Iron Man Broadcaster Returns To Ironton
• We are absolutely thrilled for J.B. Miller, a broadcaster for nearly five decades, who has been given the rare opportunity to “come home” to do a morning show in his hometown of Ironton, OH, on a station that has literally been resurrected from the dead — 107.1 WIRO-FM, which just relaunched as “Ho Ho Radio,” and is currently playing Christmas music.
Miller is a 46-year radio veteran, with nearly 40 of those years devoted to the Huntington, WV-Ashland, KY market, along with stops at WODJ/Grand Rapids & WKRC/Cincinnati in early ’90s. Miller had spent the past 14 years in morning drive at Kindred Communications’ WXBW (Big Buck Country 101.5)/Huntington, WV, but budget cuts caught up with him in early October, and he was released… by phone, while on vacation.
Gary Mincer, VP/GM of Jackson, OH-based Total Media, Inc., read the story of Miller’s abrupt departure from WXBW in a story in the Ironton Tribune and decided to make a move. Shortly thereafter, Miller was hired by Total Media to help resuscitate their recently purchased WIRO-FM in Ironton, OH, which had been off the air for over a year. “We knew J.B. was a really great radio guy. We knew things were unfolding in Ironton. It seemed like a great fit,” Mincer told the Tribune. “We’re very fortunate and excited to bring WIRO 107.1 FM back to Ironton with Ironton native J.B. Miller joining us.”
Working in radio in Ironton is special to Miller — his older brother, Bob, started his long radio career in 1970 at WIRO when it was an AM station. “I can’t help but think about how proud my parents would be that I’m actually on the radio in Ironton,” Miller said.
After the holidays the company will kick off the new year with J.B. Miller in morning drive, and a new, hyper-locally focused format TBA.
Please take a few minutes to read the Iron Tribune story about J.B. Miller’s radio journey home — it will remind you of the power — and freedom — of local, small market radio. [Photo credit: The Ironton Tribune / Terry L. Hapney, Jr.]
