)honor them like this during the 50th Anniversary of the Station is just shameful. Messrs. Vanderwilt and Mendenhall can spin all they like, but in my book, their names are mud!
By Cindy
August 11, 2009 5:12 PM | Link to this
Paul and Larry over the years have made KUT what it is — an award winning station with home grown programs showcasing Texas music. KUT management does not fully appreciate that, for many listeners, Paul and Ray are the best of KUT. The loss of Paul Ray’s Jazz and the Phil Music Show are a continuation of the erosion of local programing at KUT. Texas Radio, Live Set and other local programs are what make KUT special.
The really bad news is being obscured by the reduction of Larry and Paul’s hours. “Play lists” must now be approved by KUT management. KUT has left no place for knowledgeable DJs like Paul and Ray to work their magic. You might as well be listening any other station as KUT is no longer unique.
By Jeff Woodruff
August 11, 2009 9:12 PM | Link to this
I have reduced my listening to 15 minutes of news in the morning and 15 minutes in the evening. It’ over.
By Laura
August 11, 2009 11:50 PM | Link to this
I think KUT is still unique - I dare you to find another public or commercial radio station with such a wide range of music on its playlist - I too like the changes and very much enjoy the new night shows - Have you tried listening? I do not think they are looking to ruin the station - just add some new talent -
from KUT facebook - We occasionally hear that KUT has imposed playlists on our hosts…Here’s the reality. On a few of their selections, the music hosts at KUT are asked to choose from a select group of significant new releases. This gives these new releases more frequent play than they would have received in the past, which gives the music more exposure to our listeners. There is also a huge list consisting of over 300 wide-ranging artists that have historically gotten a lot of play on KUT and resonated with our listeners, and our hosts are asked to pick a few of these artists to play. This helps give balance between the new and the familiar. In both cases, what artist and song they choose to play, and when they choose to play it, is left entirely up to the discretion of the music host, as is the rest of the music they choose to play in any given hour.
Unlike most stations, where announcers are given a printout of exactly what songs to play, KUT has no regimented playlist. On our specialty shows like Blue Monday, Horizontes, Twine Time, Across The Water and the rest, the hosts—who are experts in those genres—craft the show entirely on their own. All this is designed to produce listenable, spontaneous, creative radio. KUT strives to be neither elitist nor predictable with our music choices, but to play a great blend of music and genres that is uniquely Austin and not found anywhere else on the radio dial.
Jeff McCord KUT Music Director
By rpg
August 12, 2009 12:14 PM | Link to this
I believe the problem here is with management. Does anyone know how we can start a campaign to get rid of Vanderwilt and Mendenhall?
By Slim
August 12, 2009 12:28 PM | Link to this
Laura I don’t think anyone is accusing the management of trying intentionally to ruin the station. But major mistakes have been made. A playlist is a playlist and has no business on a public station. But if you can’t agree about the music that’s being played, at least take a real look at the way the changes were made. A total lack of respect. And don’t bother quoting Jeff or Stewart or Hawk. We can read, too.
By Laura
August 12, 2009 11:52 PM | Link to this
Slim - well thanks for the note of sarcasm - yes I am sure you can read - Just seems like you did not read it as Jeff made it pretty clear that they do not have a playlist - On a few of their selections, the music hosts at KUT are asked to ‘choose from a select group of significant new releases’ - sounds like a good way to make sure new music is always in the mix so that KUT stays relevant - sounds good to me
I pose a question - what if Matt Reilly hangs around KUT and makes a name for himself and say in 30 years he comes off the air and is replaced by a new guy/gal - will Austin erupt again and feel as though the soul of Austin has been ripped out?
Yes KUT could have done a better job delivering this news - maybe they should have had each dj do a goodbys show or something. But if these shows were not getting the listernship that other shows were then would they not be even more disrespectful to their general public not to change the show? Is that not a bad use of public money to play shows that only a small part of the public listen to?
It would have been a change no matter what - which can be hard. I for one really like listening to Matt and the new nightly shows - I never could get into Phil Music and I only occasionally listened to jazz. Sounds like you always istened to Phil music and the jazz shows -so it is a big change for you.
It is fair to say though that if you have been at KUT for a long time - then your shows should stay around forever even if not that many people listen to the show - and if you are new (and younger) you must be a bad/souless/never will measure up dj - Would it not be ironic if your children(or your friends kids if you do not have kids) protest the next change of the guard at KUT just as you are -
By Slim
August 13, 2009 11:33 AM | Link to this
Exactly what do you think a playlist is, Laura? “A select group of significant… [as deemed so by the committee] …new releases” … “are asked [really? and if they don’t play any of them, it’s okay with management?] … to choose” Oh, please! Maybe you haven’t had the opportunity to benefit from true public radio.
This argument really isn’t about Matt Reilly or his talent as a DJ. It’s about the management at KUT, their lousy managerial skills…and about respecting those who made the station what it is. If you work somewhere for twenty-thirty years, build up a business or clientele and a reputation, you shouldn’t have to expect the kind of treatment they’re doling out over there at KUT. If this is the wave of the future, yeah, maybe Matt SHOULD worry about what he can expect…after he’s put in his measure of time at the station.
As for the numbers, there are a thousand people in the FaceBook group alone that think KUT screwed up. That’s something to think about, anyway.
By norm
August 13, 2009 1:43 PM | Link to this
There are a number of issues that listeners have with KUT. The Monroe/Ray debacle is seen by many as the last straw.
A number of shows have been dropped, changed or moved in their time slots. New management positions have been created such as Assoc.GM /Director of Broadcast and Content, while still claiming the need to save money by cutting Monroe and Ray.
As far as the new homogenized music programming, all we get is a slightly better version of KGSR.
A good public radio station should cater to a variety of interests and tastes, including minorities - like fans of jazz and folk music. If these shows are holding their audience there should be no reason to change or canel them.
Management’s defense of their decisions has been all about ratings and money.
KUT needs new management, the sooner the better!
By gary etie
August 31, 2009 5:33 AM | Link to this
Save KUT Austin. Phil Music, and more: http://www.savekutaustin.com/