Wow, Chicago radio has really gone down the drain in the last 18 months.

[eggsdannythomas]

Except for the Drive, which is one of the best Classic Rock/Oldies (yes Oldies, they throw in a good smattering without the repition Oldies 104.3 had) stations in the country, Chicago radio is at an all time low.

It seems like the stations that used to rule 10 or 15 years ago are really crappy now: WXRT - crap music, THE LOOP - All Skynyrd, All the time, WGN - except for Spike, who do they have? No Wally, No Eddie, No Sugar Roy.

Anything out there? Maybe Dahl, Nick Digillio (SP), Mike North and that's it. (IMO)

And as far as music? I never want to hear another 80's song in my life! That's my generation, and JACK, XRT, WTMX, LOOP, etc. have made me hate the 80's and 80's music with a passion. Because I am so sick of those songs!

Will this continue? I've been bringing the iPod everywhere lately. SOOOO MUCH REPITITION ON THE MUSIC STATIONS!!!!!!!! NO dynamic personalities, nothing exciting.

Gentlemen, we are at the height of the worst ever corporate radio has been since the early nineties.

QUESTION FOR EVERYONE:

Will things improve?

Is there anything good I'm missing?

 

[OldiesCat]

Chicago radio

This is the reason we have different formats on different stations. If you enjoy listening to The Drive, go for it. If you don't like the other stations, don't listen.

I know that sounds a bit understated but not every station is for everybody. Look at Chicago radio ratings- it appears there's plenty of listening to go around.
>

> QUESTION FOR EVERYONE:
>
> Will things improve?
>
> Is there anything good I'm missing?
>

 

[dave73]

Re: Chicago radio

> This is the reason we have different formats on different
> stations. If you enjoy listening to The Drive, go for it.
> If you don't like the other stations, don't listen.
>
> I know that sounds a bit understated but not every station
> is for everybody. Look at Chicago radio ratings- it appears
> there's plenty of listening to go around.
> >
>
> > QUESTION FOR EVERYONE:
> >
> > Will things improve?
> >
> > Is there anything good I'm missing?
> >
>
I agree with you Oldiescat. Not every station is made for everyone. With mass consolidation, radio is not what it used to be. Most are run by Wall Street, so listeners aren't priority to radio executives. We have to deal with what is out there. I mainly listen to WZVN, Nine FM trimulcast (usually WRZA, but occasionally WKIE when on the north side and northern suburbs), and occasionally The Drive. I haven't listened to Kiss FM too much since Java Joel was canned and Nikki switched to afternoons, and not awake when Drex is on. I rarely even listen to WTMX these days. As for eggsdannythomas who mentioned he's sick of the 80's, you forgot to mention Nine FM, who also plays a bunch of 80's. I grew up in the 80's and enjoy most of the music and glad it's back, at least on the radio. For those who ask how old I am; I'm 31 (32 toward the end of October).

 

[musicloverII]

I notice you say you hate the 80s and yet the people you think are worth listening to are from the 80s and 70s. I also notice your music choices limit you to simpleton stations other than the Drive. I don't see any diversity in your tastes so you're not going to be happy.

> Except for the Drive, which is one of the best Classic
> Rock/Oldies (yes Oldies, they throw in a good smattering
> without the repition Oldies 104.3 had) stations in the
> country, Chicago radio is at an all time low.
>
> It seems like the stations that used to rule 10 or 15 years
> ago are really crappy now: WXRT - crap music, THE LOOP -
> All Skynyrd, All the time, WGN - except for Spike, who do
> they have? No Wally, No Eddie, No Sugar Roy.
>
> Anything out there? Maybe Dahl, Nick Digillio (SP), Mike
> North and that's it. (IMO)
>
> And as far as music? I never want to hear another 80's song
> in my life! That's my generation, and JACK, XRT, WTMX,
> LOOP, etc. have made me hate the 80's and 80's music with a
> passion. Because I am so sick of those songs!
>
> Will this continue? I've been bringing the iPod everywhere
> lately. SOOOO MUCH REPITITION ON THE MUSIC STATIONS!!!!!!!!
> NO dynamic personalities, nothing exciting.
>
> Gentlemen, we are at the height of the worst ever corporate
> radio has been since the early nineties.
>
> QUESTION FOR EVERYONE:
>
> Will things improve?
>
> Is there anything good I'm missing?
>

 

[AnotherBigFan]

And thank goodness for the Drive! I originally put lot of different stations on my FM presets. I used to, but I never change the FM station any more. I only switch from the Drive to hear AM (news, sports). I only need one FM preset!

