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 […]

This guy isn’t playing with a full deck of cards…

WJMK-FM (JACK) personality Steve Dahl interviewed Drew Peterson on his show yesterday, who some consider a suspect in his wife’s (Stacy Peterson’s) disappearance. Dahl had been lampooning the former Bolingbrook police chief on his radio show for the last several months, and so Peterson and his lawyer decided to call up his show and take him on one-on-one – but […]

Black radio and the Civil Rights Movement

This well written article on Radio-Info discusses how black radio played a role in shaping the Civil Rights Movement, in which local stations (such as WVON in Chicago and WDAS in Philadelphia), were the eyes and ears to the black community and dispatched the latest information on numerous issues. This public service continues to this day, as several syndicated programs […]

"Idol" hit lowest ratings in four years

The seventh season premiere of American Idol averaged a 18.6 metered household rating and a 13.8 rating among adults 18-49, down 13 percent from last year. Among total viewers, Idol notched 33.2 million viewers, down 11 percent from a year ago. Still, Idol dominated prime on Fox, and should do so tonight, as the auditions head for Dallas (where I […]

WBBM-AM tops WGN-AM in revenue dept.

2007 was a good year for WBBM-AM, even if the Bears didn’t win the Super Bowl. In a stunner, the news/talk station ranked first in revenues for 2007 with $47.5 million – up from $45.9 million a year ago, surging ahead of arch rival WGN, which had $43.5 million. WGN ranked first for the last three years. WTMX’s demo-friendly upscale […]

The Fall Arbitron books, Part II

Wondering how the recently-released Fall Arbs fared demographically? Well, here you go, courtesy of All Access (As a bonus, you get San Diego numbers in the article, too!): – Urban contemporary WGCI-FM swept the adults 18-34, 18-49, and 25-54 categories by finishing first. -Thanks to Christmas music, WLIT soared back into the top ten in key 18-49 and 25-54 demos. […]

Mo’ Radio Ratings

Because there’s more to life than Chicago and Milwaukee… Peoria: It’s a trifecta for Triad as the radio station owner holds the top three spots with Country outlet WXCL-FM leading the way. Regent’s Rhythmic outlet (WZPW-FM) finished fourth. The biggest loser here was Regent’s Active Rock station (WIXO-FM) which fell from first place in the Spring book to eighth. Ouch! […]

Harvey, Dahl big winners in book

The Fall Arbitron book released yesterday didn’t really provide much surprises (even with WLIT’s annual surge due to Christmas music), but a couple of new arrivals shook up Chicago’s already competitive morning-drive race: – Steve Harvey’s syndicated show on Clear Channel’s WGCI-FM finished third overall and topped all FM morning drive shows in 12+. The controversy regarding “Crazy” Howard McGee’s […]

Doug Banks returns to Chicago

A Chicago radio icon in coming home – well, at least on the air. Chicago radio veteran Doug Banks is back on the airwaves thanks to a deal with Urban Adult Contemporary WVAZ-FM (V103), which will see it become the first station to carry his new syndicated radio show, which is being distributed by ABC Radio Networks (which is actually […]

The Fall Arbitron books

Here are your radio Fall Arbs (+12) for: Chicago Quick analysis: Tribune’s WGN is first, but stumbled. Clear Channel’s Urban Contemporary WGCI is back in second place, while sister Urban AC WVAZ fell from fifth place to eighth (they announced a huge schedule change today – more on that later, so watch the blog.) CC’s WLIT surged to fifth place*, […]

WILV’s Mark Sullivan dies

Sad news to report: WILV-FM (Love FM) nighttime DJ Mark Sullivan has passed away at the too-young age of 40 from a heart condition. An obituary has been posted on Love FM’s website.

WVON program director quits – on the air

It’s not every day that somebody quits on-air – it happened once in 1960 when Jack Paar shocked everyone when he quit The Tonight Show – in the middle of the broadcast – after NBC cut out a joke he made regarding the initials W.C. being confused for a water closet instead of a wayside chapel the previous night (hey, […]

Da Trends

The second set of trends for the Arbitron fall book for Chicago radio stations are out, and there is some movement on the chart among several radio stations. Thoughts… – It looks like WGN is going to be #1 for the foreseeable future. – WGCI rebounded to third place this trend, perhaps silencing critics (such as yours truly) -WLS-AM rebounded […]

Nat King Cole’s "Christmas Song" most loved

Edison Research has released a national survey they did of the most loved and hated Christmas songs. Topping the most loved list was Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song”, with Bing Crosby’s classic “White Christmas” second. The most hated was the instrumental version of “Jingle Bells” by the Singing Dogs (They just bark the tune. Literally.) Also making the most […]