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Friday, 02.27.04
Mass hysteria - in the wake of the Janet Jackson flesh reveal over public, primetime television airwaves, the radio community is responding in a big way. Clear Channel Communications initiated a zero-tolerance policy earlier this week, holding air talent financially-responsible (for the first time) for any indecency violations going forward. Additionally, the handful of CC stations carrying WCKG-FM 105.9 morning man Howard Stern's syndicated show dropped him temporarily on Wednesday, promising to not resume his programs until measures are in place to ensure that content is favorable. He responded to the actions calling the company "Fear Channel" among other things, while simultaneously exhibiting restraint uncharacteristic of his on-air persona. Is this a passing fad or a new way of doing radio?
Two are better than one - WSSR-FM 96.7 is branding their all-new, all-female morning show as "unique" and it launches on Monday. Joining Maggie Peterson will be Laura Hirsch, who segues from middays. Replacing her is former WJTW-FM 93.5 PD/afternoon personality Matt Scott. PD Brandon Baisden chimed in on the new Maggie & Laura on the Morning Star, "Two local women talking about the issues that concern women - and more importantly - the local issues that concern local women. Maggie & Laura seem like a good, dynamic pair and one that fits with the format and who we are trying to reach." Additionally, former WLLI-FM 96.7 weekender Andi Kuhn has signed on WSSR-FM for similar duties...
Setting up shop - one of WRLL-AM 1690's afternoon fill-in personalities has landed the gig full-time. "World Famous" Tom Murphy will sign on Monday as new afternoon host, recording his voicetracks from the studios of Los Angeles' KIIS-FM 102.7 "Kiis FM". He'll also continue his morning-host duties at Portland, OR's KPOJ-AM 620 "Super 62", originating from the same studios.
Seen and not heard - what radio station was SEEN most prominently during the many plaza-camera shots during yesterday's WMAQ-TV NBC-5 host broadcast of "The Today Show" with Katie Couric, Al Roker, and former WBBM-TV CBS-2 anchor Lester Holt? No question about it - WKSC-FM 103.5 with their "KISS 103.5" ball logos permeated through the crowd.
Hear and there - what song was #7 last night on WKQX-FM 101.1's "Top 9 @ 9" with Fook? "Head Around You" by The Offspring.
Whatever happened to - ...former WLIT-FM 93.9 morning man Paul Peterson? Most recently at WBNS-FM 97.1 in Columbus, OH, he was released this week. Peterson also co-hosted mornings with WLIT-FM 93.9 morning personality Melissa Forman at the old WKIE-FM 92.7 "92 Kiss FM" before he moved to WLIT-FM. Less than six months later, Peterson was let go (ironicly) to make room for Forman's new show...
Wednesday, 02.25.04
Keeping on - I continue to get dozens of emails each day about the WLS-AM 890 contract dispute regarding Garry Meier and his co-host Roe Conn (who remains on-air). No new news, although a very well-constructed fan website has popped up. For a new fix of the afternoon stars, visit RoeandGarry.cjb.net...
Even more exposure - DJHeadlines.com told you about Rick Dees' unceremonious release from Los Angeles' KIIS-FM 102.7 "KIIS FM" two weeks ago. His replacement (and radio alum) Ryan Seacrest signs on tomorrow as new morning host. However, Seacrest's daytime talk show also continues, but in a new time slot AND television station here in Chicago. To boost ratings, Fox moved the 6p show from its WPWR-TV UPN-50 outlet to WFLD-TV Fox-32 this week. It now airs at 3p weekdays...
Hear and there - WUSN-FM 99.5 morning hosts Big John Howell and Ray Stevens took a phone call recently:
The big day - tomorrow is the day that Harry Caray's restaurant will destroy the infamous Bartman baseball that it paid over $100,000 to obtain on EBay. As a result, expect a media frenzy. WMAQ-TV NBC-5 has the honor of welcoming NBC's Today Show crew for a Chicago-based live broadcast, including Katie Couric and Al Roker. The show will air from 6-9a CT (an hour earlier than usual to accomodate the standard 7a ET start time). Also, expect several radio stations to broadcast some part of tomorrow's programming from the vicinity of Kinzie/Dearborn as well...
