The Kenny Maistry Chronicles
April 11, 2011 by Brown Shuga
Forget Khanyi Mbau & the other Kenny,right now the spotlight is on “former” (make that DOUBLE former) Metro FM DJ, Kenny Maistry. If you don’t know him… well, Kenny is that guy who’s going around telling everyone that Metro FM Management is ruthless and don’t keep their word. All this because he was removed from his “Morning Jam” show and offered a late night show which he declined because he thought it would be career suicide. This is not the first time that he has to leave Metro FM under a cloud and this time he swears that he will not “leave quietly like last time.”
Let’s look back at his Radio history:
1992 – 1996 : Capital Radio
1997 – June : 94.7 Highveld Stereo
July ’97 – Jan. 2002 : Metro FM
- Kenny left because he was fired for allowing 10 minutes of dead air on his show after telling listeners that the station had not provided enough music for the show.
March 2002 to March 2009: 94.7 Highveld Stereo
- Kenny was hosting 09:00 – 12:00 show when he left.
April 2009 – March 2011
- Metro FM recruited him from Highveld so he could come host the breakfast show on a 3 year contract.
On to the drama….
Soon after Metro FM’s new line up was announced, Kenny was in the papers complaining about being dropped and the headline screamed “racism”. I am one of the people who were against his appointment as a Breakfast show host, but I ended up listening to his show once in a while, thanks to Thato’s humour. During those times I got to realise that Kenny is actually a good and experienced radio jock, he had a good voice and was really a nice guy. He still wasn’t what I wanted in a breakfast show host though and that’s why I was not bothered to hear he was leaving Metro.
On Thursday night, Kenny was on Mzansi Magic (not Mazansi Kenny heheh) where he again voiced his disappointment with Metro and the fact that they took him off air even though his listenership grew by 22% with increased revenue.
Fast forward to Sunday (yesterday) and his name is on the front page of Sunday World over allegations that the reason why Matona was escorted out of the SABC building was because she had inflated Kenny Maistry’s salary to R116 000 per month, whereas the standard fee was R40 000. Story HERE.
Kenny took to his Facebook page to set the record straight and this is what he had to say:
Mmhh hectic. I would love to see what proof was provided by the paper’s source to support their claims but I also don’t understand why Kenny refused to comment on the issue when called for comment. (IF that part of the Sunday World is true)
As for the “noise” he’s making about being booted out… Kenny it’s okay, we’ve heard your cry bhut’ wam and I think it’s enough now. Leave it all in God’s hands before you start sounding bitter.
I totally understand why Kenny is voicing his unhappiness but seeing that the public’s sympathy is not going to get him his show back, I say he should just walk away and put his energies on his next move. Remember that saying about looking too long at the door that closes that we don’t see ones that are being opened? Yeah, that.
Wish Kenny all the best and I hope the truth about this “salary scandal” will come out.
Dark8lord on Mon, 11th Apr 2011 12:30 am
Tjo! Mara Metrofm is non-stop drama. Mna I had stopped listening to Kenny and switched to 5. He runs to the papers when hes fired, but when they want a simple yes or no he cant give it? I say maybe he got himself in debt cause of his inflated salary n now its taken away and hes left with iskoloto #justsaying #Lihle’sTheory
Dark8lord on Mon, 11th Apr 2011 12:32 am
Oh look, Im first. *takes out mirror and preps himself up a bit*
Noance on Mon, 11th Apr 2011 12:36 am
Let this be a lesson to all about signing contracts! These companies will ALWAYS protect themselves. If it was breach ofv contract from Metro’s side,this would be clearly an open n shut case! He didn’t read something hence his putting his life in God’s hands.
As for the salary increase??? If its true,then good for him! At least he chowed Metrofm’s money before they gave him the boot!
Everytime we speak of Kenny,I crave briyani and curry ish!!! *hides behind rajah box*
ThatoM on Mon, 11th Apr 2011 12:36 am
Shem ntate wabatho as kiki would say “KU TOUGH”. #offtopic where is Leko?
kagisho on Mon, 11th Apr 2011 12:39 am
These radio stations need a reality show nje, such scandals!
Zida on Mon, 11th Apr 2011 12:40 am
Shame man. Sadly, he’s not the first and certainly won’t be the first one this happens to. Radio is a very competitive and ruthless industry.
He should have made a comment to the reporter. I also don’t feel him blurting SABC’s policies and procedures on FB like that. Rather, he should have made a press release and distribute it.
He must just cut his losses and move on. I’m sure he can still get another job. He’s got a nice voice, like BS said. And not a bad presenter at all. And he’s getting old…he needs to find something suitable. Like, I have no clue why Kaya FM put ikhehla uBob on their breakfast slot. Or is it just me who feels that way.
Ntuli on Mon, 11th Apr 2011 12:59 am
Lol I wudnt answer the call if a journo called me, those ppl provoke u, want u saying the wrong thing and worse they can record u… Wish him all the best. I’m tired of radio, personally. Metro doin the best for their station (I guess)
Ms.Zie on Mon, 11th Apr 2011 1:12 am
Was that a note that he wrote on #fb, its pretty long?! Tjo! I really don’t have much 2 say, never listened to a single show of his *not hiding*. It seems like he’s seeking pity/sympathy, more than him trying to provide clarity.
Dark8lord on Mon, 11th Apr 2011 1:30 am
Is Kenny Indian? Remember what I said about indians and their love for complaining? #thatisall
soul sista on Mon, 11th Apr 2011 5:54 am
Eish its a tough world out there. Like I always say, today you are a peacock everybody admires & raves about your feathers, tomorrow your feathers are turned into a feather duster…
SilentBloggar on Mon, 11th Apr 2011 7:24 am
Ayiii suka Kenny Maistry, him of Amafutha Jamz!!!! We’ve heard you now, look for another job to keep your mind off MetroFM.
