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…

Chicago radio’s Winter book results

The winter books are here, and according to Arbitron (click here to see daypart info): WINNERS: WGN-AM: This could be the beginning of a long reign for longtime leader WGN-AM on top of the radio hill in Chicago, as the station fended off WGCI to remain numero uno in Chicago’s Winter Arbitron book, and is expected to remain number one […]

Lee Abrams joins Tribune

XM it seems can’t catch a break: first, AOL Radio dumps them for CBS, and now Lee Abrams – who has been with XM since 1998 – has jumped to Tribune as Chief Innovation Officer (no, I am not making this up), where he will report to Randy Michaels, who is Tribune’s chief executive of broadcasting and interactive. Abrams, who […]

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 […]

WGN-AM sweeps Chicago summer book

A clean sweep of every major daypart kept WGN on top of the ratings in Arbitron’s summer book. WGN’s dominance started with Spike O’Dell in the mornings and went through John Williams and Cubs baseball in the afternoon. Other news of note: Mornings: – WGCI paid dearly for replacing top-rated (in 18-34) Howard McGee with syndicated Steve Harvey, with WVAZ’s […]

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 […]

Spanish broadcaster charges racism in Arbitron numbers

Plus other demo ratings news of note Spanish-language broadcaster WLEY-FM is charging that the station’s numbers -as well as those of other Hispanic broadcasters – are down become Arbitron did not send out enough diaries to Spanish-speaking households in the Chicago area. “I question the statistical reliability of this survey,” he said. “They did not have a sufficient number of […]

Zakk Tyler out at the Loop

WLUP-FM, or The Loop, has dumped afternoon personality Zakk Tyler after two years of underperforming ratings in the afternoon time slot. A rotating wheel of guest jocks will fill in until a new afternoon show is ready. A lot of people have criticized Tyler for his obvious lack of talent. Who knew?

LaSorte new boss at Emmis stations

Former WGN-AM programming head Tisa LaSorte has been promoted to the newly created position of brand manager of The Loop (WLUP) and Q101 (WKQX). She’ll oversee both stations’ programming, marketing, promotions, and new media. She’ll report directly to Marv Nyren, who is a regional vice president and marketing manager of Emmis’ radio cluster in Chicago. And believe it or not, […]

And the new Loop Rock Girl is….

April from Chicago, who is 24 years old, 5’9″, and 32-24-34. She beat out 15 other girls who particatped in the classic rock station’s annual model contest at 115 Bourbon st. in south suburban Merrionette Park (The bar is located right across the street on the border of Chicago’s Mount Greenwood neighborhood, near 115th and Homan.) April will be paid […]

Emmis fires PDs at WLUP, WKQX

Mike Stern of Q101 (WKQX-FM) and Tim Dukes of the Loop (WLUP-FM) are out, and Radio & Records is reporting on their front page that the positions are being combined into one. The alternative and classic rock formatted stations, respectively, have struggled in the ratings in the last few years – to the point that both stations have fallen out […]

Deplorable!

If you read Robert Feder’s column yesterday, or logged on to radio-related message boards on the Internet, you probably know by now that Cara Carriveau was fired from WLUP-FM (97.9), “The Loop” — all because she wrote a letter to Mr. Feder decrying the state of radio in Chicago. (The story actually broke last night in the Chicago Tribune courtesy […]