Tag Archives: Hearne Christopher Jr.
Car: Case of the Missing Fiat 500 Prima Edizione Cars Continues
One of these days, Kansas Citians will be able to walk into Fiat of Olathe, sign on the dotted line and skip away in a critically-acclaimed, eco-friendly Fiat 500…
But don’t even think about that fantasy for at least another month. Not where the ongoing launch of the 500 is concerned.
Clearly Fiat fucked up.
First the company didn’t name dealers until mid-late November right before the holidays. No way those dealers could complete the paperwork, build studios to Fiat specs and be open by January, as Fiat suggested.
Kansas City’s dealer, for example, remains at the mercy of its Shreveport sister to deliver 10 Prima Ediziones to buyers.
"Very frustrating!" says Vladimir Liska of Omaha. "I was reading on Facebook some guy just hit 1,000 miles on his Prima… (Mine) better show up at the dealer on Tuesday!"
Today: Pitch Founder Hal Brody Looks at Rocky Road Ahead for Alt News Pubs, Part 2
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The scramble for survival is on…
The good, old days of the alternative publishing industry are behind it. Ahead lies an uncertain future. A future former Pitch – and until recently East Bay Express publisher – Hal Brody has placed in the rearview mirror.
"These papers can’t really survive like they used to just by having the world’s best calendars and a few good feature stories," Brody says. "You really have to be imbedded in the community. You have to get to the point where the community wants you to survive."
After three years of layoffs, cutbacks and incredibly-shrinking issues, Pitch editor C.J. Janovy and top reporting gun Nadia Pflaum not only left, they bailed from the biz.
Hearne: No Fooling, Ex Pitch/Pennylane Owner Hal Brody Steps to the Plate, Part 1 of 3
It’s been a rocking 11 years for the man who brought Kansas City Pennylane Records & The Pitch…
After cashing in big time on the Pitch in 1999, Hal Brody moved to California and until recently ran Oakland’s East Bay Express alternative news weekly. He’s been through lawsuits, business turnarounds and temperatures the likes of which have convinced him never to move back to the lowly Cowtown.
But Brody still owns the building that until January housed Pennylane successor Streetside Records.
Let’s start with a deal that fell through to lease or sell the building to Vinyl Renaissance, the Shawnee wax works and audiophile electronics seller. Earlier this year staffers at both Streetside and VR confirmed Vinyl Renaissance’s hope to pick up where Streetside left off in Westport with a second prime location there.
Today: Panhandler Jerry Mazer Alive & Kicking in Tony Bennett Land?
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The search for the cold, dead body of illustrious kc panhandler Jerry Mazer just got a lot more complicated.
Yes, it’s April Fool’s Day, but no, this isn’t a spoof.
Reports from multiple sources that Mazer – infamous for his Plaza presence outside Barnes & Noble and "Can I get a down payment on a cheeseburger?" parlance – died last year have to date proved unconfirmable.
With all that’s truly known being that Mazer – who forced the city and the Plaza to their knees by getting a no panhandling ordinance tossed – disappeared from the local scene last fall. Followed by a flurry of rumors he had died. But a check with Kansas City’s Department of Records found no evidence of a death certificate.
Today: Westport’s Loss is 39th Street’s Gain, Streetside to Remain Vacant…For Now
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It’s official; the courtship is o-v-e-r…
Now that Shawnee music emporium Vinyl Renaissance has announced intentions to open a second store on 39th Street in Midtown, the chances of ressurrecting the old Pennyland/Streetside location in Westport proper is deader than Liz Taylor.
"As far as Streetside Records goes…let sleeping dogs lie," reads VR’s Facebook post annoucing the new digs yesterday. "We’re all excited about the new store and look forward to seeing everyone on Record Store Day April 16!! Thanks to everyone for their patience and support."
Not that negotiations for Streetside’s space didn’t go down before it all fell apart…
Starstruck: Mellinger Shines but Sports Daily Still Lacking Teeth
New columnist Sam Mellinger is taking Sports Daily to new heights in terms of column writing. But the section remains largely toothless when it comes to coverage of local teams and sports news.
Yeah, they get the obvious stories like KU athletics director Lew Perkins fall from grace and the KU ticket ripoff. But aside from that the section sets forth a largely unquestioning approach to teams and managements not mired in obvious scandal or disarray.
For example, yesterday’s massive headline: "The Royals REINVIGORATED."
Please…
Today: Let’s Get Ready to Rumble! New Pitch Owner Appears Poised to Kick Butt
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Remember that stuff I wrote about the Pitch and its many problems and woes?
