Hearne: The Story Behind the Story on Mike Kennedy & Nyki

Mike_Kennedy_shot1_png_360x540_autocrop-True_q85About the mysterious disappearance of both Q104 morning show main man Mike Kennedy and The Point 99.9 FM morning personality Nyki Pace…

The $64 million questionL Why, why both and why both at the exact same time?

The possibilities are endless.

Are the dynamic married duo planning to join forces on another station? In another radio market? Had they had enough of getting up at like 3 a.m. every weekday and decided to dial things back?

Or were one or both forced to consider pay cuts…or worse?

Here’s what radio insiders are saying about the twin shockers:

“That morning show became terrible, just a rambling mess of chatter and (Kennedy’s) programming decisions really waned in the last five years,” says one. “Mike is enamored with Nashville/Music Row and loves drinking with the artists. They are always flying him in on trips,  to parties, the CMA’s, the ACM’s, Vegas, etc. He receives all of this attention because he agrees to  break new music. (But ) in the PPM world  unfamiliar music can kill ratings, and it probably killed KBEQ. There are those that might say that he put his personal interests before the interests of the station ratings.”

Screen-shot-2012-08-30-at-9.36.17-PMAs evidenced by the fact that Q104 has languished in third (alias last) place among local country stations along adults 25-54, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays with Kennedy’s morning show ranked 12th in that same demo with a 3 share. 

The jury is out on whether Kennedy took himself on the air to try and concentrate on programming the station – perhaps to try and save his job – and/or new owners decided to save money by trimming the morning show rose and letting kennedy’s longtime sidekick do the honors on the cheap.

Which is kinda funny, since that’s almost what Kennedy did when he successfully stepped in for longtime radio bad boy Randy Miller on Q104 several years back.

Adds another insider, “I don’t know how much Mike was making but if he’s got a three share and is ranked 12th in morning drive, he’s no big deal. He’s no star. Here’s the litmus test for a morning deejay; does he have more share than the overall radio station? Johnny Dare has almost twice as much share as the overall station and Kennedy has less share than the midday and afternoon drive.”

While some radio insiders speculate that Pace may have been lowballed on her contract renewal and decided to bail, the inside story appears to be that she just didn’t want to commit and decided to leave with no hard feelings.

There’s also speculation that Kennedy wants to stay ay Q104 until early next year when he celebrates his 25th anniversary and could with leave the market to join his buddies in Nashville and or go into consulting.

‘The bottom line is that nobody here wants Mike because he’s not doing very well,” adds the second insider. “And apparently Entercom didn’t want Nyki very much.”

However you cut the cake, one thing’s for sure. Both Pace and Kennedy will have to sit out a six month noncompete should either opt to remain on local radio apart from their current companies.

http://www.mb-kc.com/
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19 Responses to Hearne: The Story Behind the Story on Mike Kennedy & Nyki

  1. harley says:

    despite innuendo and people who use fake names (hahahaha) one thing
    is for sure….mr. kennedy made those stations a lot of money.
    andwho wouldn’t want to hang out with stars…glaze does but his stars are
    either over the hill or maybe headed that direction.
    and getting trips/booze/tickets etc. is par for thecourse in the radio biz….
    but what you don’t understand hearne…and never will…is this is a huge
    country music mrket. even being #2 or #3 country station can still make
    a lot of money
    Good for kennedy for breaking new music….that’s about the only way radio
    will stay alive…..new blood.
    He’s a great guy…has done very well….named for many awards….and will be
    fine whether he’s stuck in this town or lucky enough to go to Nashville.
    good luck
    your listener
    Harley

    • admin says:

      No doubt Kennedy had his time in the sun and Q104 made money…

      But it’s locked in a life and death struggle now under new owners with limited experience who most highly placed radio insiders think paid WAT too much for those stations, Mike’s included.

      Remember that line, “What have you done for me lately?”

      There’s a reason Randy Miller isn’t on the air anymore (outside of some half assed armed forces and/or internet deal).There’s a reason Joe Montana retired from football. Time marches on.

      You’re missing the larger point, Haley – kinda as usual. And that’s that to be successful in the ratings today now that people meters are using you need to gab less and play a high percentage of somewhat know hits. Of course, you need to break new music but in a measured manner.

      Why do YOU suppose Kennedy’s ratings have fallen? Perhaps you have a theory.

      Well, let’s hear it?

  2. media pantheon says:

    Any insight or an upcoming article on what’s going on at the Star, hearne? What’s going on in kc media is your bread and butter here at kcc. At least to me. Would love top hear your perspective.

  3. The Word says:

    Is Mike Kennedy selling cars?

  4. CG says:

    Glad you are back to writing Hearne. I still like Mike.

  5. Jack Springer says:

    What’s the big deal? Are you sleeping with these two people. I’ve never even heard of them.

    KCConfidential needs an editor.

    • Man Alive says:

      All you ever do is complain. On every story. Tell me, why do you even bother reading this site if it only serves to make you angry?

    • CG says:

      Jack if you haven’t heard of Mike Kennedy a Hall of Fame DJ from our city than you are kinda ‘out of it’ he’s been on the air over 20 years and popular the entire time. He makes tons of live appearances at big events like every Thursday at P&L for country live concerts for thousands of KC folks. He is a well known media personality ala Johnny Dare…so you saying that make you look bad not Mike. You just hate everyone?

  6. bob says:

    “Adds another insider, “I don’t know how much Mike was making but if he’s got a three share and is ranked 12th in morning drive, he’s no big deal. He’s no star. Here’s the litmus test for a morning deejay; does he have more share than the overall radio station? Johnny Dare has almost twice as much share as the overall station and Kennedy has less share than the midday and afternoon drive.””

    Glazer is your insider?

  7. harley says:

    glaze would get inside anything…he’s not real picky! hahahahahahaha
    !

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