Results tagged “radio”

Bummed Talk Of The Nation and Afropop got booted in the latest reshuffle of the WBEZ schedule? Want to know why there's only 5 episodes of Radiolab listed? Bummed you have to wait until the afternoon to hear Terry Gross spar with guests like Gene Simmons? Acting Program Director Steve Edwards explains all.

CHIRP -- The Chicago Radio Independent Project -- is just about ready to launch, but need a little help covering their streaming costs. Y'see CHIRP is the exact opposite of what we usually hear polluting Chicago's airwaves. We're sick of corporate behemoths shoving the same ol' same ol' playlist consisting of an insanely limited range of music down our collective gullet. And while we love us our WBEZ, more community voices talking about local issues is never a bad thing.

For the upcoming season, the Chicago Bulls have added a spanish-language radio broadcast as they try to reach out to the city's large Latino community. Twenty-one home games will be aired on La Tremenda WRTO 1200 AM, with Omar Ramos and Ozzie Guillen, Jr. calling the games. As in son of the hot headed, loud mouthed White Sox manager. If he runs his mouth anything like his dad, we're sure the broadcasts will be entertaining -- no matter the on-court play. Pretty sweet as we've been looking for an excuse to brush up on our Spanish. This isn't the first time Ramos and Guillen have teamed up: the pair have been calling the White Sox on Spanish radio for the past few seasons.

User generated weekly charts will "inform" the playlists populating the new LAST.FM stations launching in four U.S. markets including Chicago. CBS Interactive Group is giving over some of its high-definition radio channels over to the endeavor. Considering all of the radio stations in town currently utilize computer generated playlists, how exactly is this any different? [Billboard]

With radio in turmoil and big name hosts getting axed across town, radio personalities are sometimes going to unusual lengths to reach an audience. After leaving The Score (670AM) last year, veteran sports radio host Mike North joined forces with David Hernandez to launch Chicagosportswebio.com as an internet sports-talk platform. Things started to get weird there last week, when it was reported that North was fired from his executive role at the start-up by Hernandez after North question why the media outlet's checks were bouncing.

Having just added Dan McNeil to its lineup, it seems AM 670 WSCR - The Score - could be making its way to the FM dial soon. According to the Sun-Times, the Score is aiming to be "simulcasting on one of adult hits WJMK-FM's (104.3) three HD frequencies." The S-T report continues:

Welcome, my beautiful darling, make yourself comfortable. Can I get you anything? I want you to relax.

We had an idea that this would happen when Dan McNeil was canned by ESPN 1000 (WMVP) back in January. And now it's official: Danny Mac will return home to the Score AM 670. Beginning June 15, the former host of ESPN radio's afternoon "Mac, Jurko and Harry Show" will take the air at The Score solo from 9am - 1pm on his new "The Danny Mac Show." McNeil, who earned about $600,000 in his last contract, likely took a big pay cut to get back on the radio. "Everybody takes a haircut in '09," McNeil said.

Kathy and Judy are off the air at WGN. This doesn't really mean much to us, but we suspect our mother is very upset by this news. She loved those girls. I mean, really loved 'em. So we're guessing that there's a wide swath of folks mourning the demise of their radio show. What's even worse is that the plug was pulled so abruptly so we imagine there're a bunch of folks in semi-shock right now (not least off all Kathy and Judy!). So long gals, you'll be missed. [CBN]

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.

Vinyl nerds, be warned. The 7th annual CHIRP Record Fair & Other Delights is upon us—and this year’s media blitz complete with music, magazines, posters, and more will fill your arms with loads of entertainment and eye candy to last all summer long. Founded by the folks at CHIRP, a non-profit organization that aims to bring a new independent radio station to Chicago, this year’s event has a brand new location—the Chicago Journeymen’s Plumber’s Union.

Tom Joyner has been replaced by "The Steve Harvey Morning Show" at WVAZ Hey, Clear Channel, way to yank off one of the most revered voices in Chicago morning radio and replace it with a syndicated comic hack. [Rosenthal / Trib]

Lewis Lazare reports that KISS-FM morning show host DreX has signed a five year contract to stay at the station. This follows on the heels of Brandmeir's one year deal at The Loop and Mancow Muller's two year deal last fall with WLS. Lazare says three years is the norm. It seems Clear Channel is willing to take a risk at a time when layoffs are rampant, newspapers are dying and radio is fighting to stay alive.

Phil Rosenthal reported yesterday that Jonathon Brandmeier signed a new one-year contract with WLUP. Part of the contract insures that his current staff will remain intact. Earlier this month Emmis laid off seven Chicago staffers. With rumors that Brandmeier might go to WGN, that station now must find someone for its mid-afternoon slot. Garry Meier appears to be the in the lead.

