Also: Ali Matta departs Q101 A touch of Christmas has led iHeartMedia’s 93.9 The Lite (WLIT-FM) to tie Hubbard’s The Drive (WDRV-FM) for first place in the overall ratings for the second time this year. The last time the two tied for first in the overall ratings was in September. Both stations came up with even 6 shares in the […]
But a Santa ratings wave is coming to 93.9 Lite FM In the final ratings period for 2022 not impacted by holiday music (in other words, before Lite 93.9 FM dominates the ratings and demos for the next two months), Hubbard’s classic rocker The Drive (WDRV-FM) topped the ratings charts, despite a month-to-month drop. Lying in wait to take over […]
Also: The Drive promotes Janda Lane to middays; Nexstar closes the deal to buy The CW; NATPE files for bankruptcy; Svengoolie is hiring! The move was expected for months, and now it’s official: The Chicago Sun-Times announced Thursday it is removing the paywall for all stories. This comes as the newspaper and Chicago Public Media’s WBEZ-FM announced a non-profit merger […]
The Drive wins overall; WLS-FM finishes first in 18-34s At the start of the year, no one would ever guess Hubbard’s The Drive (WDRV-FM) would top the ratings, let alone dominate them. And as it turns out, the classic rocker is performing a clinic on how to dominate. In September, The Drive’s ratings topped all Chicago radio stations, speeding up […]
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 […]
Also: Peoria’s WEEK absorbs rival’s news operation; name change ahead for CBS Media Ventures?; L.A. independent TV station ends long run [Editor’s Note: An earlier post had the incorrect title of a Beyonce song as the word “Ring” was replaced with…something else. It has since been corrected. – T.H.] It’s not a format change per se, but a slogan one: […]
WDRV-FM opens up a nearly two-point share lead on WBBM-AM/WCFS-FM In the May survey, Hubbard’s Classic Rock station The Drive (WDRV-FM) scored their first-ever ratings victory in their 21-year history, dislodging Adult R&B V103 (WVAZ-FM) as Chicago’s top-rated music station. Not only they repeated the feat again in June, they expanded their lead over their competitors. The Drive topped the […]
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 […]
WLS-AM, WXRT name new morning hosts; WDRV’s Bob Stroud calls it a career (somewhat) It was a busy Tuesday morning in Chicago radio with tons of personnel moves. To start, Audacy-owned WXRT-FM announced the promotion of Marty Lennartz to mornings beginning on June 13 to replace the departing Richard Milne, who is exiting Friday to take care of his ailing […]
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, […]
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 […]