Radio veteran J.B. Miller ‘comes home’ to do morning show

A southern Ohio company gave Ironton an early “Christmas gift” Wednesday morning by returning a heritage radio station to the local community—complete with holiday music.  

“Ho Ho Radio” made its debut on 107.1 WIRO-FM this week on a radio signal that has not featured local programming for several decades now.

Gary Mincer, vice president and general manager of Total Media out of Jackson and a 40-year radio professional, said the new station will provide the soundtrack of the season from Thanksgiving until Christmas. After the holidays the company will kick off the new year with 107.1 WIRO-FM with J.B. Miller at the helm in morning drive, 6-10 a.m. Monday through Friday.

“I’m not going to divulge what (format) we’re going to (after that), but just know it will be hyper-focused on Ironton—sports, local news, happening events and fun,” Mincer said. “We’re going to surprise everybody after the holidays with a new format.”

Mincer read the article on Miller’s abrupt departure from Kindred Communications’ 101.5 radio station in an early-October edition of the Ironton Tribune. 

“Great article,” he said. “Actually, I was happy to see that. We knew J.B. was a really great radio guy. We knew things were unfolding in Ironton. It seemed like a great fit. We’re very fortunate and excited to bring WIRO 107.1 FM back to Ironton with Ironton native J.B. Miller joining us.”

Mincer said Miller has had a “great, legendary radio career.” 

“He’s just a good guy,” he said. “We’re lucky to have him.”

Total Media is based in Jackson, but also serves listeners in the Ironton, Gallipolis, Point Pleasant, Portsmouth, Athens, Waverly, Chillicothe and Greenfield areas. The Stockmeister family owns the company. 

“They’ve been long-time radio owners in Jackson,” Mincer said. “They’ve expanded the group over the past couple of years. They’re dedicated to providing local radio. It’s important to us to serve the communities we’re in.” 

Local radio is what makes the most sense, according to Mincer. 

“That’s what radio does best, serve the community that it’s in,” he said. “Provide great content—whether it’s news and information, humor, or music—we’re in a wide variety of formats across the region.” 

That includes country music, news-talk, sports, classic rock and a mix format. 

“Our mission is to be local,” Mincer said. “It’s an exciting time.” 

Miller looks forward to resuming his radio career of nearly five decades in his hometown. 

“I wasn’t expecting it,” he said. “After meeting these people and finding out what they’re all about, they’re just a great group that wants to keep it local.”

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 radio station. 

Miller was impressed by the staff and management at Total Media. 

“They’re all professionals,” he said. They get it. Folks in the Ironton-Ashland area will not only be overly impressed by having their radio station return, but also for what it will do for the community.”

The return of J.B. Miller to local radio after a brief hiatus—especially in his hometown—is bittersweet for him.

“I can’t help but think about how proud my parents would be that I’m actually on the radio in Ironton,” he said.