Jackson, TN Radio: Father, Son Local Radio Moguls

J Nelson, Jerry Hunt

Purchasing WDXI 1310-AM Jackson, TN  radio in 1993, Jerry Hunt bought something that wasn’t broken, so there was no need to fix a format already in place.

No music – just business and sports.  “When I took it over, it was already business talk,” Hunt told The Jackson Sun. “Everything is covered.”

Besides business, everything includes St. Louis Cardinals baseball and University of Tennessee football and basketball.

Hunt said weekends and holidays are filled with feature programs.  “The stock market is closed,” Hunt said. “The network breaks from regular programming.”

Hunt also has WMXX 103.1 KOOL-FM under the same roof at 1 WDXI Dr., giving the listeners diversity – while attracting diverse listeners.

“I put 103.1 on the air, May 7, 1979,” Hunt said. “I sold 103.1, which was WJHR at the time… April 1, 1983 and bought it back 10 years to the day.”

Hunt’s son – J. Nelson – is an on-air personality at 103.1 playing hits from the 60s, 70s and 80s from 6 a.m. until 11 a.m., Monday through Saturday.  “I do everything but climb the tower,” J. Nelson said. “I’ve been in radio all my life and people still listen to radio because it’s free.”

When Jerry is not selling advertising, he slips into the 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. slot at 103.1 Monday through Friday and noon to 6 p.m. each Sunday.

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