Seven Chicago radio stations under new ownership In a deal which marks the first under the FCC chairmanship of Ajit Pai, CBS Radio announced Thursday morning it was merging its station group to Philadelphia-based Entrecom Communications for $1.7 billion. The merger creates a new mega-station group, with 244 stations nationwide and in 23 of the top 25 radio markets. When the […]
Things indeed will be different As expected, President Trump announced Monday he has appointed current FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai as FCC Chairman, succeeding Tom Wheeler, who stepped down January 20th. The move is great for big tech and media corporations given Pai’s free-market stance and promises a living hell for consumer advocates and net neutrality supporters. Pai was nominated to the […]
“Jessica Jones” tops odd year in media – and life When you look back at 2016, there isn’t much to rave about – way too many celebrity and industry deaths (Prince, Garry Shandling, Carrie Fisher, Grant Tinker, Doug Banks, Herb Kent, etc.), the election of Donald Trump, the rise (again) of Rahm Emanuel, continuing media consolidation, and other awful things. But […]
It’s a homecoming for Sirott, who was at the Big 89 in the ’70’s Chicago radio and TV personalities Bob Sirott and Marianne Murciano are on the move once again, this time being added to WLS-AM’s morning lineup. Beginning January 2, the husband-and-wife duo surfaces in the 10:00 a.m. to noon time slot on the Cumulus Media-owned station. The news […]
Longtime WSCR personality retires Terry Boers, one-half of the popular Boers & Bernstein duo in afternoons, announced his retirement Tuesday in a blogpost at CBSChicago.com. The WSCR (The Score) personality had been at the station since the beginning – 25 years, when The Score (along with sister station WXRT-FM) were owned by Diamond Broadcasting and located in a nondescript building […]
Despite panning from social media, listeners tuned in to Chicago mayor’s interview In this space last week, yours truly declared the “historic” radio interview with Rahm Emanuel a flop, mainly because of flaws in the format and the questions were of the softball variety. But when it came to attracting listeners – that was a different story altogether. Despite panning […]
Also: Conviction canceled, becomes first casualty; NFL ratings continue to decline; WLIT to flip to Christmas music Thursday; PlaysttionVue drops Viacom channels Fresh after a bruising election season, Chicago radio listeners are going to subjected to a half-hour with Mayor Rahm Emanuel – whether they like it or not. On Monday, over 40 radio stations in the Chicago area are airing a half-hour interview […]
Cumulus pulls plug Sometimes, you can’t relieve your former glory. Ask Arsenio Hall, who saw his late-night revival effort go down in flames after a year on the air. Now Jonathon Brandmeier, who rode to success as a morning personality for WLUP-FM in the 1980’s and 1990’s, is seeing his radio comeback once again cut short. Cumulus Radio canceled his […]
Pete McMurray & Co. out As first reported by Radio Insight, Hubbard-owned WDRV-FM, “The Drive” announced Tuesday the hiring of Brian Sherman and Steve Tingle for mornings. Though the site stated “Monday, October 21” (actually a Friday), the actual start date is October 31. The move reunites the duo at the Classic Rock outlet – the duo were at the […]
Happy anniversary to T Dog Media! It’s a different media world today than it was when I started this. As we mark the ten-year anniversary of T Dog Media this weekend, I would like to take a look back – not at dopey posts from the early years such as these (really bad idea)…or getting involved in feuds (Wil Wheaton and […]
Once again, Cumulus is clueless on customer service Usually on this blog, yours truly often laments the state of Chicago radio, with some of the stations run by clueless idiots who make managers at your local Arby’s more competent by comparison. But when it involves Cumulus… no market – large or small – is safe. Take what happened last week at […]
Two of chicago’s most-listened to afternoon radio personalities are trading in their gold chains for cowboy boots. B96 afternoon boys Doug “Stylz” Bobrowski and Justin Moran are heading to US99 as the new morning drive team. That’s right. You heard me. Beginning on September 6, US99 (WUSN-FM) is installing Stylz & Roman as replacements for Lisa Dent and Ramblin’ Ray […]
Stevens heads to WLS-AM to pair up with ol’ buddy Big John Howell in mornings WUSN loses its prime attraction; personnel loses their jobs For CBS-owned WUSN-FM, everything suddenly isn’t so beautiful. As first reported by Robert Feder Wednesday, WUSN morning personality Ramblin’ Ray Stevens, shocked the radio world yesterday by streaking over to WLS-AM to join former co-worker Big […]
McMornings at The Drive are McDone. Hubbard-owned WDRV-FM – better known as classic rock-oriented The Drive, announced Thursday afternoon the release of Morning Show participant Dan McNeil after sixteen months. The official press release on McNeil leaving the station can be found here. The announcement was made by Hubbard Radio Chicago VP/Market Manager John Gallagher and WDRV PD Rob Cressman. The move came […]
Battle between McNeil, Hubbard management latest sign of Chicago radio’s dysfunction You’re probably asking, how’s the new McMornings show on The Drive working out? As you probably guessed, it’s about as flat as a Diet Coke. According to an article by Robert Feder Monday, the gamble made by Hubbard-owned WDRV-FM pairing up former sports talker Dan McNeil and former WGN-AM […]
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