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July 2, 2007
Have Radio, Will Download
This revolution will not be televised – but it will be podcasted.
Written by Cory Chandler
College radio has evolved indeed when broadcasts ride this sleekly on the hip, sans the clunky dial and boxy speakers, sporting a display screen that could make rainbows blink.
Behold college radio 2.0: Trim and lean and stylish, equipped with a smooth white wheel for navigating, stamped with the oh-so-pervasive apple – you know the one, yes, THE Apple, as in iPod. You get it.
Student radio station 88.1 KTXT-FM can now be downloaded through Texas Tech’s iTunes U page, allowing Red Raiders – or music lovers of any stripe, for that matter – access to free content that could someday include not only recommended songs, but concert videos, interviews, DJ podcasts and talk show snippets.
“KTXT already offers music through the Web site,” said station manager Ali Rana – known simply as "Burgers" on air. “This is another, more concrete, avenue for providing music to listeners. Now we’re actually giving you the songs.”
The iTunes U store will now provide a venue for Lubbock’s music scene – a place to post concert video and interviews with visiting musicians in addition to audio and video podcasts covering topics such as academics, research, campus life and athletics.
iTunes + KTXT = Convenience
In this era of mash-ups, of contractions, of Bennifer and Brangelina, of K-Fed, Fed-Ex and Fed-up, of RSS, LOL, JLo, Lilo and LOTR, such a partnership should warrant a clever new moniker – something along the lines of iKTXTunes, or 88.i.
Or just call it convenient. Missed your favorite show? Download it for the stroll to class. It’s the 60s revolution revolutionized: Plug in, download, sign out. That simple.
“In the past, you had to be near a radio,” Rana said. “But with something like this, you can take the iPod with you.”
No iPod? No problem. Store the content on your computer through the iTunes store, or listen to KTXT broadcasts live via streaming audio – the link is on the page.
TT(You)
Texas Tech launched its iTunes U storefront April 27. Since then, content has expanded to include audio and video podcasts covering topics such as academics, research, campus life and athletics.
KTXT will utilize the site to showcase featured performers. “Dirtied Your Knees,” by Lubbock's own Thrift Store Cowboys, is already available for download; new songs from the likes of Treasure Mammal and Daniel Francis Doyle will be added once every week.
Rana said the iTunes store also will provide a venue for documenting Lubbock’s music scene – a place to post video from concerts and interviews with visiting musicians; and, of course, to showcase South Plains talent.
“Our Web site is a way for KTXT listeners to get info about the station, but with iTunes you have the station at your fingertips.” he said.
Story produced by the Office of Communications and Marketing, 806-742-2136.
Web layout by Gretchen Pressley