Airwaves Don't Lie

Austin's first contemporary Spanish-language radio station is playing Bad Bunny, Maluma, Shakira, and more

Austin has lots of Spanish-language radio already, but this station takes a trendy approach to its music programming.

Photo courtesy of KVUE

A new radio station has arrived on the airwaves in Austin. Latino 93.3 made its debut on July 12 as the city's first contemporary Spanish-language station, uniting a "melting pot of culture."

Jose Zapatero, better known as "El Pato," is the programming director. He said, compared to other stations in the market, 93.3 stands out through its combination of artists — from Bad Bunny to Marc Anthony, to Maluma and Shakira.

Speaking in Spanish, Zapatero said the station is, "For all the people who have arrived here in the state from Venezuela, Colombia, Mexico — from several parts — and we're ready to mix those cultures with this new station."

The goal was to combine content that mirrors the current trend of music.

"He [Bad Bunny] was dominating the charts globally, not just here in the States, or in Mexico, or in Latin America. It was globally. So, with that being said, this is an opportunity. Again, no one was speaking to this niche of people here locally, and we decided to take the opportunity and just make it happen," said Sandra Araujo, who works with Waterloo Studios and lent a helping hand with 93.3.

Zapatero explained the idea to create a contemporary station in Austin was always there. The company was just waiting for the right moment, which eventually came.

"It's the time to celebrate and to give the best communication to the Hispanic community," he said.

Waterloo Studios has other Spanish stations, such as KLZT, which Zapatero is also in charge of. He said the difference with that station and others is the music format.

Read the full story and watch the video at KVUE.com.

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KOOP DAY

Weird, longtime Austin radio station gets city proclamation for KOOP Day

KOOP Radio/koop.org

KOOP Radio is seldom concerned with the commercially viable choice of the moment.

In 2024, people from other cities look on with suspicion when Austinites claim to listen to FM radio. We're lucky that our local airwaves offer us something our streaming accounts cannot, and one independent radio station that really breaks the mold is getting its flowers: September 17, 2024, is now KOOP Day.

The news comes from the City of Austin itself, following an official proclamation. This year is also the 30th anniversary of KOOP (pronounced co-op) 91.7, a volunteer-run, non-commercial station that plays music and other cultural programming.

It'll celebrate that "birthday" February 1, 2025 at Antone’s Nightclub with live acts, a silent auction, and more. Throughout the 2024-2025 season, folks tuning in look forward to special broadcasts with interviews and archival content, plus some community engagement initiatives including an annual membership drive.

KOOP Radio officially started after 11 years of planning and bureaucratic battles, as detailed by the Austin-American Statesman, with the first words on air in 1994 being spoken by the station's (later ousted) founder, Jim Ellinger, quoting cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.”

The station has seen plenty of turmoil over the years, but has become a haven for many of Austin's weird ideas — plus less weird ones people just don't come into contact with otherwise. Marginalized voices and social justice are constant drivers of KOOP's programming, which has earned it 30 awards in the Austin Chronicle's Best of Austin awards, including "Most Radio-Unfriendly Radio" (2013), "Best Sound of Cinema" (2018), and even "Biggest Waste Of A Radio Frequency" (1992).

On this station, Austinites hear instruments from cultures around the world; experimental sound art; ambient tunes; playful and challenging interviews; and thoughtful educational programming day-to-day, or on history-heavy holidays like Juneteenth and the Fourth of July. It also gets community members together by hosting and attending events around town.

Here's an excerpted selection of regular programming for a Tuesday (when this KOOP Day falls) on the station:

9-11 am: Under the X in Texas, a review of influential musicians in Texas' history, especially where underexposed.
11 am to noon: The Dark End of the Street, a celebration of Black music from the 60s and early 70s.
1-2 pm: Austin Artists Show, an interview series with local creatives of all stripes.
3-4:30 pm: Mood Ring, a "queer utopia" designed to pump up the living room.
4:30-6 pm: Le Chateau Daddy-O, a psychedelic jaunt for "sensitive listeners and the really up-tight."
6-7 pm: HeartbeatZ Indigenous Hour, a Native American show that's mostly music, with some educational segments.
9 pm and overnight: Local music online.

"Celebrating 30 years of KOOP Radio is a celebration of Austin's diversity, culture, and commitment to community," said the station's general manager, Federico Pacheco, in a news release. "We are deeply honored that the City of Austin has declared September 17, 2024, as KOOP Day. This recognition reflects the hard work, passion, and dedication of everyone who has contributed to KOOP's success over the past three decades."

More information about KOOP Radio is available at koop.org.

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