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Chicago Media Headlines - August
Thursday, 08.30.01
HEY NOW - today's column is just a big thank-you to you, our readers. In the year that we've been doing this (has it really been that long?), we've received an outpouring of support from loyal readers and media personalities alike. We've heard from some of Chicago's favorites, as well as readers from Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Kansas, Louisana, Colorado, California, and more.
During our absence, please look back through our archives (accessed above) and remember some of your favorite stories. You can skim through last year's Thanksgiving column devoted to the "new" craze of 80s-themed stations, take a look around our STUDIO VISITS pages, listen to the Jeffrey T. "homecoming" sign-on at WKIE-FM, browse through the RADIO PIC ARCHIVES page, hear Steve Dahl talk about us, read past breaking stories, and much more...
Finally - have a great few weeks - and wish us luck (the big day is SUNDAY!). Keep in touch so that we'll be able to catch up on what's been going on in the Chicago media world while we've been gone - drew@drewandjill.com...we'll be back sooner than you think!!
That's your August wrap-up - thanks for playing!
Wednesday 8.29.01
HEY NOW - got a note recently - did you realize that yesterday marked the 14-year anniversary of the retirement of Chicago's own Larry Lujack? It was August 28th, 1987 when Uncle Lar signed off the 50,000 watt monkey WLS-AM 890 "AM 89, WLS." Who knew he'd be back years later for a short-lived run on the FM dial?
Join the 2002 Metro/Shadow Traffic Divas at the MAKE-A-WISH Benefit Golf Scramble in southwest suburban Frankfort on Friday, September 14th. The "divas" (2002 Traffic Girl Calendar coming in November) will be at the Prestwick Country Club for a 1p event kickoff (2p tee time). For more info., call Trish of Make-A-Wish Chicago @ 312.943.8956 or go to www.makeawish.org...
Quick note - tomorrow is our last column for three weeks. Got something to say? Want to squeeze something in at the last minute? Send us an e-mail NOW!
We couldn't resist...a Freudian slip that was too good to not repeat. As WLUP-FM 97.9 "The Loop" was sponsoring a "Loop Hummer" SUV outing last night at the Hooters Restaurant in Schaumburg, afternoon driver Seaver told listeners to "Look for the Hummer outside the Hooters!" Bah-dah-boom!
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Tuesday 8.28.01
HEY NOW - a little later than expected - WLIT-FM 93.9 is actually aiming for a 9a DEADLINE this morning for their switch to a digital-based broadcast format. We reported the planned switch last week, but due to technical glitches, etc...the "go" date was pushed back. Let's wish middayer Robin Rock (heard weekdays 9a-2p) the best of luck (as a friend coined it, "Hold onto your CD's!")...
Don't forget your two-fers today...
The weird gets weirder - in a first for a radio station (or at least the first that I can remember), WZZN-FM 94.7 "The Zone" has a press release posted at their website regarding the departure of morning host Kevin Matthews and crew. Click here to read the details...one has to wonder the purpose of posting the release for the general public. Is the station being inundated with upset listener feedback?
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Monday 8.27.01
HEY NOW - the countdown continues - 6 days now...
From inside the ZONE - speculation is high that WZZN-FM 94.7 "The Zone" afternoon driver Steve Fisher will take over the vacant morning slot at the Modern AC station. Fisher was conspicuously absent from the station during the morning show ousting - it's rumored that nighttime gal Brooke Hunter would slide into afternoons, with part-timer Matt Wright signing on full-time for the evening ride. We'll see what pans out...
Getting back to the Dallas "non" story we've been hinting at - KYNG-FM 105.3 "105.3 FM Talk" is home to a weekday 2-6a show run by "Pugs & Kelly"...the show is broadcast via ISDN line from Kelly DeYoung's Huntley, IL basement studio (DeYoung is the wife of former WZZN-FM morning producer "Shemp"). Apparently, the duo ran a station-produced commercial that made a racial slur/jab at Tiger Woods. The bit (run only twice during a show) was designed to cause controversy, but nothing happened. The hosts got 90 minutes of show material from it, but no public outcry...you can find out more about P&K at www.pugsandkelly.com...
