EAST TENNESSEE’S MERLE FM
RECEIVES TWO ACM NOMINATIONS
(Clinton, TN) -- The staff of radio station
Merle 96.7 (WMYL/Knoxville) was pleased to learn today that it has received two
nominations by The Academy of Country Music. Merle FM is nominated for Station of the Year – Medium Market. Jack Ryan, host of Merle’s Afternoon Drive
show, is nominated for On-Air Personality of the Year.
“This is becoming a banner year for us,”
says station owner Ron Meredith. “Our
audience has grown incredibly in such a short period of time. We’re East Tennesseans. We program our music to East
Tennesseans. And Jack Ryan brought a
loyal audience of East Tennesseans with him when he joined Merle FM. In a market that in the past has been
dominated by huge heritage stations flush with corporate dollars, we are proud
to have achieved such recognition while remaining a local community radio
station. It’s an honor to have this much support for what we’re doing here.”
Jack Ryan, host of The Afternoon Drive on
Merle FM, is a native East Tennessean, having worked in East Tennessee radio
practically all of his adult life. “All
of this support is a blessing, and it’s humbling. I get free reign with what I say and do on
the air. The corporate office of this station
is five steps away from my microphone, and says yes quickly to new ideas. When the listeners are calling in and
requesting songs you’re already playing, and they’re showing up for our events,
you know you’re on the right track.”
Both Meredith and Ryan started their radio
careers while in high school. At age 25, Meredith purchased his first station, initially sleeping in a sleeping bag in
an upstairs apartment at his flagship station WYSH AM 1380 in Clinton. So far he has bought, sold, operated, or
signed on more than ten radio stations in the area. Meredith owns WYSH/AM 1380 FM 101.1 in
Clinton, WGAP AM 1400 in Maryville, and WMYL 96.7 Merle FM in Knoxville with an
eye on continued growth in East Tennessee. Ryan is a Knoxville native and has been in
country radio for 12 years. Ryan has won
a CMA award, and this would be his first ACM. A nomination in this category means the association has chosen his show as
one of the top five country shows across America.