By Staff
BUYING STATION – Local radio personalities Art Matthews, left, and Al Brown, of Ponytail Broadcasting, have entered into an agreement to purchase radio station WZKR-FM 103.3. Brown says the future is bright for the station, where they will start The "Art" of Great Music. Photo by Carisa McCain/The Meridian Star
By Fredie Carmichael / staff writer
Oct. 31, 2002
Two long-haired hometown boys, one with a deep, strong voice and the other soft-spoken and more relaxed, are hoping to blaze their way to radio success.
Art Matthews and Al Brown, a duo self-described as "the most hair on the air," have entered into an agreement to purchase WZKR-FM 103.3 from another veteran broadcaster, Ken Rainey.
Known around Meridian as simply "Art and Al," they hope to get approval from the Federal Communications Commission within the next two months to own the rights to the station. Until then, they will operate the station on a lease management agreement.
WZKR will be the first station under their new broadcasting company, which they named Ponytail Broadcasting.
Matthews and Brown first joined WZKR in June after a three-year stint at 93.5 "The Buzz." Their time on the air there ended abruptly after a change in the station's ownership.
Rainey launched WZKR more than a year ago after the 103.3 frequency was approved by the FCC.
Even though Rainey, a longtime local radio guru, is selling the station, he will continue to work there and help Brown and Matthews operate the station.
Matthews and Brown first met about eight years ago while Matthews was hosting a local radio show called "The Art Collection." The show aired on Saturday mornings on FM 102.1.
On the show, Matthews played the same kind of music that he sold for years at his mom and pop Music Emporium store on 23rd Avenue.
Brown, an avid musician, said the first time he heard the show he knew it could be something special.
Matthews agreed, adding that he hopes to build the station around the friendships and relationships he's made over years in Meridian.
In the end, Brown said it all comes down to the music and a community-minded attitude.