(DALLAS/FORT WORTH) “� North Texas Public Broadcasting (KERA) is getting ready to launch its new public radio music station, KXT 91.7 FM, which will begin broadcasting on Monday, November 9 at 7:00 a.m.
“It’s been a busy past few months,”� said Jeff Ramirez , VP of Radio. “We have selected the KXT hosts and further developed the playlists for the locally hosted programming that will be heard on the new station each week. Right now we are completing a retrofit of an existing studio to accommodate the new station. Soon we will begin sound quality testing and adjustments on 91.7 FM to make sure that the broadcast audio is balanced in time for launch day.”�
Ramirez ann ounced that Gini Mascorro and Joe Kozera are the on-air hosts for KXT’s own music programs. Gini Mascorro is the new station’s music coordinator, and the host for the weekday KXT Morning Show and KXT Texas Mix on Fridays. Listeners to KXT’s sister station, KERA FM, know Gini as the longtime midday ann ouncer and host of the daily arts and cultural segments. On numerous occasions, she has also hosted 90.1 at Night, the Sunday evening music show on KERA FM.
“I’ve been plugged in constantly listening to great new music and re-discovering musical gems,”� says Mascorro. “There is a good buzz and anticipation for KXT. It’s a very exciting time.”� Joe Kozera is the host for the weekday KXT Afternoon and KXT Evening shows. Joe writes and records original music. He has worked as a DJ at KBOC in Bridgeport , Texas , and was host of a Sunday morning show for Weatherford’s 89.5 QXFM. “There won’t be anything like KXT on the air in North Texas . I especially look forward to playing new music and introducing talented artists from our area.”�
KXT’s own shows will have in-studio interviews and performances. The lineup for November includes:
- Sarah Jaffe;
- The O’s”�John Pedigo and Taylor Young”�from Dallas ;
- Denton singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Andrew Tinker;
- Singer and songwriter Danny Balis from Dallas ; and
- Jason Isbell, from the Muscle Shoals area in Alabama , and his band , The 400 Unit.
The station’s Web site, kxt.org, is now live so that visitors can join the countdown to the new station’s broadcast date, see the complete program schedule, sign up for station email alerts, and read about and hear audio from show hosts. The Web site also features the special in-studio performance lineup which will expand as performance dates are confirmed.
With the station’s launch on November 9, kxt.org will have playlists, live streaming, podcasts, program features, video, and links to the new station’s Facebook and Twitter pages among other features.
In September, the national public radio music programs selected for KXT were ann ounced. They are: � Acoustic Café, American Routes, Mountain Stage, Putumayo Music Hour, Sound Opinions, The Thistle & Shamrock, UnderCurrents and World Café.
90.1 at Night with host Paul Slavens on KERA FM will move to KXT and be renamed The Paul Slavens Show.
KXT is working with programming consultant Mike Henry, CEO of Paragon Media Strategies. Henry has previously consulted for many successful Triple A stations nationally, including KFOG/San Francisco, WXRT/Chicago, WRXP/ New York and “The Current”� (KCMP) in Minneapolis/St. Paul.