Standing ground - one of Univision's biggest stars is off the air indefinitely. Renán Almendárez Coello, known as El Cucuy on the air, walked out of his Los Angeles' KSCA-FM 101.9 "La Nueva 101.9" studios late last week following an on-air rant about management. He and his entire staff have been locked out and suspended without pay. His show airs locally on WRTO-AM 1200 from 6-9p weekdays - the last two days have been "Best of" programming.
Ins and outs - WSCR-AM 670 late-evening host Julie Swieca has exited the station over philosophical differences with management...
Coming Friday - moving up a notch...
Monday, 02.23.04
Helping the community - northwest-suburban WZSR-FM 105.5 afternoon personality Joey Fortman is trying to better her listeners' lives in a new way. Herself a certified personal trainer, she now hosts the "Studio Fit Tuesday Tip" each Tuesday at 4:05p, giving basic health and fitness tips to those who'd like to start losing weight and incorporate a healthy lifestyly into their daily life. Additionally, the station is sponsoring a 13-week one-on-one personal training schedule for one listener with Fortman serving as mentor alongside the winner. Asked about the new challenge, she exclaimed, "This is definitely something that I hold near and dear to my heart...and it has always been a goal to help someone change their life the way I have." More to come...
Moving on - WCKG-FM 105.9 morning man Howard Stern's faithful sidekick Stuttering John is set to join The Tonight Show with Jay Leno late next month. He replaces Edd Hall as the show's announcer, and will also be doing some sketch/skit comedy on a limited basis...
Hear and there - some programmers believe that a well-executed radio tease will keep the listener waiting through the stopset for the answer. WNND-FM 100.3 night giant John Symons recently teased a song coming up that "you'd never want to dedicate to anyone at anytime about anything". The reveal after the break? "Every Breath You Take" by the Police.
Ins and outs - WKQX-FM 101.1 morning personality Mancow Muller is giving his website visitors an extra perk. You can order a copy of his book "Dad, Dames, Demons and a Dwarf" from www.mancow.com now and he's personally inscribed each book cover (no two are the same)...
Halfway there - last Thursday marked the halfway point of the February TV sweeps period, as monitored by Nielsen Media Research. The most notable spike thus far - WBBM-FM CBS-2 has increased their ratings almost 20 percent compared to last year, averaging 7 ratings points and an 11 percent share of the audience during its weekday late newscasts (each ratings point equals 33,994 households). However, they still ranks third behind WLS-TV ABC-7 and WMAQ-TV NBC-5 in the overalk race, with those stations still in a close race for first place (WLS-TV averaging 10.7 points and WMAQ-TV averaging 9.9 points). More to come...
Friday, 02.20.04
The final words - DJHeadlines.com has kept you up-to-date and first informed on the continuing contract dispute saga between WLS-AM 890 and its afternoon stars Roe Conn and Garry Meier. Meier's been off the air since 6p January 9th (management's decision) and his contract with the news/talk giant officially expired at 5p Wednesday. Conn opened his 5:00p half-hour talk segment with words regarding he and Meier's future at the news/talk giant. Newsletter Subscribers received the full dialogue late Wednesday night - have YOU signed up? It's free...
Not so free speech - the FCC denied Emmis' Petition for Reconsideration in their case of fines against WKQX-FM 101.1 and morning star Mancow Muller. Broadcasts from March and May of 2001 carried a fine of $21,000, while an additional $7,000 was levied for another show bit in March. The fines and recent rulings have made several station owners take notice and issue comments to their employees regarding on-air material going forward...
New to town - as first told to Newsletter Subscribers Wednesday evening, the sale of northwest-Indiana's WJOB-AM 1230 has been finalized. The winning bidder? Vazquez Development LLC, a partnership involving Traffic Pulse Network's Ric Federighi. Notwithstanding any appeals from the other bidder (M&M Broadcasting), the deal will close for $1.525 million...