Is that what the corporate types want? I suppose Bonneville is happy to hear that...

 

[RADIOPORTUGAL]

Re: Chicago radio

Wow, and all this time I wondered "How old IS Dave73, anyway?"

Thanks Dave, I can sleep at night now.

Waitasec..DAVE73 - I GET IT NOW!!! So clever!!!



> > This is the reason we have different formats on different
> > stations. If you enjoy listening to The Drive, go for it.
>
> > If you don't like the other stations, don't listen.
> >
> > I know that sounds a bit understated but not every station
>
> > is for everybody. Look at Chicago radio ratings- it
> appears
> > there's plenty of listening to go around.
> > >
> >
> > > QUESTION FOR EVERYONE:
> > >
> > > Will things improve?
> > >
> > > Is there anything good I'm missing?
> > >
> >
> I agree with you Oldiescat. Not every station is made for
> everyone. With mass consolidation, radio is not what it
> used to be. Most are run by Wall Street, so listeners
> aren't priority to radio executives. We have to deal with
> what is out there. I mainly listen to WZVN, Nine FM
> trimulcast (usually WRZA, but occasionally WKIE when on the
> north side and northern suburbs), and occasionally The
> Drive. I haven't listened to Kiss FM too much since Java
> Joel was canned and Nikki switched to afternoons, and not
> awake when Drex is on. I rarely even listen to WTMX these
> days. As for eggsdannythomas who mentioned he's sick of
> the 80's, you forgot to mention Nine FM, who also plays a
> bunch of 80's. I grew up in the 80's and enjoy most of the
> music and glad it's back, at least on the radio. For those
> who ask how old I am; I'm 31 (32 toward the end of October).
>

 

[djdanska]

I installed my xm radio installed the other day. ($20.00 online deal for roady2. Installed myself.) and sadly have yet to listen to fm radio again.

When im forced to though, i tend to listen to 99.9/92.5, 95.9, 88.3, (for my ska fix.) or 96.7 as they are the only fm stations i can stand to listen to.

 

[eggsdannythomas]

> I notice you say you hate the 80s and yet the people you
> think are worth listening to are from the 80s and 70s.

The music of the "eighties" WAS very special for me because that is the decade I grew up in. BUT how many times can you listen to "Safety Dance", "With or without you" or "I hear the secrets that you keep, keep, keep...........When your talking in your sleep, sleep".

As far as the local radio personalities I mentioned, all I'm saying is that corporate radio won't allow people like that to develop anymore.

> I also notice your music choices limit you to simpleton
> stations other than the Drive.

WRONG!!!! I am just bored of ALL the music on the FM band. Each station, the ones I mentioned, and all the other stations that play current music add maybe a dozen songs a month, and I might be generous in that estimate.

> I don't see any diversity in
> your tastes so you're not going to be happy.

I don't see any diversity on the dial!!!!! All the stations play the same music! You don't know what I'm into. I guarantee I've got more music on my iPod than they play on any Chicago station -- especially Jack, Nine or Q101 on shuffle. This whole 10,000 song library is such B.S. People aren't buying into it are they?

Although I'm not one of the big ENERGY guys on this board, at least ENERGY was playing music that no other station was playing (yeah I know a few hits like Kylie and ATB snuck onto B96, Kiss and Mix). It was a fresh sounding station and they kept adding new stuff every week!

 

[eggsdannythomas]

Re: Chicago radio

> > This is the reason we have different formats on different
> > stations. If you enjoy listening to The Drive, go for it.

