Big Orange Nation, Get Ready!
Cumulus Media’s 104.5 The Zone Renews Multi-Year Broadcast Partnership with the University of Tennessee Volunteers
NASHVILLE, TN — August 5, 2025 — Cumulus Media’s 104.5 The Zone/WGFX-FM, Nashville and Middle Tennessee’s premier live and local sports station and brand, announces that it has entered into a multi-year renewal of its dynamic broadcast partnership with the University of Tennessee Volunteers. This continued collaboration ensures that fans across Middle Tennessee will enjoy unparalleled access to Tennessee athletics — loud, proud, and live on 104.5 The Zone.
Adding to the excitement, Ramon Foster, former Tennessee Volunteer and current Co-Host of Ramon & Will mornings on 104.5 The Zone, will join the Vol Football Gameday Broadcast Team alongside Mike Keith. A fan favorite and former NFL standout, Foster brings firsthand experience, deep insight, and unwavering Big Orange pride to every broadcast.
From the roar of Neyland Stadium to the buzzer-beaters at Food City Center, 104.5 The Zone remains the go-to destination for full game broadcasts, daily insights, and exclusive weekly Vol Network shows that bring fans closer to the action and the voices behind it.
Mike Keith, Tennessee Assistant Athletics Director of Broadcasting and “Voice of the Vols,”said: “It has been my privilege to work with 104.5 The Zone since its inception. I recommended to (Vol Network general manager emeritus) Steve Early that the Vol Network should be broadcast on 104.5 the Zone back in 2010. I believed then and now that 104.5’s ability to connect with fans throughout the region is unmatched. And with their University of Tennessee connections up and down their talent lineup, 104.5 the Zone is the destination for the best Vol information and conversation. I will be excited to continue joining 3HL on Mondays and Ramon and Will on Thursdays. And of course, I’m elated that Middle Tennesseans will continue to hear our Vol Network broadcasts on a station that has been my radio home since 1998, 104.5 the Zone!”
Glenn Thackston, Executive Director, Learfield/Vol Network,commented: “For 15 years, 104.5 The Zone has been the proud Home of Vols in Nashville and a fantastic partner with the Vol Network and University of Tennessee Athletics. Being on one of the top sports stations in the country is a perfect fit and VFLs like Ramon Foster and Ron Slay make it must-listen radio for fans of the Big Orange. We look forward to continuing our long partnership with 104.5 The Zone in the state capital as we embark on a new era with the Vol Radio Network.”
Brandon Parks, General Manager, Learfield/Vol Network, remarked:”We are excited and thrilled about the extension of the great partnership between the Tennessee Volunteers and 104.5 The Zone. The station does a wonderful job covering the Vols and as a key affiliate of the Vol Radio Network. We look forward to a new chapter and future together in providing premier network and local content and coverage to Tennessee fans and alumni in Middle Tennessee.”
Paul Mason, Programming Operations Manager, 104.5 The Zone, emphasized: “This partnership is more than just broadcasting games — it’s about celebrating the spirit of Tennessee. We’re proud to continue bringing Vol Nation the coverage it deserves, with passion, energy, and a whole lot of orange!”
Ramon Foster, UT alum and Morning Show Co-Host, 104.5 The Zone, shared: “The partnership between 104.5 The Zone and the Vols is something I’m incredibly proud to be part of — from Monday through Saturday! The Zone’s commitment to delivering top-tier Vols coverage, and now games with me this fall, is something special. GBO!”
Ron Slay, UT alum and Co-Host of 3HL, 104.5 The Zone, added: “Bringing extensive Vol coverage to The Zone’s listeners is the ultimate experience. Being part of it means everything to me. Why? As a Vol, let me just say — CAUSE THAT’S ALL I KNOW! Go Vols!”
Whether you’re tailgating or tuning in from your porch in Nashville, 104.5 The Zone is your front-row seat to all things Vols. So, grab your orange gear, turn up the dial, and ride with Rocky Top through 2028!
Highlights of Vols Game Broadcasts on 104.5 The Zone
Football – Every snap, tackle, and touchdown
Men’s Basketball – Slam dunks and clutch plays
Women’s Basketball – Fast breaks and fierce competition
Weekly Shows
Big Orange Rewind with Mike Keith & Brent Hubbs – Smart takes and insider scoops
The Mike Keith Show – Legendary voice, legendary Vols
Special Programming
Signing Day – Meet the future stars of Rocky Top
Spring Game – Preview the season ahead
Postseason Coverage – Bowl games, March Madness, and more!
For more information or to stream 104.5 The Zone, visit: https://www.1045thezone.com/.
About 104.5 The Zone / WGFX-FM
104.5 The Zone is Nashville and Middle Tennessee’s premier live and local sports station and brand, delivering unmatched coverage, personality, and passion from 6AM to 7PM every weekday. As the flagship home of the Tennessee Titans, the exclusive Nashville affiliate of the University of Tennessee Volunteers, and the official broadcast partner of Nashville SC, WGFX-FM is where sports fans come to connect, celebrate, and stay informed.
The station’s powerhouse lineup kicks off with Ramon & Will from 6–10AM, featuring 11-year NFL veteran and Vol For Life Ramon Foster, and sport analyst Will Boling. From 10AM–1PM, Buck Reising delivers a bold, unfiltered perspective that challenges conventional thinking and keeps listeners on their toes. Then from 1–3PM, Titans All-Pro Safety Blaine Bishop and Zach Lyons Cover 2 delivers a no-nonsense, high-energy breakdown of the game that hits harder than a safety blitz. Afternoons heat up with 3HL, hosted by Brent Dougherty, Dawn Davenport, and Ron Slay from 3–7PM. Brent — known as the Mayor of Middle Tennessee Sports — brings deep local connections, while Dawn’s SEC expertise and sideline reporting add insider depth. Ron Slay, a former SEC Player of the Year for Tennessee Basketball, brings charisma and energy that light up the airwaves.
Beyond the mic, 104.5 The Zone is everywhere — from pop-up events and broadcasts and high school football coverage to podcasts, on-demand audio, social media, and 104-5 The Zone TV. Whether you’re tuning in on the radio, online, or on the go with the app, our mission is simple: bring the content to you, the 104.5 The Zone listener. For more information or to stream 104.5 The Zone, visit https://1045thezone.com.
About Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media (OTCQB: CMLS) is an audio-first media company delivering premium content to a quarter billion people every month – wherever and whenever they want it. Cumulus Media engages listeners with high-quality local programming through 400 owned-and-operated radio stations across 84 markets; delivers nationally-syndicated sports, news, talk, and entertainment programming from iconic brands including the NFL, the NCAA, the Masters, Infinity Sports Network, AP News, the Academy of Country Music Awards, and many other world-class partners across more than 9.500 affiliated stations through Westwood One, the largest audio network in America; and inspires listeners through the Cumulus Podcast Network, an established and influential platform for original podcasts that are smart, entertaining, and thought-provoking. Cumulus Media provides advertisers with personal connections, local impact, and national reach through broadcast and on-demand digital, mobile, social, and voice-activated platforms, as well as integrated digital marketing services, powerful influencers, full-service audio solutions, industry-leading research and insights, and live event experiences. For more information, visit www.cumulusmedia.com.
Media Contact:
Lisa Dollinger, Dollinger Strategic Communication for Cumulus Media, 512.633.4084, lisa@dollcomm.com.
