Nashville R&B throwbacks radio station 92Q laid off popular 21-year personality Kenny Smoov and two members of the station's morning show, the 615 Wake Up, the on-air hosts confirmed to The Tennessean.
"Right now, I feel gratitude," Smoov told The Tennessean Sept. 8. "And I’m disappointed it ended like that.
"I still had a whole book full of ideas. I know [radio is] going into this new space, and I wanted to be out front leading creative," said Smoov, who also has served as vice president for urban stations for 92Q's national ownership group for eight years. "For it to end abruptly was disappointing."
The layoffs were part of nationwide workforce downsizing at Cumulus Media, which filed for bankruptcy in March. Those layoffs locally included country
music veteran Amy Paige, let go from 95.5 WSM-FM on Aug. 6, which happened to be her birthday.
The 92Q layoffs included morning show personalities Sissy Brown and Khristal Witta Eye. The third 615 Wake Up host, Sean Good, will replace Smoov in the middays timeslot.
Smoov, a fixture of Nashville's Black culture scene, had an in-studio celebration Sept. 4, his last day on air, with appearances by Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell, Davidson County Register of Deeds Karen Johnson and Davidson County Clerk Sharon Hurt.
The layoffs prompted a swift response from longtime area leaders.
"It’s a sad day that Kenny and all of them are gone," said Criminal Court Clerk Howard Gentry. "They have been very much a staple in the entire community, but especially in the Black community."
Council Member Joy Styles, a member of the Metro Council Black Caucus, bemoaned the move.
"The end of [Smoov's] time is just another example of arts and entertainment in this city being under attack," she said, "where lesser known or inexperienced individuals enter the market at the expense of tried and true talent."
Allison Warren, vice president for Cumulus Media Nashville, did not immediately respond to an email sent Sept. 8 asking for comment on the 92Q layoffs.
Morning show personalities Brown and Khristal Witta Eye were called into management's office after their Aug. 6 show and told they would not do any more shows. Cumulus provided severances based on years of service, Brown said.
"It felt disappointing, it was of course a shock, it came out of nowhere, it was unexpected," Brown said. "It was all around, what the hell?"
Fans of Smoov and Sissy Brown, a co-host on Smoov's morning show for seven years before 92Q moved Smoov to middays last year, will be able to hear the two together again soon, they said.
"The Kenny and Sissy Show" will launch on Facebook Live and other streaming services by the end of September, she said. The two will stream live for an hour, doing interviews with Nashville community leaders and talking about Nashville news and events, she said. The show will move around to different times until the two settle on a regular timeslot, she said.
Smoov said he's pumped about launching the live streaming show.
"We’re going to practice, set up and get it right," he said, "and the first day it hits, it’s going to light a fire."
Smoov said he is especially grateful for his time on 92Q for being able to rally the community to help victims of natural disasters and crimes. Among other highlights of his time on Nashville radio airwaves:
- Hosting live radio broadcasts from national entertainment awards shows like the Grammys for Cumulus' urban stations;
- Writing and voicing a two-minute statement for Cumulus after 2020 George Floyd killing that was played on more than 400 radio stations nationwide.
- Launching fun community events like the Soul Food Festival in Nashville.
Reach Brad Schmitt at brad@tennessean.com.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: 92Q host Kenny Smoov, 615 Wake Up show out after Cumulus action | Exclusive
