Chicago PPM report: 93.9 The Lite on top as Christmas music season begins

Sister station 103.5 KissFM remains on top in demos As iHeartMedia’s AC 93.9 The Lite (WLIT) kicked off its 25th annual Christmas Music format Tuesday, the station has already perched itself on top of the overall PPM ratings for October and won’t be budging from that position anytime soon.  WLIT topped all comers with a 4.9 rating, and for the third […]

Chicago PPM Report: Immigration blitzes and ICE protests sends listeners to news and talk stations

The Drive tops overall ratings while Kiss 103.5 FM is first in 25-54s With the continuing ICE enforcement and National Guard drama in Chicago, listeners tuned in to the city’s news, talk, and information stations in increasing numbers during the month of September in PPMs released earlier this week.  Operation Midway Blitz was fanned across the nation’s third-largest radio and […]

Chicago radio ratings: Rock 95.5 surges in ratings; WKSC sweeps demos

WLIT tops overall numbers The August PPMs were an awesome one for iHeartMedia Chicago, with Rock 95.5 (WCHI-FM) surging, Kiss 103.5 FM sweeping the demo races, and WLIT topping the overall numbers. Rock 95.5 moved from — to thirteenth with a 3.2, the highest share number in the station’s five-year history, and the highest for the frequency since the WNUA […]

The Media Notepad: “The Food Guy” exits NBC 5

Steve Dolinsky takes job at Levy Restaurants; Chicago Sky expands distribution; 93.9 The Lite returns to the top of the PPMs [Editor’s Note: The first item of this piece was updated on May 22 to add Facebook post.] “The Food Guy” has reviewed his final plate on Chicago television. Steve Dolinsky announced this week he was departing NBC 5 (NBC-owned […]

March PPMs: Q101 maintains hot streak

Best ranking since the return to 101.1 frequency The March PPMs were released on Tuesday and showed an interesting trend: the resurgence of Q101.  The Cumulus-owned Alternative station is on a hot streak. WKQX scored an overall ratings increase for the fourth consecutive month and finished in a tie for eleventh place with WBEZ – the highest overall ranking since […]

Mike Tyson-Jake Paul fight scores big for Netflix

  Numbers were impressive; everything else…wasn’t [Editor’s Note: This post was updated on November 19 with additional information.] Even though boxing has seen better days, the sport received a jolt of energy thanks to Netflix and its heavily hyped matchup between 58-year-old Mike Tyson and 27-year-old YouTuber Jake Paul in front of a sold-out crowd at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, […]

iHeartMedia layoffs include Angi Taylor, Matt Scarano

Company lets go of five percent of workforce out of 10,000 workers  A time-honored tradition like no other, iHeartMedia announced their latest layoffs Monday, and two Chicago names popped up on the list.  As first reported by Radio Insight, Angi Taylor was relieved of her duties as morning personality on Rock 95.5 FM. Taylor was shifted from sister station Kiss […]

The Media Notepad: Elon Musk wants to get rid of over-the-air TV

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, […]

The Media Notepad: ABC, The CW announce 2024-25 lineups

Also: The Drive reclaims the top spot in Chicago radio ratings; Young Sheldon redeems himself   [Editor’s Note: The second item of this piece was updated on May 21.] Wrapping up the upfronts: ABC released its fall schedule last week as part of a Disney upfront presentation that hardly mentioned the network. And little wonder – there isn’t much to talk […]

The Media Notepad: WLIT takes early Chirstmas ratings lead

WGN-TV hires new traffic reporter; NBC Sports Chicago adding alternative Blackhawks telecasts; New Orleans Pelicans latest Bally team to seek an over-the-air TV deal  The PPM ratings survey for November was released this week and to no one’s surprise, iHeartMedia’s 93.9 The Lite is ahead of the competition. WLIT took first place from Hubbard’s The Drive as the Gold AC […]

The Media Notepad: WLS-AM launches two new afternoon shows

Also: The latest Chicago radio ratings; Arizona Coyotes to move all games to broadcast TV Cumulus Media’s conservative talker WLS-AM recently announced they were adding two new afternoon shows to replace the departed Big John Howell Show. First from 3-4 p.m. weekdays is Closing Bell. Not related to the similarly-titled CNBC business news show airing at the same time, Bell […]

Chicago radio ratings: 93.9 LiteFM continues to lead

WXRT finishes third overall; WOJO wins key demos  iHeartMedia’s 93.9 LiteFM (WLIT) is not only Chicago’s top-rated radio station during the holiday season, but now it’s aiming for dominance year-around. The Gold AC station finished on top of Chicago’s radio ratings for the seventh straight time, finishing up a tenth of a point from last month ahead of The Drive […]

Swinging on a star: Alpha Media consolidates suburban stations, rebrands

Takes on 101.9 Mix in the suburbs In order to effectively take on Hubbard Hot Adult Contemporary powerhouse 101.9 The Mix (WTMX), Alpha Media is consolidating their competing similarly-formatted radio stations in three suburbs, including the same morning and afternoon shows under the moniker “Star Suburban Superstation”.  As first reported by Radio Insight, Waukegan’s WXLC (102.3 FM) is rebranding as […]