Q87.7 Underground Alternative is set to debut tomorrow 5/7/12

[erwin33]

Thanks!

 

[scripps]

Is Jim Richards the most qualified guy available out there to run this station? Probably not. However, Merlin is essentially Jacor 2.0 and Jim has always been a good go-to guy. Merlin is managed by those who will always consider loyalty and lunacy in their hiring decisions. (and thats a good thing for radio)

 

[RayInChicago]

Re: Q87 Underground Alternative is officially live

[/quote]

Music finally went live on the stream an hour or two ago.

Out of curiosity, is there a Chicagoan who can check out what imagery (if any) is being used by WKQX on channel 6 and/or Comcast 877?
[/quote]

Pretty much the same as Smooth 87.7 had before. A traffic map. Funny thing is, it still says FM News 101.1 on the top and side. But on the scrawl along the bottom with the date and temperature, it says "You are listening to Q87.7. Underground Alternative."

 

[Tom Wells]

When something labels itself as alternative, it's anyone's guess just how alternative it is going to be.

Audio is nice on 88.7.
I think I'm hearing a nice backdrop of reverb.
So far it's been a corporate perspective on alternative, not a listener's perspective.

If they stay ONLY in current hits, I'm not likely to listen much.

There ARE some great current rock groups out there, but what hearing I'm hearing is rehashed 90-s down-scream
rock, total downer corporate fear-sound. I'll keep listening a while to see if they really are this narrow on the mix.
I sure hope they break into a few more decades. There has always been "alternative music" that fits into
such a sound. To stay locked into currents only would be an unfortunate limitation.

Weird to be hearing commercials on 88.7.

I think of that end of dial as pure non-comm.

 

[stewie]

Re: Q87 Underground Alternative is officially live

Personally, I'm welcoming Q87.7 with a fair amount of caution and skepticism. Their posts and comments on Facebook and Twitter sound a lot like Merlin Media's brand of arrogance, and the guy they hired as the new OM of Q87.8 and WLUP is another one of Randy Michaels' buddies who couldn't keep a job under someone else for even a year:

http://chicagoradioandmedia.com/news/2476-alternative-music-on-877-fm-begins-monday

I understand what you're saying but, Jim Richards did what Emmis failed to do for how many years? This station sounds great, all that's missing is some on air talent.

I understand that Q101 leaned hard due to the market here being what it was but it was ALWAYS done pretty half assed, and the final years of Q101 were horrible to say the least.

I will actually give Merlin kudos for what this station sounds like, I'm beyond impressed.

When the FCC requires all low power analog TV stations to convert to digital, they're toast, it's just a matter of time.

I guess someone will make money in ad sales for the time being.

 

[puddingpop]

If they stay ONLY in current hits, I'm not likely to listen much.

There ARE some great current rock groups out there, but what hearing I'm hearing is rehashed 90-s down-scream
rock, total downer corporate fear-sound. I'll keep listening a while to see if they really are this narrow on the mix.
I sure hope they break into a few more decades. There has always been "alternative music" that fits into
such a sound. To stay locked into currents only would be an unfortunate limitation.

Newly-launched music stations routinely start very safe; it generally takes the first few months (weeks, at a minimum) before a station has settled on the mix and philosophy it's going to stick with.

It'll be interesting to see how each of the new Q's adjust to compete with the other.

 

[MarkW]

The playlist looks very similar to WLUM in Milwaukee.

Quite honestly, Jacent Jackson would've been a great choice to program this new station.