Austin Music Source

By Disappointed

September 23, 2010 12:15 PM | Link to this

I miss the River. I’ve tried to give Spirit a chance…but it is not working. My kids and I listened to the River every day..we loved the hosts, the commentaries, and the stories. Additionally, the music was a great mix of Christian and popular “positive” music. So far, all I’ve heard on Spirit is the reason I can’t get into contemporary Christian music…ironically, because it has no soul. I didn’t even mention it to my kids because I was trying to give Spririt a fair shake and even THEY asked to turn it off.

sigh It’s too bad.

By Delighted

September 24, 2010 9:02 AM | Link to this

I didn’t listen to the River after they switched to christian and secular music because it wasn’t appropriate music for my 6 year old. I wish Austin had more alternative christian rock like air one.

By Sad

September 24, 2010 10:17 AM | Link to this

I have to agree with Disappointed. I miss the River. The hosts are what made the station. They were local and family oriented. I love contemporary Christian music and worship music but the River had just the right mix of Christian and pop music that was family friendly. I also have been giving Spirit a chance. I still listen to it but really miss the River and the on air personalities. We miss you Susie, Roxanne, Gary and Steve.

By Happy again

September 28, 2010 9:39 AM | Link to this

I do miss the dj’s from the river, but I was getting disappointed in them playing more and more pop. I started listening to them b/c they were playing Christian music, but in the end, they turned into 95.5 magic. I like the spirit. Please don’t change!!

By kimberly

September 28, 2010 9:48 AM | Link to this

I am from MN, there is no christian station here in Austin, which truly disappointed me. If I wanted to listen to secular music I will listen to a secular station. A station cannot be both christian and secular that is saying you can be a christian when you want to be. A person is either a christian or they are not. Christian music soothes the soul secular only confuses the soul. The River was a joke, I am so excited to have Spirit, I have the station playing all the time in my car.

By Keisha

September 28, 2010 12:46 PM | Link to this

I was very happy when the River came along because they were playing Christian music and they were different from other stations. I do miss them. But it was a change for the city of Austin to have a station that was playing nothing but Christian music. But when they started having a mix of Christian and secular, I kinda of tuned out. I am happy that we have the Spirit, because it’s back to what I like to hear when I have a hard day. But I do miss the dj’s at the River also. The Spirit is doing a good job.

By Confused

September 28, 2010 12:54 PM | Link to this

I was not aware of what was going on until the last week of The River being on air. I do miss Gary, Roxanne, Susie but I don’t miss the pop music they had started playing. Sometimes I would wonder if accidentally my radio had gotten changed. So yes, I love hearing christian music only but I would like to have the old gang back.

By goddesstopazz

September 30, 2010 9:58 AM | Link to this

This is twice that I’ve left town and come back there has been changes to this station. But I have to say that this one needs to stay the way it is. I hope Gary, Rox, Suze, and the other guy Steve, plus I adore John Tesh, but this is the change that was needed. When the River started playing that song “Don’t Break Even” by the Script, I knew that the compromise had happened. I do not know how I will keep up with popular music, but hopefully, the desire for it will go away as I grow in my relationship in Christ. There is nothing wrong with wanting positive music. But a station that declares the worship, praise, and unabashed witness of Savior deserves our prayers and support. Satan is busy and will not like this.

By Bruce

September 30, 2010 11:59 PM | Link to this

I knew The River was on the way out when it started mixing secular music. Can’t worship two gods. Either your Christian or your not. Hope it works well. We are in a time where the body of Christ must be in action and in prayer, for all of God’s saints in Jesus Christ. Blessings. Jos 24:15 Ps 29 Rom 12 Heb 12:14

By Bruce

October 1, 2010 12:04 AM | Link to this

Kimberly- KLOVE has two frequencies you can receive around Austin. And more if your out of town. Also for traditional Christian music, KHIB. A mix of Christian music KNLE-Candle 88.