Mapakisha on Mon, 11th Apr 2011 8:47 am
I liked Kenny’s show, i actually switched from the breakfast xpess to his & Thato’s show. I’m sad he left but Glen & Unathi rock so I guess it’s all good.
Maratahelele on Mon, 11th Apr 2011 8:57 am
I also did not like his show but from reading this,I think Metro are going to pay big time.If your listnership grows that much and you still fire the jockey,kanti what were the expectations??
Kenny needs to shut his mouth and let the law do its cause,wish he wins the case…
Lehakoe on Mon, 11th Apr 2011 9:14 am
I don’t understand why he’s “not going down silently”- if anything at all, it’s the SABC that should be suing him for not fulfilling the terms of the contract. He was offered another slot, mos? He must shurrup and sit down coz I just don’t see his grounds for litigation.
KevCare on Mon, 11th Apr 2011 10:18 am
Kenny’s MAFUTHA JAMS was a bore!! He has a radio voice and all but other than that, what was he bringing to the table?? He had a very good team backing him up and MetroFMs morning listenership had declined coz BadBoy and them messed up and sent people away.
He was at the right place a the right time coz
1. DJ Sbu left Yfm (Matona)
2. Kgomotso was losing it on Kaya
3. Gareth is still white
4. JustIce takes a bit of getting used to
The morning slot needs someone who has a unique personality…not ur “regular” dude!
Honestly now, 353k in the morning….it couldn’t get ANY WORSE!!
HE IS NOT SPECIAL *period*
Enkosi on Mon, 11th Apr 2011 10:22 am
I have a sneaky suspicion that Kenny knows he has an unwinnable case. Therefore he’s resorting to making a lot of noise instead of using his energy to help his lawyers build a watertight case aginst the SABC. Now he’s exposing all his weapons on Facebook? Hay’ maan.
miss nono on Mon, 11th Apr 2011 10:43 am
ok .kenny must juss take a chill pill.he should know by now thats radio for you.look at people like Thomas Msengana they held very successful shows but were sacked as well.this thing of looking for sympathy wont get him a slot. Nana siyakuzwela mara we cant give you a slot so move on my boy otherwise we will run out of sympathy!
Lahvee on Mon, 11th Apr 2011 11:14 am
I agree with KevCare, the listenership increase was due to:
He was at the right place a the right time coz
1. DJ Sbu left Yfm (Matona)
2. Kgomotso was losing it on Kaya
3. Gareth is still white
4. JustIce takes a bit of getting used to
I never listened for the 2 years he was there, i switched to Gareth.. but then I started missing “black music” and switched to Kenny’s show only in Jan this year, ONLY BECAUSE OF THE PLAYLIST…. that’s the person who should get props, their morning playlist was on point… NOT THE DJ shem. Thato made that breakfast show..
NJE…
siya on Mon, 11th Apr 2011 11:20 am
*sniff* i smell some briyani. hhay man Kenny makathule sidikwe finish wuye emane ezi feelela sorry, Look for a new job or better yet with that 116k salary yakho hhambo vula i curry shop or something and stop moaning yerrrrrrrrr!!
Mmaditaba on Mon, 11th Apr 2011 11:23 am
tjo tjo talk about a word for word copy and paste.okay BS who copied who on ths article? You or Rview?
Mmaditaba on Mon, 11th Apr 2011 11:32 am
aibo did BS delete my comment?? Heh SMDH
Buhlebonga on Mon, 11th Apr 2011 11:39 am
This is sad. Why is he pulling the race card? What happens to a CEO when he doesn’t perform well? He gets fired, irrespective of the contract. The company NEEDS to see results.
I stopped listening to Metro when he took over the breakfast slot and listened to Gareth. My mom was happy for a few months and then she couldn’t take it and she went back to Ukhozi.
He must just leave with dignity and you know, another station, even a regional one, can snap him up!
Brown Shuga on Mon, 11th Apr 2011 2:02 pm
Maditaba, Do they also have an article with the above tweets and FB Updates too? Word for word? I don’t go there so I wouldn’t know….
Enkosi on Mon, 11th Apr 2011 2:19 pm
Funny how Kenny and Nothende (featured video) are pulling the same pose tltltltltltltltl
badk93 on Mon, 11th Apr 2011 7:14 pm
LOL *claps once*
Mmaditaba on Mon, 11th Apr 2011 8:37 pm
BS plz plz forgive me ,i made a mistake ,i saw the article here in the very early hrs of the morning.and later in the day when i came bk i thought i had seen it there ,please forgve me for such a dumbfound error on my behalf!
ndinguyeEndinguye on Mon, 11th Apr 2011 9:15 pm
Hi ol, I’m an old new here but amaind’ya(as my 7yr old colz’em) mawakhe athi xha. Is there anything they do best than BMW’ing? They must shut their pitty-party down soos like NOW.uTsepo is off-air tks 2 them, ingoma kaMbongeni Ngema was banned(zange ndiyive nokuyiva) ngenxa yabo!! Super-sensitivity!!
snapshot on Mon, 11th Apr 2011 10:14 pm
Hi all finally me decides to comment,amandiya my neighbours O gosh masters in complains,futhi ngikhathele yilama spice abo nx *kenny relocates to fordsburg*
LJFOREVER on Mon, 11th Apr 2011 11:20 pm
The real career suicide for Kenny is his bruised ego. The man is a good presenter, but not suitable for Metro FM breakfast. Had he accepted the evening slot, he would have fitted perfectly well judging by his approach to radio, personality, charming voice, non-controversial manners. Leaving radio was a BIG career suicide.