Filed by Rachel Hubbard in Feature.
August 13, 2012

KOSU, the NPR station serving Oklahoma City at 91.7FM, Tulsa at 107.5FM and Stillwater at 88.3FM, will increase its audience services by adding new news/talk and music programs effective Monday, August 20, 2012. At the heart of KOSU’s schedule is a content partnership with The Spy, which produces original shows and brings a wide array of independent music to listeners. The Spy also engages in local partnerships that serve to educate the community and further the local culture.

“The Spy has done a tremendous job of tapping into the pulse of the community to provide a vibrant venue for music genres that are completely underserved in our state,” said Kelly Burley, KOSU Director. “Through our partnership, we look forward to amplifying what The Spy does best as we create more uniquely Oklahoma experiences for public radio listeners.”

KOSU will simulcast many of The Spy’s original online evening programs, including Freakbeat, with host Kenworth, who navigates the world of Garage Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Art Rock and early Electronic, Mondays at 8 p.m.; The Oklahoma Rock Show, featuring local bands from across the state with hosts Ryan LaCroix and Grace Gordon, Thursdays at 7 p.m.; Juke Joint Revival, resurrecting Rockabilly, Hillbilly, Rock and Roll, Jump Blues and Rhythm and Blues with Juke Joint Jenni, Fridays at 7 p.m.; SpyLab, a mix show of dance music ranging from house to dubstep to chill, hosted by internationally renowned DJ and record producer Katie Wicks, Saturdays at 9 p.m; the Sunday Toaster Brunch with your host E-Roy, featuring two hours of the best reggae, dub, ska and 2tone, Sunday at 10 a.m.; the Night Shift with David Goad, two hours of goth, Tuesdays at 9 p.m.; the Blank Generation, one full hour devoted to Punk, Fridays at 10 p.m.; Millions Now Listening Will Never Die with the legendary Jon Mooneyham, two hours of post-punk, featuring interviews and music from this incredibly intriguing time in music history; You’re Welcome, Oklahoma’s only all-vinyl music show with Beau and Kellen, Tuesdays at 7 p.m.; and Tasting Notes, which pairs wine with music, Mondays at 7 p.m.

KOSU will also air The Spy’s mix of modern music during the remaining evening and overnight hours while continuing popular shows such as A Prairie Home Companion, American Routes, The Blue Door Music Show and Folk Salad.

Everyone here at The Spy is extremely humbled and honored to be asked by KOSU to become a part of this venture. We look forward to the opportunity to expand the musical horizons of every KOSU listener while giving The Spy’s loyal listeners yet another way to tune in. This is such an incredible opportunity for everyone involved with The Spy; we promise to continue bringing the listener the best in new music as well as classics, producing the best specialty shows in the country,” said Ferris O’Brien, general manager for The Spy.

KOSU is implementing its new program schedule after spending the first half of 2012 gathering feedback from listeners through conversations and surveys, as well as through a thorough internal review of the many challenges the station faces to survive. KOSU will continue to provide its classical music service at kosu.org, on KOSU 91.7 HD2-digital in OKC, and 88.3 HD2-digital in Stillwater. Listeners can also access classical music at 90.1 KCSC in Edmond and 88.7 KWTU in Tulsa.

“It’s been so much fun to create this new schedule. For years, we’ve been hearing from our audience that they want more local and unique programming, and now we’re delivering,” said Rachel Hubbard, KOSU Associate Director

KOSU is also expanding its weekday news program lineup to include On Point, a program that exposes the real world implications of the day’s news stories through conversation from every perspective. On Point airs weekdays at 10 a.m.

On the weekends, KOSU is adding several new programs to feature new programs in public radio including weekly broadcasts of The Moth Radio Hour, Saturdays at 12 p.m.; The Dinner Party, a way to get an edge on your weekend with odd news stories, interviews with celebrities, and new food and drink recipes, Saturdays at 2 p.m. There will also be a large focus on the great seasonal shows like RadioLab and State of the Re:Union and local show development.