Jazz lovers and Denton radio listeners were shocked to hear the news that KNTU 88.1 switched from a jazz format to an indie music format on July 29. The station has been the only jazz-dedicated radio station in the DFW area for nearly 50 years.
Denton is home to the University of North Texas, one of the nation’s leading jazz programs.
The switch came as a surprise to many, but Denton radio station KNTU 88.1 made the change from a jazz format to an indie music format on July 29. The move comes as student interest in the station has dwindled and the need for a stronger economic stance has grown according to the news release.
KNTU was known for featuring Denton’s own world-renowned University of North Texas Jazz Program but hopes to see a renewal of student interest in the station and an increase in North Texas businesses supporting it through underwriting sponsorships.
The station’s longtime jazz programming has not totally disappeared, it’s still streaming on kntu.com and will be placed on the station’s HD radio channel when new equipment is installed late this year or early 2023.
You can listen to it in your car if you have a Bluetooth enabled radio. Simply use your smartphone to get the KNTU stream from TuneIn, then connect it to your car radio.