By Cynthia

October 1, 2010 9:08 AM | Link to this

This change is wonderful. The River was good, but some of the songs played were not in line with a Christian perspective (a Beyonce tune comes to mind). I am really enjoying the Christian Rock on SPIRIT, it’s truly a blessing and helps lift me UP!

By Deborah

October 1, 2010 10:12 AM | Link to this

I really like the new station. I tried listening to The River but there was so much secular music and definitely to much talking by the host. If I want secular music, I listen to a different station and if I want talk radio Ill listen to KUT. Spirt has definitely brought me back to this station.

By David Cruz

October 3, 2010 8:20 AM | Link to this

I must admit i used to be a Faithful River listner. I loved listening to the Christian music they played. I then noticed that they started playing more and more pop music which and then there was lessand less christian music. Then they went from 102.3 to make way for some Hip Hop station and moved to 105.3. I sent an E-Mail to the program manager who responded with they had to change. I then stopped listening to the River all together and started listening more to KLOVE. Now I was just Channel surfing and see that Spirt 105.3 is here! I am excited to see this station going back to all christian music. I will be a faithful listner. God Bless you all my fellow Austinites! God bless the SPIRT!!!

By jordan

October 3, 2010 8:17 PM | Link to this

i loved the river; great upbeat music. a nice balance of christian and ‘secular’. but i love the spirit, too. don’t change it! i like how it has modern christian music, and most of them are upbeat. yeah, i’m liking it ALOT. :)

By PJ

October 5, 2010 12:05 PM | Link to this

Love It, do not change, I have a great stereo system in my truck and i love the look of people when I’m stuck in traffic and they hear Jesus’s name in every other verse of the song i love it, I have not changed the station since you guys came along. i do miss Gary, Roxanne, Susie, but I have faith that you will get amazing hosts soon enough.

By Eve Raine

October 8, 2010 3:41 PM | Link to this

When the Rivier 102.3 was new to Austin, I went to all of their tent ‘happenings,’ met the DJ’s, got their bumper sticker, and listened all the time! Then, the female DJ whom I really adored left for KIXX, I think it was, to a country station. Next, I got used to new DJ’s being with the ‘original’ of Gary and Steve. I did come to appreciate the personalities of the new ladies. Next, The River switched to a new frequency. Okay. However, I, too (as others, above) noticed they started playing a mix of Christian (very little, now) with more and more secular. With this, I permanently checked out—until today. I’ve pleasantly discovered The Spirit of Austin. Thank You, God!

By Nell Osmar

October 10, 2010 1:29 PM | Link to this

Way to go Austin. You are beginning to get the “spirit” by bringing this station to us! There needs to be a change in the world. This is the type of change we need where people can hear a message through this glorious music. One-at-a-time, if lives are changed, then there is a GOD! Thank you Spirit 105.9, I hope you are here to stay!!!

By ERuiz

October 12, 2010 7:46 AM | Link to this

My family and I are really enjoying the new station. We are K-Love listeners but the station doesn’t work in buildings and/or in a lot of areas of Austin. So We are very excited to have a station, that plays Christian Music ONLY. Like many other listeners of The River, I was excited about it at first, but it really did turn out to be more of a hip hop station. Keep up the good work Austin and Keep changing people’s lives one song at a time…We are loving it!!!

By Eva

October 14, 2010 2:01 AM | Link to this

Moved here from the Houston area four years ago. My husband and I were faithful listeners of KSBJ, a wonderful Christian station there. In channel surfing, I came across The River. I was glad to find a station here that played Christian music. Like others, I did not like it when secular music was added to the play list. So we started listening to K-LOVE more. I do miss some of the DJ’s from The River and I especially miss John Tesh’s show. But I am EXTREMELY glad to have The Spirit on the air now and I’m hopeful the station will be very successful.

