Author: Provo Music Magazine

Provo Music Magazine is an online music magazine that covers the latest music releases and news about the Provo Music scene.

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Provo City News

Meet Struck: The Provo Kids’ Publication Making Mental Health Matter

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By Charles Gordon Pratt

What started as a personal journey of struggle and recovery has turned into a creative mission to help kids across the country. Local mother and son team Cindy and Colby Bauer have launched Struck, an illustrated magazine and activity book designed to help young readers explore mental wellness through humor, adventure, and heart.

Struck follows nine middle-schoolers from diverse backgrounds who come together to rekindle joy in their struggling town of Brightwood. With the help of a mysterious “Stoke-ometer” they discover in an old hydro plant, the friends use creativity, compassion, and teamwork to spread hope throughout their community.

At the center of the story is Stormy, a character inspired by the Bauers’ own experiences. For Cindy, the project is deeply personal. After battling alcoholism for decades, she says creating Struck became both a lifeline and a source of healing.

“This story saved my life,” Cindy said. “I’d been through rehab before and it didn’t work, but this time I had hope. Hope is what people need most when they’re low… I found hope knowing I could create something that brings healing.”

Colby, who grew up inspired by shows like Rocket Power and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, says the goal was to combine that same sense of fun and creativity with conversations about mental health and emotional resilience.

“We realized storytelling could be the vehicle for teaching valuable life skills,” Colby shares. “Just as shows like Rocket Power and games like Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater inspired me as a kid, Struck aims to do that for a new generation – combining fun, art, and action with real emotional depth.”

Colby Bauer is also the founder of Thread Wallets and the non-profit organization Carry On – both headquartered on Center Street in downtown Provo across from the Utah Valley Convention Center. Struck is yet another way Bauer is helping put Provo on the map.

Through Struck, the Bauers hope to equip young readers with tools for life, blending storytelling with action sports and hands-on activities. They’re currently running a Kickstarter campaign to raise $12,000 to expand the project and bring Struck into schools and homes nationwide.

The Struck Kickstarter campaign is now live. Supporters can pre-order the first issue and help the Bauers bring their message of hope to kids everywhere.

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Provo City News

JK Studios Returns to Live Roots With Covey Center Performances

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By Mike Romero

Provo-based comedy troupe JK Studios is returning to its live-performance origins with two shows at the Covey Center for the Arts on October 3 and October 4, 2025. The group, formed by the original creators of BYUtv’s Studio C, has built a following through both live and digital projects, including the series Freelancers and Loving Lyfe. The upcoming Covey performances mark the first time JK Studios will tape a live sketch comedy show since departing from Studio C.

The group’s members trace their beginnings back to Divine Comedy, a Brigham Young University sketch troupe that first brought them together in 2007. Their collaboration eventually led to the launch of Studio C in 2011, a family-friendly sketch comedy show that became a staple on BYUtv. After several years, the original cast chose to leave and pursue new creative avenues, which resulted in the founding of JK Studios.

According to performers Whitney Call and Stephen Meek, the Covey performances are designed to recapture the energy of their early live shows. “We just want the environment to be fun, we want the energy to stay high for a live experience, and you’re hanging out with us as part of the gang,” Call said. Meek added that the live setting allows the group to gauge audience reactions more directly, noting, “A live audience can tell you what’s really funny.”

The shows will also serve as a recording opportunity. JK Studios plans to film the Covey performances with the intention of distributing the content through YouTube, social media, or other platforms. Call compared the effort to popular stand-up specials, saying the group hopes viewers will have the option to enjoy a polished sketch comedy experience from home.

In addition to reaching broader audiences, the tapings will allow JK Studios to refine material tested over the course of their live tour. Call said the October program represents “the best of the best” from the past year, shaped by the group’s 15 years of experience. For fans, the shows offer both familiar humor and fresh surprises, while giving JK Studios a chance to blend the immediacy of live comedy with the reach of digital distribution.

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State News

Utah Blocks Land Sale Near Provo Airport to Chinese-Owned Company

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By Mike Romero

Utah Governor Spencer Cox announced this week that state officials blocked a Chinese state-owned company from purchasing land near the Provo Airport.

According to Cox, the company involved was Cirrus Aircraft, which is majority-owned by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). AVIC is a restricted foreign entity under Utah law due to its connections to China’s military and its presence on multiple U.S. federal watch lists.

