Matt Jones reflects on 20 years of KSR in Barrett Media feature

Believe it or not, KSR the website turns 20 years old this year (November 30th, to be exact), and the radio show 15. To commemorate the occasion, John Mamola of Barrett Media spoke with Matt Jones about KSR’s rise from a blog created in Hubby’s basement to a “media empire” (Mamola’s words, not ours) that dominates the Kentucky sports market.

As a KSR reader and listener, you’re probably familiar with our origin story (if not, BTI’s post from 2011 is a wild trip down memory lane). Barrett Media’s profile focuses more on how KSR has endured through and adapted to two decades of changes. As Matt says, it requires talent, authenticity, and surrounding yourself with people you can trust. Most of the KSR full-time staff started with the site as either interns or contributors and worked their way up.

“Sometimes founders and creators wait way too long to keep it just about them. You have to build stars around you. You can’t be the person forever to have a sustainable brand,” said Jones. “I’ve always looked for opportunities for people to go out and do things.”

The KSR brand continues to expand, most recently to the NFL with Matt and Drew Franklin’s new podcast “NFL Cover Zero,” a KSR-style blend of sports and entertainment. Or rather, the NFL in the most ridiculous manner possible, something the rest of sports media could seriously use.

“I think sports radio screws up. Nobody cares about the specifics; people want to be entertained and have fun,” said Jones. “Sports radio is all about live, in-the-moment reaction. You can’t get away from that. If I’m in sports radio, I lean into what works on podcasts—personality and fun—while embracing what it’s good at: reacting to live, in-the-moment stuff.”

Click the link below for more quotes from Matt, including his views on sports media personalities getting into politics. If you’d rather stick to sports, there are plenty of more quotes about KSR, too.

[How Matt Jones Crafted His Own Playbook for Success With Kentucky Sports Radio]