WOJO takes home crown in demos; sports talkers grow The August PPM ratings for Chicago radio stations were released Tuesday and it showed a tie at the top. Hubbard’s The Drive (WDRV-FM) and iHeartMedia’s 93.9 The Lite (WLIT-FM) each finished in a tie for first place, both ahead of their competitors by nearly one ratings point. However for classic rocker […]
The Drive is tops for the third straight month; WOJO dominates demos Who needs Rudolph anyway? That’s the attitude iHeartMedia’s classic hits heavy-AC outlet WLIT has after scoring its highest non-Christmas ratings in years. According the July Nielsen Audio numbers released Monday, WLIT place second, up 13 percent from June, finishing behind Hubbard’s The Drive (WDRV-FM). Generally, WLIT dominates in […]
Police-reality show and Cops return two years after George Floyd Two years after the death of George Floyd ended the runs of several reality-based police shows, it looks like the genre is making a comeback. Earlier this week, the producers of Live PD announced a deal with Reelz Channel for a new version of the show with the working […]
Also: WBEZ ties for 1st in PPMs; WTMX has a new afternoon show; Black News Channel update It looks like the technician strike at Chicago’s WTTW isn’t going to end anytime soon. IBEW 1220, who represents technicians and electricians at the North Side public television station, went on strike on March 16 demanding better pay, working conditions, and against shifting […]
Decision is a blow for sexual harassment case It looks like it’s back to square one for Melissa McGurren after her $10 million defamation suit against WTMX and parent Hubbard Broadcasting was dismissed by a federal judge. McGurren sued Hubbard after executives slandered her in e-mail messages regarding her harassment claims against now-departed morning host Eric Ferguson. In a ruling handed […]
Replaces the disgraced Eric Ferguson in role Hubbard Broadcasting’s Hot AC station 101.9 The Mix (WTMX-FM) has found a replacement for Eric Ferguson and they didn’t have to look far. Beginning January 24, afternoon co-host Chris Petlak is being promoted to mornings to co-host with Nikki Chuminatto, Violeta Podrumedic, Brian “Whip” Paduch, and John “Swany” Swanson. The program continues in […]
Popularity isn’t exactly overrated as 2021 ends a wild year in media Like mystery of the sphinx or crop circles, you just can’t explain the continued popularity of certain things despite questionable changes. After the firing of Mark Giangreco and seemingly public disdain for one of her former co-anchors, ABC 7 remains on top of local Chicago news ratings, […]
The media mogul takes task with McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski over comments made about parents of Chicago gun violence victims [Editor’s Note: This post was updated at 3:40 p.m.] The controversy over McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski’s comments over how the parents of two Chicago children killed in gun violence failed them crossed over into the media community Friday as a […]
Also: The Lite launches Christmas format today; NBCSN closure date revealed; Biden nominates two to the FCC [Editors Note: The WLIT item was updated November 6.] Approximately four years ago, I wrote a headline here titled “Fueled by Ferguson” as his morning show propelled 101.9 The Mix/WTMX to ratings success throughout the day. But since the allegations of sexual misconduct […]
Allegations of sexual harassment sink Hall Of Fame career It must be “fall from grace” in Chicago week because we have another case of a success story going down in flames. Eric Ferguson resigned as morning host of Hubbard’s hot adult contemporary station The Mix/WTMX-FM Friday afternoon, stepping down over allegations of sexual harassment at the station. It marks a […]
Low ratings cited as factor; Eric Ferguson off the air until end of month Get ready for changes at two local radio stations in morning drive, and one of them involves Chicago’s highest-paid radio personality. For starters, there are big changes in store for Audacy’s WBBM-FM/B96 in the morning. The incumbent show on the contemporary-hit radio station is expected to […]
Case raises questions about the way Ferguson treats female co-workers WTMX’s main morning personality Eric Ferguson is now embroiled in a lawsuit from one of his former on-air staffers. As first reported by the Chicago Tribune in great detail, Ferguson has been accused by former staffer Cynthia DeNicolo of sexual harassment, including codewords for oral sex and to babysit his […]
Former WTMX personality to co-host morning show with former sports producer and podcaster Audacy-owned country music station WUSN-FM – better known as US 99, announced Thursday they were hiring former WTMX personality Melissa McGurren as their new morning host, starting Monday. The news was first reported by Robert Feder. Born in Portage, Ind. and residing in west suburban Riverside, McGurren […]
Second woman to exit Eric Ferguson’s show in last three years There’s more to the story than The Mix is telling listeners [Editor’s Note: This story was updated.] After being AWOL for the last several weeks from Eric Ferguson’s morning show, Melissa McGurren has decided to exit Hubbard-owned 101.9 The Mix (WTMX) after a 22-year run at the hot adult […]
Radio clusters in Chicago, Minneapolis, St. Louis hit hardest; TV side spared (for now) It was Minneapolis-based Hubbard Broadcasting’s turn to trim its workforce due to the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic – and Chicago was hit very hard. Robert Feder reported Friday afternoon of a dozen cuts at Hubbard’s cluster. Among those whose jobs were eliminated include evening […]