Chicago PPM report: 93.9 The Lite on top as Christmas music season begins

Sister station 103.5 KissFM remains on top in demos As iHeartMedia’s AC 93.9 The Lite (WLIT) kicked off its 25th annual Christmas Music format Tuesday, the station has already perched itself on top of the overall PPM ratings for October and won’t be budging from that position anytime soon.  WLIT topped all comers with a 4.9 rating, and for the third […]

Chicago PPM Report: Immigration blitzes and ICE protests sends listeners to news and talk stations

The Drive tops overall ratings while Kiss 103.5 FM is first in 25-54s With the continuing ICE enforcement and National Guard drama in Chicago, listeners tuned in to the city’s news, talk, and information stations in increasing numbers during the month of September in PPMs released earlier this week.  Operation Midway Blitz was fanned across the nation’s third-largest radio and […]

Chicago radio ratings: Rock 95.5 surges in ratings; WKSC sweeps demos

WLIT tops overall numbers The August PPMs were an awesome one for iHeartMedia Chicago, with Rock 95.5 (WCHI-FM) surging, Kiss 103.5 FM sweeping the demo races, and WLIT topping the overall numbers. Rock 95.5 moved from — to thirteenth with a 3.2, the highest share number in the station’s five-year history, and the highest for the frequency since the WNUA […]

Audacy stations land on iHeartRadio’s platforms

Agrees to stream on archrival’s platform  Starting today, Audacy’s 200+ radio stations will be available on the iHeartRadio app.  Joining iHeartMedia’s local stations on the platform in Chicago are sports talker 670 The Score (WSCR-AM), Newsradio 105.9 FM (WBBM-AM 780/WCFS-FM 105.9), Adult Album Alternative 93XRT (WXRT-FM), Top 40/CHR B96 (WBBM-FM), Country US99 (WUSN-FM), and Classic R&B/Hip-Hop 104.3 Jams (WBMX-FM).  Other […]

The Media Notepad: “The Food Guy” exits NBC 5

Steve Dolinsky takes job at Levy Restaurants; Chicago Sky expands distribution; 93.9 The Lite returns to the top of the PPMs [Editor’s Note: The first item of this piece was updated on May 22 to add Facebook post.] “The Food Guy” has reviewed his final plate on Chicago television. Steve Dolinsky announced this week he was departing NBC 5 (NBC-owned […]

March PPMs: Q101 maintains hot streak

Best ranking since the return to 101.1 frequency The March PPMs were released on Tuesday and showed an interesting trend: the resurgence of Q101.  The Cumulus-owned Alternative station is on a hot streak. WKQX scored an overall ratings increase for the fourth consecutive month and finished in a tie for eleventh place with WBEZ – the highest overall ranking since […]

The Media Notepad: Audacy, Cumulus merger afoot?

Also: The Talk to end after 15 years; NCAA Women’s Championship draws record high; NHL team headed to Utah With the future of Paramount Global all the chatter, there could be some radio merger and acquisition action, too. A report in Radio Insight suggests Audacy – soon to be controlled by Soros Fund Management after coming out of bankruptcy – […]

The Media Notepad: Q101 launches podcast series

Also: Ten Milwaukee Bucks games head to WMLW; Canadian PM stemmed about Bell cuts Hoping to capitalize on the ever-growing audio-on-demand category, Cumulus’ Alternative Rock Q101 (WKQX-FM) launched a podcast platform last week with four new shows. “Q101 is a Chicago icon and adding an offering of new podcasts allows us to extend the reach of our brand even deeper […]

Former Q101 radio personality sues Cumulus over harassment

Accusations include rude sexually charged comments and discrimination  As first reported by Radio Insight Friday evening, former Q101 (WKQX-FM) radio personality and producer Justin Nettlebeck has filed a lawsuit against the station’s owner Cumulus Media for sexual and other kinds of harassment. The lawsuit states Nettlebeck was “subjected to harassment and discriminatory treatment based on his gender, including sexual harassment, […]

Abe Kanan out at Rock 95.5

Not able to come to terms on a new contract IHeartMedia’s Rock 95.5 producer/on-air personality Abe Kanan have parted ways after failing to come to terms on a new conract, as first reported by Radio Insight. Kanan was executive producer of Angi Taylor’s morning show and also was her on-air sidekick. Kanan joined Rock 95.5 a month after the station […]

The Media Notepad: Q101 names James Kudziel as new PD

Also: NBA, Stanley Cup Final earns mixed ratings numbers; Nexstar moves CW affiliations to its owned stations in three markets; “Velma” renewed for season two Usually, trades are reserved for sports teams though this one could be compared to the Chicago White Sox trading a player to the Minnesota Twins. Cumulus Media announced Tuesday the appointment of James Kurdziel from […]

The Media Notepad: Cumulus Chicago’s Troy Hanson exits

Also: New Illinois member of Congress supports Standard General-Tegna; Toledo’s WNWO ends “local” newscasts; Phoenix’s basketball teams bail on Bally In what you can call a “weekend news dump”, Cumulus Chicago last Friday let Troy Hanson go from his positions at the cluster. During his time there, he wore several hats including PD of Q101 (WKQX), and VP of programming […]

Chicago PPMs: WXRT’s ratings soar after Lin Brehmer’s death

While others collapse with WGCI posting all-time low Chicago’s radio PPM ratings returned to normal after the holidays with a familiar name on top: iHeartMedia’s adult contemporary WLIT finishing on top for the third straight ratings period – even without Christmas music, which propelled them to the top for the last two months. WLIT also maintained their top rating in […]

The Drive, WLIT tie again in latest PPM survey

Also: Ali Matta departs Q101  A touch of Christmas has led iHeartMedia’s 93.9 The Lite (WLIT-FM) to tie Hubbard’s The Drive (WDRV-FM) for first place in the overall ratings for the second time this year. The last time the two tied for first in the overall ratings was in September.  Both stations came up with even 6 shares in the […]

Chicago radio ratings: The Drive, 93.9 Lite FM share lead

WOJO takes home crown in demos; sports talkers grow The August PPM ratings for Chicago radio stations were released Tuesday and it showed a tie at the top. Hubbard’s The Drive (WDRV-FM) and iHeartMedia’s 93.9 The Lite (WLIT-FM) each finished in a tie for first place, both ahead of their competitors by nearly one ratings point. However for classic rocker […]