AUSTIN, Texas – Oct. 29, 2015 – More than 2,000 listeners became first-time donors, helping KUT and KUTX exceed new member goals for the fall membership drive.
KUT 90.5, Austin’s NPR station, and KUTX 98.9, The Austin Music Experience, began the eight-day membership drive with a goal of recruiting 2,000 new members. When the drive ended last night, 2,050 listeners had become first-time donors to KUT and KUTX, with an additional 2,300 renewing their support.
Local businesses and individuals contributed more than $620,000 to support independent journalism and hand-picked music reflecting the spirit of Austin.
New and sustaining members are the lifeblood of public radio, paying for the news, music and cultural programming the community relies on. More than 70 percent of KUT and KUTX donors are sustaining members who care deeply about the services provided on the stations and make continuous monthly gifts via credit or debit card — like a subscription — to enable on-air fund drives to focus on recruiting new members.
“As new Austinites discover the news, information and music programming made by and for people in Austin at KUT and KUTX, they want to invest in the services that connect them to their community and help make Austin – ‘Austin’,” said Stewart Vanderwilt, director and general manager for KUT and KUTX public radio. “I should mention that lots of folks wanted our unique Grackle Socks thank-you gift.”
KUT and KUTX depend on local individuals and businesses for 87 percent of their annual operating budget. Donations pay for programming and broadcasting expenses, such as KUT’s award-winning news staff, and paying for programs such as “Texas Standard,” "Morning Edition," "All Things Considered," "This American Life," "Wait, Wait…Don't Tell Me," "Marketplace," "Fresh Air," and many others, while helping KUTX reflect the musical diversity of Austin through one-of-a-kind performances in Studio 1A; the Austin Music Minute, the KUTX Artist of the Month and more.
About KUT 90.5 and KUTX 98.9, The Austin Music Experience
KUT and KUTX are community supported public media that fuel Austin’s love of discovery. KUT 90.5, Austin’s NPR station, uses the highest editorial standards to report the stories that matter to Austin and KUTX 98.9, the Austin Music Experience, enriches listeners’ lives with the music and experiences that reflect the spirit of Austin.
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Contact: Erin Geisler (512) 475-8071