Well, you can forget about that now, it’s time to move on. That’s exactly what’s about to happen, if my examination new Pitch owner SouthComm‘s alternative news weekly Nashville Scene is an indication of what’s in store for Kansas City. And more to the point, for the now-nervous wretches at Ink.
Oh yeah. Sources say the Kansas City Star owned Ink is shaking in its shoes, having taken the measure of SouthComm’s handiwork in Nashville. SouthComm may only be a four year-old firm, but its doings down south run circles around what Village Voice‘s Pitch has failed to accomplish here. Same goes for Ink, only different.
Today: Death of a Legend, The KUDL Story
The Star lazily folded the news of legendary KUDL FM’s demise into a bit about 980 KMBZ simulcasting on KUDL’s signal…
For two reasons; the first being that Star reporter Aaron Barnhart could care less about radio – he’s a TV guy. Second, because the aging newshounds at the paper are mostly white males 50 and up and the simulcast story was a bigger deal to them than a women’s music station biting the dust.
They were wrong.
The death of a half century old station is far larger than a lateral move with a 14th rated station.
So KUDL goes away at 8 a.m. today, and word is KUDL’s Tanna Guthrie is planning a very special sendoff.
Car: The Curious Case of the Missing Fiat 500s
To paraphrase Paul Revere, The Fiats are coming, the Fiats are coming!
But while that’s undoubtedly the case, for many, if not most of the 500 souls who plunked down $500 deposits for a limited edition Prima Edizione model of the tiny Fiat 500, the question is, when?
In December, Fiat North America head Laura Soave told Prima buyers, "Delivery should occur in mid to late February…In the meantime, dealers are busy putting the finishing touches on our Studios."
Less true words seldom have been spoken…
Today: What Not to Where While KU Takes Elite Eight Tube Ride
The premise, both simple and lame…
Typical newspaper pablum for the masses. Masterminded by the Lawrence Journal World, which took it upon itself to hatch an activity guide for folks who could care less about choking down KU‘s 10 day march to its stunning loss to VCU in the NCAA tournament.
Think of it as, clues for the clueless...
Hearne: The Rise & Fall of the KC Pitch, Part Deux
The current state of Kansas City "alt weekly" the Pitch?
It’s painfully obvious to pretty much anyone who’s been watching that print publications are fighting a losing battle. A battle for their lives. Which isn’t to say that the Kansas City Star, for example, is going to just blow away. At some point in time the stronger pubs will downsize themselves into a long-term model that affords profitability.
Oh, it won’t be pretty. Just as it hasn’t at 18th and Grand these past three years. It will get there though, and if the economy rights itself, they may even begin adding bodies. However in the long run, it’s just too costly to print and distribute hundreds of thousands of newspapers each day, and fewer and fewer people – younger people – have an appetite to hold a physical paper in their hands.
The problem, as most of you probably know, is nobody’s come close to figuring out how to make anywhere near the profits online that they’ve been making in print.
So those in the print pub biz, it’s beyond scary.
Today: Wanted, Dead or Alive; Proof as to The Whereabouts of Jerry Mazer
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In the spirit of O.J.’s search for the real killer, I bring you my search for an actual dead body…
We’re talking about notorious Plaza panhandler Jerry Mazer, of course. He of the, "Can I get a down payment on a cheeseburger?" fame. The dude who in 1994 knocked the Plaza and City of Kansas City on their butts and got an ordinance banning bumming on the Plaza overturned. Not only that, the city had to cough up some cash for Mazer’s trouble to settle the case.
Mazer’s travels to San Fran and beyond and his subsequent run-ins with the Gestapo-like Plaza Patrol went on for years as he continued his pursuit of the American Dream along Kansas City’s Appian Way outside Barnes & Noble.
Until, several sources say, sometime late last summer or early fall.
That’s when Mazer, 56, allegedly tipped his toes toward the sky and said goodbye
Today: Why News Radio KMBZ’s Move to FM May Not Work, Part One
Simulcasting news radio 980 KMBZ AM on the FM dial makes perfect sense – or does it…
While the station remains a cash cow for Entercom, its flagging ratings were bound to catch up with its pocketbook. So by bringing in more listeners grazing on the FM band – not the AM – KMBZ hopes to keep the cash coming in and perhaps charge a bit of a premium for a more upscale (and hopefully larger) FM enhanced audience.
Just how poorly has KMBZ fared of late?
In the just released February radio ratings it placed 14th in the market in adults 25 to 54 with a 3.5 share of listeners. And in its prime demo of adults 35 to 64 it came in 14th also.
