Chicago radio stations makes major moves
WLS-AM, WXRT name new morning hosts; WDRV’s Bob Stroud calls it a career (somewhat)
It was a busy Tuesday morning in Chicago radio with tons of personnel moves.
To start, Audacy-owned WXRT-FM announced the promotion of Marty Lennartz to mornings beginning on June 13 to replace the departing Richard Milne, who is exiting Friday to take care of his ailing wife full-time. Lennartz had been doing afternoons on WXRT since 2015, succeeding Frank Lee. Lennartz is a 41-year veteran of the Triple A outlet, starting as a producer for Terri Hammert’s mornings show and working his way up the chain from there in numerous roles, including one as the station’s movie reviewer as The Regular Guy and as creator and host of the station’s Live From Studio X series.
Filling the position left vacant by Lennartz is Annalisa Parzisle, who only goes by her first name Annalisa on-air. A 37-year veteran of rock radio, she comes over from WXRV-FM in Boston. Parzisle also spent two decades as midday host at KFOG-FM in San Francisco.
“Joining the legendary 93XRT lineup is an absolute dream gig for a music geek like me,” said Annalisa in a statement. “I love radio and this heritage station with its storied past and an ear for the future. I can’t wait to come to Chicago.” Parzisle’s hire was made public last week, but WXRT withheld what daypart she would be working in.
Meanwhile at crosstown WLS-AM, the Cumulus-owned conservative talk outlet announced Steve Cochran as their new morning host. He fills the position left vacant by the exit of Bruce St. James back in April. Cochran had been filling in for the last few weeks, basically an on-air audition for the gig.
“Like thousands of others, I did my homework listening to The Big 89 WLS when I was a kid,” said Cochran in a statement. “It’s an honor to say those call letters, and I can’t wait to get started.”
Cochran was perhaps best known for his two separate stints at WGN-AM from 2000-2010 and from 2013-19. In 2019, he was replaced by Bob Sirott even though Cochran placed third in morning drive.
His career started as a DJ at Top 40 KDWB-FM in Minneapolis/St. Paul from 1988-93 (yes, he was playing New Kids On The Block and Paula Abdul records.) He came to Chicago in the mid-90’s at former adult contemporary WPNT-FM (now WSHE-FM) as morning personality. His first stint as a talk show host came at WLUP-AM but moved over to WLUP-FM after the station was sold and was playing music again until he left in 1999. Cochran also had a short stint at a Detroit station.
For those questioning Cochran’s conservative credentials, he hosted afternoons at conservative talk WIND-AM from 2011-13 and also at KTRS-AM St. Louis in late mornings during the same time frame. Ratings for WLS-AM in mornings have struggled in recent years, with the last host failing to make the top 25 morning shows in morning drive.
A few hours later, longtime WDRV-FM/The Drive midday personality Bob Stroud announced he was entering semi-retirement. The 71-year old Stroud has been a fixture in Chicago radio since 1979 at former rocker WMET-FM (now WCHI-FM) and has been at The Drive since its inception in 2001. Stroud’s career has taken him to rockers WLUP-FM, WCKG-FM, WXCD-FM (now WLS-FM) and WXRT. Even though he is no longer be working middays as of June 30, Stroud will continue to be heard on The Drive as host of two daily features: Ten at 10 and One 45 at 1:45 (p.m.) and his Sunday morning radio program Rock ‘n Roll Roots, a show he hosted at all of the stations he worked for. Stroud will also continue his One 45 weekly podcast.
“I never saw this coming, a 43 year career in the city of my dreams, Chicago, said Stroud in a statement. Now it’s time to kick back a bit and spend the proverbial more time with my family, while still keeping a tone arm in the game by continuing to host two weekday features and my 42 year old baby, Rock ‘n Roll Roots.
Stroud is stepping down while on top as his midday show remains at hit with listeners, finishing first in middays in Nielsen Radio’s most recent PPM report. Afternoon co-host Janda Lane will take over his slot July 1 in the interim.