Plus, Chicago radio ratings, Comcast considering the sale or spinoff of cable channels, and the CW returns to a Cleveland station after Nexstar buys it Elon Musk has finally expressed his thoughts on television, and he is not a fan. The South African billionaire who bought Twitter for $44 billion in 2022 blasted the major networks on his platform recently, […]
Audacy to go private The FCC approved a controversial Audacy bankruptcy plan in a politically divided three-to-two vote in which Soros Fund Management becomes the biggest shareholder in the company with a 57 percent stake through the Laurel Tree Opportunities Corporation. As a result, Audacy – who filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last year, will go private and David Field […]
Also: Shift is underway in Chicago PPM ratings; Pelicans leave Bally Sports Look who’s back in the public eye – it’s none other than former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who was hired by CBS Chicago (WBBM-TV) to provide analysis during the Democratic National Convention here in Chicago later this month in a press release posted on social media Wednesday […]
Also: The Talk to end after 15 years; NCAA Women’s Championship draws record high; NHL team headed to Utah With the future of Paramount Global all the chatter, there could be some radio merger and acquisition action, too. A report in Radio Insight suggests Audacy – soon to be controlled by Soros Fund Management after coming out of bankruptcy – […]
Mirrors station’s success as a Classic Hits outlet Back some time ago, format changes at WLS-FM were similar to Chicago’s weather – quite frequent and varied. The 94.7 frequency went through more format changes than a singer’s wardrobe on stage through disco, rock, contemporary hit radio, talk, oldies, alternative, and even country over the years. But a decade ago, WLS-FM […]
Low-rated Top 40 station tries again to create a morning franchise As it continues to get whipped in the ratings, Audacy-owned B96 (WBBM-FM) announced yet another new morning drive radio show, Moug & Karla. “Moug” is John Moug, late of Hot AC station KPLZ-FM in Salt Lake City, who hosted alongside Angie Parker for two years. He started his career […]
Top 40 station dumps underachieving show In news that comes as no surprise, Audacy-owned Gold Top 40 B96 (WBBM-FM) pulled the plug on The Morning Mess, an ill-conceived morning drive show who lived up to its name. As first reported by Radio Insight, The Mess was nowhere to be found Tuesday morning, as B96 opted to play music with now-former […]
Move was expected; no immediate effects With all the headlines focused lately on linear TV’s decline, there is another traditional communications medium who is also struggling, though it doesn’t generate the exact number of headlines. Audacy – who owns and operates more than 200 radio stations in the U.S., including several in the Chicago area, officially filed for Chapter 11 […]
Rachel Williamson promoted to President Of Local Sales Strategy and Innovation; Kevin Cassidy to succeed her as Chicago market president Audacy Chicago announced Tuesday the promotion of Rachel Williamson to a newly created role as President Of Local Sales Strategy and Innovation from the Chicago Market President. Replacing her is Kevin Cassidy, who comes in from a similar role in […]
Legendary radio personality worked at several Chicago stations in a career that spanned 67 years Known as “the Wild I-Tralian”, Richard Orlando Biondi – known locally on-air as Dick Biondi, died peacefully in his home on June 26 at the age of 90, according to his family who shared the news on WLS-AM’s Facebook page. Born in 1932 in Endicott, […]
Audacy lures radio personality away from The Mix Rhythmic hits B96 (WBBM-FM) announced Thursday it has hired Jordan “Dash” Orman-Weiss away from The Mix to become the station’s new weekday afternoon personality effective next Thursday, June 29. Dash replaces previous afternoon host Julia Lepidi at the Audacy-owned station, who shifts over to middays to fill the void left by the […]
Legacy Top 40 station shakes up playlist in order to lure back listeners There was speculation several weeks ago that a major change was coming to either one or two Audacy-owned stations in the Chicago market. After a few behind-the-scenes changes, Friday saw contemporary hit radio/Top 40 B96, or WBBM-FM add more gold hit product to its current hit playlist, […]
Also: B96 hires Canavah’s replacement; Diamond Sports Group skips payments to Guardians and Twins; Extra renewed for season thirty The other shoe has dropped in Warner Bros.’ decision to exit the court genre as Marilyn Milian has signed with Allen Media Group for a new hour-long court show, Justice For The People With Judge Milan, debuting this fall. “We at […]
Wraps up 33-year career In advance of rumored changes at the cluster, longtime exec Todd Cavanah exited Audacy Tuesday after 33 years at the company, in one form or another. Cavanah began his career at WBBM-FM/B96 in 1990 as an on-air personality, associate program director, and music director, years before the original CBS, Inc. owned the station and before radio […]
Radio news you can use Kenzie Kramer, who goes by the on-air name of Kenzie K, has departed Audacy’s B96, or WBBM-FM after four years as midday personality. In addition, she is no longer providing voice services for Audacy’s other Top 40 stations. “Kenzie K is no longer with Audacy,” said Audacy regional president Rachael Williamson in an internal memo. […]
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