And the Plug Was Just Pulled on WOXY Again

March 23, 2010 | Author Kenny Bloggins

111908 woxy 3 And the Plug Was Just Pulled on WOXY Again

We were just listening to the WOXY stream in our office when it went to dead air and a notice of closure appeared on their website. Then program director Matt Shiv sent out this message to friends and colleagues:

It is absolutely mindboggling to me that I have to sit down and write these words: WOXY.com is being shut down today by our owners at Future Sounds.

Mike, Joe, Brian, and I uprooted our lives to Austin under the belief that we were finally under ownership that would take things at the station to the next level. We also brought on Paige Maguire from here in Austin to help us do things on a promotional and marketing level that hadn’t really been in place for years. Yes, we have been dubbed “zombie radio” in the past after ownership shutdowns and resurrections, but it will take a pretty incredible company/plan coming around now to make me want to stick around at this point (although I guess we have to wait to see if anything shakes out in the days ahead). This time around, we no longer own WOXY and the entire situation is completely out of our hands.

The WOXY staff continued working last week during SXSW under good faith because a deal was “in motion” to continue funding for our operation. We were informed yesterday that that the deal fell through and now it is time for us all to walk away. There will be no farewell shows or weepy goodbyes. Our listeners deserve more than this, but I don’t think any of us on staff have it to give right now. It is, to be perfectly honest, quite a kick in the dick to have this occur again right on the heels of our most successful SXSW ever. But, I guess it would pretty much be a kick in the dick no matter what since we’ve only been living in Austin for *6 MONTHS* and have already had the rug pulled out from underneath us.

Thanks to everybody who has been SO amazing to me and this station over the years. I’ve been on this wild ride now for 12 years. I am thrilled that I have had a part in helping to program this station since 1998 and am incredibly proud of WOXY’s legacy

You’ll recall that, as Shiv alluded to, WOXY has hit brick walls before, most recently when they ceased operations as a terrestrial broadcasting entity in the Oxford/Cincinnati area and were salvaged by an angel investor. Since then, of course, they merged with the Future Sounds/Lala conglomerate (the latter of which was recently acquired by Apple – read into that what you will) and expanded operations online, in payroll, and into the festival circuit and South By Southwest. Despite the fact that this has happened before, their Internet-only presence and new infrastructure gave WOXY a deceivingly secure facade – making it all the more shocking and sad. And after they just did hours and hours of awesome live lounge sessions during SXSW to never be heard. This is insane.

UPDATE: For our friends just up I-71, NPR-affiliated WVXU 91.7, which has been airing WOXY to the Cincinnati area on its HD2 channel, is flipping to Xponential Radio as of, well, right now. Sad face.

Posted in News

http://antigravitybunny.blogspot.com/ Justin Snow

Fuuuuuuck thatshit
Mary

I am going to cry. What will I listen to if not WOXY?!?! Please Future Sounds, or whoever is in charge, figure this sh*t out!!!!
http://www.ArchObserver.com/ Jim

WTF? Subscription? Limited commercials? I'm sure we're a nice target audience for someone. There are literally dozens of things they could do before shutting down. So pissed right now.
kenny_bloggins

Let's see if an agreement can be reached. I can understand their hesitance to not to subscription – these guys were on 97.7 FM for two decades, so it's hard to want to charge people. As I said, it's happened before, so let's see if WOXY pulled through again. But, as Shiv said, the situation is also vastly different.

WFMU has had panics before but have always overcome. Perhaps a listener-supported model would be one way to go. I don't know. In the meantime, support freeform and college radio – we need all the allies we can get!
http://www.flux-rad.com/2010/03/23/the-end-of-woxy-com/ The End of WOXY.com | flux-rad.com

[...] a chance to be there a short time, I’ve learned a ton and come to respect these guys so much, today’s news makes me truly sad. Not only am I losing friends and co-workers that I love and admire, I’m [...]
JD

There's got to be a way to save WOXY!!! There is no better source of new music!!! Come on Future Sounds make this happen!!
emilyklasing