Congrats to WTMX-FM 101.9 "The Mix" and their morning co-hosts Eric Ferguson & Kathy Hart - their 36-hour radiothon Friday and Saturday raised over $1,000,000 (a 14% increase from last year) for Children's Memorial Hospital of Chicago!
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Friday 8.24.01
HEY NOW - WZFS-FM 106.7 "The Fish" has re-launched their website - www.1067thefish.com. The site flows very impressively - all DJ bios/pages are up, as well as links to the station's recent high profile TV advertising campaigns and more...
One humorous note on the fallout at WZZN-FM 94.7 "The Zone" - morning show co-producer Summer will continue in her afternoon traffic reports and weekend air shift duties. However, she is now known on the air as "Jill Egan" - what gives? Also, www.modriver.com is down for the time being...
It's OPEN! Ticket reservations for Oprah's September schedule are now being taken - call 312.591.9222 between 9a-5p Chicago time to reserve your spot. Good luck getting through...
Another quick reminder - we're on vacation for 3 weeks starting next Friday...
Finally - Chicago favorite Mike Ditka is coming back to the park - again. Look for Ditka to sing the national anthem (or is that bark?) at Wrigley Field on September 12th - hope his 2nd rendition has better luck than last year's debut...
That's your weekend wrap-up - thanks for playing!
Thursday 8.23.01
HEY NOW - as reported yesterday afternoon in our breaking news story below, the WZZN-FM 94.7 "The Zone" morning show run by longtime Chicagoan Kevin Matthews was not renewed by management, in favor of a "more music in the morning" format. You can read about the details elsewhere, but you can't get pictures of Kev's personal WZZN studio and carts anywhere else but HERE! Click through for the memories...
Don't forget - as mentioned here weeks ago, the second annual "Eric and Kathy Radiothon" begins LIVE at 6a tomorrow from Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago's Lincoln Park - sponsored by WTMX-FM 101.9 "The Mix." We'll be there in the afternoon, with a full report on Monday morning...
If you are reading us from outside Illinois, will you drop us a quick e-mail with your name, city, and state? THANKS! Results to follow soon...
Remember - you can now link to us directly from Scott Childers' Online - www.scottchilders.com - Scott is the midday personality at WNND-FM 100.3 "Windy 100 FM" (you can hear him weekdays from 9a-2p). Just click through to the HOT LINKS section from his homepage...
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BREAKING NEWS - Wednesday 8.22.01 12:15p
HEY NOW - the morning show of Kevin Matthews and crew at WZZN-FM 94.7 "The Zone" has been let go...very little remains of their presence at the station's website - www.947thezone.com - as well...more to come...
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Wednesday 8.22.01
HEY NOW - a little later than expected - look for WLIT-FM 93.9 [brand new] morning news anchor Rick Zurick to arrive next Monday morning. He just signed up for the Melissa Forman morning show, leaving his post at KQSR-FM 94.7 "94.7 KQSR" - a strong "soft rock/less talk" station in Market #55, Oklahoma City, OK. We think Rick qualifies for the "market leap of the week"...
Have you signed up for our newsletter yet? It's so easy - just enter your e-mail address in the box above and click SUBSCRIBE! Do it now!
Coming up this weekend - look for WKIE-FM 92.7 "Energy 92-7 & 5" to be hosting their first annual ENERGY BLAST 2001. As most of you might know, the dance music radio format is few and far between, and WKIE-FM has been doing quite well with it (better overall ratings than the old "92 Kiss FM"). ENERGY BLAST is this Saturday at the Odium in Villa Park, featuring over nine of today's hottest DANCE artists...more details here...
