Q101 Fades Away

q101 has been a staple in chicagos radio for almost 30 years and mos t of the people on here and the unloyal listeners who dropped it long ago are probably the same who listen to rap and hiphop and shit like that, that isnt music. Alternative AND METAL (to whoever dissed metal music) requires practice and the TALENT to write music, TALENT to actually play an instrument AND decent lyrics; not sit and throw out lyrics about sex and drugs, hoes and guns, and lyrics that dont have any meaning to them. And Eric and Kathy werent that bad. And what about Sherman and Tingle and everyone else. ALso, for some people Q101 was a place to find out about upcoming shows and win free tickets. Its also where MANY new bands got their break and got noticed around here. And their concerts; Mayhem Fest, Jamboree, Block Party, Warped Tour (not theirs i know but they got the word out) and many others like them had thousands of people at them. It isnt like the whole world abandoned metal and alternative; some still like it and the fallen alternative station. ANd for those who arent as fortunate to have a car with an ipod plug in, the radio may have been the only place for them to rock out in the car. So...it was just plain low-down to take that radio away. And a TALK STATION of all things!! I know when im heading to work in the morning and want to start the day right i dont want to listen to some boring people talk about boring things that make me fall asleep at the wheel. I want something thats going to start my day off great. So, just to show all you haters here just how much negates your opions on how Chicagos A;ternative sucks. \m/ ^_^ \m/ LONG LIVE METAL!!

Even though your post seems a little heated,I get where you're coming from. I used to listen to Q101(along with 'XRT) all the time in the 90s. It wasn't perfect but it was,back in my 20s,the best things got. I'm now 41 and while I didn't listen to it as much when I turned 30,it was still nice to know it was always around. Kind of like LoopFM. However,Q101 went corporate years ago,playing safe,radio friendly alternative and metal rather than push limits. If you noticed,they played the fuck out of Korn and never bothered with anything like Arch Enemy or even Chicago's very own Oceano or Pelican. Why? Because it meant taking risks and testing the audience. When oldie station 'XRT  or NPR plays more Wilco than Q101 ever did,it makes you wonder. Plus,if you looked at an average Q101 playlist,you'll see that half the songs are,roughly,5-15 years old. Foo Fighters "Monkey Wrench" and the Cure's "Just LIke Heaven" sure it's "alternative" but hardly current,is it? It's your parents "alt-rock"/metal not yours. Actually,it was alternative rock program-managed by people in suits.  Also,let's be honest: online radio and podcasts have all but taken over traditional music radio. The average 20 year old will sooner learn about an indie or metal band through Facebook,Twitter or Tumblr before hearing about it on terrestial radio. Throw in things like Last.Fm,Pandora,Rhapsody,the newly introduced Spotify and near infinite number of music blogs,that kid's options are totally covered.Why do I need to tune into FM radio when X band's new album just leaked online months before its official drop date,downloadabe and iPod ready? Also,almost right from the start,Q101 was never a match for college radio. It was nice for Q101 to finally get their hands on bands like Arcade Fire or Interpol but it was also 3-4 months after the album dropped. WNUR,WHPK and WLUW always played more challenging and engaging fare. Still do. Q101 either couldn't or wouldn't keep up. And let's not even get started about Pitchfork's influence on what's cool these days. The worse bit? Comparing Q101 to other "alternative"stations around the country and realizing just how behind the curve they were compared to Los Angeles,NYC,Boston or Austin.

My point is Q101 was past its prime. Unless Q101 radically changed its format to compete with internet radio and podcasts,it was destined to,at the very least,become another version of The Mix. Oh wait,it already kinda was that. It's a shame it's gone as,like the Loop,it's one of those stations that make one wax nostalgic. Now it's gone all talk. I'm curious to hear what/who they get along with Murphy. To be honest,I'll just stick with NPR myself. Oh,and creating rap/hip-hop requires just as much skill as it does to shred a guitar or work a double kick drum. Just saying...

Kyle, I'm 43 and right there with you.

