Austin Radio: KUTX Shuffles Line-Up

Austin radio station KUTX 98.9 FM is shaking up its lineup, moving popular host John Aielli to the coveted morning drive slot starting next month.

John Aielli

According to Austin360.com, Aielli’s one-of-a-kind “Eklektikos” program will air from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Monday through Thursday starting Sept. 1. A soon-to-be-announced producer will serve as primary host during the show’s first hour, with Aielli taking over at 7 a.m.

KUTX’s Jeff McCord will be heard Fridays from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Susan Castle, the station’s current morning drive host, will slide into Aielli’s mid-morning time slot, airing from 9 a.m. to noon weekdays.

The changes will put Aielli, one of the city’s most beloved radio hosts, on the air during the two most competitive hours of the broadcast day, where audiences are significantly larger, station management said. At 7 a.m., 169,000 Austinites are listening to the radio, according to Nielsen, while 154,000 are tuned to local stations during the 8 a.m. hour.

KUTX  98.9 FM (23Kw) 60dBu Coverage

“John’s musings, weather commentary and guest interviews on community events, arts and music have always had a morning show feel in the best sense of the description,” KUTX program director Matt Reilly said. “We love the idea of sharing John with listeners at a time of day when the largest audience is available.”

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