Cirrus Aircraft, originally an American company, manufactures small private aircraft. It was acquired by AVIC’s subsidiary in 2011. While Cirrus is not a military contractor, some analysts have raised concerns that its technology could benefit China’s military.

State officials did not disclose how much land was involved or its exact location. The Department of Public Safety said it was notified of the proposed purchase in early 2025. The sale was stopped under Utah’s HB516 law, which restricts land ownership by entities tied to China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.

County recorders are required to report suspicious transactions. Officials said the local recorder flagged this attempt, which led to the intervention.

Provo Airport. Photo courtesy of Provo City Government.

Governor Cox emphasized that Utah’s laws are designed to prevent foreign adversaries from acquiring strategic land. He said the blocked sale demonstrates the effectiveness of recent legislation aimed at national security concerns.

Cox also addressed claims about the extent of Chinese land ownership in Utah. He said about 33,000 to 37,000 acres were previously owned by Chinese companies but that most of this land has been divested, leaving only a small amount under Chinese ownership.

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Utah has also closed Confucius Institutes at state universities due to similar concerns about foreign influence. Lawmakers say they plan additional legislation related to critical resources like water and minerals.

Cox linked the issue to broader concerns about religious freedom, citing China’s recent closures of congregations of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Beijing. He said Utah will continue to oppose foreign efforts to limit religious freedom or gain leverage through economic deals.

Utah officials said their approach has drawn interest from other states and has been recognized by national defense organizations as a model for monitoring foreign land ownership.

Cox concluded that Utah will keep enforcing its restrictions to prevent foreign entities with ties to adversarial governments from acquiring land that could affect state security, infrastructure, or economic independence.

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University News

BYU Engineers Collaborate with Toyota on Advanced Welding Technique

Photo by Jaren Wilkey/BYU Photo
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By Mike Romero

Brigham Young University engineers have partnered with Toyota to develop a new welding method aimed at improving automotive manufacturing. The technique, called refill friction stir spot welding, uses 40 times less energy, reduces emissions, and creates welds 10 times stronger than traditional methods.

Designed for aluminum body panels, the process helps address challenges in joining lightweight materials like those used in Toyota’s popular Sienna minivan. Unlike conventional welding, which melts metal, the new method joins aluminum without melting, resulting in stronger, more efficient bonds. The innovation also reduces the need for filler material, making the process more sustainable.

“Ultimately, we’re focused on doing things more efficiently, greener, and cleaner,” said BYU professor Yuri Hovanski, who led the project.

The collaboration began after Toyota saw a demonstration of the technology at a conference. BYU researchers and Toyota engineers tested the new process at Toyota’s Indiana plant, finding that the method could enhance the production of aluminum sliding doors, used in the Sienna and other vehicles.

BYU graduate student Damon Gale, who contributed to the research, said the method could become the new standard for joining aluminum body panels in the automotive industry.

The project aligns with Toyota’s commitment to clean technologies, Hovanski said, adding that the partnership reflects BYU’s mission to foster environmentally conscious engineering.

Learn more at engineering.byu.edu.

Refill friction stir spot welding joins the metal without ever melting it.
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Provo City News

Creative Ways to Bring Attention to Your Local Business

The Nu Skin headquarters in downtown Provo. Photo by Hank Nielsen.
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By Charles Gordon Pratt

To bring attention to your local business, creative marketing tactics are essential to stand out from the competition and engage your community. These tactics can be both used in person and online to foster new connections and to help integrate your work into the Provo community.

One effective in-person strategy is hosting unique, local events or pop-up experiences that tie directly to your brand. These events not only draw attention to your business but also create memorable experiences that encourage word-of-mouth marketing. Whether it’s a product launch, a themed contest, or a local collaboration with artists or influencers (Provo Music Magazine is constantly talking about incredible Utah talent), these events allow you to connect with your audience in a fun, tangible way while generating buzz on social media. Be sure to leverage local partnerships to amplify your reach, like collaborating with nearby shops or restaurants.

Photo by Zach Collier

Another powerful tactic is harnessing the power of storytelling through content marketing. Share the story behind your business—how it started, the challenges you’ve faced, and your mission to support the community. By crafting authentic, engaging content in the form of blogs, videos, or social media posts, you create a narrative that resonates with customers. This builds trust and fosters a deeper emotional connection with your audience, which is crucial for encouraging repeat business. Highlight customer testimonials or showcase your business’s involvement in local charity events or community outreach projects to demonstrate your commitment to the area.