I mourned the death of Chicago's only alternative rock station, Q101, with a love letter to it and to local radio everywhere. You can read how the soundtrack of my formative years will be lost forever at RobbyNova's Pop World:
 
http://www.robbynovaspopworld....

I definitely have fond memories of Q101 though. I'm in my mid 30s so that's my wheelhouse right there. Listening last night and really over the last week or so when they've pretty much emptied the vault and played a lot of stuff I haven't heard in years (Tripping Daisy anyone?) was a nice reminder of what an awesome station it was. And last night's drunken free-for-all send-off was interesting.

I cant even describe how much this sucks. I loved  Q101, I listened to it every time I drive. I never changed the station ; loved the music, driving home from work at night I loved listening to loveline every night. I don't know what I'm going to listen to now.

Everything is better in past-tense. I've lived a lot of places, and nothing comes close to Q101. It's interesting that there wasn't a real fight or protest...actually surprising considering we (Americans) fought for Rock & Roll. Granted, Q101 was torn between playing "ratings" music and true alternative rock, but they were the only bastion for new acts (Chevelle, Rise Against) and were plugged in to the music business. Sad day for me.

Q101 gave me my life soundtrack, I am pretty bummed about it. I weep for
the future of Chicago Radio. Does everyone wants their kids listening
103.5 or B96? I listened to Q101 for 17 years, since 94. Most of the
songs and bands that influenced me back then all were on Q101. Every new
rock song in the past twenty years has been played first by Q101 and
the old Rock 103.5. Show a little respect for the station that was a
staple of Chicago radio for a little under 20 years. All the concerts
and revenue that Q101 brought to the city of Chicago was immense. I
doubt Lollapollooza will come back to Chicago after Q101 is done.
Alternative Rock isn't for every one just as every song isn't for
everyone. They played what they could get away with. Chicago Radio is
done in my mind. 97.9 is the only descent station left, but they were
also bought out by Randy Micheals aka Captain Asshole. I am eagerly
awaiting the rise of another Rock station in Chicago. RIP Q101, thanks
for the memories.

I'm really gonna miss Q101.  It was my favorite station for many years!  They did play a little too much metal towards the end but every once in a while variety in programming is ok.  RIP Q101, you will most definitely be missed...

I live in the deep south where every station is Country. I love alternative always have but one by one all alternative stations around the country are going away and not many people know this but wkqx q101 chicago has always been my favorite. we shortly had a buzz on 105.3 here in my town but it wasnt that good Clear Channel, but i didnt miss it until it was gone. point of my story is everyone is hating on them but atleast you have a alternative station. they might not always play exactly what you like but atleast it wasnt talor swift and miley sirus nothing agains them at all but I like to hear different stuff on the radio and they are played on almost every station around. R.I.P. Q101 I will always miss you!!!

At least Q101 played something different than just pop. It wasn't always my kind of music, but what other Chicago station ever plays NIN, Beastie Boys, Nirvana, etc. Few. (none?) Unfortunately I can't afford satellite radio or even a new iPod since mine is on the way out, so my music choices while commuting are limited to free radio. Not that I don't enjoy NPR, but sometimes you just want some music beyond Carrie Underwood or Beyonce.

Though painful since about 1998, I'll always remember your secret Pumpkins shows and "Industrial Zone" Saturday nights before going out.  And you had great early Twisted Christmas and Block party line ups.

When I moved to Chicago around 10 yrs. ago I was SHOCKED at the crap radio here. I mean, really???? A big city like Chicago? I expected more. I mean how is it that Eric and Kathy have jobs? I will never understand this.

I'd written Q101 off pretty much by the end of the 90s, but I'll never forget the way it was in the early to mid 90s, nor will I forget the station that was the home of "Sound Opinions" for so long.

RIP.

If you haven't listened to CHIRP Radio (http://chirpradio.org), you should give it a try! [Full disclosure: I'm a volunteer there.] Truly community-based radio, with fantastic music!

I mean, I'm not a huge Q101 guy, but its a rock station. I remember when I lost 92.3 WXRK in New York, which I grew up with.  It just pisses me off, am I only going to be stuck with freakin Erik and Cathy on 30 stations? 
I guess I always have NPR.