LED ZEPPELIN can be heard exclusively on:

NINE, XRT, ZONE, WIIL, RIVER, DRIVE, LOOP, JACK, WCKG (when they play music) and I'm sure I'm missing a few.

GWEN STEFANI can be heard only on:

NINE, LITE, B96, Q101, MIX, XLC, KISS, JACK, oh and I forgot POWER 92 and GCI are playing her too.

KELLY CLARKSON can be heard on:

LITE, STAR, MIX, KISS, JACK etc., etc.

Catch my drift, none of these stations are very different. It's just the marketing of the brand. You guys are just trying to be contrarian because it's the nature of people here to be negative, I'm the most negative person around here! I'm simply stating the obvious.

One station is for guys that work in factories, one is for guys that work in offices, one is for girls, another is for guys that drive pick-ups with Dale Earnherdt stickers on it........

 

[JeremyAndrews]

> I installed my xm radio installed the other day. ($20.00
> online deal for roady2. Installed myself.) and sadly have
> yet to listen to fm radio again.
>
> When im forced to though, i tend to listen to 99.9/92.5,
> 95.9, 88.3, (for my ska fix.) or 96.7 as they are the only
> fm stations i can stand to listen to.
>

I enjoy listening to KISS XM and 90s On 9 but it still won't replace FM radio for me. I think I'll be listening to FM (And AM) until it dies all together.<P ID="signature">______________
</P>

 

[dave73]

Re: Chicago radio

> Wow, and all this time I wondered "How old IS Dave73,
> anyway?"
>
> Thanks Dave, I can sleep at night now.
>
> Waitasec..DAVE73 - I GET IT NOW!!! So clever!!!
>
Very funny. That was my choice of a user ID. Just remember 73 is the last 2 digits of my year of birth. And I'm a scorpio (1st decadent) if you want to know my zodiac sign.

 

[JeremyAndrews]

Re: Chicago radio

> > > This is the reason we have different formats on
> different
> > > stations. If you enjoy listening to The Drive, go for
> it.
>
> LED ZEPPELIN can be heard exclusively on:
>
> NINE, XRT, ZONE, WIIL, RIVER, DRIVE, LOOP, JACK, WCKG (when
> they play music) and I'm sure I'm missing a few.
>
> GWEN STEFANI can be heard only on:
>
> NINE, LITE, B96, Q101, MIX, XLC, KISS, JACK, oh and I forgot
> POWER 92 and GCI are playing her too.
>
> KELLY CLARKSON can be heard on:
>
> LITE, STAR, MIX, KISS, JACK etc., etc.
>
> Catch my drift, none of these stations are very different.
> It's just the marketing of the brand. You guys are just
> trying to be contrarian because it's the nature of people
> here to be negative, I'm the most negative person around
> here! I'm simply stating the obvious.
>
> One station is for guys that work in factories, one is for
> guys that work in offices, one is for girls, another is for
> guys that drive pick-ups with Dale Earnherdt stickers on
> it........
>

Here's a Jack Exclusive:

Control Group - Turn Up The Radio (With Turn Up The Tape Machine thrown in)

This song is off a cheap bargain basement cover song CD. Everytime it comes on Jack me and my friend Jacob fall down laughing.


<P ID="signature">______________
</P>

 

[ultravox]

> I installed my xm radio installed the other day. ($20.00
> online deal for roady2. Installed myself.) and sadly have
> yet to listen to fm radio again.
>
> When im forced to though, i tend to listen to 99.9/92.5,
> 95.9, 88.3, (for my ska fix.) or 96.7 as they are the only
> fm stations i can stand to listen to.
>


I also just got XM. I just couldn't stand radio anymore. Like jack FM "We play what we want" Well I want you to play what I want!!!Chicago radio sucks

 

[colonelparker]

> And as far as music? I never want to hear another 80's song
> in my life! That's my generation, and JACK, XRT, WTMX,
> LOOP, etc. have made me hate the 80's and 80's music with a
> passion. Because I am so sick of those songs!

I really missed out in the 1980s, because I never got to see what the
1980s was really like in the United States, because I wasn't living here
in the United States During the 1980s (1978-1990) because I was doing work
for the government at that time frame.