Hear and now - WBBM-FM 96.3 morning star Jobo was interviewed by trade publication AllAccess.com this week. He was asked about how he prepapes each show, now that he's been at it for over a decade.
"Show prep has been revolutionized by the Internet. I get into the B96 studio at 2:45am, and go to my 'favorites' list of websites...and get a whole show! Ten years ago...it would have been impossible to get that info. We walk in at 5am with a skeleton show planner. But we don't wed ourselves to the show plan, 'cuz sh*t happens and you've got to be able to turn the show on a dime if necessary."
Ins and outs - yep, that was WCKG-FM 105.9 midday personalities Kevin Matthews and Lumpy battling against WPWX-FM 92.3 night host Trey, the Choklit Jock and the morning crew of WGN-TV Ch. 9 yesterday morning on WGN's Big Show. Who won "The Battle of the Broadcast Stars"? Lumpy pulled through for 'CKG in the tie-breaker sumo wrestling bout (the three teams also competed in a relay race and a life-size game of Operation). Asked what he and Lumpy were going to do now, Matthews exclaimed, "We're going to San Francisco to get married!"
More defined - southwest-suburban WJOL-AM 1340 has repositioned itself as "Will County's News/Talk/Sports" from The Voice of Joliet...
Coming up Monday - halfway there...
Wednesday, 02.18.04
Anything can happen - today looks to be the last day of The Roe and Garry Show on WLS-AM 890, perhaps for good. We've told you about the contract dispute involving Garry Meier, beginning with the "Breaking News" email on January 9th following Meier's escort from the building earlier that evening. As of 7:30a this morning, negotiations are no further along. However, Meier's last contract renewal offer came in the last two hours of his last broadcast day in 1999 (while partner Roe Conn was coincidentally on vacation). At the time, Meier ranted on-air about the lack of respect for the tactic, as well as the difficulty of trying to "read the fine print" while doing his show at the same time.
On the whole situation, Conn told DJHeadlines.com , "I really would be surprised if there were a resolution to this by close of business on Wednesday. At this stage of the game, almost anything could happen." It's anticipated he may read a prepared statement in the 5p hour today, in the event that a new deal is not reached, and possibly play some "best-of" clips from the duo's past eight years. Due to existing contractual language, Meier's name and likeness cannot be used after 6p - all mentions of Meier were removed from www.wlsam.com late yesterday afternoon. Nevertheless, Conn has repeated said the duo will stay together, whether at WLS or another station in town.
Finally, don't read too much into Roe Conn's absence on WLS tomorrow and Friday. He will be "on vacation" (coincidence or not), so any new show will not debut until Monday, the 23rd. More to come...
Shuffles abound - WZZN-FM 94.7 welcomed back their morning show's previous namesake Brooke Hunter yesterday - she'd been on maternity leave since November last year. However, Jill Egan (Hunter's original co-host in evenings, and then mornings) has been released as a direct result. Egan started at the ABC-station several years ago as a promotions intern, and was subsequently promoted to morning show producer as Summer with Kevin Matthews. Following Matthews' departure, Egan segued to weekend host and afternoon traffic reporter duties with Steve Fisher. Finally in June 2002, she teamed with former morning solo-host Hunter for an evening talk show, moving to mornings six months later in January 2003.
Morning producer Sabina Ghebrenedhin was also let go. Going forward, Pete McMurray and Brian "Whip" Paruch are top dogs with Hunter exhibiting a much less-dominant voice in the show, at least from yesterday's debut. In an ironic note, the station's website still featured Brooke and Jill prominently late yesterday morning. As of this morning, Egan remained listed on the "Jocks" page (snapshot) - however, you can reach out to her HERE at the Where Are They Now database...
Another familiar voice - former WCFL-AM 1000 morning host "World Famous" Tom Murphy is this week's fill-in afternoon host at WRLL-AM 1690. He's currently morning host at KPOJ-AM 620 "Super 62" in Portland, OR and is recording his "Real Oldies 1690" voicetracks from the studios of sister KIIS-FM 102.7 "Kiis FM" in Los Angeles (also where he "tracks" KPOJ from)...
