Longtime Kansas City radio voice Codie Allen was most recently known as the morning co-host on Country 106.5 The Wolf. Additionally, she was the station’s Assistant Program Director and Music Director.
Allen, along with her co-host Zeke and afternoon host Jeff “Shotgun” Jaxson, was let go on earlier this month. (BMM 8/14)
A Shift in the Music—and in the Room
For Allen, the first sign that something was wrong at 106.5 The Wolf didn’t come from the ratings or from her listeners. It came from the music.
“As a music director, months ago, probably six months ago, I went to my boss, JR, and I said, I feel like the music is off,” Allen recalled. “We’re hearing the same songs at the same exact time. I’ve had to delete a lot of songs, which might be throwing off the logs, but things are just not right with the music.”
She was told not to delete anything, to “play everything straight through.” Soon after, the station underwent what Audacy calls a “swarm,” where programmers from other markets critique the music and shows.
“I’ve been doing this a long time, 26 years in Kansas City, and especially over the last several years as music director. I know we’ve had solid success with the Country shares in our market. We have three Country stations in Kansas City, all very successful. Well, over the last few months, that hasn’t been the case. But it wasn’t just with our radio station; all the Country stations went down.”
One moment stood out as a clear warning sign that things might not be going well.
“What made me think I may not have a job is when our morning show won the Kansas Association of Broadcasting Award. No one recognized us for that in our building. Not one person. When that happened, I had the feeling things weren’t looking good.”
The Joy of Connecting
Despite industry pressures and shifting ratings, Allen says her main focus was always the listeners.
“I tried to keep a positive attitude, and I tried to just focus on Kansas City. I wanted to make somebody smile every single morning. It warms my heart to hear people say, ‘You didn’t know this, but you got me through a morning I didn’t think I was going to get through.’ Of course, I didn’t know that. I was just trying to make people laugh or relate to some of the crap I’m going through in my own life.”
That human connection, she says, is what separates live personalities from syndication and AI.
“My personal opinion on this is that I want everyone to have TMI about my life. I want to make a connection so they don’t ever feel alone. Whether it’s a funny story, a feel-good story, or a winning story, that’s important.”
She compared it to the way Garth Brooks connects with a crowd.
“I remember sitting somewhere in the middle at a Garth concert, and I swear with everything I have that he was singing right to me. That’s how I want to be on the airwaves in any city. I want to make sure that you know I’m talking to you.”
Preparing for Change
Knowing radio was evolving, Allen made her moves to adapt.
“I love what I do as far as broadcasting. I love to tell stories, talk about music, and bring listeners backstage. Even if it’s just through pictures or stories,” she said. “So, I built a studio in my house because I also know that radio is changing. If radio’s changing, I’m going to change with it.”
“I would recommend anybody who just loves to broadcast to start thinking about that and start making contacts with other program directors out there or smaller markets that really need a human touch but can’t afford to bring somebody in. That has kept me afloat.”
What’s Next
For now, Allen plans to stay in Kansas City at least until her children finish high school. After that, she’s open to new markets and new opportunities.
“I would love to do more voiceover work. The community around me has been so great, and they’ve got me in touch with some of the best people who have voice-over studios and businesses. So I’m going to try to do a lot of voiceover work and see how many stations I can get under my belt. My goal is to just keep going.”
Networking, she believes, is the most important tool for anyone navigating the uncertain radio landscape.
“If you know anybody, even if it’s your competitor across the street. If they can give you a name, reach out. Don’t be afraid to call people. That’s what I’ve done. Networking has kept me going.”
Saying Goodbye to The Wolf
Leaving 106.5 The Wolf behind has been tough.
“I built that station. I love everything. I’m going to miss everything about it,” Allen said. “I’m going to miss the wolf howl that’s going to be in my head. And I’m going to miss the listeners. I’m going to miss, believe it or not, waking up at 4 o’clock in the morning and going into the studios. I’m going to miss the memories.”
“It’s going to be okay. I know at the end of the day, it wasn’t all for nothing. I made a lot of people smile, and they can’t take that away from me ever. And it’s just radio. It’s just a little, small speck of life because family is what’s important. God is the most important. Turn to faith, turn to your family and friends, and start living a life. Don’t give up on that. Just go have some fun.”
Reach Codie Allen by email here.
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Jeff Lynn serves as Editor of Barrett Media’s Music Radio coverage. Prior to joining Barrett Media, Jeff spent time programming in Milwaukee, Omaha, Cleveland, Des Moines, and Madison for multiple radio groups, including iHeartMedia, Townsquare Media, NRG Media, and Entercom (now Audacy). He also worked as a Country Format Editor for All Access until the outlet shut down in August 2023.
To get in touch with Jeff by email, reach him at Jeff@BarrettMedia.com.
