Tom Joyner talks about being dumped by V103

Tom Joyner, whose syndicated radio show was dropped by WVAZ-FM (V103) Monday, doesn’t seem to be bitter about the move, according to an interview he gave to the Chicago Tribune’s Phil Rosenthal on Friday. Joyner said he has been fired before, but the cancellation of his radio show by WVAZ was “different from the others.” Tuskegee, Ala. – born Joyner […]

WYCC becomes first Chicago station to dump analog

WYCC-TV (which is on Channel 20) will become Chicago’s first television station to stop broadcasting in analog on April 16, two months ahead of the June 12 transition date. The public television station (run by the City Colleges of Chicago and is based at Kennedy-King College on 63rd and Halsted) will join dozens of other stations across the country to […]

WBBM-AM rides on top in February

Chicago February PPM results (keep in mind this survey is based on the 6+ demo): Winners: WBBM-AM, WDRV-AM, WLIT-FM (The Lite), WKSC-FM (Kiss), WVIV-FM Surprise – they’re moving up! WPWX-FM (Power 92) Losers: WSCR-AM (The Score), WFMT-FM Not much to talk about in this February PPM survey, with all-news WBBM-AM holding on to the top spot, despite a drop of […]

Tom Joyner out at V103

In a move that is a huge blow to his nationally syndicated show, The Tom Joyner Morning Show (aka The TJMS) lost its biggest – and most important – affiliate. Clear Channel-owned WVAZ-FM (V103) has canceled Joyner’s show, effective immediately, and is replacing it with The Steve Harvey Morning Show, which airs on sister station WGCI-FM. No word yet on […]

DreX scores new five-year deal

Call it a reward for helping take down a morning show powerhouse. Clear Channel-owned WKSC-FM has renewed morning man Drex’s contract for five more years. The move assures his fans that he will be waking them up every morning through 2013 on the Top 40 outlet. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Drex’s morning show was instrumental in taking […]

Johnny B. stays with The Loop

After long negotiations, WLUP-FM morning man Jonathan Brandmeier signed a one-year contract to stay with the classic rock outlet. Brandmeier, a young-adult audience sensation in the 1980’s and early 1990’s on WLUP, returned to “The Loop” four years ago from the now-defunct KLSX-FM in Los Angeles, and has enjoyed resecptable ratings success among key adult demos (though not as big […]

Emmis cuts staffers

From the world of deaths, we go into… layoffs. Indianapolis-based Emmis Communications cut staffers nationwide today, reducing 7.5 percent of its workforce, including seven employees at its two Chicago outlets: alternative WKQX-FM (Q101) and classic rocker The Loop (WLUP-FM). The layoffs were due to the deteriorating economy and the soft ad market, according to company officials. Emmis is also merging […]

Richard Pegue passes away

As I said earlier, The T Dog Media Blog is turning into the T Dog Media Obituary Blog… Yet another Chicago media personality has left us. This time it’s former DJ Richard Pegue, whose resume included stints at WGCI, WVON, WJPC, WOPA, and until last weekend, Kennedy-King College’s WKKC-FM. Pegue was 64. A Hirsch high school student (where he formed […]

Paul Harvey dies

Just days after losing Norm Van Lier, Johnny Kerr, and James Ward, Chicago loses yet another longtime media personality – and this one was as big as they come. This person didn’t just work in radio- he was radio. Paul Harvey died Saturday in a Phoenix hospital (near his winter home) at the age of 90. Harvey began his long […]

James Ward dies

Thursday was a tough day in Chicago media, as it was announced another well-known personality had died. Retired WLS-TV restaurant critic James Ward died on Thursday afternoon after a long battle with cancer. He was 76 – the same age as Johnny “Red” Kerr, who died the same day. Also passing on Thursday was Chicago Bull legend Norm Van Lier, […]

Johnny "Red" Kerr dies

Former Bulls broadcaster John G. “Red” Kerr passed away at his home Thursday due to a long time battle with prostate cancer at the age of 76. Kerr died just hours after former Bulls player and analyst Norm Van Lier was found dead in his Chicago home. Kerr was the first Chicago Bulls coach (1966-68) and later had a 33-year […]

Norman Van Lier dies

Shocking news: Former Chicago Bull and broadcast personality Norm Van Lier died in his Chicago home today at the age of 61. He was found unresponsive at 1 p.m. in his South Loop home. The cause of death is not known at this time. Van Lier has been a long time in-studio analyst for Chicago Bulls broadcasts on Comcast SportsNet […]

Garry Meier heads to WGN-AM – for one week only

Chicago radio personality and frequent house husband Garry Meier will be getting out of the crib more in the next week – and hoping it leads to a full-time radio job. Meier has signed on to do the 1 to 4 p.m. shift on WGN-AM next week, in a “test drive”. If the stint is successful, Meier could land the […]

Chicago’s January PPM results

WBBM-AM big winner These are based on Persons 6+ numbers. Winners: WBBM-AM, WLS-AM and FM, Love FM (WILV-FM), WGRB-AM, The Drive (WDRV-FM), US99 (WUSN-FM) Honorable Mention: The Mix (WTMX-FM), WOJO-FM, The Loop (WLUP-FM), JACK FM (WJMK-FM) Down, but potent: Lite FM (WLIT-FM), V103 (WVAZ-FM) Losers: B96 (WBBM-FM), WGCI-FM, Q101 (WKQX-FM), Fresh (WCFS-FM) Analysis: All news WBBM-AM – with its coverage […]