Who knew - yep, that was WPWX-FM 92.3 midday personality Courtney Hicks debuting another of her many talents Saturday afternoon. She sang the National Anthem before the Gary Steelheads basketball game...
Coming home - former WGCI-FM 107.5 morning man Joe Soto is slated to return to Chicago next month. He'll sign on as afternoon co-host at WVAZ-FM 102.7 alongside Ramonski Luv - out in the shuffle immediately are co-hosts Bonnie DeShong and George Willborn. Willborn will continue his morning host duties at WHUR-FM 96.3 in Washington, D.C.
Friday, 02.13.04
No signal - the column's off Monday - enjoy your long holiday weekend.
A local favorite returns - WLUP-FM 97.9 morning news/sports anchor Bruce Wolf now welcomes his alter-ego back to town on a regular basis (not seen since his Friday appearances with Kevin Matthews on WZZN-FM 94.7). Thus, in similar fashion, Chet Chit Chat "fills in" for Wolf each Friday morning at 5:30a, 6:30a, 7:30a, and 8:30a with his own views on the sports world. Well worth a listen...
Moving over - originally teased in Robert Feder's Chicago Sun-Times column Wednesday, Infinity GM Harvey Wells told his staff that morning that he's resigning in two weeks to join the relatively-young radio division of Newsweb Corp. in a similar position. Wells is currently GM of WXRT-FM 93.1, WUSN-FM 99.5, and WCKG-FM 105.9 - Newsweb owns WCSN-AM 820, WAIT-AM 850, WSBC-AM 1240 and WCFJ-AM 1470 (and is in the process of closing on WNDZ-AM 750 and WRZA-FM 99.9)...
Synergy - yep, that was Rick Dees chatting with WKSC-FM 103.5 drivers Scott Tyler and Java Joel on Tyler's show last night. Dees checked in to talk about his Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 continuing across the nation (airs Sundays 6-10a on "Kiss FM"), despite his very public firing from LA's KIIS-FM 102.7 "Kiis FM" earlier this week. Asked about Chicago, Dees offered, "I think the highlight of my life was when Paul Harvey showed up [at the Radio Hall of Fame induction]." Rick continued, "I used to imitate a guy named Chuck Buell on WLS. It's amazing...just wonderful radio people."
Joel also shared his first memory of hearing Dees - as a 4th grader in January 1984, he was listening to an AM-daytimer in upstate New York. During a break in Casey Kasem's American Top 40, he flipped over to Dees' countdown and was hooked...
More exposure - WJMK-FM 104.3 middayer Greg Brown features his Beatles Break every weekday at 10:15a. He plays five records uninterrupted, while featuring stories about the songs, the era, and more. Also, YES! That was morning host Paul Perry on WGN-TV Ch. 9 earlier this week. He and a listener from his last station (Boston's WODS-FM 103.3 "Oldies 103.3") were competitors on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire...
Ins and outs - sports talker Tommy Williams has exited his Monday-Thursday evening slot at northwest Indiana's WJOB-AM 1230 over philosophical differences with management...
Back in the saddle - Chicago Tribune editorial columnist (and former WMAQ-TV NBC-5 and WBBM-TV CBS-2 anchor) Carol Marin has rejoined the NBC station as a special assignment reporter. She fills the void left by veteran investigative reporter Dave Savini's departure last month - her first report Wednesday evening focused on the Norwood Park Metra station's lack of rehabilitation despite $1 million of taxpayer dollars spent-to-date. Additionally, catch her tonight with Bob Sirott on his WTTW-TV PBS-11 Friday Show beginning at 7:30p.
A familiar face - former WBBM-TV CBS-2 anchor Lester Holt has gone on to become a prominent national newsman for MSNBC as the host of Lester Holt Live (airs 3-5p weekdays) as well as NBC, serving as weekend co-anchor for the Today show. On Sunday evening, he'll be 90 miles to the north in Milwaukee, serving as one of the panelists for Wisconsin's presidential debate. Tune in to MSNBC for his live coverage beginning at 5:30p.
