Kenny Smoov signed off from 92Q Nashville on Sept. 4 after 21 years on the air. He is not slowing down. Instead, he is building his next move on his own terms.
Smoov spent 23 years with Cumulus Media and served eight years as Vice President of Urban stations. Cumulus eliminated his position as part of a nationwide downsizing, and the company filed for bankruptcy in March. Even so, Smoov left with gratitude, a head full of ideas and a new show on the way.
A Career Built Across the South
Smoov’s path to Nashville ran through many markets. He worked in Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Texas and finally Tennessee. Along the way, he led WQQK and WNFN as Program Director. He hosted the Kenny Smoov Morning Show for seven years. He also entertained listeners nationwide on Westwood One afternoons.
A Farewell with Grace
Smoov described his final weeks at 92Q in positive terms. He had time to say goodbye to the many parts of the operation he handled.
On Sept. 4th, city leaders filled the studio for a farewell party. Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell, Davidson County Register of Deeds Karen Johnson and Davidson County Clerk Sharon Hurt all stopped by.
Looking back on his last show, Smoov focused on impact. “I was like, wow! I did something while I had the seat,” he said. “I made an impact, and that’s what everyone in radio should be trying to do: impact your individual markets.”
Still, the exit stung. He expressed “I was disappointed that it came to an end over things I couldn’t control — economic headwinds, operational downsizing. I’m disappointed that the entire business is suffering right now.”
Community Work That Mattered Most
When Smoov looks back, one project stands above the rest. He is proudest of the Hope Station Radiothon. “Getting this amazing organization connected to our brand is the example of being good community partners and using our reach to help,” he said.
Smoov is proud to have contributed to the organization because “single working moms across Tennessee benefit from what the Hope Station’s does.” According to the 501(c)(3)’s website, they “provide financial assistance to single, working mothers whose income disqualifies them for government assistance, and mental wholeness support to any single mother and their minor children.” A noble cause, indeed.
Natural disasters also tested the station. When tornadoes tore through Nashville and nearby towns, Smoov saw a need to be more vocal about where help was going. Relief arrived a little slowly in the part of town the 92Q signal serves. So the station used its reach to get people help faster. It also rallied listeners who escaped the storms to pitch in.
As a result, volunteers showed up with electric saws, food and water. “Nashville is the most generous big city you will ever live in,” Smoov said. “We take care of our own here. Nashville responds like that.”
Beyond local relief, Smoov also led during a national moment. After the killing of George Floyd in 2020, he wrote and voiced a statement for Cumulus. He expected it to run only on the company’s Urban stations. Instead, it aired on more than 400 stations nationwide.
The scale overwhelmed him. He credited Cumulus leaders for backing the message. “Brian Philips and Mary Berner are about doing what’s right during tough times,” he said. Leading in that moment, he added, was an honor.
A Digital Vision for Radio
Looking ahead, Smoov believes radio’s next phase is digital. In the past he has said that he wanted to be out front leading creative as radio moves into a new space. When asked what this would look like, he said it’s “the digitization of our business. The effective use of AI for content building — over the air, online, and on the streets. Meeting the consumers where they are with compelling content that engages and then moving that audio through a content pipeline that effectively lands in their hands daily.”
Why Urban AC Should Open Up
Smoov has a clear stance on music. He believes Urban AC needs more melodic Hip Hop, and he backed that view with action this year. In February, he cheered nearly 20 Urban AC stations for playing T.I.’s “Let Em Know.” He also noted that people 35 and older had posted more than 1 million videos celebrating the song.
He put it bluntly in a LinkedIn post that month. “Dismissing rap hit makers is a shovel of dirt on the future of the format,” he wrote.
Smoov believes change will take courage. “It’s going to take more courageous programmers to speak up in their weekly calls, requesting one-on-one meetings with their Format Captains and Content Chiefs,” he said.
He also laid out what a song needs. “Melodic Hip Hop with good singing hooks, proper song premise, awesome chart placement, research (if available), and high duplication with Mainstream should be considered for airplay on Urban AC,” he said.
In his view, the payoff is clear. “It puts highly relevant songs your audience already knows on your station and gives your brand a hip factor,” Smoov said.
Moreover, he believes programmers underestimate the audience. “Today’s 40-year-old is as hip and vibrant as ever,” he said. “They still get outside and turn heads when they do. Don’t sleep on Auntie and Unc. They still got it, and they love a lot of the Hip Hop songs I mentioned.”
A Homecoming on Facebook Live
Fans can still find Smoov. He and Sissy Brown are doing their show online. He said “we started the show on Facebook Live, so it’s a bit of a homecoming. In today’s marketplace, a radio signal is simply one of many ways for listeners to connect with a Talent Brand. You have YouTube, Spotify, Facebook, podcasting. If you have talent and understand how to build brands, coming off the air signal does mean your paycheck and health insurance go away. Your brand equity and talent are still sitting there waiting to be activated. Get to work!”
Nashville Brown LLC and What Comes Next
Next, Smoov plans to grow his company Nashville Brown LLC. “Nashville Brown LLC covers a lot of things,” he said. “Entertainment Services, Consulting, DJ Services. I’ve had it for a while, and now I’m just expanding the reach of what we do.”
The company’s motto sums up his mindset. “Brown Belongs Everywhere!” he said.
He would return to a company, but only for the right job. “The position needs to be challenging, rewarding, and something that would keep me locked in,” Smoov said. Pay is not the draw. “Money is not my primary motivator,” he added. “I really just love the game and making a difference wherever I am located.”
Advice for the Next Generation
Smoov also has a plan for young radio pros. It starts with ownership. “Build your brand on multiple platforms,” he said. “Have an LLC to place those brand ventures under. You need to fully own what you have created.”
Next comes attitude. “Go to work every day to absorb as much knowledge about what we do as possible,” Smoov said. “You should be a sponge. Volunteer for jobs that grow your brand and reach.”
Likewise, he wants young talent to think long term. “Everything ain’t about money right now,” he said. “Your money is your youth and your ability to position yourself later in your career.”
Finally, he stressed a safety net. “Stack up,” Smoov said. “Have enough put away so that you can sit at home for months without working and not sweat it. You just may have to do that.”
Final Takeaway
Smoov’s exit stung, but he is moving fast. He leaves 92Q with a long record of community work and a clear view of radio’s future. Meanwhile, he plans to build his brand across streaming platforms and through Nashville Brown LLC. Above all, he wants other radio pros to follow his example. Make an impact while you have the seat.
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