Chicago’s August PPM results

Here are the results for the August PPMs for 12+ and for adults 25-54. Among the findings: – Winners include WSCR, WPPN, WXRT, WUSN, and drumroll please…. Q101! Yes, Q101 – or WKQX-FM grew 27% in 12+ month-to-month. – The biggest winner of all is WTMX-FM (The Mix), who dominated the 25-54 ratings and 12+ with Eric & Kathy leading […]

Melissa Forman out at WLIT

WGN wins July PPM survey overall; WTMX dominated 25-54s; Rock stations and WKSC gains; WLS-AM declines. The second time isn’t so great after all. Clear Channel’s WLIT-FM has dropped Melissa Forman and her show from the morning time slot at the station after two years. The move was due to declining ratings. Forman was one of only two live personalities […]

Chicago’s May PPM results

This is based on the 6+ numbers provided by Arbitron and Stationratings.com (don’t forget – Radio & Records – who also provided numbers – no longer exists.) Winners: WBBM-AM, The Mix (WTMX), V103 (WVAZ), WUSN-FM, Kiss 103.5 (WKSC), The Loop (WLUP) Honorable Mention: Soul 106.3 (WSRB-FM – thank you, Tom Joyner) Losing Steam: WLS-AM, The Drive (WDRV-FM) Losers: Power 92 […]

T Dog’s Groovy Grab Bag

ABC pickups; Millionaire returns to prime-time; Caprica is here; B96’s new hires. – ABC has picked up twelve veteran series for the 2009-2010 season, despite the fact some have eroded in the ratings. Renewals include Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, Supernanny, Wife Swap, and Ugly Betty. Betty, who returns on April 30 at 7 p.m. (CT) will likely keep its time […]

WBBM-AM tops 2008 revenue list

CBS-owned all-news outlet WBBM-AM was Chicago’s top billing radio station in 2008, according to BIA Financial Network. WBBM-AM earned $44.9 million in revenue for 2008, according to the report. Tribune’s WGN-AM came in a close second with $44.5 million, no doubt fueled by Cubs baseball. WGN’s huge haul comes despite an older-skewing audience. The top music station was Bonneville’s WTMX-FM, […]

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 […]

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 […]

Chicago PPM results for December

Since this survey is an anomaly because of the Holidays (a.k.a. skewed because of Christmas music), we’ll refrain from the listing the winners and losers. But that doesn’t stop yours truly from making a few observations… Remember, this is based on overall 6+ numbers: – WLIT (Lite FM) did gangbusters with Xmas music in December, as it finished first. The […]

J Niice and Julian named new B96 morning hosts

Contemporary-hit music outlet WBBM-FM (B96) has named Jamar “J-Niice” McNeil and Julian Nieh as the station’s new morning hosts, replacing Eddie Volkman and Joe Bohannon, who were let go from the CBS-owned radio station on Novemeber 21. McNeil had previously been the station’s midday jock, while Nieh was working on the evening shift. Both men are alums of WIHT-FM in […]

B96 thanks Eddie & JoBo & Erica (updated)

WBBM-FM has a note on their website saying “thanks” to Eddie Volkman, Joe Bohannon, and Erica Cobb for their years of hard work and dedication on their morning show. As you all know by now, the trio were let go Friday. In an interview with Phil Rosenthal of the Tribune, Volkman talked about the harsh realities facing the radio business […]

Eddie & JoBo out at B96

Note: This is a longer version of a story posted yesterday at 7:01 p.m. Not exactly a shocker (as some would claim), given how the radio business has changed since these two signed a multi-year deal in 2002, but with high-salaries becoming a thing of the past in radio – as well as TV – and so is Eddie & […]

Chicago’s PPM results are here

Here they are… the first official Portable People Meter results for the Chicago market. Arbitron decided to release the numbers today instead of Wednesday for Chicago, New York, and six other markets to avoid an injuction by the New York State Attorney General, who isn’t happy with the system because he feels the system discriminates against minorities (never mind that […]

More Chicago PPM results

All Access interviewed Radio Crunch’s Anthony Acampora about the pre-currency results from Arbitron’s new Portable People Meter, which is intended to replace the diaries the company has been using for decades. Keep in mind this is based on only one month of findings. Among the findings: – Bonneville seems to be the big winner, with WDRV-FM (The Drive) surging in […]

Spring 2008 book is out

In between the end of TCA and start of Comic-Con, I’m squeezing in some news regarding Chicago radio! (I know you’re excited… yeah, right. But it’s nice to talk about something local for a change.) The Spring 2008 books are out for both Chicago and Milwaukee, are you can access them by clicking here (Chicago) and here (Milwaukee), with the […]