Whatever happened to - ...former WXCD-FM 94.7 and WCKG-FM 105.9 personality Joe Thomas? He's signed on as afternoon personality at Detroit's WDTW-FM 106.7 "The Drive".
Wednesday, 02.11.04
"How do you say goodbye..."
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Another remarkable day in radio - in a move that many in radio across America are still absorbing, Clear Channel Los Angeles released their KIIS-FM 102.7 "Kiis FM" 22-year morning veteran Rick Dees at the end of his 5-10a program yesterday. In a taped statement that aired just after 5a PT, Dees told his listeners (full audio file available at www.Rick.com), "It's been decided that I will no longer be doing the daily morning radio show on KIIS-FM." His show had been the #1 revenue-generating show of its kind in the market, and his talented cast (including his co-host Ellen K and several longtime producers) will remain in that slot. Named as his KIIS successor? Ryan Seacrest, who's expected to sign on March 1st.
Dees will continue hosting his internationally-syndicated Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 countdown program. It's rumored he may land at sister KYSR-FM 98.7 "Star 98.7" in some capacity, but that morning slot is already filled by former WLUP-AM 1000 talker Danny Bonaduce...
Not knowing much can help you - WKQX-FM 101.1 night personality Fook is doing his part to help those in need this Valentine's Day/week. Continuing through tomorrow night, he's welcoming three couples into the studio each night to test their knowledge of each other. The catch? Each pair has only been together a short time (three months or less). What do the winners of his "Newly-Met Game" win? A romantic weekend getaway at the Hyatt Regency downtown Friday night, along with massages, champagne, and more. Tune in at 8p..
Spinnin' the tunes - WLS-TV ABC-7 morning anchor Sylvia Perez recently visited WTMX-FM 101.9 morning hosts Eric Ferguson and Kathy Hart in-studio as part of the station's weeklong "DJ for a Day" series. The pair gave her a top ten list of "DJ Tips" to exceed in their world (creatively produced by Steve McKenzie):
1. Never say "dub-ya", always say "w", as in W-TMX.
2. Say the time and temperature often. "It's 15 degrees at 7:31, that's 31 past the hour and a chilly 15 degrees"
3. Never use your real name on the air. Use a fake one, like "Eric Ferguson" or "Kathy Hart"
4. Never talk with gum in your mouth
5. Start every break with "Hey all you people in radioland..."
6. Never talk over vocals, talk over music instead. We call this "hitting the post"
7. Avoid "dead air" at all costs - this is the sound of dead air...
8. Pronounce artist names correctly. It's not "Jon Bone Javi", but Jon Bon Jovi. See the difference?
9. Learn to smile when you speak...that way, everyone feels happy inside.
10. Never, ever use the words ___, ___, ___, ___, ___, ___, and ___ (the 7 "bad" words bleeped out). It could cost you a lot of money.
Perez' on-air name was Slick Conditions. Tune in tomorrow morning 6-7a for all the footage...
Ins and outs - WGN-AM 720 middayer Steve Cochran is broadcasting live all this week from the 2004 Chicago Auto Show at McCormick Place. Tune in 12n-3p...
Memory Lane - long overdue, I've added some new pics to the Memory Lane pages here at DJHeadlines.com . Click through to find logos from the defunct WJTW-FM 93.5, WLLI-FM 96.7 and much much more...
Cutting it close - WMAQ-TV NBC-5 morning anchor Dick Johnson has a brief cameo in last weekend's #1 box-office hit Barbershop 2, shot here in Chicago. What's he doing in the scene? Well of course, he's reporting the news on NBC-5...
Done deal - NextMedia has closed on their $14 million purchase of far southwest-suburban WCCQ-FM 98.3 from Three Eagles Communications. As reported here last week, they're still completing the new "Q Country" studio in their Joliet complex and hope to have everything moved in by the end of the month...
Coming up Friday - a local favorite returns...
Monday, 02.09.04
Larger than life itself - radio has seen its share of interesting station names/positioners. In the last few years, we've seen more 'Alice' stations as well as 'Bob' and 'Jack' FMs. As of late last week, America's first 'Howard' station signed on, as in WCKG-FM 105.9 syndicated morning man Howard Stern. Infinity's KXOA-FM 93.7 in Sacramento is now "Howard 93.7" with talk in the morning and a classic alternative format the rest of the day. Do you think this format and name will succeed?