A pretty decent book came out a few years back. "Right of the Dial: The Rise of Clear Channel and the Fall of Commercial Radio" by Alec Forge. If you're interested in this sort of thing, it's a interesting read.

I'm the first the acknowledge that I missed the Nevermind "glory days" of the early 90's. I started listening during the mid-late 90's of middle school. Q101 turned me on to a lot of bands but they haven't represented my musical identity since I graduated high school back in 2003.

I think I finally gave up when they aborted the smartly curated "Crash Test Radio" daily new music block for "What's the Point?", the daily series of bro-rock approved songs which already were laughably overplayed that were all somehow loosely connected. (Soundgarden! Alter Bridge! Hollywood Undead! All bands that have albums with skulls on them!!!!!*)

Even still, they had flashes of cutting edge relevance. The weekly "Sonic Boom" electronica music block introduced me to acts ranging from Portishead to Derrick Carter and helped mold my love of
electronic based music. They had Kanye's "Stronger" on heavy rotation for about a solid month or so before the mainstream hip-hop stations picked up on it.

All of this said, Q101 will always have a nostalgic place in my heart and it sucks to see them go.
 
*I have no idea if this is actually true. I could look it up, but real talk; I'm too lazy for that.

While I agree it's become unlistenable, and they're hired a lot of terrible DJs lately (especially Sherman & Tingle, who somehow managed to be worse than Mancow), it's sad to see it go. Like many, my teenage years were spent blasting Q101 -- Local 101, Top 9 at 9, Sonic Boom, the drive-time show with Sludge, anything with James VanOsdol -- and going to Jamborees and Twisteds. They're like a friend that you've become estranged with, but you still remember the good times. Farewell, old friend. :\

Geez, what a sour farewell. Sure, it hasn't meant much to the music world for a long time, but like most Chicagoans in their 30's I have fond memories of that station. In high school I thought it was so cool. I discovered a lot of great music. And when I returned to Chicago in 2004 one of the first shows I attended was a Q101 Block Party featuring Death Cab for Cutie, The Walkmen, and Modest Mouse, all in one night for, I believe, ten bucks!

So, geez, lighten up, TB! And thanks for everything, Q101.

You hit the nail on the head Griffin.  The bands that are played on Q101 were great and it was my favorite station for many years.  I'm very sad to hear that Q101 is leaving.  What a sad day in chicagoland radio history.  What now, everybody has to listen to underground stations that will play obscure crap that I don't want to listen to.  There is only so much indie junk that the ears will tolerate without bleeding...This sucks!!!

That was a really awesome show.

I thought I had a skewed position because I have lived in the city off and on for the last 15 years. But it seems that's accurate.

here's my take
http://theindielibrarian.wordp...

My online favorite is KBCO 97.3 out of Boulder, CO. Haven't found anything in Chicago that even comes close.

The Current out of the Twin Cities is where I go:
http://minnesota.publicradio.o...

The only radio I listen to is online. Indie 103.5 out of L.A.,  KEXP out of Seattle, and my favorite, CHIRP radio right here in good old Chicago.

I also would like to make a snarky comment about how I'm too cool for radio. Unfortunately I only listen to podcasts, my iPod, sports talk, and the Drive for 30 minutes every morning (shit, shower, and shave you know), so I don't know enough about radio to make the snarky comment.

I think it's time to start lamenting the death of XRT, which happened about 10 years ago.

I'd argue XRT died even before that!

Ha, my Sirius has been broken recently so I tried listening to XRT again. Rubbish. There was a while there when they brought in Jason Thomas to hip-up the station where it showed a pulse again. That time is over though.

Clear Channel killed the radio with these "format" stations. Q101 has been unlistenable for years. The thing is that interesting programming finds an audience wherever it is. this isn't an internet vs fm radio thing. crappy programming = no listeners. someone will come along with an interesting take on radio.

Not only was I surprised that Q101 was still a station, I was surprised that there is still FM radio, at all.