Mike North's ChicagoSportsWebio.com is preparing to become a 12 hour sports talk station. The station will include boxer Ray 'Boom Boom" Mancini, Chet Coppock, Jonathan Hood, Teddy Greenstein and Tim Doyle.

It seems sports reporter Bruce Wolfe can't catch a break. He was laid off yesterday as Emmis Communications cut 91 full time positions company wide. Seven staffers total were let go in Chicago. Q101 morning show co-host, Jim Lynam and Loop midday DJ Erin Carman were also given the pink slip. Pete McMurray will fill in for Carman for the rest of this week, starting on Monday John "Byrd" Kempf will take over. McMurray will then move to Kempf's 7 p.m. to midnight shift.

Lewis Lazare reports today that Jonathon Brandmeier has not yet signed a new contract with WLUP-FM.

Based on response to the cover alone, it's safe to assume Neko Case's new disc Middle Cyclone is going to be a critical juggernaut. Get a sneak peek into her own thoughts about the album and her approach to jumping over laser swords when she appears on Sound Opinions tonight at 8 p.m. or tomorrow at 11 a.m. (Oh hell, get a sneak peek and just download the podcast here if you can't wait.)

Here's a quick overview of what's been going down in the Chicago media scene in the last week.

This American Life is hitting the road to record some live shows this spring. Ira and crew will be hitting the Chicago Theatre on April 19 for a live recording. Per the Theatre's website, "The performance will include extra-special visual components, and feature audience favorites Dan Savage, David Rakoff, Starlee Kine, Mike Birbiglia and Dave Hill." Sounds good to us! Tickets go on sale this morning in...about half an hour, so get your clicking fingers ready! [via Gapers Block]

WBEZ announced two new additions to its Saturday afternoon line-up. Definitely Not The Opera and Ideas will run from 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. and replace the canceled Weekend America.

There's an empty bar stool at the "afternoon saloon." ESPN Radio WMVP (1000 AM) escorted Dan McNeil, host of the afternoon "Mac, Jurko and Harry Show," out the door on Friday and breaking up the team that's been handling afternoons for nearly eight years. The station decided not to pick up the option on his contract, and while he's under contract until May he's been pulled off the air.

WBBM 96.3 FM has named the replacement team for the ousted Eddie and Jobo. Jamar "J Niice" McNeil and Julian Nieh (pictured right)will make their debut as "J Niice & Julian on the Radio" on Monday morning, filling in the 5:30 a.m. - 10 a.m. timeslot.

The two were at Clear Channel's WIHT-FM in Washington a few years back. Nieh left that station to become WBBM's weeknight host in mid-2006 and McNeil joined B96 this spring from Clear Channel's WHYI-FM in Miami.

Continue reading "B96 Names Eddie and Jobo Replacements"

Despite facing criticism that Eddie and JoBo were way too old to be broadcasting "hits and hip hop" to the audience of B96, they soldiered on as morning hosts of the longtime CHR station for decades. Well, not any more – AllAccess.com reports that E&JB have been given the boot by CBS execs. Newcomer J Niice takes over in the short term. The Killer B's program director, Todd Cavanah, told All Access, "We celebrate EDDIE & JO BO's nearly two decades of great entertainment and service. We will miss them and it's time for B96 to move in a new direction. We are looking at several options and hope to have something to announce sooner than later." In other words: Don't let the station door hit you where the good Lord split you. Like so many other radio careers cut short, the duo weren't even allowed a final show to say goodbye to their fans. While we imagine that this news might be out of the demographic for the majority of the Chicagoist reader, maybe some of you listened to 'em in high school – maybe tip out a little bit o' your 40oz. in their honor.

Imagine you’re an actor on a hit TV show. The show has a few healthy seasons and a loyal following, and with a still-hungry audience champing at the bit, it is immediately syndicated on cable television after the series finale. Viewers find it on various networks at numerous times of day, and years later the show ends up on Nick at Nite, celebrated for decades as a cherished American timepiece. But imagine that as a performer, you reap no financial reward for the show’s lasting impact. For you, once shooting wrapped, so did your paycheck. Though the show plays over and over again on TV and the scenes have turned into classics, you never see another royal cent. Would Bill Cosby have stood for that? Or the Golden Girls? What about the cast of Friends or the girls of Sex and the City?

WBEZ's experimental user-generated Vocalo station has a Twitter feed. And they want to hear from you! Badly!

Is Vocalo bleeding WBEZ dry? That's how it looks from this week's Hot Type.

Mancow Muller has been off Chicago airwaves for years (his radio show is still syndicated, it's just not broadcast here), but he's filling in on WLS right now. He's on 'til 11.

mad-libs. Holy crap.