KVRX

{{Short description|Student radio station at the University of Texas at Austin}} {{Use American English|date=February 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox radio station | name = KVRX | logo = KVRX 91.7.png | city = Austin, Texas | country = US | area = Austin-Round Rock metropolitan area | branding = KVRX 91.7 FM | airdate = {{Start date|1988|4|18}} (cable only)<br>{{Start date|1994|11|15}} (over-the-air) | former_callsigns = {{ubl|KTSB (1988–1994)}} | frequency = 91.7 MHz | format = Freeform and specialty music, community programming, sports | erp = 3,000 watts | haat = {{convert|26|meters}} | class = | coordinates = {{Coord|30.267|N|97.674|W|type:landmark_region:US_source:FCC}} | callsign_meaning = Disambiguation of sister television station '''KVR''' (K09VR, now K29HW-D) | owner = University of Texas at Austin | sister_stations = KUT, KUTX, KOOP | website = http://www.kvrx.org/ }} '''KVRX''' (91.7 FM) is a student-run radio station owned by the University of Texas in Austin, Texas, with an effective radiated power of 3,000 watts. KVRX's studios are based in the Hearst Student Media Building on the university campus on Whitis Avenue near the intersection of Whitis Avenue and Dean Keaton Street, just a block east of Guadalupe Street and immediately south of Dean Keaton Street, while its transmitter is located off Harold Court in East Austin.

The university shares the license for 91.7 with KOOP, a community radio station based in Austin.<ref name="dc111129"/> Students broadcast on KVRX from 7 p.m. to 9 a.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 p.m. to 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. KOOP, operated by the Texas Educational Broadcasting Cooperative, covers the remainder of the weekly schedule with programs hosted by community volunteers. KVRX also broadcasts 24 hours a day, seven days a week, over the internet at [http://kvrx.org kvrx.org] and can be received via iTunes, TuneIn, and an iPhone app.

==History== In the spring of 1986, students at the University of Texas at Austin formed a committee called the Student Radio Task Force with the intention of raising both institutional and student support for a campus radio station. Two years later, SRTF had secured the support of Texas Student Publications (now Texas Student Media, the University organization which houses all student media and publication outlets). Before receiving its broadcasting license, the fledgling station used the call sign KTSB, and began its first narrowcast via cable television on April 18, 1988.<ref>{{cite news |last=Herndon |first=John |title=Birth of a station: UT proud parents of students' KTSB |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman-birth-of-a-sta/187447361/ |access-date=December 25, 2025 |newspaper=Austin American-Statesman |date=April 17, 1988 |location=Austin, Texas |page=Show World 9 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

KTSB's call letters were changed to KVRX nearly six years later in January 1994, after the FCC approved a unique time-share agreement between KTSB and KOOP for the 91.7 FM frequency, the last remaining non-commercial frequency in Austin (the call letters "KTSB" were already in use by another station in Iowa, necessitating the change).<ref>{{cite news |last=Herndon |first=John |title=Country radio AIDS awareness |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman-country-radio/187447881/ |access-date=December 25, 2025 |newspaper=Austin American-Statesman |date=January 20, 1994 |location=Austin, Texas |page=Onward To The Weekend 19 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> KVRX would go on to broadcast on the FM frequency on November 15, 1994.<ref>{{cite news |last=Herndon |first=John |title=KVRX-FM flips on the switch |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman-kvrx-fm-flips/187448137/ |access-date=December 25, 2025 |newspaper=Austin American-Statesman |date=November 17, 1994 |location=Austin, Texas |page=XL ent. 28 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

==Programming== KVRX's slogan is "None of the Hits, All of the Time," and more recently, "Your Texas Independent Music Authority." Both refer to the station's alternative programming. KVRX's format includes music, news, sports, and community programming, including the popular "Local Live" segment that airs every Sunday from 10 to 11 p.m. CST. "Local Live" features both local and nationally touring musical acts in live, in-studio broadcast performances and interviews. KVRX only plays music that is not featured on commercial media outlets, and the varied community programs cover local, national, and worldwide issues that often do not get covered in mainstream print and broadcast outlets. Notable artists that have performed on "Local Live" to later gain greater recognition include The Black Keys, Spoon, ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, Death Cab For Cutie, Ratatat, Shearwater, Kinky Friedman, Acid Mothers Temple, Animal Collective, Explosions in the Sky, Mitski, and Daniel Johnston.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://locallive.kvrx.org/archive.php |title=Local Live Performance Archive |access-date=2010-09-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091030000721/http://locallive.kvrx.org/archive.php |archive-date=2009-10-30 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Another program nearly as old as the station itself is "Lone Star Lullabies," which features a playlist of all-Texas music.