I was station down in Havana Cuba, but while during my stay; I wasen't
allowed to bring any American music from the United States
or either to perfomed them in any way, because it was Prohibited
by cuban law and it was against there policy. This was what I've been
told not to do there during my stay in Cuba.

However, I had my own shortwave radio reciever, but I was unable to pick up
any rock stations from the United States, all execpt for VOA Radio.
(Voice Of America)

Golly Gee! Does any one knows what was it like in the 80s
in the United States? Could Somebody fill me in???

Thank you
Colonel Parker

> Will this continue? I've been bringing the iPod everywhere
> lately. SOOOO MUCH REPITITION ON THE MUSIC STATIONS!!!!!!!!
> NO dynamic personalities, nothing exciting.
>
> Gentlemen, we are at the height of the worst ever corporate
> radio has been since the early nineties.
>
> QUESTION FOR EVERYONE:
>
> Will things improve?
>
> Is there anything good I'm missing?
>

 

[eggsdannythomas]

> I also just got XM. I just couldn't stand radio anymore.


I,ve been B.S.'ing everybody saying that I wont buy Sattelite Radio, but that's only because I'm waiting for Sirius to put together a "Howard Stern Bundle" where they give you a free reciever or 6 months free. You know they will put some type of promotion before January.

Like I'm not gonna follow the KOAM! Can't wait to hear him say F#CK and SH&T!



> Like jack FM "We play what we want" Well I want you to play
> what I want!!!Chicago radio sucks

I know it's so funny that their hottest format has a slogan that TO ME is another up yours to the listeners. But you know what, people will fall for it -- they are sheep Look how many Dave Mathews and Maroon Five fans there are.

 

[RockManAC]

> I also just got XM. I just couldn't stand radio anymore.
> Like jack FM "We play what we want" Well I want you to play
> what I want!!!Chicago radio sucks

I have an iPod. It always plays what I want and it doesn't cost me $12.99 a month.

-A <P ID="signature">______________

</P>

 

[musicloverII]

>
> Like I'm not gonna follow the KOAM! Can't wait to hear him
> say F#CK and SH&T!
>

Yeah that's great radio boy! Whew! Lovin' every minute of it. I also loved it when Two Live Crew said bad words in their songs. They were great. (Eyes Rolling)

 

[colonelparker]

> > I installed my xm radio installed the other day. ($20.00
> > online deal for roady2. Installed myself.) and sadly have
> > yet to listen to fm radio again.
> >
> > When im forced to though, i tend to listen to 99.9/92.5,
> > 95.9, 88.3, (for my ska fix.) or 96.7 as they are the only
>
> > fm stations i can stand to listen to.
> >
>
>
> I also just got XM. I just couldn't stand radio anymore.
> Like jack FM "We play what we want" Well I want you to play
> what I want!!!Chicago radio sucks
>
Yea Baby! Pretty soon AM Radio will be nothing but talk talk talk talk
talk talk talk and nothing but talk! and FM Radio will be playing nothing but
Garbage Garbage Garbage Garbage Garbage and more Garbage!!!....
Put them together, Chicago radio will be famous for it's new slogan;
"We Play Nothing But Gargbage & Talk"....

 

[JeremyAndrews]

> Except for the Drive, which is one of the best Classic
> Rock/Oldies (yes Oldies, they throw in a good smattering
> without the repition Oldies 104.3 had) stations in the
> country, Chicago radio is at an all time low.
>
> It seems like the stations that used to rule 10 or 15 years
> ago are really crappy now: WXRT - crap music, THE LOOP -
> All Skynyrd, All the time, WGN - except for Spike, who do
> they have? No Wally, No Eddie, No Sugar Roy.
>
> Anything out there? Maybe Dahl, Nick Digillio (SP), Mike
> North and that's it. (IMO)
>
> And as far as music? I never want to hear another 80's song
> in my life! That's my generation, and JACK, XRT, WTMX,
> LOOP, etc. have made me hate the 80's and 80's music with a
> passion. Because I am so sick of those songs!
>
> Will this continue? I've been bringing the iPod everywhere
> lately. SOOOO MUCH REPITITION ON THE MUSIC STATIONS!!!!!!!!
> NO dynamic personalities, nothing exciting.
>
> Gentlemen, we are at the height of the worst ever corporate
> radio has been since the early nineties.
>
> QUESTION FOR EVERYONE:
>
> Will things improve?
>
> Is there anything good I'm missing?
>

Its not that bad. Some markets are much worse.

