Chattanooga radio hosts Jeff Styles, Bryan Stone increase footprints amid station lineup changes

Contributed photo by Nathan Gayle / Bryan Stone is the host of "StoneOnAir" available as a podcast and as a radio show on WPLZ.
Contributed photo by Nathan Gayle / Bryan Stone is the host of "StoneOnAir" available as a podcast and as a radio show on WPLZ.

Talk radio station WPLZ-FM 92.7 continues to make changes to its lineup, adding Bryan Stone in the morning and an hourlong music program curated by longtime talk show host Jeff Styles that will also air on public radio station WUTC-FM 88.1 twice a month.

An 18-year veteran of local radio, Stone previously was on the air at WXCT-FM 98.7 and before that was a producer and on-air personality at WGOW-FM 102.3, where Styles had hosted a show for 26 years. He is the host of the "StoneOnAir Podcast," which he said will be the basis for his radio show. "Rockaeology" is available as a podcast as well.

Styles began podcasting two years ago, focusing on telling stories. A lifelong music fan, he has been involved in booking acts for Friends of the Festival, producers of the Riverbend Festival, and for many years he has been a guest of WUTC on-air personality Richard Winham for music shows.

(READ MORE: Chattanooga area radio programmers adjusting as drive-time hours shift during COVID-19 pandemic)

Winham suggested Styles start doing a weekly show that WUTC would air during its relatively free-form Sunday evening time slot, and "Rockaeology" was created. It airs on WPLZ on Fridays from 6-7 p.m. and on WUTC on the second and fourth Sunday of each month from 9-10 p.m. Winham said it will soon switch to the second and fourth Saturday of each month at 7 p.m.

"I've always thought he was somebody who wanted to host a music show," Winham said of Styles. Like other schools around the country, UTC closed down in March and the show became a podcast only. The show is produced by WPLZ producer Jason Kirk, and station manager Jen Lambert suggested they air it on Nooga Radio. Styles said Winham was supportive of the idea and recently suggested it could also be aired on WUTC, creating an unusual marriage of platforms.

"As far as I know I am the only on-air personality on a talk station that has a music show on a commercial station and a nonprofit station. With no qualms from either," Styles said.

The show focuses on the deep cuts, demos, alternative takes, B sides and rarely heard live versions of familiar songs.

"I'm not trying to get people to like Yoko Ono," Styles said. "I'm not pushing this out to music snobs. I want to play stuff that people have not heard, but that sounds like something they have heard. You'll hear Tame Impala, the Gorillaz and Beck."

A recent show featured well-known acts doing covers of other well-known songs. Devo, for instance, doing Jimi Hendrix' "Are You Experienced?" and Widespread Panic doing Nellie's "Gonna Take Off My Clothes."

"It's a fun show to do and so far [I've] gotten nothing but positive feedback," Styles said.

Styles hosts "Fred the Show" on Nooga Radio weekdays from 7-10 a.m. It will lead into the "StoneOnAir Radio Show," which will air from 10-11 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the station.

"I will actually come in to finish out the Fred show most days," Stone said. "I'll finish with them and do an hour leading up to 'The Keon Rose Show' [from 11 a.m.-noon]. I think he is one of the best talents in the city and he will be a big part of what I do. He will be my executive producer."

Stone, who has hosted the "StoneOnAir Podcast" for many years, said the show, which will debut Monday, will be an extension of that show and feature topics of general interest.

"My goal is to stay away from politics at every opportunity, but it's irresponsible to not talk about the news of the day," he said.

Lambert pointed out that Stone has 18 years in radio and "is a savvy content creator and music festival aficionado."

Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.

photo Contributed photo by Jen Lambert / Jeff Styles is host of "Fred The Show" on WPLZ and "Rockaeology," now available on WPLZ and WUTC.

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