Nashville’s 104.5 The Zone announced a new localized lineup beginning this week, but unfortunately it also means the end of a nearly two decade-long tenure for two extremely successful hosts at the station.
The Zone’s schedule now features Jason Martin in mornings. The new show will run from 6 – 9am. He will have a partner according to Mike Organ of The Tennessean. That person has reportedly been selected, but not yet announced.
Following Martin in morning drive will be Midday 180 from 9am-1pm, shifting up an hour from its previous 10am – 2pm window, hosted by Jonathan Hutton, Chad Withrow and Paul Kuharsky. Former Titans safety Blaine Bishop then takes over as co-host of a new 1 – 3pm show alongside Mickey Ryan. With Ryan moving into the early afternoon timeslot, The Zone’s drive time show 3HL will be hosted by Brent Dougherty and Dawn Davenport from 3 – 6pm.
“I am excited that 104.5 The Zone now has 4 local shows for our listeners every Monday-Friday,” said The Zone’s program director Paul Mason. “The new lineup will give our on-air talent a larger spotlight to reach their full potential individually and as a team. It also creates more opportunities for advertisers to reach Nashville’s passionate sports fans moving forward.”
Longtime Nashville sports radio hosts Kevin Ingram and Mark Howard were let go by the Cumulus owned 104.5 The Zone, having been featured on their morning show The Wake Up Zone for 16 years. The show’s most recent version also featured Bishop. The changes came as a surprise to both hosts, with Ingram noting he “had no idea when we signed off [Monday] morning that it would be for the final time on the Wake Up Zone.” Still, both Ingram and Howard made their exit graciously.
It marks the first major move of Mason’s tenure as program director at 104.5 The Zone, having joined the station May 1 of this year. The press release from Cumulus Media announcing their new lineup did not mention the exit of Kevin Ingram and Mark Howard.
Martin admitted on Twitter the new timeslot is bittersweet for him, as he expressed appreciation for the show’s now former longtime placeholders.
Brandon Contes is a former reporter for BSM, now working for Awful Announcing. You can find him on Twitter @BrandonContes or reach him by email at Brandon.Contes@gmail.com.