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Tuesday 8.21.01
HEY NOW - look for Mr. Moviefone himself to pop up on WLIT-FM 93.9 tomorrow morning with morning co-hosts Melissa Forman and Bill Leff...
Speaking of WLIT-FM 93.9, the last of the dinosaurs (the big boys, that is) is dying this week...the CC station is finally switching over to a digital-based broadcast format, leaving the carts and the CD's behind...
From last week - what does Dallas' KYNG-FM 105.3 "105.3 FM Talk" have to do with Chicago? Three words - Pugs & Kelly...more details on them (and what they recently DID in Dallas) later this week...
Quick update from our "Whatever happened to?" segment from last Friday - Bill Michaels also does afternoons (via VT) back here in Illinois - you can hear "Tony Michaels" weekdays from 3-7p on Kankakee's WONU-FM 89.7 "Shine 89.7 WONU"...
Finally - anyone remember the magazine Loop Scoop from the old WLUP-AM 1000 days? There was a set of 5 cassette tapes of the "Best of Kevin Matthews" issued along with the magazine...we had a reader inquire about finding these tapes online for purchase. Can anyone help? Drop us an e-mail and we'll pass along the info...
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Monday 8.20.01
HEY NOW - hope you had a nice weekend. Craig Carson has returned to Chicago radio - after quietly exiting WKSC-FM 103.5 "Kiss 103.5" a few weeks ago, Carson is now doing weekends and fill-in slots at WZZN-FM 94.7 "The Zone." However, due to contractual/management stipulations, Carson had to change his radio name AGAIN (3rd time in less than ONE year!). As recently as November 2000, he used the name Freddie Kendricks at WUBT-FM, then switched back to Craig Carson when WUBT-FM flipped formats to WKSC-FM. Now, look for MATT WRIGHT at the Zone...
Speaking of WZZN-FM 94.7 "The Zone," they have dropped the slogan "Best of the 80s, 90s, and Today" from all on-air IDs, their website, etc...note that the "new" slogan was only a few weeks old.
Got a lot of notes about the live broadcast of WLS-AM 890 afternoon personalities Roe Conn and Garry Meier from Friday - glad everyone had a good time.
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Friday 8.17.01
HEY NOW - don't forget about WLS-AM 890 afternoon personalities Roe Conn and Garry Meier today - they're broadcasting their 2-6p show live from the Metropolitan Performance Theatre in Arlington Heights. The Canarble Wagon starts at 5p sharp...
Just a quick reminder again - the column will be on vacation from August 31st through September 20th...
Another episode of "whatever happened to..." - remember Bill Michaels from WTMX-FM 101.9 "The Mix"? He worked the swing shift, plus weekends...he's now a full-timer in the West! Bill runs the weekday mike from 6-11p at Denver's KIMN-FM 100.3 "Mix 100 FM" under the name "Spanky" - more pics and details here...
Teaser for your weekend - do you know what Dalla's KYNG-FM 105.3 "105.3 FM Talk" has to do with Chicago? Find out next week...
That's your weekend wrap-up - thanks for playing!
Thursday 8.16.01
HEY NOW - sometimes being in radio DOES have its perks. You get free stuff and you get to meet celebs - in some cases you even get a little further. Did you know that WTMX-FM 101.9 "The Mix" morning show assistant Cynthia has a boyfriend named Brian Desveaux, who just happens to be the lead guitarist of the group NINE DAYS? Now you know...
It's back - have you signed up for our newsletter yet? It's REALLY easy...just enter your email address in the box above and click SUBSCRIBE! Do it now!
Unfortunately, it looks more and more like Steve Stone is gone for good. He's looking to possibly return to the broadcasting booth next year, but WGN-TV Ch. 9 and WGN-AM 720 have not reserved his old spot for his return. The stations are currently committed to play-by-play analyst Joe Carter and announcer Chip Caray - with no plans to expand...stay tuned...
