This is sad news in Houston Radio. … another major blow to independent music in the 3rd largest city in the United States.

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Turning KTRU into a fully-dedicated classical station effectively neuters the most creative, boldest radio station we have. KTRU is a station people from other cities encounter and are blown away by when they visit here.

Read the full article at Space City Rock »

Loser: Rice students. Though KTRU will still exist in an online format, that the decision and announcement happened entirely without input or recognition of the KTRU staff or student leaders does much to puncture the belief of Rice students that they have a say in university decisions that affect student life — a stark, painful reminder that “student-run” doesn’t mean “student-owned.” The Rice board of trustees has essentially announced that they are unwilling to let students use a valuable asset as they see fit unless they meet a commercial metric of success.

Read the full article at CultureMap.com »

KTRU’s demise takes away a home for independent music to be played and promoted in a city with a local scene that has recently begun to thrive.

Read the full article at 29-95.com »

“We are totally opposed to the sale,” said Joey Yang, a junior at Rice and program director of the station, which relies upon student and community volunteers for its eclectic music programming. “This is our radio station, and we’d like to keep it.”

Read the full article at Houston Chronicle »

The University of Houston board today approved the purchase of the radio station operated by students at Rice University for almost 40 years in a $9.5 million deal that would give UH the broadcast tower, FM frequency and license used by Rice’s KTRU.

Read the full article at Houston Chronicle »

News of the University of Houston’s impending purchase of Rice University student radio station KTRU, which the U of H Board of Regents approved 4-3 earlier today, has hit the city hard.

Read the full article at Houston Press »

Moments ago, the University of Houston Board of Regents approved the purchase of Rice University student station KTRU (91.7) FM, reports Rocks Off’s Matthew Keever, who is at the board’s quarterly meeting at the Hilton University of Houston. The motion carried by a margin of 4 to 3.

Read the full article at Houston Press »

I’m disappointed to see another example of a university selling off a station for some quick cash. The result of this particular transaction will be that the Houston airwaves will become less diverse, with yet another public radio station (and presumably national programming) taking the place of a long-standing, well-respected local college radio station. FM does still matter, why else would University of Houston offer to pay over 9 million dollars for it?

Read the full article at Radio Survivor »

KTRU is not an investment. It is a Rice institution. Since 1967, it has served as Rice’s student radio station, and since 1991 it has served Rice and Houston at 50,000 watts. It is completely integrated with the Rice and Houston community. Selling KTRU with no warning is contrary to the ideals of President David Leebron’s Vision for the Second Century, which was unanimously adopted by the Rice Board of Trustees in December 2006.

Read the full article at Burn Down Blog »

Could the end of KTRU as Houston knows it be upon us? Rocks Off has heard that Rice student station at 91.7 FM, long one of Houston radio’s few outlets for underground, avant-garde and local music, may about to be acquired by the University of Houston for use as a sister station to KUHF.

Read the full article at Houston Press »

I feel as though I’m floating above my body, watching as a thug I thought was my friend is about to stab me to death. For 9.5 million dollars. Money which they apparently need a committee to figure out how to spend. I know, how about use it to buy a visionary radio station, a unique cultural institution created and run by your own students, broadening receptive minds for miles around in every direction?

Read the full article at Nonalignment Pact »