Ten years ago, "Can you listen to 'Dust in the Wind?' " was a question no one asked. But Clear Channel decided to answer it anyway. more ›

The next time you run to the bathroom before you hop on a plane at O'Hare, be sure to take a peek at the bathroom mirrors. Instead of seeing your own reflection staring back, you will also see advertisements, thanks to Clear Channel Communications Inc. and a North Carolina company called Mirrus. Both companies told the Chicago Tribune that they plan to install the mirrors at several airports across the country, but they are starting at O'Hare--with 150 40-inch mirrors coming to men's and women's bathrooms over the next three months. more ›

Clear Channel, the media behemoth that owns six local radio stations, could be prepping a format flip at its longtime smooth jazz outlet, 95.5 WNUA. The company has already made deep staff cuts at both 95.5 and its other local properties, and rumor control suggests that this clock, currently at 12 days and counting, heralds the arrival of CC's Cat Country format to the Chicago market. more ›

With Don Imus shooting his mouth off, the same old recycled music, and Clear Channel dictatorially ruling the airwaves, radio is leaving a lot to be desired these days. That's why community stations like WLUW (88.7) are such an oasis in the desert of mainstream radio. more ›

A study commissioned by Broadway in Chicago about Broadway in Chicago reveals — surprise! — Broadway in Chicago is injecting big bucks into the city. How big? Around $635 million in 2006, give or take a few hundred million. An article in today’s Sun Times blew a big sloppy kiss to the Live Nation/Clear Channel/Nederlander money machine, leading with that impressive figure which they concede is a tad inflated. Around half of it ($320 million)... more ›

Jay-Z was in town Saturday afternoon at the Riviera for all of 30 minutes. By Sunday morning he had completed his whirlwind tour of the country, 7 cities in 24 hours. Chicagoist suspects Jay-Z has found the least expensive way to tour the nation on a private jet, as long as the tour takes less than 24 hours, you only have to rent the jet for one day. The craziness was to announce his new... more ›

The NY Times says that Chicago is losing ground to condos. Duh. Chicago to create 100 new schools through Renaissance 2010 plan. Why is Google Audio hiring big-time sales people in several cities including Chicago? To buy Clear Channel? Just expand its current sales efforts? The Supreme Court is to decide if a man can sue Chicago Police officers for false arrest or if the statue of limitations is up. The '85 Bears worried... more ›

Last year, we lamented the loss of the great DJ Dick Biondi who was unceremoniously dumped from the WJMK 104.3 broadcast airwaves when it switched to a “Jack FM” format. After spending a year in Internet and HD radio purgatory, Biondi’s back at WZZN 94.7’s “True Oldies” station starting this Monday at 9 p.m. more ›

We’re not big fans of the outdoor music sheds, but Chicagoist’s suburban upbringing is dotted with warm remembrances of the old Poplar Creek Music Theater. Soon, the tweens of the Northwest suburbs will have similar memories of sitting on the grass as they listen to major label acts they’ve overpaid for, thanks to the Prairie Creek Music Theater, which is scheduled to open next May. According to an article in the Sun-Times by Jim DeRogatis... more ›

This week Live Nation agreed to purchase the House of Blues chain for a cool $350 million. What does this mean to us? No one knows yet as neither company is commenting about what changes the acquisition may bring. Jim Derogatis helps us understand what it could mean for Chicago in terms of market domination by one company ala Starbucks or Microsoft. He also explains how Chicago is unique in that we still have Jam... more ›

The outdoor music space formerly known as the Tweeter Center (giggle) has changed its name to something even more ridiculous. The Tinley Park “shed” is now known as the First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre. You might also think the space has changed ownership, too. What was once clearly marketed as a Clear Channel property is now billed as a Live Nation venue. But a few clickthroughs at the Live Nation website will soon lead you to... more ›

Though the summer’s not quite over yet, yesterday’s Chicago Tribune took a look at what’s next for Chicago’s newest music venues. more ›

Clear Channel Communications in a move to have more Chicago street cred has renamed their music operations here to Elevated Concerts. Apparently sick and tired of defending their strong arm tactics and monopolistic-like buyouts during the '90s, Clear Channel is trying to get in our good graces by changing their name, not by changing their practices. Chicagoist finds this akin to a murderer changing his name in order to continue killing while on the lam, but that's just us. more ›

The reviews are in on Northerly Island and they’re so glowing, we’re wondering if Da Mare is making a list of other underused airports he can bulldoze. Expect complaints from Burt Natarus’ constituents any day now (we know that’s not his ward over there but those people seem to complain anytime someone seems to be having too much fun downtown). more ›

When it was announced that the city would begin putting on concerts at Mei...er, Northerly Island, Chicagoist wondered what kind of acts Clear Channel would book. Would they be acts to consume wine and cheese by like Ravinia? Noveau hipsters for the kids? Or would they take the easy way out and book some low-hanging fruit? To our surprise, the answer to all those questions is “yes.” more ›

The fourth annual Version festival, "a festival that focuses on art, media, technology and politics," opens tonight and this year's is titled "Invincible Desire". It's "an experiment in navigating the subcultural practices determined to flourish at this inhospitable moment past the end of history." We apologize for all the quotes, but we can't quite decipher it and don't want to misinterpret anything. Plus, you know the Chicagoist motto, "We report, you decide." Well actually, we're already at a bar and we're running out of quarters for the dollar-a-minute Internet access so we gots ta finish this right quick. more ›

This week’s New City cover story “Music 45: Who Rocks Chicago” features 45 artists, talent bookers, and executives who rock Chicago. Though the awkward punctuation had us scratching our heads for a while, that was nothing compared with how we got our dander up over the list itself. Trust us: things get ugly when our dander is in the up position. more ›

The stage faces the lake, aiming the sound over the water. Concertgoers will get an eyeful of twinkling skyscrapers as a backdrop...

">CPR will split its public affairs and music programming into two separate stations. WBEW-FM (89.5) and WBEQ-FM (90.7) will run 24 hours of music (jazz, blues, bluegrass, folk and others) and WBEZ-FM (91.5) will run public affairs programming around the clock. WBEZ currently runs approximately 16 hours of news, talk, arts and culture and 8 hours of music (mostly jazz). The FCC has approved increasing WBEW's power by 50,000 watts to expand its coverage of the Chicago area. According to President and General Manager of Chicago Public Radio Torey Malatia, the cost of the expansion is won't be difficult because of existing infrastructure and staff and the plan will be implemented within 18 months. Both stations will be available over the Internet. more ›

Officials from the Chicago Park District said today that Clear Channel will win a contract to build a 10,000 seat music venue on Meigs Field. So celebrate people! Just think, we'll get at least one more Nickelback concert per year! And can visits from the edgy teen diva of the moment be far behind? And, uhm, seriously, start celebrating. Those armed men in the Clear Channel uniforms waving the "We Own Everything!" flags aren't fucking around. more ›