You can also get creative with your content marketing. Take CulinarySchools.org, for example. This comprehensive site is a treasure trove of information for aspiring chefs, offering details on schools, careers, and majors. From an SEO standpoint, it has massive potential. But for SEO to succeed, a site needs traffic—specifically, initial visibility to trigger search ranking algorithms.

So, how is CulinarySchools.org driving that traffic? With kids’ games. The site offers free, entertaining games, ranging from skateboarding and golf simulators to racing and fishing. These games serve two purposes: they attract bored kids seeking free, wholesome entertainment, and they drive traffic that introduces the site to aspiring chefs. It’s a brilliant long-term strategy—traffic from games funnels into the educational content, while consistent visits help boost SEO.

By blending entertainment with education, CulinarySchools.org isn’t just waiting for traffic to find them—they’re creating it. This innovative approach not only generates immediate site visits but also primes the algorithm, ensuring future visibility for those seeking culinary education.

Finally, don’t underestimate the impact of creative digital campaigns that target local consumers. Use geo-targeted ads on social media platforms, search engines, or apps to ensure your promotions reach people within your geographic area. Partner with local influencers who align with your brand values to help spread the word in an organic, authentic way. Running contests, offering exclusive discounts for nearby residents, or even creating a loyalty program that rewards frequent visitors are excellent ways to build customer retention.

By thinking outside the box and combining digital and grassroots marketing strategies, you can generate a wave of interest in your local business that keeps customers coming back for more.

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Provo City News

How Utah Revived a Beloved Children’s Series

Image courtesy of Apple TV+
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In 2007, Nickelodeon’s Nick Jr. launched Yo Gabba Gabba!, a vibrant children’s show led by DJ Lance Rock and featuring quirky characters like Muno, Foofa, Brobee, Todee, and Plex. Known for blending education with great music, the series featured artists such as Questlove, Bootsy Collins, and Weezer.

The show has now been revived as Yo Gabba GabbaLand! on Apple TV+. Developed by the original creators Christian Jacobs (of The Aquabats!) and Scott Schultz, the revival includes 10 new episodes with updated musical guests, higher production values, and a new host, Kammy Kam (Kamryn Smith). The production was filmed at Utah Film Studios in Park City and also involved audio work done in downtown Provo, Utah at June Audio.

Chance Clift from June Audio worked on voiceovers and music for Yo Gabba Gabbaland! He told Provo Music Magazine that the experience of recording Anderson .Paak’s song for the show was a highlight. He worked in tandem with Provo’s Mason Winter, who edited the dialogue and prepared it for delivery.

The show remains engaging and educational for adults and preschoolers alike, with positive reviews from major outlets like The Hollywood Reporter and The Los Angeles Times. The Provo music industry is thriving, evidenced by June Audio’s work on Post Malone’s AUSTIN, NPR’s award-winning mini-series on the Provo music scene, and Grammy nominations for local composers on the Hogwarts Legacy soundtrack.

Yo Gabba Gabbaland! is now streaming on Apple TV+.

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Provo City News

NPR’s World Cafe Wins Award With Story About Provo

Chi Chi le Mot performing at Velour Live Music Gallery.
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By Richard Provost

Provo, Utah’s flourishing music scene was featured extensively on NPR’s World Cafe program last January. Part of the show’s “Sense of Place” series, Provo was one of the musical hotspots explored by Stephen Kallao, Miguel Perez, and their team. The series covered local musical trailblazers The Clingers, more current bands like The Aces and James The Mormon, and the publisher of Provo Music Magazine Zach Collier.

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Most notably, the episode about Velour Live Music Gallery owner Corey Fox – arguably downtown Provo’s most successful music venue – was recently awarded the Bronze Award for Human-Interest Feature by the New York Festivals Radio Awards.

The New York Festivals Radio Awards honor “the exceptional and innovative content being created today on all continents and seen across all platforms” and aims to “respect the achievements of the many talented men and women who make up the worldwide creative community.”

Book on Tape Worm performing at Velour Live Music Gallery.

The winning episode in question explores the history of Velour as a local venue, the highs and lows of local live music, and the legendary story of Brandon Robbins, frontman of The Moth & The Flame, donating a kidney to Corey Fox. The music and members of Provo-born bands Sego and The Moth & The Flame also make appearances in the episode.

