The Media Notepad: Bears fourth quarter blunder draws 37 million

Also: Ramblin’ Ray gives up KCMO gig to focus on WLS-AM; Moffett Nathanson gives mixed reviews of upcoming NBCU cable spinoff Unlike other Chicago Sports embarrassments this year, this one was shown live in front of the largest audience of the season. The Bears’ major meltdown against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving drew a record of 37.5 million viewers for CBS […]

WLS-AM cuts Cochran, local programming

Cumulus station goes all in on syndicated programming As first reported by Axios Chicago Friday, Cumulus’ conservative talk WLS-AM has decided not to renew Steve Cochran’s contract. Replacing Cochran in the 5:30 a.m.-9 a.m. slot is Ramblin’ Ray Stevens, formerly of US99 (WUSN-FM.) The decision to cancel the longtime radio personality’s show is part of budget cuts at the low-rated […]

Media Notepad: WLS-AM’s “Big John” shifts to afternoons

Plus… big day for Bears as they beat rival; Channing Dungey heads to Netflix; Extra adds Fox stations in large markets With Steve Dahl set to depart Cumulus-owned WLS-AM this Friday, the station announced last week it was shifting Big John Howell to afternoons from mornings starting January 3, from 5 to 7 p.m. weekdays. In a statement, the thirty-year […]

The Media Notepad: Ben Shapiro joins WLS-AM’s afternoon lineup

Plus: Classic Hip-Hop loses ground as Soft AC makes a comeback; Tribune Media bidding heats up; another cable channel is in the works In a move widely anticipated, conservative talk show host and podcaster Ben Shapiro is joining WLS-AM’s weekday afternoon lineup. Beginning January 7, Shapiro has been slotted in the 2 to 5 p.m. slot replacing Steve Dahl, who […]

WLS-AM drops Bob and Marianne for Chris Plante

Dropping homegrown talent for syndicated fare; enables Rush Limbaugh to be live again in Chicago As first reported by Robert Feder Wednesday, longtime Chicago media personalities Bob Sirott and Marianne Murciano were shown the door (again), this time at Cumulus Media’s WLS-AM as the station canceled their 10 to noon morning show after only one year. WLS had high hopes […]

Bob Sirottt, Marianne Murciano head to WLS-AM

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 […]

Stylz & Roman to US 99 in morning drive

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 […]

Ramblin’ Ray leaves US 99.5, station devoles into chaos

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 […]