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10 Questions with ... Lynn Barstow
November 5, 2019
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
My first real gig was an AM country daytimer in Bellville, Texas, where I literally threw a big switch to turn off the station upon finishing my shift at 6pm; later KKYS/Bryan, TX; KWIC/Beaumont, TX; KRGY/Rio Grande Valley, TX; KNNC/Austin; KGDE/Omaha; KMYZ and KTSO/Tulsa, and back in Austin at KROX.
1. 101X turns 25 in June 2020. How will the station be celebrating its 25th Anniversary?
Honestly, by not stressing our heritage too much. We operate with the expectation that our audience doesn't want to be reminded of their own age at every turn; we're doing just that when we tell them the station with which they grew up is a quarter-century old. So, condensed: quietly.
2. What led to the station's big ratings increase in September 2019?
Tough to know; we got a nice cume kiss and TSL bounced up at the same time. At its heart, ours is a university town, though, and September sees not just the return of students to campus(es), but the folks who service them-and a lot more traffic.
3. Let's talk about The Morning X With Jason & Deb. What has made your morning show so successful?
Jason grew up in a key 101X zip code and went to the University Of Texas. He started with us when he was in college, and he's just a couple of years older than the composite listener today-and he kinda is the composite listener--one with an especially keen eye for what's happening in his life that might make a great story. Deb, too - same storytelling skills from an entirely different angle as an Englishwoman transplant. Together with producers Nick Hajda and Katy Szendrey, they are family on the radio that is sort of the same off the air-and they're good at making the listener feel part of that community.
4. What are some other things that make 101X unique?
Austin's changed a ton since I arrived 28 years ago, but even newcomers buy into the lifestyle tent poles of live (and local) music, outdoor fun, community good, and Longhorn football. Our biggest events are tied to those.
5. How about the music and imaging. How would you describe 101X?
I think one would call it straight-up-the-middle Alt, with some nods to Austin's music heritage here and there. Lots of effort to position ourselves in league with the city's aforementioned biggest events; and, of course, as the home of Jason and Deb.
6. What are your music meetings like at the station and how much does gut, research, and consumption play?
Music comes down to independent study; I keep an ear open to air-and promo-staff suggestions. Specialty hosts Trevin Smith and John Laird let me know when they feel something is raising its hand in the indie and local worlds. Our "research" is limited to following MScore, and there's always an eye on Shazam and streaming metrics and passion for an artist's live appearances.
7. Tell us about 101X United.
It's sort of an umbrella name covering our listener club, with a community service element, too. We try to include a volunteerism, donation, or participation in a non-profit's event piece in our all communiques.
8. What's your take on the state of the Alternative format?
It may not be the strongest coalition of styles we've seen, but we're getting numbers. It's fun to be able to include songs from artists as successful as recent ones from Billie Eilish, SHAED, Imagine Dragons, and Twenty One Pilots under the Alt banner.
9. Of all the things you've accomplished over the years at 101X, what are you most proud of?
I guess recognizing the talent and chemistry of the Jason & Deb principals early on, and sticking with them until they found their community. Wow, have they ever.
10. What may surprise people most to learn about you?
Oh, hell, I dunno. I guess I come off as being ultra-reserved, but I think I'm actually pretty goofy.
Bonus Questions
What are your favorite places to eat at in Austin?
Depends on the the mood. Maudie's Tex Mex is close to the station and satisfies every chips'n'salsa need. My place in southeast Austin is an easy jumping off point to the BBQ heaven that is Lockhart-home of Kreusz Market, Black's, and Chisholm Trail. P Terry's is Austin's answer to In-N-Out and is a weekly must-do.
What are your top priorities when you return home to Houston?
Y'know, my daughter-in-law got into a post-grad program at Duke this fall, so with she and Junior gone, my trips over are further-between than they once were. I do still have family there, though, and an MFA membership that I don't want to completely go to waste.
Rank your sports teams in order of passion.
Undefeated SMU Mustangs football (not to date myself too much, but I had Eric Dickerson in a class! Side note: he also was our former Music Director's Toby Ryan's babysitter), Sunderland AFC (bad English soccer), Astros, Texans & Saints, Spurs & Rockets (old enough to have supported both when they were in different leagues).
You also play Fantasy Baseball. How did you do this season?
Solidly mid-pack in all leagues.
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