Wilhite, Wall Head to Motown

Northwest Arkansas’ most popular morning radio team is heading for the motor city.

Darren Wilhite and Tim Wall, KKIX 104’s “Wilhite and Wall,” left the station on Aug. 2 to move to Detroit.

“The rumors are true,” said Tom Travis, director of operations and program director for the country music station. “They are leaving. They took a pretty good job in a Top 10 market. We hated to see them go, but we certainly understand.”

Wilhite and Wall have been the top-rated morning show in the area since they returned to Fayetteville from Knoxville, Tenn., in 1997. They were on the air on KKIX weekdays from 5-9 a.m.

Last year, Wilhite and Wall won the Country Music Association’s Broadcast Personality of the Year award in the small-market category. Award winners were selected in four categories depending on market size according to Arbitron ratings. The duo won the same honor in 1992 when they worked for KIVK radio in Knoxville.

Travis said he’s looking for a replacement, but in the meantime, “it’ll be yours truly.”

KKIX is owned by Clear Channel Communications Inc.