Hearne: Will News/Talk Station 980 KMBZ’s Talent Measure Up On The FM Dial?
The $64 million question: Will younger, trendier listeners flock to news/talk radio 980 KMBZ after it goes FM?
That’s a tough one.
At this point, nobody really knows. After all, the main thrust of frequency modulation (FM) is the high quality the signal imparts to music. I mean, how mellifluous can Rush Limbaugh get? And it’s not like Mike Shanin’s going to forget he’s not in the shower and break into song in the middle of dissing Obama or fantasizing about Sarah Palin. I mean, he is getting up there some, but…
Which brings us to the age issue…
For KMBZ to take its game to the next level, it needs to attract younger listeners when it begins to simulcast on KUDL 98.1’s FM signal. You know, people who don’t subscribe to the Kansas City Star.
Today: Entercom To Blow Up Historic KUDL FM, Changes Format on 99.7…Again
This just in….
Entercom radio told advertisers today that it’s blowing up up one of Kansas City’s most legendary radio stations, KUDL 98.1 FM. The soft rock station is more-or-less being folded into a new station and format called The Point on sister signal 99.7 FM. Until today 99.7 was the home of Gen X Radio, which debuted just last year.
In a telephone conference call, Point program director Mark Edwards described the new format as being designed to serve Kansas City women between the ages of 25 and 49.
Hearne: Will Nick Wright or 980 KMBZ Commandeer KUDL FM’s Signal?
What’s to become of one of Kansas City most esteemed local radio signals, KUDL-FM?
Parent company Entercom told key advertisers today it would announce the signal’s fate tomorrow. KUDL currently plays soft rock, targeted to women at 98.1 on the FM dial. However at noon today Entercom did away with its Gen X radio format at 99.7, changing it to The Point, playing "Today’s Best Music" and targeting women between the ages of 25 and 49.
There’s more…
Hearne: Police to KU Fans & Bars, Read Our Lips; No Open Containers
It’s that time of year again…
You can almost taste the jubilation. KU’s forging ahead in the NCAAs and the prospect of dancing in the streets is smack in the minds of Jayhawk faithful. To that end, a bartender at La Parrilla in downtown Lawrence told me the city and/or police enacted an ordinance or policy allowing bars and restaurants to let customers buy booze and take it to the streets.
Whenever KU‘s basketball team makes it into the Sweet 16 or Elite 8.Other customers added assurances that this was the case. It started in 2008 when KU won the national title.
Kinda makes sense, right?
Hearne: Sly James Victory Dance To Go Down at Negro Leagues Tonight
With all due respect for the political prognosticator known as Jimmy C….
The losers I talk to are forecasting a victory for Sly James in today’s KC mayoral contest. Not for Mike Burke, as my well-heeled colleague Jim Fitzpatrick (Fitz choked out a cool five grand to Burke) wishfully predicted earlier today.
The reason: For starters, the weather.
Today’s pleasing climes will turn out voters in parts of town and of an age that will likely countermand the waspy white, older voters to whom meaningless support of over-the-hill former mayors counts for something.
In other words, it will bring out younger, hipper voters, to whom staid endorsements from the old guard are more likely to be seen as a reason to vote against rather than for Mike Burke.
That’s what I’m hearing anyway…
Today: Has Claire McCaskill Used Up Her Nine Lives?
When it comes to dodging bullets, few have done it better than Claire McCaskill…
Long ago the Missouri senator’s political colleagues bestowed upon her the nickname "Blonde Ambition." And through the years McCaskill’s used her uncanny skills at charming members of the local media to navigate past any number of potentially career killing missteps.
Let’s look at McCaskill’s latest hot mess and review some of the ones she’s skittered past in the past.
Hearne: The Story Behind Sporting Kansas City’s Bid to Book Concerts
Star sports scribe Sam Mellinger was on the right track…almost
Mellinger was high in pegging Sporting Kansas City’s stadium naming rights to Lance Armstrong’s cancer charity LIVESTRONG at a value of $2 million a year. SKC honcho Robb Heineman suggested only $1 million, possibly up to $2 million for the rights.
That said, Mellinger’s larger point being that "Livestrong’s “payment” — if you can call it that — was Armstrong’s "access to big-name performers who could help fill the stadium for high-dollar concerts," Mellinger writes. "Armstrong is close with Justin Timberlake, for instance. He shares a house in France with Bono. Jimmy Buffett rode in the pace car during one of Armstrong’s Tour de France races."
So will SKC be able to draw top drawer talent to its new outdoor soccer stadium despite competition from the myriad indoor and outdoor area concert venues, like the nearby, similarly-sized Sandstone?