IMO:


92.7 WKIE good
93.1 WXRT good
93.9 WLIT good
94.7 WZZN good
95.5 WNUA good
96.3 WBBM bad
96.9 WWDV (WDRV) good
97.9 WLUP ok
98,7 WFMT good
99.5 WUSN good
100.3 WILV good
101.1 WKQX good
101.9 WTMX good
102.3 WXLC getting better
102.7 WVAZ good
103.1 WVIV the new HUrban format seems pretty good
103.5 WKSC it all depends. sometimes its too rhythmic leaning othertimes its nice and mainstream.
103.9 WWYW good
104.3 WJMK good, but nowhere near as good as the oldies was.
105.1 WOJO no habla Espaniol
105.5 WZSR good
105.9 WCKG bad
106.3 WSRB good
106.7 WPPN snore
107.5 WGCI good

On the AM:

560 WIND insulting to not only my religion, but people's sexual orientation.
580 WILL good public radio
670 WSCR bad
720 WGN pretty good talk
750 WNDZ they still run Personal Achevement Radio occationally which an be interesting
780 WBBM good news. Probably the best place for everything but weather. Accuweather sucks.
820 WAIT I'm Catholic. Not a Catholic radio fan but if I want to hear something simple like The Rosary, this and 1550 WZRK is where I go.l
850 WCPT Pretty good progressive talk.
890 WLS don't really listen
930 WAUR see WAIT
950 WNTD No Habla Espaniol
1000 WMVP Good sports
1030 WNVR Have some Polish in me but am not a Polish speaker
1050 WLIP replaced oldies. Not really a Chicago station but covers parts of the market.
1110 WMBI Good Christian/Gospel programming
1160 WYLL I listen to WYLL only when they run satellite CCM overnight.
1200 WRTO No habla Espaniol
1220 WKRS not a bad talk station. Good for local info for the Lake County area
1300 WRDZ Even though I'm way out of the target audience, I still enjoy listening to Radio Disney on WRDZ and have since it started there in the summer of 98.
1390 WGRB Good Gospel music.
1410 WRMN OK talk
1500 WPJZ Good mix of oldies and classic country out of Zion
1530 WJJG Like the music programming they run on the weekends.
1600 WMCW Good health talk
1690 WRLL. Really good REAL oldies.


I don't know maybe its because I have such a strong love for radio and have a wider music taste. But from the other markets I have listened to the radio in, Chicago is very well off. I have MP3 players, Music Choice, CDs, Airchecks, Access to webcasts, but I still am listening to the radio more then any of these other things.

As for 80s, WTMX's 80s @ 8 as well as Nine (Say what you will but Nine beats the crap out of most of the Chicago stations) are good for at least a bit better variety of 80s then the rest.

Another good suggestion would be to check out WXLC's All Request 90s Cafe from Noon-1 if you can get it. Its REALLY good. The variety isn't limited to Hot AC 90s either. I managed to hear them play Will Smith as well as lots of pop/rhythmic and rock songs I haven't heard in YEARS.<P ID="signature">______________
</P>

 

[dave73]

> Its not that bad. Some markets are much worse.
>
Some markets have limited choices, like Lafayette Indiana. That market is mainly a Class A market with 2 50kw torches, and has only country, classic rock, hot ac, oldies (a small market that still has it and runs locally most dayparts), and chr. So for those who crave alternatinve, they have to try and pull in Indianapolis stations. Also since Lafayette is rated by just Tippacanoe County, Class A stations can beat the 2 50kw torches if there's enough ratings, unlike Chicago, which rates 11 counties in 3 states, which then only the Chicago city grade stations typically get up in the top 10 (as far as FM is concerned).