10 Questions with ... Mike Kennedy

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Broadcasting veteran Mike Kennedy retired from day-to-day radio at the end of last year, departing his most recent job as OM/PD at Audacy Country WDAF (106.5 The Wolf) and Hot AC KZPT (99.7 The Point)/Kansas City after a little over two years in that post. Prior to that, he was VP/Programming for Wilks Broadcasting and successor Steel City Media from 2007-2017. This is his second “retirement,” followed a previous, short-lived attempt at the end of 2016, although he continued to consult Steel City’s Country KBEQ until 2018. In his career, he has also owned and operated stations in Manhattan, KS, including Country KXBZ. He was inducted into the Country Radio Hall of Fame in 2015. All Access Associate Editor Shawn Reed checked in on Kennedy to see how his “retirement” is going this time around.

1. So, it’s been about four months since your last day at Audacy Kansas City. How’s retirement the second time around? And would you ever welcome yet another return to daily radio?  

Great question that I field often. It’s been great, yet really different this time. Last time I worked on the house and did crossword puzzles! Last time I was a few meetings away from acquiring a small market station in my hometown and having a little small market fun. (Very happy that did not work out.) This time there were so many projects that had piled up during my last run that I have had no problem staying busy and tying up all those loose ends.

I am sure I’ve said in the last few months that I’d probably never return to day-to-day radio, but I think that was said more out of frustration and emotion of what I was leaving. I’d probably always leave that door open, but I am a radio and music guy. I have a passion for radio, real radio, personality radio, talent, etc. I have a passion for music, new music, new artists and I love being a part of that whole process. If I can’t do that, I’d rather just remove myself like I did last year. 

2. It’s not often that a broadcaster has the chance to go from one station in a market to another. You had the opportunity to not only do that, but stay within the same format (KBEQ to WDAF). What was the feeling working with what was once the competitor, having programmed against a station, then being at the helm of it. What was most unique/challenging and/or most enjoyable part?  

It was really tough to make the decision to come back, and I mean really tough. I spent 25 years and KBEQ, and [we] had built something that I truly loved. The staff was truly family, and we had worked so hard and put so much time and energy into that station that it was hard to even think of them as a competitor. Q had a brand and a strong position in the market, and I didn’t expect it to be easy.

I’d say the most challenging part was to try and respect what we had built and remain cordial, while at the same time knowing we had to change the mindset at WDAF, be more aggressive and work much harder. That leads into what was the most enjoyable: moving WDAF into a better place in the marketplace by obtaining some of those marquee events in the city for WDAF and, of course, becoming the flagship station for the Kansas City Chiefs. So many moving parts that became a part of the day-to-day at WDAF. 

  3. On a visit to your station once, I felt a family environment with your team. There was a definite, “I have your back, you have mine” feel to the group. As a programmer, was this an environment you prioritized bringing to your team? Was it something you learned from a prior boss?  

Oh absolutely, positively, without a doubt a priority! If we were going to flip a heritage Pop station to Country in a market with two monster Country stations already there, it was more than obvious that it was going to take a team of people willing to go hard 24/7/365! If you didn’t have that mindset, you were not going to make it on our team. We had a major hill to climb, and it was going to take a closest-knit team that became a family. 

  4. For all the music rotation geeks out there, give us a 15-minute sample (roughly five songs) of your ideal station, categorically speaking. And … go: 

For me: Power, Power Gold, New (and I mean NEW), Recurrent and Subpower. Now, if you want to know what I would play on my own [dream] station: New Country song, hair band rock song, current rhythmic Pop song, ‘70s Disco song!

  5. The $27 question: What fills the void of a Country Radio Hall of Famer’s day when radio isn’t the main dish anymore? Is there life after radio, or do you find yourself reading the ingredients of Harvest Cheddar Sun Chips aloud in aisle six of Kroger, as though you’re at a live remote as well (asking for a friend)?  

Ha. Well, honestly, I don't like to go to grocery stores. I will if my wife asks me to. I am working on some small projects with some colleagues that keep my mind busy, but I do read up on radio daily (a habit I am trying to cease). We are about to complete the renovation of our cabin that I intend on using more to get my wife some down time from her morning show gig and [as] the breadwinner of our household! I love the additional time I get to spend with the dogs and mom, and still have to improve my golf game. Now, ask me that question in a year and we’ll revisit.

