Area Soldier Killed In Fort Hood Rampage
Stroger Makes Hollywood Play
Put Down Your Nanowrimo And Leave The House
Sox Shuffle Continues
Just a little over a year after Steve Dahl made a move to WJMK -- a.k.a. JACK-FM -- after his former home, WCKG, went through a format change, Dahl today announced on the air that he would no longer be continuing at the station. Dahl currently has a contract with the station worth more than $1 million a year, which is set to expire in 2011 -- and Dahl is going to make sure it doesn't run out a day sooner:
"They were saying, 'Well, do a couple of weeks, a farewell.'" Dahl said. "I said, 'It's not a farewell. You guys are taking me off the air. I'm not retiring.' ... "I still have 2 1/2 years left on my deal so, quite frankly, I'm not letting them out of it."The move isn't exactly surprising, as the ratings for Dahl's show were less than stellar. Dahl has enjoyed a 30+ year career in Chicago radio, his pairing with Garry Meier leaving an indelible impression on the hearts of Chicagoans throughout the late 70s and 80s. Where Dahl will end up is of course not known, but will likely be at his Florida condo twiddling his thumbs as stations aren't exactly scrambling to sign million dollar talent. It's already rumored that WJMK will replace Dahl's show with a stream of WBBM-AM news, apparently to introduce Felicia Middlebrooks to a younger audience. Yeah, that should work out just fine.
Photo of Big Steve Dahl from Dahl's website
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
tweet this
post to facebook
Ugh, why can't they just play MUSIC? Why do radio stations think I want to listen to people talk in the morning? Were the ratings really that bad when they were using the same format in the morning as they do the rest of the day?
Steve Dahl was the best of the afternoon guys when I actually cared (i.e., before getting Sirius a couple years ago and thus ignoring terrestrial radio completely), but he still was a bit of a snoozefest.
Steve Dahl looks like an older Dwight Shrute.
Dahl is an icon if only for the Disco Sucks stunt. I heard about that a ton. But if he's from Chicago I'm sure the Nuttcups will give him big ups. We're sad to see you go, Steve: http://fiturl.com/0kg
Sad to hear, but not unexpected. He's been telegraphing this move for a few weeks now (telling one listener who enjoys the show that he "might want to start taping it, then", etc.)
I've listened to Dahl since (just about) the beginning, and I could sense that the new morning routine never seemed to sit well with him. And you could tell he was playing those JACK-FM "classic rock" songs through gritted teeth. Maybe he can get back on afternoons on a station that will actually promote him.
Hurry back to the air, Steve.
Too bad for The Stever. Things are tough all over. He will rebound at a considerably smaller rate after a buyout is neegotiated.
The article mentioned Felicia Middlebrooks of WBBM being streamed on Jack to cover the time and attract a younger audience. I was reminded of when she stammered, pulled the race card, got Jesse Jackson to intervene on her behalf, and was awarded a yearly contract that exceeded $3.5 million for her mediocre work.
Got some news for you, Felicia: you are next.
Attract a younger audience with the most monotoned reading voice in the city. Yeah, that'll happen.
Sadness, but not surprising.
I've been listening for almost exactly 10 years, since a friend dragged me to his 20 yeas in the can concert. I'd heard S&G in bits, but was too young for most of their run.
He's a funny son of a gun, but he needs playmates. That's where Howard Stern did him one better. Being on the air with Just Buzz was a mistake. The guy has the energy of a warm wet rug. He needs someone to fight with, a bit of tension.
Is there any local talk radio that isn't right-wing screaming anymore? WGN is an old folks home, Brandmeier is insufferable, dear god WLS is trying to rebrand MANCOW.
That's how bad things have gotten. MAN-FUCKING-COW.
Albany, that was one of the only negatives (if you can call it that) to the solo pairing with Buzz--he never really seemed totally comfortable going off on him for anything. It almost felt as if he was afraid that Buzz would leave, and then he'd be stuck on his own.
At least when Wendy Snyder was with them, he could play off her and razz her more often. Same thing when he was with Laura, Leslie, and Dave McBride. There was more of a team for him to work against, and more opportunities for one of them to say or do something that he could use as a launching point.
Having said that, I'm sure he'll land on his feet. I really can't picture him staying off the air for 2 1/2 years, though. Janet will kill him.
Let's not forget sidekick Joy Masada too!