In addition to its radio programming, KVRX maintains an active presence in the Austin independent music scene by organizing live concerts and official shows, including during the South by Southwest music festival each spring. The station's Music Directors produce a weekly "Topless 39" chart that tracks the 39 albums receiving the most plays that week.<ref>[http://www.kvrx.org Topless 39 Chart]</ref> In 2010, the station launched its own dedicated YouTube channel.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/user/KVRXAustin KVRX YouTube Channel]</ref> In 2019, the station hosted its very first music festival named KVRX Fest, the largest ever student-run music festival. It featured two days of live music split between Austin venues Cheer Up Charlies and Symphony Square.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rascoe|first=Rachel|date=March 1, 2019|title=Faster Than Sound: KVRX Launches the Largest College Radio Festival|url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/music/2019-03-01/faster-than-sound-none-of-the-hits-all-of-the-time-kvrx-launches-the-largest-college-radio-festival/|access-date=2021-02-02|website=www.austinchronicle.com|language=en-US}}</ref> Notable artists include Frankie Cosmos, Fat Tony, Drab Majesty, and Video Age, among others.<ref>{{Cite web|title=KVRX Fest ft. Frankie Cosmos, Palm, Drab Majesty, Fat Tony & More at Cheer Up Charlies|url=https://do512.com/kvrxfest2019|access-date=2021-02-02|website=Do512}}</ref> KVRX has been described as a "nationally respected station and blueprint for many other college frequencies."<ref>[http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Music/Blogs/index.html/objID613932/blogID/ Freeman, Doug. "KVRX: Almost Old Enough to Drink (Legally)." AustinChronicle.com. 17 April 2008.]</ref>

KVRX is part of Texas Student Media (officially Texas Student Publications), an auxiliary establishment of the University of Texas and the largest student media operation in the United States. KVRX is funded by underwriting, fundraising events, an annual pledge drive,<ref>{{cite web|year = 1992|url = http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/nature.html|title = In the Matter of Commission Policy Concerning the Noncommercial Nature of Educational Broadcasting|publisher = Federal Communications Commission|access-date = 2006-05-22}}</ref> listener contributions, and sponsored public service announcements.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.kvrx.org/?p=underwriting|title = Underwriting with KVRX|publisher = KVRX-FM|access-date = 2006-05-22}}</ref>

==Local Live== Local Live is a live in-studio broadcast airing on Sundays at 10 p.m. which features local Texas artists. It is broadcast both on the 91.7 FM frequency and on TSTV's television broadcast.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.watchtstv.com/entertainment/local-live|title = Local Live|publisher = Texas Student Television|access-date = 2026-02-02}}</ref>

==Interviews== KVRX conducts in-house interviews with local and touring artists and bands, both in video and written formats. A few notable artists that have been interviewed at KVRX include Black Country, New Road<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDsBrJulAmU|title = Black Country, New Road Interview (KVRX 91.7FM)|publisher = Youtube|access-date = 2026-02-02}}</ref>, Balu Brigada<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkQdo1ORcFg|title = Balu Brigada Interview (KVRX 91.7FM Austin)|publisher = Youtube|access-date = 2026-02-02}}</ref>, and Britt Daniel<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5e3TjdyH9c|title = Britt Daniel Interview (KVRX 91.7FM Austin)|publisher = Youtube|access-date = 2026-02-02}}</ref>.

==Notable Alumni== * Britt Daniel, 1992-1995 (Spoon) * Lotic (electronic musician)<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wei|first=Whitney|title=Lotic is the Sound and Spirit of Experimental Dance Music|url=https://mixmag.net/feature/lotic-is-the-sound-and-spirit-of-experimental-dance-music|website=mixmag}}</ref> * Jonathan Toubin (professional DJ and founder of New York Night Train)

==See also== *List of radio stations in Texas

==References== {{Reflist|refs= <ref name="dc111129">{{cite news |first=Ashley |last=Withers |work=The Daily Campus |publisher=Southern Methodist University |title=College radio stations struggle to survive |url=http://www.smudailycampus.com/news/college-radio-stations-struggle-to-survive-1.2718257 |date=November 29, 2011 |access-date=December 25, 2011 |archive-date=June 6, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606065304/http://www.smudailycampus.com/news/college-radio-stations-struggle-to-survive-1.2718257 |url-status=dead }}</ref> }}

==External links== *[http://www.kvrx.org/ KVRX 91.7 FM official website]{{FM station data|66607|KVRX}} *[http://www.last.fm/user/KVRX Last.fm music profile] *{{cite news |first=Doug |last=Freeman |work=The Austin Chronicle |title=KVRX: Almost Old Enough to Drink (Legally) |url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/blogs/music/2008-04-17/613932/ |date=April 17, 2008 |access-date=December 25, 2011}}

{{Austin Radio}} {{Texas college radio}} {{University of Texas at Austin|studentlife}} {{Authority control}}

VRX Category:Texas Student Media VRX Category:Radio stations established in 1986 Category:1986 establishments in Texas