Chicago radio personality and frequent house husband Garry Meier will be getting out of the crib more in the next week – and hoping it leads to a full-time radio job. Meier has signed on to do the 1 to 4 p.m. shift on WGN-AM next week, in a “test drive”. If the stint is successful, Meier could land the […]
Longtime WGN-AM and WIND-AM personality Eddie Schwartz passed today at the age of 62. Schwartz worked the overnight shift on both station for many years, and is remembered fondly as a person who would listen to anybody and his or her problem. Schwartz also started a food drive at WGN, to help Chicago’s poor. Schwartz hasn’t worked in radio since […]
Since this survey is an anomaly because of the Holidays (a.k.a. skewed because of Christmas music), we’ll refrain from the listing the winners and losers. But that doesn’t stop yours truly from making a few observations… Remember, this is based on overall 6+ numbers: – WLIT (Lite FM) did gangbusters with Xmas music in December, as it finished first. The […]
1500 posts, Yay! Alright, put away the champagne and let’s get down to business… WGN-AM and WLS-AM both have new program directors this evening. WGN hired Kevin Metheny, who previously ran Clear Channel’s cluster of radio stations in Cleveland (including rock outlet WMMS-FM “The Buzzard”), as their new program director. He replaces Bob Shomper, who now moves to the same […]
An extended version of The Bag. Here what’s been going on the last couple of days: – Spike O’Dell signs off: The WGN-AM host wrapped up his eight-year stint in morning drive today with a live show at the Metropolis Theater in Arlington Heights. The building was sold out for the show, as people were lining up as early as […]
The results from November’s PPMs are here, just three days after the radio ratings period ended. Isn’t it great to get results like this so quick? (Just don’t ask WGN-AM…) Borrowing the formula from Marc Berman’s Programming Insider from Mediaweek: Winners: WBBM-AM, WLS (AM and FM), The Drive (WDRV-FM), V103 (WVAZ-FM) Honorable Mention: Lite FM (WLIT-FM), WBEZ-FM, WIND-AM Disappointing (like […]
It’s official: Radio-info is reporting on its front page right now of the promotion of afternoon host John Willams to mornings on WGN-AM after current host Spike O’Dell retires on December 12. Willams take over the following Monday (December 15.) No word yet on who will take over Willams’ spot in the afternoons. More from Phil Rosenthal in his Tower […]
Here they are… the first official Portable People Meter results for the Chicago market. Arbitron decided to release the numbers today instead of Wednesday for Chicago, New York, and six other markets to avoid an injuction by the New York State Attorney General, who isn’t happy with the system because he feels the system discriminates against minorities (never mind that […]
It was speculated in July, it’s now official: Spike O’Dell is leaving WGN-AM morning drive effective at the end of the year. No word on a replacement, but there is speculation WGN may hire two people to replace Spike O’Dell next January. Like his predecessors (Wally Phillips and Bob Collins), Spike O’Dell’s has owned WGN’s morning slot in Chicago, finishing […]
– NBC’s new remake of Knight Rider couldn’t start the car with a lackluster third place finish in adults 18-49. Maybe they should have remade My Mother, the Car instead? (Oh God, no!) – Oxygen has acquired the exclusive cable rights to reruns of America’s Next Top Model, currently on MTV. The move takes place in January, when the show […]
Here are the Arbitron rating books for other markets in Illinois, plus South Bend-Elkhart. Quad Cities – Clear Channel’s country outlet (WLLR-FM) dominated the market, with a share that doubles its’ nearest competitor. Peoria – Will AC plays in Peoria? You bet, as Triad’s WSWT-FM finished a dominant first. Rockford – A CHR outlet finished first here, with Cumulus’ WZOK-FM […]
In addition to the last-ever diary book released in Chicago yesterday, Arbitron’s pre-currency Portable People Meter results were also released, and according to Tom Taylor of Radio-Info and Dave Martin’s blog, they show the following: – WGN continued to rank first among 12+, followed by WDRV-FM (The Drive), WBBM-AM, Ht AC outlet WTMX-FM, and Country station WUSN-FM. – Ranking from […]
In between the end of TCA and start of Comic-Con, I’m squeezing in some news regarding Chicago radio! (I know you’re excited… yeah, right. But it’s nice to talk about something local for a change.) The Spring 2008 books are out for both Chicago and Milwaukee, are you can access them by clicking here (Chicago) and here (Milwaukee), with the […]
It looks like longtime WGN-AM morning host Spike O’Dell is heading into the home stretch. The Sun-Times is reporting the longtime morning personality is expected to either retire at the end of the year. With a large salary and Tribune’s cash crunch, it is unlikely O’Dell will return, unless he wants a cut with pay (and the way he sounds […]
This blog usually doesn’t do trends – but there is something of note – Clear Channel-owned Urban radio stations (WGCI and WVAZ – V103) surged in part 1 of the Spring trends, with WGCI taking over first place and V103 jumping to third overall. WGN dropped to second and its share actually decreased. This is surprising, given WGN’s numbers usually […]
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