By Sharon Sarles

October 18, 2010 10:36 AM | Link to this

Just heard about 105.9 from a friend this weekend. Welcome! Finally some worship music! I just get so disapointed when someone performs a worship song in the commercial oversexy lookatme way. Then after suffering through that I sure don’t want a heap of commercialism and foolish jabber until I finally get back to another sort of Christian song. I’ve done a lot of tuning in to Christian stations and then turning off the radio. Also looking for some more faith filled, positive teaching. Same thing with that, I turn it off when they get off-Bible anti-faith. I am glad we have so many Christian on -air choices now in Austin, and I will be checking Spirit out some more. Liked what I heard: worship songs that I recognize and can sing along to (and absence of garbage.)

By Highside

October 19, 2010 5:15 PM | Link to this

Early in 2010, during a dinner event one evening, Pastor Will Davis (Susie’s hubby) asked me about The Rivers’ format change from Christian to a mix of secular and Christian mix… I was honest… I told both Will and Susie that it wasn’t working for me and my family… And WE LOVED THE RIVER before this…

I informed them that Susie was the only morning personality to actually quote Scripture… I loved her for it… In this “left-leaning” town, she was a Godsend…

Shortly thereafter, we switched to K-LOVE… The Message they deliver, on a daily basis, exceeds their great playlist of Christian hits.

I recently “found” The Spirit 105.9 and can honestly say that I am COMPLETELY pleased with their format and playlist.

THANK YOU ,CHRISTA! It is obvious that Clear Channel wasn’t interested in a spiritual revival in Austin… CHRISTA is…

God bless the folks at CHRISTA for creating The Spirit… You have my ear (and listener donations).

Highside Round Rock

By Joanie

October 25, 2010 8:50 AM | Link to this

Like many others, my husband and I loved listening to The River until they began adding too much secular music. I had been a fan of 95.5 and 94.7 in the past, but The River helped make my day better, until they compromised and began playing the same music as 95.5 and 94.7. I loved listening to Gary and Heather in the beginning, but after Heather left, too many women on the show made it more difficult to listen. (Women talk too much.) I personally began listening to KASE 100.7 and thoroughly love listening to them still, but I am so glad we now have a truly Christian radio station to listen to in Austin with Spirit 105.9! My days will be better now again!

By Carol

October 27, 2010 9:56 AM | Link to this

Is “The Spirit” of Austin on line yet? When I’m working in my home office, I like to play the radio from my computer. I can do this with KLOV, but would like to add “Spirit” so I have alternatives, especially during KLOV’s fundraising activities - not that I mind KLOV’s fundraising - just contributed to them, but when it goes on for over a week, fundraising get’s old, if you know what I mean. Hope you’re online. Blessings, grace and peace.

By TX_VIKING

November 3, 2010 10:28 AM | Link to this

Great music Great station. Thank You.

By missing the river

November 3, 2010 4:43 PM | Link to this

I miss The River! Sorry, Spirit, but you’re disappointing me, just as K-LOVE has in the past. There are literally thousands of wonderful christian songs, yet the same menu is repeated over and over. That’s why I quit listening to K-Love, and now Spirit is just the same. The River had more variety. Spirit, reach back in history and play a huge mix of new and old christian music! And play some non-christian, but positive contemporary pop music

By terri

November 9, 2010 8:25 AM | Link to this

Love the Spirit! Wish the playlist was broader and, today, the transitions are terrible. It is as if the “play next” button is set too fast, cutting off the end of the current play. What’s happening?

By Beth Boren

January 17, 2011 9:29 AM | Link to this

I miss the River! I miss Susie and Gary!!! They made laugh and they made think in the morning. If you were going to go with the same type of format in the morning, why not keep the same people?? They were loved! And now they are really missed. I am not all that thrilled with the new SPIRIT. Thanks for trying!

By Best Lcd Tv

February 25, 2011 9:17 PM | Link to this

Pretty nice article! I thoroghly enjoyed reading it. I was wondering, where did you get your information from? Or is it all from personal experience…?

By Megan

June 3, 2011 11:10 AM | Link to this

I have to say that I am impressed with the new spirit 105.9. Because Every Radio station you would turn to was breath taking and not the good way. finally after just about giving up on finding a decent family channel we found this channel. Thanks to all who helped make it.