AUSTIN, Texas – Nov. 3, 2017 – A community of engaged listeners, sustaining members and local businesses showed their support for the news, information and music programming on KUT 90.5 and KUTX 98.9, during the fall 2017 membership drive.
The stations’ shortened, seven-day fall membership drive concluded Oct. 30 and focused on the theme “News for All. Music for All,” emphasizing that listener support makes quality journalism, trusted information, and the Austin music experience available to everyone. No subscription. No paywalls. No barriers to access.
New members are the lifeblood of public radio. Nearly 1,800 listeners became new members of KUT and KUTX during the fall membership drive, raising close to $700,000 to pay for news and music programming on the stations.
Injecting some fun into the membership drive, the stations launched a Twitter “Grackle Punoff” inviting the community to tweet their best bird puns with #GracklePunoff for a chance to win a pair of KUT or KUTX grackle socks – one of the fall membership drive thank-you gifts – featuring grackles and other images reflecting Austin.
KUT and KUTX depend on local individuals and businesses for 80 percent of their annual operating budget. Member donations pay for programming and broadcasting expenses, such as KUT’s award-winning news staff, and programs such as “Texas Standard,” “Morning Edition,” “All Things Considered,” “Wait, Wait…Don't Tell Me!,” “Marketplace” and “Fresh Air,” 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, Austin’s NPR station, 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. Our work is directly supported by a community of sustaining members and local businesses whose investments power the music, news and conversations that matter to Austin.
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Contact: Erin Geisler (512) 475-8071