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Wednesday 8.15.01
HEY NOW - WZZN-FM 94.7 "The Zone" has reinstated part-timer Julie Ryan to a Saturday 11p-5a shift, but she has been permanently removed from afternoon traffic with afternoon personality Steve Fisher. For now (and into the foreseeable future), look for morning show co-producer Summer to provide traffic updates in the p.m.
Have you recently looked at our Radio Pic Archives pages yet? We added some new stuff yesterday - just click here here or use the link above...check it out!
Oprah tix open up soon - keep it here for details...
Want to go see the V Monologues and Mayim Bialik for only $10? Call the Apollo Theater box office at 773.935.6100 and mention WJMK (WJMK-FM 104.3 "Oldies 104.3")...
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Tuesday 8.14.01
HEY NOW - one less syndicated slot to fill...WZZN-FM 94.7 "The Zone" adds Premiere Networks' "Live from the Lounge" weekly program tonight from 10:30p-12mid. The show originates from Los Angeles' KYSR-FM 98.7 "Star 98.7" [home of Danny Bonaduce mornings] and is hosted by their afternoon personality Ryan Seacrest. The program is fed LIVE to the nation from 11:30p-1a Eastern time each Tuesday night. WZZN-FM evening personality Brooke Hunter drops the 90-minute time slot from her on-air workload each week...
Up and at it again - our newsletter is BACK!! Out of commission due to our former ISP's death, we've secured a new means of maintenance...haven't signed up yet? Just enter your email address in the box above and click SUBSCRIBE! It's that easy!
Don't forget your two-fers today...
Coming up Thursday night, WTMX-FM 101.9 "The Mix" offers up a free show at the House of Blues. The featured artist is Grammy-winning rocker Shelby Lynne...she performs an hour of her best music to the first 300 people who can pack the place. Doors open at 5, show starts at 6p straight up...
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Monday 8.13.01
HEY NOW - hope you had a nice weekend. More changes at the chameleon-prone WZZN-FM 94.7 "The Zone" - morning man Kevin Matthews now runs the mike from 5:30-9:45a weekdays (he drops the front half-hour of the show)...
Just a quick heads-up - the column will be on vacation from August 31st through September 20th...we'll remind you again later...
Got something you'd like to share? Comments/suggestions? Send us an e-mail - drew@drewandjill.com...
Coming up this Friday - WLS-AM 890 "NewsTalk 89" afternooners Roe Conn and Garry Meier broadcast LIVE from the Metropolitan Performing Arts Centre in Arlington Heights - details on your free tickets and more at www.wlsam.com...
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Friday 8.10.01
HEY NOW - yesterday morning, WDRV-FM 97.1 "97-1 FM The Drive" re-launched their website - www.wdrv.com (they recently acquired the rights to use the wdrv.com domain from Chancellor Media). Note that Bonneville's "timeless rock" station will no longer promote their 971thedrive.com address (in order to align it with their other Chi-town internet properties - wtmx.com, wnnd.com, and wlup.com). At quick glance...the site flows very well - but no DJ bios/pages as of yet.
Yesterday marked the end to the Chicago Tribune's weekly media reporting...the weekly "Inside Media" column written by Tim Jones (Thursdays on pg. 3 of the Business section) has been absent for several weeks. It was officially replaced yesterday with a new column - "Inside Small Business." In retrospect, the Trib's coverage went downhill after Jim Kirk was promoted to the "On Marketing, Etc." beat after George Lazar's death.
Thanks for all of Jill's birthday wishes yesterday...
Details next week about WLS-AM 890 "NewsTalk 89" afternoon drivers Roe Conn and Garry Meier's LIVE studio audience broadcast on Aug. 17th...
Finally - fun fact for your weekend - did you know that WGN-AM 720 "Newsradio 720" began interrupting regular radio programming with police calls in 1929? This practice prompted the Chicago Police Dept. to buy its first transmitter a year later...