Well this sucks ass.
laurenmodery

Wow. This is very sad.
Blair

I'm in disbelief. I discovered WOXY when interning for talent buyers in New Orleans just before Hurricane Katrina hit. This station was a security blanket in a sense for my sanity during that period and I've listened since. The “last” show on WOXY a few years ago in Cincinnati was touching and the comeback soon after it was shut down was inspiring. And for the rug to be pulled abruptly after the staff picked up and left their homes just 6 months ago? A kick in the dick indeed.
Blair

I'm in disbelief. I discovered WOXY when interning for talent buyers in New Orleans just before Hurricane Katrina hit. This station was a security blanket in a sense for my sanity during that period and I've listened since. The “last” show on WOXY a few years ago in Cincinnati was touching and the comeback soon after it was shut down was inspiring. And for the rug to be pulled abruptly after the staff picked up and left their homes just 6 months ago? A kick in the dick indeed.
http://twitter.com/amyneuer amyneuer

Heartbroken again. And completely lost as to how I'll get through my days without you.
lori

agree.
Chasing Fads Doesn't Pay Off

Pledge Drive?

Indie Rock is dead. The latest version of WOXY bet its future heavily on indie hipsters. It's a new decade and music tastes are changing, making all the young hipsters of the 2000s irrelevant and out of style.

Pledge drives can keep the station financially sound and keep stations from having to worry about the current fads in music.
Ike1

AAARRRRRGH!

I love WOXY and I listen nearly every day. I should've seen this coming, given that I never hear commercials or pledge drives. Gotta have some way to pay the bills. What was the business plan? Oh wait… there wasn't one? No kidding. <sigh>
drsmithers

Indie Rock is dead……that's funny. Maybe what some consider the “genre”, but surely not the status. Don't confuse yourself, child. Indie is where is all begins….
Tell Them

Contact Future Sounds, Inc. and let them know what you think of this.

http://futuresounds.blogspot.com/2005/07/contac…

Future Sounds, Inc was formed by a club dj and a clothing company. Music is not their first priority.
Alison

Transatlantic <sob> from Glasgow. Just discovered the brilliant tralala radio hour and they've gone and done this.
kenny_bloggins

Story I'm hearing is that Future Sounds has been trying to find them a new home and more funding, but to no avail (though they did make a hefty chunk from the sale of Lala to Apple, but I don't know the whole story). Regardless, that's the nature of business, and if it's not sustainable, Future Sounds would've dropped them sooner or later. With that said, I think they made a major fucking boo-boo by pulling the plug immediately after SXSW, and with no chance to do a send off. They deserved a ceremonious goodbye at least. I agree with the duder above who suggested going listener supported. I think the 2008 election proved how $5 here and there from everyday folks really adds up.
Jim

This flat out sucks. From Cincinnati, my days at work will not be the same. Woxy was one of few thing I truly enjoyed.
perkinaustin

As an owner of a free publication that depends on sponsors, advertisers and subscribers to survive, I have to tell all of you that this is the corner we have painted ourselves in to. Sure, its nice that so much stuff is “free” online now, but what you don't realize is that we will continue to lose amazing independents and niche companies like this as long as people won't pay for really good content and design. My business has had to completely change its model to survive, and even we have hung from a thread with little monetary support from advertisers and sponsors. Until the people that use these fantastic stations, read these amazing magazines, and take advantage of the services they offer are willing to pay SOMETHING for them we'll find more and more great businesses faltering.
http://www.yairyona.net Yair Yona

this is so sad.
gravin

… the handful of times this happened before I felt like a part of my childhood was dying, but this time I'm a little numb… I guess I've become desensitized after so many painful goodbyes.

The SXSW coverage was amazing! what happened?
Stephen Bergin

Hey

Very disapointing news. I have been listening to woxy from ireland for years now . I have also got most of my friends into the station too. Its by far the best radio station i have come accross in terms of quality and selection of music. I have allways found myself taking note of the bands ect that have been aired. My friends and i here in Ireland are really going to miss you. Thaks for all the good over the years. Please let us know if you move on to another station . All the best into the future.
Stephen Bergin

Hey

Very disapointing news. I have been listening to woxy from ireland for years now . I have also got most of my friends into the station too. Its by far the best radio station i have come accross in terms of quality and selection of music. I have allways found myself taking note of the bands ect that have been aired. My friends and i here in Ireland are really going to miss you. Thaks for all the good over the years. Please let us know if you move on to another station . All the best into the future.