The “Joe & McKinzie” morning show on Radio One’s “Radio Now 100.9” WNOW-FM Speedway/Indianapolis and “Radio Now 92.1” KROI Seabrook/Houston has come to an end.
The move came Thursday as co-host McKinzie Roth announced she was joining Circle City Broadcasting’s WISH-TV Indianapolis as Entertainment Insider, with the remainder of the show being let go the same day. WISH-TV states that Roth will be the first-ever Indiana television personality dedicated exclusively to covering the entertainment industry. She had joined ‘Joe Pesh’ Piesz on the two stations last August following the departure of previous co-host Alex Clark. Roth previously worked in television at KGW Portland, while also previously co-hosting mornings at Alpha Media Country “98.7 The Bull” KUPL Portland and during a previous run at WNOW-FM in the late 2000s. She also worked at Cumulus Media CHRs “i93” WRWM Indianapolis CHR “Q100” WWWQ Atlanta and “All The Hits 107.3” WRQX Washington DC.
Exiting are host Joe ‘Pesh’ Piesz, Executive Producer Garrett ‘Porkchop’ Kozden, and producer Olivia ‘Liv The Web Girl’ Carris. Joe Pesh joined WNOW-FM in October 2016 after being parts of morning shows at WTNR Grand Rapids and WSTO Evansville. The show was then syndicated to sister 92.1 KROI in November 2018.
Kozden joined WNOW-FM in 2018 after serving as a producer at “92.3 Now” WNOW-FM New York, “Z90” XHITZ Tijuana/San Diego, and “98.7 The Bull” KUPL Portland and afternoon host at Up North Radio CHR 107.9 WCDY Cadillac MI. Carris joined the show in 2017 after interning at WDJX Louisville.
DuJuan McCoy, the owner, president and CEO of Circle City Broadcasting, announced that McKinzie Roth has been hired as WISH-TV’s Entertainment Insider, the state’s first-ever television personality dedicated exclusively to covering the entertainment industry.
“McKinzie will bring stories and interviews from coast to coast,” McCoy said. “This new position marks a commitment on the part of WISH-TV to develop and showcase even more lifestyle content for our viewers.”
McKinzie comes to WISH-TV, from Indianapolis’ No. 1 morning radio show on RadioNow 100.9FM and Houston’s new RadioNow 92.1FM. She has also covered entertainment for KGW8 News and 98.7FM “The Bull,” both in Portland, Oregon. McKinzie has extensive freelance and commercial experience across the country and has appeared as the host of the Indianapolis Colts’ Blue Crew as well as the on-court emcee for Indiana Pacers games. She is a central Indiana native and graduate of Carmel High School. McKinzie is a graduate of Indiana University with a degree in broadcast journalism.
“Our Entertainment Insider is just one of several additions to our on-air staff that is dedicated to bringing even more unique, focused content to our viewers,” McCoy said. “McKinzie’s Central Indiana roots, experience, and passion for pop culture will bring a unique viewpoint to coverage of the entertainment industry. I am excited to watch this new content
area develop across all our platforms.”“I am extremely lucky to be bringing entertainment stories to my hometown, and I’m equally excited to be the state’s first dedicated entertainment insider,” Roth said. “I’m eager to bring viewers interesting pop culture stories and interviews from the Hoosier perspective.”
WISH-TV previously announced new, specialized reporting positions in October for the state’s first dedicated Multicultural Reporter and the state’s first dedicated Medical Reporter. WISH-TV, one of the highest-rated news organizations in Indiana, produces 77 hours per week of news and original programming, more than any other television station in the state, and among the most of any in the country.
Get the latest from McKenzie by checking out her social media channels on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
