Check Out Jason Nivens’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Nivens.

Hi Jason, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
In 1997 I watched Howard Stern’s “Private Parts.” That led me to the necessary college work to land an internship under Production Guru AJ Engle at KQRC 98.9 The Rock in 1998. Afterward, I began my radio career at Manhattan Broadcasting in Manhattan, KS, in December of 1998. I was promoted to nights and mornings before being downsized “for budget restraints” in February of 2000. From there, I was “On the Beach” for roughly four years, more or less a vagabond living in Texas and Atlanta, Georgia. On a whim, I moved back to Kansas City and sent my now boss Bob Edwards an email laying out my background on air and doing production work plus the education I’d gained from AJ. I was brought on board at KQRC at the end of July 2004. I moved up to nights in 2006, downsized again in early 2009 but then returned and was promoted to my current spot of Afternoon Drive in October of the same year. As someone who grew up in Kansas City and has listened to this station since its inception, it’s a huge honor to be a part of this team. It’s also afforded me the ability to fill in on our sister station KMBZ 98.1, and guest host a segment called “2 Guys in a Brewery” on 610 Sports with my pal Jay Binkley aka Bink! I recently helped create & launch a brand new Podcast studio, with audio & video capabilities, for our parent company here in town, Audacy KC.

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Has it been a smooth road? Ha! It’s never a smooth road in radio. In this business, you’ll typically find quite a few people with some wicked scars & bruises.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
When your station plays all the notable hard rock in Kansas City, such as Metallica, AC/DC, Guns n’ Roses, Foo Fighters, Disturbed, etc., I think you get the picture. Every day I leave the house, I tell my kids I’m going to melt faces. It’s adorable when the four-year-old or almost 14-year-old says, “You goin’ to melt faces, dad?!?”

But something I’m most proud of on-air was born out of tragedy five years ago—the loss of my brother Jeff in his battle against depression. The day I returned to work after he passed, the world of rock-n-roll lost a titan in his battle against depression, Chris Cornell from Soundgarden and Audioslave. From that day forward, whenever I’ve played Soundgarden, Audioslave, Linkin Park (RIP Chester), or even Nirvana (RIP Kurt), I’ll give out the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – 988. I don’t think I’ve ever given out that number and not gotten some reply on the text line, a call in the studio, or even on social media thanking me for it. I know it’s helped a few listeners, and that makes Jeff’s passing not hurt as much as it does, still to this day.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love getting out and about with the kids. Taking them to all our secret spots and watching them discover the gems my wife & I have found. Of course, I’d tell you where they are, but I don’t want you crashing our spots! Ha! I also like how there is weird connectivity to all of us here. You’re always one or two people away from one another. It’s a huge little Town working so hard to promote and support each other. I want to love our mass transit. I attempt to promote it to others, but it always disappoints me.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.989therock.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasonnivens/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nivenspage
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/nivens
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/jason-nivens
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@nivensaf