KC Confidential

Will one more Final Four, possibly a National Championship be Bill Self’s swan song?

Obviously, that remains to be seen, but according to Lawrence Journal World sports editor and columnist Tom Keegan the table is set for Self’s KU basketball team to to go – you know – all-the-way in 2016.

Or something like that.

In his column, “Kansas Hoops Could be Killer by ’15,” Keegan sketches out a scenario in which, “the hidden beauty of Bill Self’s latest blockbuster recruiting class, separates it from most elite ones…It’s conceivable that every key Kansas player from the 2014-2015 season could return the following season…” Continue reading →

Talk about an anachronism…

Former KMBC TV kiddie show host Torey Southwick is alive and kicking…still.

At the ripe, young age of 84 – I figured Southwick just about had to be about 10 years older – the Detroit native who hit it big with local Boomers hosting the cartoon show Torey Time in the 1960s, is back in Michigan where he reached a huge milestone March 18th:

“I was surprised by all the birthday wishes I received today,” Southwick posted on Facebook. “I started to answer them, but couldn’t keep up. You are way too kind to this old man. I am now officially older than Ol’ Gus. I really appreciate your good wishes and hope you all have happy birthdays, too!!” Continue reading →

Just spin, baby…

After another month of radio ratings so low that KCPT’s new Triple A format radio baby KTBG (The Bridge) isn’t even showing up in the Nielsen numbers, some folks are scratching their heads – others are making excuses.

One local media buyer put it this way to a client:

“KTBG is not showing up because i think it takes one more month to spool up the numbers.”

Um – “spool up the numbers?” – really?

“That’s a crock,” says a top level local radio exec who asked not to be named. “It doesn’t take that long to get ratings. Not in the world of PPMs (portable people meters). In the world of diaries it used to take six months, but in the PPM world, you know in 60 days if you have something going – whether or not you’ve got a hit or a flop.

“In the PPM world, the meters don’t lie. If people were listening to The Bridge, we’d know it because the ratings would show it.”

                                                                  ******* Continue reading →

The timing couldn’t be more perfect…

Think King Kong versus Godzilla – AMC Town Center 20 versus Cinetopia Overland Park 18  -Kansas City’s 800 pound gorilla versus the upscale, upstart from Beaverton, Oregon.

For two weeks now Cinetopia has been ushering forth in the local movie marketplace with soft openings at its spanking new movieplex at the ritzy Prairiefire shopping and entertainment complex near 135th and Nall.

And in the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t get much grander than Cinetopia with three different levels of upscale auditoriums and – at long last – in-theater dining options that transcend glorified fast food. Meanwhile back at Town Center, AMC has spent seven figures improving its plex with more food options and roughly 40 percent fewer seats in order to make room for recliners with more legroom.

So the battle lines are drawn.  Continue reading →

It hasn’t been pretty…

Not since in 2011 when News Radio KMBZ broadened its horizons from broadcasting exclusively at 980 AM to simulcasting on 98.1 FM, the longtime home of former adult contemporary station KUDL.

“It’s obvious that putting KMBZ on FM was a waste of a signal,” says a radio insider who asked not to be named. “KMBZ was doing a 3.7 share on AM before and now they’re doing a 3.7 share on two signals.

“And it’s pretty obvious that in the prime radio demo of 25-54 would rank even lower because news-talk generally appeals more to 45-plus listeners.”

KMBZ ranked 12th with a 3.7 share of listeners 12 and older in the most recent ratings.

“Basically, putting KMBZ on FM did nothing to drive ratings at this point,” the source continues. “They’re about the same as they were on AM only.”

Another point to consider: Continue reading →

KFKF heavy hitter Mike Kennedy

Round and round and round they go and…

The April 2014 radio rankings are in the books with country station KFKF still atop the heap – although slipping – and a surprise leap by classic rocker KCFX, the continued decline of News Radio KMBZ and another no-show by KCPT‘s new Triple A station The Bridge.

Check em:

1)     KFKF-FM, country, 7.5 share with a cume of 369,200 listeners, down from 8.8 and 9.0 in March and February.

2)     KCFX-FM, classic rock, 7.3 share with a cume of 461,700 – one of its highest non Chiefs season books in recent memory.

3)     KPRS-FM, urban, 7.0 share with a cume of 353,500 – down from March’s 7.0.

4)    KQRC-FM The Rock, rock, 5.4 share with a cume of 301,700  – up from March’s 5.0

5)     WDAF-FM, country, 5.3 share with a cume of 374,300 – up from  a 4.6 in March Continue reading →

Jay Z

Allow me to share with you, grouchy music and entertainment pundit / attorney Bob Lefsetz curious array of takes on What’s Happening and What’s Not. 

Check it:

WINNER

Luke Bryan, who creates a whole paradigm, releasing an EP every spring break, reaping dough and cred, and no one follows him. Kinda like none of the acts imitating Kid Rock‘s $20 ticket trek.

LOSER

Jay-Z. His sister-in-law hit him, but when you’re constantly parading around saying what a winner you are, people are looking to take you down, especially the press.

LOSER

Lady Gaga, who’s doing the same wrong thing once again, focusing on touring dollars while her recording career withers. Hell, she’s not even in the gossip columns anymore.

WINNER

Troy Carter. Brings back John Legend and builds up Lindsey Stirling, did anybody think this was possible? Looks like Gaga should have listened (to her former manager that she fired last year).

LOSER

SoundScan. Streaming is the only thing that counts. Don’t get depressed about the anemic sales numbers, people are listening to music ad infinitum…they’re just not buying it, (they’re) streaming it on YouTube, Spotify… The whole paradigm has changed, no one cares who bought it anymore, just whether they listened to it, and how much. Crunch the streaming data. If you’re not being played, be very afraid. Prop up your listens before you worry about touring or sponsorships.

WINNER

Metallica, playing acoustic covers of Ozzy, Deep Purple, Rare Earth and the Beatles at the MAP dinner. Unfortunately, the only people who seem to know are their fans. The band is still trying to live down the Napster fiasco, beware Jay-Z, be very afraid.

LOSER

HTC

No one cares if you make a GOOD hand-set, your product must be light years better than the competition and be cool to boot. The only future in smartphones is Samsung, Apple and the cheapies.

WINNER

Gossip. You may not be rich, but you can talk about the rich. People just can’t resist the travails of other people.

LOSER

Artists. Because the major label paradigm is not paying, even if you’re owed the money.

WINNER

Jimmy Iovine. Because unlike the losers at the labels, he found a way out. Or, to quote someone Jimmy hasn’t worked with, “He not busy being born is busy dying.”

LOSER

The Wall Street Journal. Once a paragon of business reporting it’s now a lame, biased mainstream publication with too many superfluous lifestyle items, the last section is the new Redbook. Continue reading →