That's your weekend wrap-up - thanks for playing!
Thursday 8.9.01
HEY NOW - Happy birthday to JILL - she's 25 today! Also, special thanks to the Chicago Tribune's Terry Armour and the Inc. column for the birthday shout-out too...
Expect WTMX-FM 101.9 "The Mix" morning co-host Kathy Hart to return from maternity leave on August 20th - traffic personality Melissa McGurren has been filling in since Hart's daughter's birth a few weeks ago...
More about www.trafficguy.com from Tuesday's column - did you catch the wedding picture of WLUP-FM 97.9 middayer Cara Carriveau?
As predicted in this column weeks ago, new WKSC-FM 103.5 "Kiss 103.5" PD Rodney Phillips has and will take an on-air role in some capacities as needed (vs. the opposite with former PD Jay Beau Jones)..."Rodney P." (on-air name) was filling in for mid-morning VTer Randi West yesterday.
Look for another LIVE studio audience broadcast from WZZN-FM 94.7 "The Zone" morning man Kevin Matthews tomorrow morning from 8-9:45a - details at www.947thezone.com...
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Wednesday 8.8.01
HEY NOW - out of character for himself and his show, WCKG-FM 105.9 afternoon host Steve Dahl made a fitting tribute/goodbye on the air yesterday to his former newsman Dave McBride. Instead of the trademark "Dave's Rave" opening the show at 2p, evening host Spike Manton [filling in for Dave] offered up a "Rave to Dave" goodbye spouting niceties and funny remembrances of McBride. The tribute was immediately followed by the song "Someday We'll Know" by the [now defunct] New Radicals in its entirety. We wish you the best, Dave...
Craig Carson has quietly exited CC's WKSC-FM 103.5 "Kiss 103.5"...he was previously doing overnights via the Prophet system, while filling in LIVE on the 12n-3p shift (until VTer Gary Spears started Propheting from KIIS-FM in L.A.) - stay tuned for him to pop up again on the airwaves soon...
Look for WNND-FM 100.3 "Windy 100 FM" weekender Rob Martini to fill in for Kevin Gossett tomorrow and Friday alongside morning co-host Susan Wiencek (Kevin and Susan are heard weekdays from 5-9a).
Look for WKIE-FM 92.7 "Energy 92-7 & 5" imaging man Joe Smith to fill in for morning man Jeffrey T. Mason tomorrow and Friday (the "Energy Wake-Up Service" is heard weekdays from 5:30-10a).
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Tuesday 8.7.01
HEY NOW - now that Kim Fields is finished in Chicago, look for Mayim Bialik to take her place. The former "Blossom" actress begins her V Monologues run TONIGHT at the Apollo Theater on N. Clark Street under the El...
Thanks for the slew of emails about WZZN-FM 94.7 "The Zone" and former Q101ers from yesterday's column - here's a few that we missed. Bill Gamble, PD at WZZN-FM, was once PD at WKQX-FM 101.1 "Q101," as well as Steve Levy, now the WZZN-FM Asst. PD/MD, was once the WKQX-FM promotions director...
Don't forget your two-fers! Also, speaking of WLUP-FM 97.9 "The Loop," happy b-day to morning man Pete McMurray - he's 35 today...
The site featuring pics of Metro/Shadow's Dorothy Humphrey (featured here yesterday) is www.trafficguy.com - a site owned and run by Ric Federighi...he's currently in Affiliate Relations at Metro/Shadow, in addition to his on-air time at WLS-AM 890, WIIL-FM 95.1 "95 Will Rock," and others. More on the site in tomorrow's column...
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Monday 8.6.01
HEY NOW - anyone else notice how WZZN-FM 94.7 "The Zone" has shaped up to be THE exile place for former staffers of WKQX-FM 101.1 "Q101?" Let's see - we've got afternoon driver Steve Fisher, night rider Brooke Hunter, imaging guru Mike B., and also station ID queen Samantha James (still touting the British accent). Am I missing anyone?
