Thunder Radio is 100% owned and operated in Manchester, TN by local married couple Josh and Holly Peterson.
Josh Peterson
Josh was born and raised in the New Union community of Coffee County. He is a 2004 graduate of Coffee County Central High School, where he was a 3-year letterman for the Raider baseball team. Josh spent 15 years in the newspaper and radio industry before he and Holly purchased the radio station in September of 2019. He also served as an assistant baseball coach at Westwood Middle School (2005-2006), Coffee County High School (2007-2012 and 2017) and Grundy County High School (2014). You can often hear him on Thunder Radio’s daily The Morning Show from 6:30-8:30 p.m. and on other random programming, including sports broadcasts for Red Raider and Lady Raider athletics and Saturday’s Coffee Coaches Show. He is a diehard UT Vols fan and loves the Atlanta Braves.
Holly Peterson
Holly (accurately referred to as the one people like most) was born in Augusta, GA and moved to Manchester, TN when she was 12-years old. From that point she has been embedded into the Manchester community, graduating from Coffee County Central High School in 2003, where she was a 1-year letterman in soccer. She spent over a decade in the healthcare field in radiology before leaving to work in radio full time in January, 2020. You can hear her voice every morning on The Morning Show from 6:30-8:30 a.m. and you will often see her around the sports fields lugging a camera for action photos.
Since purchasing the radio station, Josh and Holly remain hyper-focused on providing Manchester with its very own local radio station – much the same as previous owners have done since 1957, when WMSR first went on the air. They launched and published a quarterly magazine (Thunder The Magazine) for two years that was focused on highlighting local sports teams and athletes and remain more committed than ever to bringing quality sports broadcasts and local news coverage to the area on the airwaves, online at thunder1320.com and through their social media channels on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok, where they are connecting a whole new generation of youth with the traditions and importance of WMSR Thunder Radio.
As business owners themselves, Josh and Holly are also dedicated and focused on helping other businesses grow their operations. They often go above and beyond for their advertising clients on Thunder Radio to ensure their investment is returned beyond their expectations. Thunder Radio was named Manchester Area Chamber of Commerce Small business of the Year and has been voted Manchester’s Finest Radio Station every single year for more than a decade.
EXPANSION TO PETERSON MEDIA GROUP
On January 1, 2025, Holly and Josh officially purchased three additional radio stations in the Southern Middle Tennessee market: Rooster 1015. FM, 93.9 The Duck and Whiskey Country Radio 105.1 and 95.9 FM. At that time the group became Peterson Media Group, Inc.
Josh and Holly are also founders and part of the group that formed and operates the Dream for Weave Foundation – a 501c3 nonprofit organization in the memory of late WMSR Sports Director Dennis Weaver. The foundation provided over $115,000 in assistance to local athletes through scholarships, fee assistance and equipment purchases in its first four years of operation. The non profit and Thunder Radio teamed up in 2022 to form the Thundie Sports Awards, a red-carpet event which recognized nearly three dozen area student athletes for their excellent performance and awarded $13,000 in scholarships to athletes going to college.. This event was an overwhelming success, selling out of tickets and sponsorships in its inaugural year, and went on to provide $23,000 in scholarships in 2023, then $35,000 in 2024 and 2025.
Josh and Holly live in the New Union community where they raise Cole and Gracie, who are both graduates of Coffee County Central.
Reach Josh by email: josh@petersonmediagroup.net
Reach Holly by email: holly@petersonmediagroup.net
THE REST OF THE TEAM
BRIAN MARCROM – Production Manager
Brian has spent two different stints at Thunder Radio WMSR, from 2010 through 2019 and most recently joining the station in January 2025 as the Production Manager of Peterson Media Group. Brian is a Manchester native and 2006 graduate of Coffee County Central High School. He boasts a degree from Harding University in Electronic Media Production. Brian can be reached by email at brian@petersonmediagroup.net
KATIE NORTHCOTT – News Director
Katie joined Thunder Radio and Peterson Media Group as News Director in August of 2025. She served as an intern for Thunder Radio in the summer of 2024 before rejoining the team upon graduating from Patrick Henry College with her degree in Journalism. Katie oversees news operations for all four Peterson Media Group Stations and websites. Katie can be reached via email at katie@petersonmediagroup.net.
JACKSON HAMM – Production Coordinator
Jackson joined Thunder Radio out of high school and quickly earned important responsibilities. He is the lead producer for Friday Night Thunder football coverage. He was promoted to full time and production coordinator in October of 2025.
COURT STEERE
Steere joined WMSR in 2020 after the passing of longtime sports director Dennis Weaver and took over hosting duties for Friday Night Thunder pre and post game shows for Red Raider football. Soon after Steere began play-by-play duties for middle school football, basketball and is the color-commentator for CHS Red Raider and Lady Raider basketball. Steere is a graduate of Coffee County Central High School and lives in Coffee County where he and his wife Shaina raise two daughters: Shaylee and Teagan.
HUDSON CLUTTER
Hudson joined Thunder Radio in July of 2024. He has a family history in the radio business, with his mom and dad previously owning Coffee County Broadcasting, Inc. Hudson’s on-air responsibilities include weathers and obituaries. He also works as a board operator for local ball games among other production assistance.
ERIC CLEM
Eric Clem joined Thunder Radio as a part-time board operator/producer for ball games and Saturday’s Coffee Coaches Show.