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WLS AM/FM SOLD

I've noticed that WLS-FM has been tinkering around with new jingles and sweepers. The latest TOH jingle positions the station as "Music Radio" - and I have to admit, I found it to be really cool. Especially given that it was during Biondi's show last night and was followed by an actual 60s hit (and not some 80s hair band crap tune).

However, they don't seem to have settled on a given set of jingles/sounders.

Dr Wayne said:
Looks like Cumulus in some markets are making their stations semi news. Do you think that WLS AM might become a semi news station? Does anyone know why they are doing this? I Think they just did this in SF.

My intuition is that this is just a San Francisco thing and it doesn't even make much sense there. Aside from 2 weekday segments, KGO is pretty much all-news now. And they'll get clobbered by KCBS. That was a lose/lose: the lose the significant talk audience they had and they will lose badly in news to KCBS A/F. I know that they wanted to lower the demos, but this would not seem to be the best way to do that.

Here in Chicago, there is already so much competition on the all news front. Cumulus would never gain any traction that way. Not to mention that KGO did not/does not have all of the popular syndicated shows that WLS has. Clear Channel holds the rights to those programs (i.e. Rush, Hannity, etc.) in the Bay Area and airs them on KSFO.

So, no, I do not see that happening here.
 
Maybe they can improve AM reception in Lake County, IL. Believe me, on my car radio (digital) & bedroom clock radio I sometimes get better reception of 880, WCBS New York with less background hiss. This is unacceptable, and they are non-directional. Signal sometimes clearer in my home town near Peoria, Il, central IL.
 
howardm said:
Maybe they can improve AM reception in Lake County, IL. Believe me, on my car radio (digital) & bedroom clock radio I sometimes get better reception of 880, WCBS New York with less background hiss. This is unacceptable, and they are non-directional. Signal sometimes clearer in my home town near Peoria, Il, central IL.

WLS' transmitter site in Tinley Park is far enough south to make reception in some northern suburbs not as good as the other 50Ws. If you're downstate WLS is stronger than the others. I don't think they are going to rebuild their transmitter site.
 
BRNout said:
Dr Wayne said:
Looks like Cumulus in some markets are making their stations semi news. Do you think that WLS AM might become a semi news station? Does anyone know why they are doing this? I Think they just did this in SF.

My intuition is that this is just a San Francisco thing and it doesn't even make much sense there. Aside from 2 weekday segments, KGO is pretty much all-news now. And they'll get clobbered by KCBS. That was a lose/lose: the lose the significant talk audience they had and they will lose badly in news to KCBS A/F. I know that they wanted to lower the demos, but this would not seem to be the best way to do that.

Here in Chicago, there is already so much competition on the all news front. Cumulus would never gain any traction that way. Not to mention that KGO did not/does not have all of the popular syndicated shows that WLS has. Clear Channel holds the rights to those programs (i.e. Rush, Hannity, etc.) in the Bay Area and airs them on KSFO.

KSFO is also owned by Cumulus. Back when ABC owned the stations, they made the decision to keep KGO local and center-ish, put the syndicated shows on KSFO and make that station out-and-out conservative. CC's talk station on AM is KNEW.
 
Mark Jeffries said:
BRNout said:
Dr Wayne said:
Looks like Cumulus in some markets are making their stations semi news. Do you think that WLS AM might become a semi news station? Does anyone know why they are doing this? I Think they just did this in SF.

My intuition is that this is just a San Francisco thing and it doesn't even make much sense there. Aside from 2 weekday segments, KGO is pretty much all-news now. And they'll get clobbered by KCBS. That was a lose/lose: the lose the significant talk audience they had and they will lose badly in news to KCBS A/F. I know that they wanted to lower the demos, but this would not seem to be the best way to do that.

Here in Chicago, there is already so much competition on the all news front. Cumulus would never gain any traction that way. Not to mention that KGO did not/does not have all of the popular syndicated shows that WLS has. Clear Channel holds the rights to those programs (i.e. Rush, Hannity, etc.) in the Bay Area and airs them on KSFO.

KSFO is also owned by Cumulus. Back when ABC owned the stations, they made the decision to keep KGO local and center-ish, put the syndicated shows on KSFO and make that station out-and-out conservative. CC's talk station on AM is KNEW.

You're right Mark, that was a mental lapse because I actually know better.
 
I think that this thread has become a catch-all for discussions about WLS AM or FM. The discussion of the sale faded many pages ago! ;D
 
As reported from Chicagoland Radio and Media

" In less happy WLS news... former WLS-AM morning show host Bill Bailey passed away Saturday at the age of 81. Bill Bailey was with WLS-AM for just under one year, from mid-1969 to mid-1970. WLS-AM's Program Director John Rook, a fan of Bailey's radio work, brought Bailey up to Chicago to replace the popular Clark Weber, who had announced he no longer wished to do the morning show for the station. Unfortunately for WLS-AM, the following year, Bailey returned back to the south where he was welcomed by fans for many years to come. Bailey, whose real name was William Boahn, also worked in numerous other markets, but acheived his biggest popularity in Kentucky, where he was given the nickname of the "Duke of Louisville." He was one of two gentlemen using the name Bill Bailey at WLS-AM, as a second DJ using the same on-air name joined WLS in 1972."
 
scanman1 said:
Works for me! Goodbye Scott Shannon, welcome back John Records Landecker full time (hopefully).
this is such a NO-BRAINER... JOHN RECORDS LANDECKER classic hits AND WLS-HOORAY! replace the Morning Drive show.
 
No more request shows on Friday night as Biondi is pushed out of the 7-11 PM shift on WLS. Guess his new shift 11-2 will be his last at WLS. I can not imagine Biondi who will trun 80 this year will keep this shift for a long time. So sad as he sounds great in his present time slot. Get rid of Scott mid days and leave Biondi's show where it is at. What do you guys think?
 
Dr Wayne said:
...Get rid of Scott mid days and leave Biondi's show where it is at. What do you guys think?

I agree, Dr. Wayne. Put Landecker on mid-days to replace Scott Shannon, and leave Biondi on at night. I mean, Landecker is a legend too, and it will be great hearing him on a nightly basis, but...Perhaps Biondi is having some health problems? I notice that he takes time off quite a bit, and seems to VT at other times. I guess we'll find out Monday. :-\
 
jhacker said:
Dr Wayne said:
...Get rid of Scott mid days and leave Biondi's show where it is at. What do you guys think?

I agree, Dr. Wayne. Put Landecker on mid-days to replace Scott Shannon, and leave Biondi on at night. I mean, Landecker is a legend too, and it will be great hearing him on a nightly basis, but...Perhaps Biondi is having some health problems? I notice that he takes time off quite a bit, and seems to VT at other times. I guess we'll find out Monday. :-\

Biondi isn't having any health issues. He's in better shape than most people half is age.
WLS-FM better wise up fast and fix this.
 
Dick Biondi in drive time 3-7. Scoot Shannon over nights. John Landecker in morning drive?
I guess I'd really like to hear JRL on the way to work at night, and try for a chance on the Boogie Check.
 
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