Knoxville Radio: WIMZ To Goes Live & Local In Morning Drive

Classic Rock 103.5 WIMZ in Knoxville will drop its syndicated John Boy & Billy Big Show and launch a brand-new, live-and-local morning show on Monday, January 5, 2026.

The new program, “Jay Mac & Drake in the Morning,” will air weekdays from 6–10 a.m. and feature two longtime WIMZ personalities: evening host Jay Mac and Programming & Promotions Coordinator Drake Meredith.

Jay Mac & Drake

The switch ends decades of syndicated morning programming on the station and returns Knoxville’s classic rock mornings to fully local talent, a move designed to strengthen ties with East Tennessee listeners.

Jay Mac, a WIMZ veteran since 2006 and the voice of the station’s popular Night Show, called the change “one wild and crazy ride” and promised high-energy classic rock, local stories, traffic, and listener interaction. Drake Meredith, who already handles weekends and station events, will bring his promotional flair and deep community connections to the lineup.

Classic Rock 103.5 WIMZ, owned by Midwest Communications, plays hits from the 1970s, ’80s, and ’90s and remains one of East Tennessee’s top-rated rock stations. The new morning show can be heard on 103.5 FM, online at wimz.com, the WIMZ app, iHeartRadio, or smart speakers starting January 5.