WKSC-FM 103.5 "Kiss 103.5" has finally properly identified their early afternoon VTer Gary Spears on their website - www.kiss1035.com - no real substance to it, though.
As promised, we found pics of our favorite traffic personality (it's GOTTA be the laugh) - Metro/Shadow Asst. Director of Operations Dorothy Humphrey - click here and scroll down...more about this site in tomorrow's column...
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Friday 8.3.01
HEY NOW - ever notice how you hear less commercials per hour on some stations and not others? The cluster of properties owned by Bonneville (including WLUP-FM and WNND-FM) has a cap of 12 minutes of ad time per hour - guaranteed! Meanwhile, some of Clear Channel's properties (including WGCI-FM and WKSC-FM) have recently exceeded 20 minutes an hour (that's over 1 min. commercial time for every 3 minutes of broadcast)! That's a huge difference to consider...
Answer to Wednesday's trivia - the only full-signaled station based in downtown to NOT have a tower on the Sears or the Hancock building is WDRV-FM 97.1 "97-1 FM The Drive"...their tower is on the Aon building. Apparently, Bill Florian (former owner of WNIB-FM 97.1 before Bonneville's recent purchase) worked out a deal with the building owners and Motorola for roof rights when the Standard Oil building was being constructed in 1973. There ya go!
Did you catch us in the Tribune yesterday? Check out the Tempo section (all editions) - page 5B...
This weekend - look for a slew of radio and TV stations to be off the air from 6-8a on Sunday morning, as a new antenna is flown in to be perched on the Hancock. [Possibly] affected stations include (among others) WGN-TV Ch-9, WBBM-TV CBS-2, WFLD-TV Fox-32, WNUA-FM 95.5 "Smooth Jazz," WVAZ-FM 103.7 "V103," WUSN-FM 99.5 "US 99," WNND-FM 100.3 "Windy 100," and WXRT-FM 93.1 "XRT." If stations have a back-up tower, they may be less affected than others...the helicopter landing and configuration should be a sight not to miss!
That's your weekend wrap-up - thanks for playing!
Thursday 8.2.01
HEY NOW - one more note about Friday's "Sweet Home Chicago" program on WMAQ-TV NBC-5...look for WLIT-FM 93.9 morning hosts Melissa Forman and Bill Leff to be co-hosting as well...
It's that time of year again. Tickets are going fast for tapings of Chicago's own "What About Joan" seen locally on WLS-TV ABC-7. The show is taped on Friday nights at the Chicago City Studios, near the Eisenhower...for more information and your free pair of tix, call 773.473.8224...
We spy - look for Chicago's own Bill Murray to pop in on WZZN-FM 94.7 "The Zone" morning man Kevin Matthews' show tomorrow after 7a.
Useless trivia for your Thursday morning - did you know that Wrigley Field is home to the first permanent concession stand in Major League Baseball?
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Wednesday 8.1.01
HEY NOW - July is archived above as always. Happy first day of August to ya...
Irony rains down - even though Sandy Maxx was let go a few weeks ago [after her show was canned], you can still send her e-mail at the station. The former Sunday night host of the "Alternative Zone" on WZZN-FM 94.7 "The Zone" is still listed as a DJ contact name at the station's website - www.947thezone.com/contacts...
Did anyone catch us in the News-Sun over the weekend? Turn to the back page of Section G - the "Your Life" section - from the Sat./Sun. edition...
Ticket availability opens up in approx. two weeks for the new season of OPRAH - filmed at Harpo Studios on W. Washington - you can call 312.591.9222 between 9a-5p CT (good luck getting through) once the phones are opened - we'll let you know when...
Trivia for your Wednesday - what is the only full-signaled station based in downtown Chicago to NOT have a tower on the Sears or the Hancock building? Send your guesses to drew@drewandjill.com - the answer in Friday's column...
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