A month's time - WLS-AM 890 afternoon host Roe Conn opened his Friday program talking about the continued lack of his partner Garry Meier on the air: "Garry Meier still in exile. This is the end of the 4th week. We soldier on in his absense and we hope there is resolution to this...before the year 2010." More to come...
Hear and there - today marks the 40th anniversary of the Beatles "U.S. Invasion" appearance on the Ed Sullivan show. To commemorate the event, WDRV-FM 97.1 goes all-Beatles beginning at 12n. They'll be playing all U.S.-released albums back-to-back from first to last (over 15 albums), in addition to giving away several copies of the new "Beatles First U.S. Visit" DVD...
Radio in the now - WKSC-FM 103.5 morning host Drex has expanded his morning show. He's dropped the voicetracked "Count-Up" music hour at 9a, continuing live until 10a (5-10a weekdays)...
Spinnin' the tunes - WLS-TV ABC-7 morning weather anchor Tracy Butler recently joined WUSN-FM 99.5 morning men Big John Howell and Ramblin' Ray Stevens in-studio as part of the station's weeklong "DJ for a Day" series. Tune in tomorrow morning between 6-7a for all the footage...
Moving up in the world - WTMX-FM 101.9 weekend/swing man Tom Lazar has crossed the street to join the sales department of WUSN-FM 99.5, effective this morning...
History preserved - did you catch the recent flip of southwest-suburban WLLI-FM 96.7 last week? If not, find it here at DJHeadlines.com . Click through to the On The Air section for 6 minutes of audio you can't anywhere else. The file features the last songs and imager of WLLI, plus several song/imager clips of the new WSSR-FM 96.7 "Star 96-7" (including all the track pauses, as a result of the first two hours being played from a CD)...
Coming up Wednesday - cutting it close...
Friday, 02.06.04
Hear ye, hear ye - what are you TALKING about? A pause to scan the radio dial, in morning drive:
"In sports, it's news. In entertainment. It's probably in weather too. 'She was cold out there, so...'" - WLIT-FM's Melissa Forman, on Janet Jackson
"I've been driving the country station's pickup truck around. (laughs) It's got the hillbilly logos on the side of it? It's plastered [there]. So when I'm driving it down the road now, I've got my finger in my nose the whole time. And if I catch that somebody is actually looking at me, close-up, I put my finger in my mouth!" - WIIL-FM's Tom Kief
"I knew where that was going." - WIIL-FM's Duco
"Beyonce...I liked the way she did the national anthem." - WNUA-FM's Ramsey Lewis
"She looked beautiful, classy...and then we went downhill from there." - WNUA-FM's Karen Williams
"And Bill, the Grammys are out at 7p on Sunday...lots of celebrity presenters." - WNND-FM's Jennifer Stephens
"Great! That's Entertainment News brought to you by juicy, big chickens with cayenne peppers..." - WNND-FM's Bill Leff
"It's almost Valentine's Day. Black America Web dot-com has gifts. Diamonds, roses, watches for him...as a public service of the Tom Joyner show, we feel it is our responsibility to help the playas for Valentine's Day. We're going to offer tips!" - WVAZ-FM's Tom Joyner
Firmly grounded - on the heels of large ratings success here and in other markets, WKSC-FM 103.5 night personality Java Joel has signed on for three more years. Also, having some fun in the moment - "Kiss FM" is sporting a Janet Nipple Nation Weekend starting this afternoon. Listeners can win music from Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake, while being qualified for a shopping spree to NYC in order to avoid their own "wardrobe malfunction"...
Hear and now - WJMK-FM 104.3 is kicking off its 40th Anniversary Beatles Weekend at 8p this evening with night giant Dick Biondi. He'll be broadcasting live 8p-12m from the Cubby Bear North in Lincolnshire, with the Beatles tribute band American English taking the stage at 10p. Then all weekend, listen for the Beatles each hour (also giving away various Beatles DVDs from their Ed Sullivan Show performances, as well as other concerts and appearances)...enjoy.