  6. Historically, the stations that you have led were tremendously promotionally active. In a time where the industry is seeing more consolidation than ever, where programmers are not only overseeing multiple stations in the building, but multiple stations throughout the state and even country, how do you see the future of the industry in terms of stations being able to be promotionally active on a local level? 

I still think it’s conceivable to be promotionally active on some scale. It really goes back to the makeup of the station itself, the ownership situation, the philosophy and the team that’s in place. I am a total believer and a fan of locally active promotions, whether it’s executed by a promo team or the on air team -- if you have the luxury of having either.

My beliefs and philosophy doesn't match up with centralizing and nationalizing promotions. That goes back to my passion for taking care of and being a part of the local community and the local clients, and that simply doesn’t match up with some of today’s corporate mentalities. I love the big promotional ops you get from the scale of corporate, but I don’t think you should sacrifice what you can do locally. 

  7. You were previously involved in station ownership with two stations in Manhattan. KS. What did you learn from that experience that you can share with others looking to potentially purchase a small market station one day? 

It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my entire life. The whole process of building a radio station from the dirt was amazing and rewarding. We did local radio at KXBZ. You would all know some of the talent that helped build that radio station, and now they have all moved on to successful careers in radio and records. That is the big reward to me, to see where those kids are today!

You asked me what I learned and I will tell you. I learned that we could start a station from scratch, go up against two very formidable Country competitors from another market that were taking tons of advertising dollars out of the market, and build one hell of a small market radio station with local service and local talent that sent the other two packing! I also learned that being greedy was not the answer to doing good business. We invested and reinvested in B104.7 [KXBZ] so the team could compete and be proud of being part of that station and the community. I could go on and on! I don’t know if that type of operation is even feasible in today’s climate.

  8. In a world that now gives consumers multiple on-demand options to consume music, what is the one thing all other platforms, even in 2022, still cannot touch that local radio brings to the table?  

Oh, man, I still think it’s the local talent. Period. Talent that is a part of and locked into the local community in all forms. You can’t match that. 

  9. You had mentioned you were looking forward to finishing your cabin and hanging with your fur balls upon moving on from Audacy back in December. Have you?  

We are soooo close. I could not be more excited. It’s a small place on a small lake surrounded by good friends. The boys love the lake and even dig a boat ride or two when it’s not too hot! I'll send pics.

10. Radio is unique. Those that have it called it their career and have since moved on, whether it was their choosing or not, can sometimes have trouble finding that next chapter in professional life that gives them as much as radio once did. For those currently in that place, what would you say about trying to achieve a similar level of professional fulfillment and joy that they once lived daily during their radio days? 

I don’t know that there is anything that can replace what radio puts into your blood. I’ve never done anything else except mow yards and bus tables as a kid, so radio and music will always occupy a huge space in my small brain. The easy answer is to find something that offers that type of excitement and passion but, honestly, I don’t know that that exists. I think you have to step back and let the dust clear and then explore where your passion really lives.

The first time I hung it up, I had an opportunity come up to work with Miller/Coors on some initiatives they were working on. I knew I liked beer and music, so it was perfect. Five years later, we still talk about ideas. As you may have guessed, I like local events and local promotions, so right now I am working with a friend and working with the university I graduated from on improving their efforts in those areas.

Yet still, nothing replaces doing a morning show, meeting a new artist, hearing new music then going to a live music event, so I’m not even going to try and fool myself there. But there are fun and exciting opportunities out there that you may not even be thinking about now that will present themselves. 

I have 24 hours in Kansas City. I need a beer, some BBQ, and want to experience something I cannot experience anywhere else in the country. Where am I headed?

You’d want to plan that on a Chiefs home game weekend! Come in Saturday in time to hit Rudy's Tenampa Taqueria for the best margarita in town and great Mexican food run by a wonderful family. Then get up early and head to Arrowhead Stadium for the best tailgating in the NFL (you’ll get your beer and BBQ from friendly Chiefs fans there) and see the Chiefs in the NFL’s loudest stadium. There is nothing like it!   

What has the experience been like watching the career of Dan + Shay take off like it has from the perspective of a proud father-in-law? [Kennedy’s daughter Abby is married to Dan Smyers.]

It’s been nothing short of amazing, to say the least! As a music guy first, you could tell and feel this pair could be special, and they are. But there is nothing like standing in Madison Square Garden and having Dan and the sold out crowd sing your daughter happy birthday! But aside from the amazing success in the career, the fact that Dan and Abby are such good, caring and giving kids is what warms my heart the most.