Is the Alternative Rock format on the ropes?

More talk, less music – as in none at all. Say goodbye to Q101, who Winnetka-based Fall Out Boy credits for helping launch its career. With Randy Michaels about to take over Emmis’ WKQX-FM (Q101) in Chicago and  WRXP-FM in New York City and the all-but certain likelihood of shifting both stations from Alternative Rock to either all-news or news-talk, […]

Q101, The Loop sold to… Randy Michaels?

The Court Jester rides again. In a move that took everyone by surprise, Emmis Communications sold controlling interest in WLUP-FM (The Loop) and WKQX-FM (Q101) and a New York City station (WRXP-FM) to a constroium headed by former Tribune Co. CEO Randy Michaels and Chicago-based equity group investement group GTCR, Inc.  The news was first reported yesterday as a tip […]

The Grab Bag: Ricki returns (and unfortunately, so does Paul Reiser)

Twentieth’s game shows canceled, and other news of note  For the first time in a long time, it’s time for The Grab Bag – items not good enough for individual posts – but good enough to be written here: – Ricki returns. In a report confirmed by B&C and TVNewscheck, Ricki Lake signed a deal with Twentieth Television to launch […]

WLUP makes format adjustment

Emmis-owned WLUP-FM (The Loop, 97.9) announced Saturday it was making a format adjustment to its playlist, dropping all current and most recent rock titles and playing classic rock from the 1970’s and 1980’s exclusively. The adjustment puts the station in direct competition with Bonneville-owned WDRV/WWDV-FM (The Drive, 97.1), which it and two other stations were sold this week to Minneapolis-based […]

Jonathan Brandmeier out at WLUP

For the second time in as many years, Jonathan Brandmeier is no longer calling The Loop home. The eclectic morning radio personality and his show was canceled by Emmis-owned WLUP-FM on Monday after four years, with Friday being the last show (Pete McMurray filled in today.) Brandmeier recently signed a one-year contract extension with the Classic Rock outlet, with Emmis […]

More on-air staff cuts at Q101, The Loop

Here we downsize again: Emmis made another round of staff cuts at its two Chicago rock stations today. From WKQX-FM (Q101), the cuts included Alex Quigley (who did weeknights 7-10), and Kevin Manno who did afternoons with his brother Ryan. Instead, Q101 hired Tim Virgin to do afternoons from 3-7 p.m. with Ryan Manno moving into Quigley’s 7-10 p.m. slot. […]

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 […]

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 […]

Emmis cuts positions in Chicago

The economic downturn has affected every corner of our economy, and the radio industry is no exception. Layoffs were prevalent today at Emmis’ classic rocker WLUP-FM (The Loop) and WKQX-FM (Q101). A total of five individuals were laid off. The causality list: WLUP Program Director Bill Klaproth; Imaging Director Kevyn Howrd; Marketing Director Tommy King; Sales Assistant Carly Keenan; and […]

Presenting your new Loop girl

She is Kelly Campbell, from west suburban Lombard. She gets the lucky job of the representing the classic rock station for the next year – a.k.a. making appearances at high-profile events and promotions. Oh yeah…

More radio layoffs

With CBS Radio pink-slipping, on top of Emmis’ recent cutbacks, as well as those at Clear Channel, it looks like its going to be another tough year for the radio industry. Among the casualties locally – WXRT GM Michael Damsky, who is out after 24 years.

Management shake-ups at Chicago Citadel, Emmis stations

– At WKQX-FM (Q101): Marc Young has been named Program Director at the Alternative station, from Associate Program and Music Director at Emmis’ KMVA-FM (Movin’ 97.5). – At WLUP-FM (The Loop): Emmis’ classic rocker also made a move by promoting Bill Klaproth from Associate Program Director to Program Director. – At WZZN-FM: The Oldies/Classic Hits outlet named Mike Fowler as […]

Eddie Webb gets the afternoon shift at the Loop

Eddie Webb is back at WLUP and back in the afternoon time slot at the classic rocker, where he brought ratings success among men 25-54 to the Loop from 1998 to 2000. He later left for a gig at XM Satellite Radio, but returned to radio with gigs in Las Vegas and Boston. Webb begins in January, filling the slot […]

Bonaduce not returning to the Loop

Instead, he is expected to renew his deal to continue on Adam Carolla’s morning show on KLSX-FM in Los Angeles, which leaves the Loop (WLUP-FM, 97.9 FM) still without an afternoon personality. The drive-home position has been vacant since Zakk Tyler left. Loop owner Emmis Communications contends that the former Partridge Family star’s antics (i.e. the brawl he was involved […]