University Star

Two university radio hosts are hoping their underground tunes get students not only to drop it low but cast votes in their favor.

“The Party Line with BC and Merch” can be heard every Wednesday from 10 p.m. to midnight on the university’s own radio station, KTSW 89.9 FM.

The hosts are hoping to be voted the best music radio program of 2009 on The Austin Chronicle’s music poll.

“Merch” is Mairin Heard, a mass communication graduate student. “BC” is Shawn Dullye, journalism senior.

“My friend coined both our names,” Heard said. “He would always say ‘twirk your merch.’ It’s become this pseudo personality — totally crazy and different from what I am.”

Dullye said his stage name came from when their mutual friend witnessed a Spring Break dance competition with a girl named Baby Crunk.

“He thought I should be Big Crunk,” Dullye said. He decided on BC.

“We’re silly with it,” Heard said. “We’re not serious at all. We have fun with it and go back and forth with our followers.”

Heard got her start at KTSW during her freshman year doing promotions for the radio station.

Dullye was on the music staff and was hired by Heard as her assistant.

“I was going to do my own punk show but then I thought of Mairin,” Dullye said. “We both liked dance and party bands. It’s a departure from the type of music KTSW is known for.”

Heard said they were a perfect duo for a radio show.

“We are both very loud and outgoing people,” Heard said. “Having a guy and a girl on air is a good dynamic. People can relate to us.”

On their radio show they play underground rock, hip-hop and dance music.

“We play dance-rock, hip-hop electronica—we’re all over the place, not just one genre,” Heard said. “It’s party music. We’re dancing the whole time.”

Dullye said the music they play caters to the indie crowd.

“We’re not playing music from the Top 40, that’s not what KTSW is about,” Dullye said. “It’s party music. You’re not going to be sitting in a dark room and be depressed.”

They covered concerts at South by Southwest, Fun Fun Fun Fest and Bonnaroo last year. Video interviews they scored with artists, such as L.A.X., can be seen on their Web site.

Dullye and Heard often interact with listeners through different modes of social media.

“We’ve worked really hard and had to do everything on our own,” Heard said. “We’ve taken our Twitter, Facebook and Web site above and beyond. No one else in radio is doing this.”

KTSW was awarded a Best of Austin Award by The Austin Chronicle in 2008, and featured as the “Best Way to Keep Your Southbound Frequency Modulated.”

“We do a lot of coverage in Austin and have shared listeners, so why not go for it again?” Heard said. “It would be nice to get some recognition. We are running this show by ourselves but learned everything we know through the university.”

Voters can go to The Austin Chronicle Web site to cast their vote. Entries must be received by Jan. 29.

Heard said she hopes to get recognition for the San Marcos music community.

Dullye said he has a different reason for wanting to win.

“Besides being totally awesome, we want people to get involved with us,” Dullye said. “It’s more fun when everyone’s involved.”