Mixing mediums - WCIU-TV Ch. 26 syndicated talk-show host Montel Williams joins his brother-in-name John Williams on WGN-AM 720 this afternoon after 4:30p. Montel is in Chicago to discuss his latest book Climbing Higher...
Getting out of the studio - southwest-suburban WRXQ-FM 100.7 PD/morning host Rob Creighton is on location this morning as the first of several RXQ Morning Show Breakfasts this month (highlighting February as National Hot Breakfast Month). Catch him 6-9a today from the Old Fashioned Pancake House in Joliet. Also, before we leave WRXQ, afternoon host Frankie was recently promoted to APD...
What the people want - for the fourth weekend in a row (and continuing until further notice), WLUP-FM 97.9 launches another Block Party Weekend today at 5p. "Giving Loyal Loopers what they asked for", look for three, four, and five-song sets from core artists like AC/DC, Rush, ZZ Top, Boston, Led Zeppelin, and Aerosmith.
Did you know - ...that north-suburban WXLC-FM 102.3 night personality Frank pulls double duty as afternoon producer for WKRS-AM 1220 afternoon host Lenny Palmer across the hall? Listen for Palmer weekdays 3-6p...
Coming up Monday - larger than life itself...
Wednesday, 02.04.04
One month after - DJHeadlines.com has evolved for the better in 2004. The column is now published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 7:30a. When this new format debuted on January 5th, I said I'd come back and evaluate at the end of the month. After four full weeks, I feel it's the right balance for YOU (the reader, the subscriber, the radio enthusiast, the occasional visitor) and for me. Do you agree? Thoughts? For now, the column will continue as such...
Another opening - just one week after WMVP-AM 1000 bumped Tony Kornheiser's national program in favor of new local mid-morning host Jay Mariotti, ESPN announced that Kornheiser will cease his weekday radio program at the end of next month. Citing the desire to focus on his other projects, he will continue his hosting duties on ESPN cable's Pardon The Interruption program while also staying on as a columnist for the Washington Post.
Adding one more - continuing the growth of the new WSSR-FM 96.7, Laura Hirsch will sign on next week as midday personality. She most recently has been doing weekend work at sister WERV-FM 95.9, while having previously served as MD/afternoon personality at WJTW-FM 93.5 before its sale last September. Also, former WLLI-FM 96.7 midday rocker Flounder segues to nights at sister WRXQ-FM 100.7 effective immediately...
Decreasing profile - for a few reasons (some more obvious than others), WLS-AM 890 has dropped its weekend replay of its afternoon stars. The Roe and Garry Weekend Getaway, a Saturday 12n-3p recap of the previous week's shows from Roe Conn & Garry Meier, is off the air for good (Meier has actually been off-air in a contract dispute since last month). A replacement show announcement is expected in the next few weeks, while weekend host Teri O'Brien will fill in for the time being...
Heavy listening - a recent study release by The Media Audit group chronicled what is termed "heavy radio listening", which is defined as those stations have adult listeners who listen to the radio for more than three hours a day. The group sampled almost 70,000 listeners in 68 markets and found that 26.8% of them were heavy listeners. Interested in the Top 10 markets? Rankings are below (with % of those market listeners defined as "heavy listeners" in parentheses):
1. Milwaukee - Market 33 (32.8)
2. Buffalo - Market 52 (31.8)
3. Baltimore - Market 19 (31.6)
4. Cleveland - Market 25 (31.6)
5. Akron - Market 73 (31.1)
6. Knoxville - Market 72 (31.1)
7. Minneapolis - Market 16 (30.7)
8. Chicago - Market 3 (30.6)
9. Des Moines - Market 92 (30.4)
10. St. Louis - Market 20 (30.3)
Coming up Friday - what are you talking about...
Tuesday, 02.03.04
"A Star is Reborn at 96.7 FM."
