After 40 years in the business, KBEQ Kansas City PD Mike Kennedy is hanging it up. Steel City Market Manager Marc Harrell said, “After several years of back and forth, which included me begging in every single way, I am sad to say that Mike Kennedy has chosen to enter into blissful retirement at the end of this year. I am very honored to call Mike a colleague, mentor, and a friend, and am very sad to see this change.” Kennedy has been a regular on Radio Ink‘s Top Country PD list for years.
Mike Kennedy began his radio career while in high school in 1976 at KVOE in Emporia, Kansas. He graduated from Emporia State University in 1981. In 1984, he purchased WFXI in Haines City, FL, which made him the youngest station owner in the United States. A year later, he returned to KVOE and then took over the GM position at KEGS in Emporia. Kennedy then moved to Kansas City and worked at KXXR in 1988, and joined KBEQ-FM in Kansas City in 1991. While at KBEQ, Kennedy managed the 1993 format change from Top 40 to Country as PD and morning show personality.
In September 2015, Kennedy took a step back from on-air duties to solely focus on his programming responsibilities. He will stay on as a consultant to KBEQ.