“Provo music and the people and stories of the scene have proven time and time again to be something special,” writes Provo Music Magazine’s new editor Michael Luce. “A major congratulations from all of us here at Provo Music Magazine to both the World Cafe staff and everyone featured in the episode on receiving such an awesome honor.”

You can listen to the award-winning episode below.

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Provo City News

Target Opens at Provo Towne Centre

Photo courtesy of Provo Towne Centre.
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By Richard Provost

In a move that’s sure to breathe new life to Provo, Utah’s traditional shopping mall, Provo Towne Centre has welcomed Target to its facility. This is Provo’s first full-sized Target, joining the small-format store in Riverside Plaza near BYU campus. The facility is 135,000 square feet.

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“It brings me immense joy to announce that our new Target store in the Provo Towne Centre is officially open for business!” Provo Mayor Michelle Kaufusi said in a statement. “This marks a significant milestone in the revitalization of our mall, and I could not be prouder of the collective effort that made this possible.”

The store was developed and built collaboratively by Target, Brixton Capital, JLL Retail Management, Provo City, and Provo Towne Centre. The project was announced in February 2023 and took 14 months to complete from announcement to grand opening.

Provo residents will no longer have to travel to Orem or Spanish Fork for a complete Target experience. They can now experience Starbucks, CVS Pharmacy, Ulta Beauty, and Target’s groceries and home goods all in one convenient location.

Provo, Utah’s mayor Michelle Kaufusi at the opening of the new Target.
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University News

UVU Dance Teams Place In The Top 3 at National UDA Competition

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By McKinsleigh Smith

The Utah Valley University Spirit Squad performed at the Universal Dance Association’s 2024 College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship January 12-14. Held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney World, their hip-hop team and jazz team placed in the top 3 of their respective categories. UVU was the only school to place in the top 3 in both categories.

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The UVU hip-hop finished less than a point behind the University of Delaware, winning second place in Division I hip-hop. The UVU jazz team placed third.

“Our UVU Spirit Squad represented our university with incredible talent, inspiring routines, and tremendous class,” said Kati Marsing, UVU Spirit Squad assistant director in a press release. “Our teams have been working incredibly hard over the past six months to prepare for this level of competition. Their hard work paid off in big ways.”

You can watch the Utah Valley University Jazz performance from the competition below. Video courtesy of Universal Dance Association.

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Provo City News

How Much Would It Cost To Pump Ocean Water Into The Great Salt Lake?

The Great Salt Lake in 2020. Photo by Urvish Oza.
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By Richard Provost

Turns out, pumping just one third of the water we need to save the Great Salt Lake would require 400 megawatts of electricity. For reference, that’s 11% of the energy the state of Utah uses in a single year.

In a new study from the Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering at Brigham Young University, BYU engineers have analyzed how much energy and money would be required to save the Great Salt Lake by transporting water in from the Pacific Ocean through a single large-diameter pipeline.

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In addition to using 400 megawatts of electricity, it would also require $300 million dollars a year to operate (on top of the multibillion-dollar cost to build a pipeline) and would emit nearly one million metric tons of carbon dioxide (or 200,000 passenger vehicles) each year. BYU’s Todd Hollingshead reported that these are very conservative estimates. The pipeline would have to pump water 600 miles inland while gaining 4,200 feet of elevation.

BYU’s Rob Sowby. Photo courtesy of BYU Photo.

“The figures could easily triple with a longer pipeline route, mountainous terrain, higher flows, multiple pipelines or less efficient pumps,” said Rob Sowby, BYU professor of civil engineering and lead author on the analysis. “To put it mildly, there are serious challenges to this approach.”

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TLDR: we’d save the Great Salt Lake but would worsen our inversion problem and incur serious financial costs.

Sowby worked on this analysis with BYU professors Gus Williams and Andrew South. “While the idea sounds extreme, so are the circumstances, some argue, and all options should be kept open,” Williams said. “That said, we’re not providing an opinion on the necessity or feasibility of such a project; our analysis is to inform Great Salt Lake stakeholders, decision makers and the public on what the costs could be.”

“After years of neglect, the Great Salt Lake is starving not just for water but for attention,” Sowby said. “Facing an environmental crisis, we are compelled to rethink our relationship with the Great Salt Lake, to treat it like the precious asset it is rather than as a casual afterthought.”

The road leading across the Great Salt Lake from Promontory Point. Photo by Urvish Oza.
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