Special Tuesday Column - after grumblings had been circulating for several weeks, the rumors have become reality. As of last night, southwest-suburban rocker WLLI-FM 96.7 "96-7 Will Rock" is no more.
As detailed FIRST and EXCLUSIVELY to Newsletter Subscribers last night, NextMedia management informed their staff early Monday morning of a pending format flip and released most of the air talent including morning personality Luke Walker, midday personality Flounder, veteran PD/afternoon personality Lonny Tyler, and night personality Karole Saxx.
In its place, "Star 96-7" signed on at 7p with Madonna's 80s hit "Lucky Star". The new AC-formatted station is modeled closely after the Joliet cluster's previous AC-winner WJTW-FM 93.5 ("Star 93-5" was sold to HBC in September 2003 after the signal was moved to Lemont). Look for audio of the format flip here at DJHeadlines.com very soon...
Asked about yesterday's events, VP/GM Dennis Mockler said, "This was an exceptionally difficult decision as both 'Star' and 'Will Rock' have been successful formats for us. However, it was determined that in the long run 'Star 96.7' made more sense in terms of our current mix of stations for serving the greatest number of listeners and advertisers." Director of Programming Dana Jang also cited increased competition from WZZN-FM 94.7 "The Zone" playing a role in the decision.
New calls of WSSR-FM are pending...
Regarding airstaff, inbound for PD/afternoons is Brandon Baisden who joins from similar duties at WLKN-FM 98.1 "Lake 98.1" in Sheboygan, WI. Morning personality Maggie Peterson, who signed on this morning after transferring from sister WXLC-FM 102.3, will remain in a similar capacity. Additional airstaff will be announced in the next few weeks. Ryan Snow (known on-air as Flounder for WLLI-FM) will continue as Promotions Director as well...
Also launched last night was the signal's new website @ www.Star967.net.
Finally, the close of NextMedia's WCCQ-FM 98.3 purchase from Three Eagles Communications is still in progress (announced late last year). A new control room is under construction in the Joliet facility and mgmt. hopes to move the WCCQ studios into their operation by the end of this month.
Monday, 02.02.04
The graveyard of radio - Don Barrett's brilliantly-written LARadio.com website (covering everything and anything Los Angeles radio) featured a quick look into WCKG-FM 105.9 morning man Howard Stern's show last week. Howard was talking about satellite radio and what it really is (in his eyes):
Howard compared the situation to one of being a football player and having the XFL exist so you have a place to go after the NFL. As for his plans after radio, he said he's going to start a lawn care business.
Sticking around - on the heels of WGCI-FM 107.5 OM Elroy Smith's contract renewal, his star morning team of "Crazy" Howard McGee, Nikki Woods, and Tony Sculfield have also signed on for three more years...
Moving up in the world - former WXXY-FM 103.1 staffer Edgar Ybarra has accepted the APD/MD/afternoon drive slot at WXAL-FM 93.7 and WLKC-FM 103.3 "Alice @ 103.3 & 93.7" in Burlington, VT. He'd most recently been doing weekends at Rockford's WZOK-FM 97.5 "97-ZOK" - his first day on-air at "Alice" will be February 16th...
Where are they now - have you looked at the comprehensive Where Are They Now database lately? Over 325 past and present Chicago radio personalities are included. Remember Donn Pearlman? What about Alan Kabel? Sandy Maxx? Alex Quigley? Joe Vlazny? Find them all right here...
Mixing mediums - UPN has enjoyed considerable ratings success with its Rock Me Baby sitcom this year, centered around two morning-drive radio personalities (and their families and lives) in Denver. Announced last week, Queen Latifah is in discussions with the network to develop a second radio-themed sitcom centered around a hip-hop station that brings in a young, white woman to be station manager. The series' title? WHOT.
Aging the ageless - Chicago Tribune columnist Eric Zorn pointed out something a bit amazing last week. He posted a quick birthday note to WMAQ-TV NBC-5 veteran anchor Warner Saunders. Deemed "aging the ageless", he scripted that Saunders turned 69. WOW. I wouldn't have guessed higher than mid-50s top! Happy birthday Warner...
Coming up Wednesday - one month later...
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