Bringing Back the Music in Texas

In June of 2009, KERA, a North Texas public broadcaster and leader in public affairs and news programming, purchased a second noncommercial radio station to bring audiences alternative music from local, national and world artists, public radio's Triple A format. 

Music and the arts aren't new to KERA. More than 13 years ago, KERA switched its news and music radio format on 90.1 FM to all news and information.  While audiences grew, many listeners continued to request music and market research indicated an opportunity to grow audiences through a Triple A music format. During the past three years, KERA president and CEO, Mary Anne Alhadeff has actively led the organization in a community arts initiative, resulting notably in a popular online program dedicated to promoting local artists, Art and Seek. Now with this new full-time music station, KERA will have a platform for showcasing artists and even inviting them to perform locally at their recording studio.

Despite its ranking as the fifth largest radio market in the nation, the Dallas-Fort Worth region has only three full-market noncommercial FM stations. When Public Radio Capital (PRC) discovered the availability of one of these stations, they approached Alhadeff with this rare opportunity and represented KERA in its purchase of 91.7 FM from religious broadcaster Covenant Education Media, Inc. PRC coordinated a partnership among three nonprofit-focused lenders: PRC's Public Radio Fund, National Cooperative Bank, and FJC to facilitate favorable terms for the $18 million loan.

"The new station will be a public radio music format programmed with the North Texas audience in mind," explained KERA president and CEO, Mary Anne Alhadeff. "It will be a terrific complement to KERA’s news and information station 90.1 FM and a substantial addition to KERA's overall multimedia services for the public."

"This is a tremendous opportunity for increased public radio service for North Texas," said Marc Hand, PRC managing director. "It will allow KERA to bring a proven public radio format into the market and dramatically grow the public radio audience, particularly among younger and more diverse audiences."

KERA, kera.org, is a nonprofit public broadcasting organization that serves the people of North Texas. KERA 13 and KERA 90.1 are public radio and television stations that reach nearly 2.5 million people every week via television, radio and the Internet. KERA 13 consistently ranks as one of the most-watched public television stations in the country. KERA produces over 1,000 hours of original local radio programming each year, and high-definition television content including weekly programs and quarterly documentaries that focus on issues important to our region and our state. The station’s extensive coverage of the arts can be found at artandseek.org.