WKQX / The Loop

[Airwaves01]

Any thoughts as to the direction either (if not both) of the Emmis stations will head now that Rick Balis has been named vice president of rock programming? Q101 definitely needs to settle on a format/identity and rid itself of the whole "on shuffle" format. It's just not working. And the Loop is undergoing changes, starting with Zakk Tyler's contract not being renewed.

Any ideas what they may do or opinions on what they should do? Should The Loop bring back Seaver? Are they seriously considering the return of Kevin Matthews or Pete McMurray? Will Wolfman Jack rise form the dead and bring back life to radio? Discuss.

 

[mediamayhem]

Pete McMurray will be filling in the next few weeks. It's up on their website: http://www.wlup.com/Airstaff/index.aspx. I would bet they've already got the deal sealed with whoever will be the new afternoon personality - just like they did with Brandmeier when Byrd filled in for those months.

Should they bring back Seaver? Yes. Will they? No. Seaver, Cara, Novak - many of the music jocks in the past decade were very good on the Loop. But I think they'd be more likely to bring in Bonaduce or another "personality" from the past (if they are truly doing that as their press release eluded). I do not think that would be the smartest move since talk radio in Chicago is not garnering great ratings. Honestly, they should have let their midday jock go along with Tyler. Those were their weakest dayparts. Maybe her contract isn't up yet.

 

[chgodave]

I'm totally baffled with WLUP these days. When they screwed around with the mixture of talk and music in the mid-90's they lost most of the audience they had built up for (then) over 15 years. The "Let's take a phone call, now let's play a song, now let's have a commercial" format didn't serve either the talk or music audience very well.

Then in the past couple of years, they went to the "nearly 30 years as the rock station" approach, mixing newer rock with the classic rock they have been playing most of their years on the air. Now, in the past year, they have increased the talk and the phone participation. Based on the last 3 or 4 ratings books, it's not making much of a difference either way.

Now, it's as if they are deciding what direction to take. It's getting to the "make up your mind!" point. Zakk Tyler tried to bring personality, talk, and information, to a music show, and I give him credit for that. It might have been his small market "sounds like my first job" voice that wasn't catching on, but that direction does not fit a "30 years as your music station" moniker.

Bringing in Pete Mc to do afternoons and compliment Brandmeier makes it seem like they want to push more talk, rather than increase what became too tight of a playlist.

I hope WLUP goes either talk or music, and not regress to the mid-90's mixture that went nowhere. But so far, it's not looking good. There might actually be a market for a true classic rock station in Chicago before too long.

 

[EDwalker]

There might actually be a market for a true classic rock station in Chicago before too long.

In the last couple of months, I've sensed The Drive becoming more of a classic rock station. The music has changed on that station, although the presentation is still laid back. And Skafish is now doing weekends on the station too.

 

[Jan Rx]

I really hope the Loop stays with their music format in the afternoon. If a Chicago listener wants talk, they have lots of options and I don't think placing a talk format in the afternoons will cause anybody to remain loyal to the Loop. It would just make me switch to another station or listen to my iPod. They have a great niche as "Chicago's Rock Station" and they need to build on it. I really liked Zakk Tyler's show and was disappointed when they didn't renew his contract. Right now it appears Loop management expects Johnny B. to carry the whole station. They don't invest in any advertising or promotion for anything but the morning show. For example, you don’t see billboards around town or t-shirts or other promotional tools for the rest of the on-air staff. To build an audience for the rest of the on-air staff, potential listeners need to know about them. For example, Byrd has an unbelievable knowledge of rock and roll and has built a show that is all about the music and has several different features every night giving me a compelling reason to listen. The Loop should capitalize on his show and give it more prominence thereby drawing in more listeners while staying true to the notion of being Chicago's rock station. I hope whoever gets brought in for afternoons remembers that for many listeners, it is about the music as well as the other things a new person may bring to the show.

 

[EnbyCee]

There might actually be a market for a true classic rock station in Chicago before too long.

In the last couple of months, I've sensed The Drive becoming more of a classic rock station. The music has changed on that station, although the presentation is still laid back. And Skafish is now doing weekends on the station too.

Yeah, I was in the area last weekend and was somewhat shocked to hear harder-edged music (ZZ Top, for example) on WDRV. Of course, when I moved away the Drive and the Loop were still sister stations that took care not to step on each other's toes.....