KRTU Poised for Another Successful Fund Drive and Near Launching New Tower

KRTU, a non-commercial educational public jazz radio station, is nearing the successful completion of the Spring Membership Drive. KRTU recently launched a new app and website which adds to the increase in the number of online donations. According to Jeanette Reynolds, KRTU's director of development, 45% of all donations come from the new website. Members benefit from numerous partnerships with the San Antonio community. Such benefits include free admission to nearly 40 events at either the McNay Art Museum, San Antonio Museum of Art, and the Witte Museum.

---by Matthew Barns

KRTU is going through a major renovation right now, attempting to broadcast from a new tower. Compared to the current tower, the new tower would allow them to reach 500,000 more people and have a broadcasting area more than 5 times in radius.

KRTU has been a radio station for 41 years, since 1976. Though it was started by students, it is now an independent, commercial free station.

Because it's an independent station, they must fund raise 60% of their budget from listeners. Trinity University contributes about 20%, and sponsors contribute another large portion.

Local businesses and sponsors comprise a majority of their fundraising income. The station has strong roots in San Antonio. The community is their biggest supporter, but they also have a national appeal. KRTU is one of only about 60 jazz stations in the country, and one of only three in Texas.

---by Johnna Guillerman

KRTU Spring Membership Drive a Success

J.J. Lopez, KRTU general manager, in his office
Photo by Juan Pineda

By Juan Pineda

Trinity’s jazz station 91.7 KRTU raised approximate $78,000 by the end of their spring membership drive on-air campaign that ended on Friday, surpassing their $75,000 goal.

“We definitely exceeded our expectations," said J.J. Lopez, the general manager of KRTU. The station is poised to raise another $10,000 during the post-drive to reach the overall spring fundraising goal of $85,000. The week-long on air membership drive contributed about 45% toward that goal.

“All this money goes directly into operations which include staff salary, production and operation costs,” Lopez added.

Live Coverage of KRTU Spring Fund Drive

KRTU station manager JJ Lopez makes
online announcements during the fund drive
Photo by Amy Drozdiak

Jeanette Reynolds, the director of development 

at KRTU receives a donor phone call.

Photo by Abby Stigler

The Roar reporters today came to the studio of 91.7 KRTU amid their spring membership drive to do live coverage through live blogging, live tweeting and videos.

11:16 a.m.
The money raised helps to cover royalty fees, streaming fees, operational costs, and staff and intern salaries. The money allows the station to provide quality jazz music 24/7 to its San Antonio community listeners. The funds will also support their switch to a radio tower that can broadcast music at a greater frequency, and have wider range of service, extending to listeners in Boerne and New Braunfels.

--Amy Drozdiak

11:06 a.m.
The spring membership drive at KRTU, Trinity University's nonprofit radio station, has reached 95% of its funding raising goal.
--Haylee Rodriguez

11:05 a.m.
Tomorrow is the last day of KRTU’s biggest event: the spring membership drive, which started on Friday. Their interns, volunteers and staff are working diligently to receive donations through phone calls and the internet. They have been receiving donations from all over the US. Annual membership starts at $60. It is $40 for seniors and $25 for students.
--Taylor Shelgren