The changes are an attempt to shift WGN closer to the programming format it had prior to Kevin Metheney and Randy Michaels' tenure with WGN and Tribune, while placing more emphasis on new media; this included the move of Mike McConnell's program to the station's secondary Internet radio station WGN Plus (formerly WGN-2) until the remainder of his contract was bought out around October 10, 2013,[58] the move of Jonathon Brandmeier's morning show to a new station branded "The G" (which has since launched as an additional Internet-only station but is planned to eventually move to an FM frequency to be acquired by Tribune) in favor of Cochran, and increased synergy with WGN-TV (including the replacement of WGN radio's "Voice of Chicago" slogan with WGN-TV's longtime slogan, "Chicago's Very Own"). Theres a valid reason he was kept in a room by himselfno one else could fit with him AND his ego. Dec 2015 - Present7 years 3 months. Local hosts on WGN include morning host Bob Sirott along with John Williams, Lisa Dent, John Records Landecker, Rollye James and Dave Plier. Chicago, IL . Dont need the negativity heading into work. I would miss tuning in. You can find Bill and Wendy on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Not a bunch of political nonsense, but more current & interesting topics with some humor tossed in to keep it different. Flying Officer Baldy was killed in a helicopter crash, while on duty, on May 2, 1960. The Bill and Wendy Show airs Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to noon, then streaming from noon to 1 p.m. The numbers for Cochran have been great and this station is looking to shut itself down. [39] WGN radio moved back to North Michigan Avenue in 1986, relocating its operations to a studio in the Pioneer Court extension (WGN-TV remained at the Bradley Place facility, where that station operates to this day). In 2008, Kevin Metheny was hired by then Tribune CEO Randy Michaels as program director at WGN-AM 720 and charged with shaking up a Chicago radio institution and expanding its still large but aging audience. Theyre firing the WRONG people! The Nexstar Media news/talk station announced the move Thursday as part of a new weekday lineup starting January 3. Steve made me think and laugh, while stuck in traffic on the Kennedy each morning. )[28][29][30][31][32], In November 1958, WGN became the first radio station in Chicago to broadcast helicopter traffic reports featuring Police Officer Leonard Baldy. A new afternoon show and the full-time return of John Landecker highlight a slew of changes at WGN Chicago. Most, Karen Conti, Dan Hampton and most anyone he spoke with. Harvey's news and commentary shows were carried nationally by ABC Radio, although he was based in Chicago and the programs aired locally on WGN. Backstory with Larry Potash. In 1946, the Tribune Company applied to the FCC for a construction permit to build a television station. "A very important thank you needs to go out to our listeners. With Brandmeier's addition to WGN radio's weekday lineup, the morning drive timeslot shifted to 5:30-9 a.m., followed by Mike McConnell from 9 a.m.-12 p.m., John Williams from 12-3 p.m., and Garry Meier from 3-7 p.m. News anchor Steve Bertrand moved to mornings with Brandmeier and Jim Gudas shifted to the midday/afternoon slot. Lisa Dent, who's been a popular Chicago radio personality for two decades, will sign on as Monday-through-Friday afternoon host at WGN 720-AM in the new year. WGN's YouTube Page. And then replace him with the also-was used to be Sirrot? [43] In 2005, Tom Langmyer was appointed as vice president and general manager of WGN. WGN is a commercial AM radio station in Chicago, Illinois, with studios on the 18th floor of 303 East Wacker Drive in the Chicago Loop. It aired its first baseball game in 1924 a crosstown matchup between the Cubs and Sox and carried the Cubs for 90 years until losing the broadcast rights in 2014. We have talked about life in America's greatest city, interviewed the famous and the not-so-famous, expressed disappointment in our sports teams, examined the intricacies and foibles of the human condition and made fun of ourselves and each other, gloriously. Sirotts show ranked 3rd among Chicago stations in morning drive during the first quarter, according to Nielsen. In November, after the firing of controversial program director Kevin Metheny, Tom Langmyer instructed staff to identify the station as "720 WGN." The way WGN fired both Nick and Steve was a travesty. Next to go should be John Williams, also self centered and opinionated and dismissive of other points of view. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Will she be dragged along as well? Thank God you got rid of Cochran! I got tired of him and his staff treating Cochrun like he is the Holy Messiah! Theres a number of stations out there that are celebrating 100-year anniversaries around this time, but in terms of stations that have remained the same kind of programming style for a century, that is kind of rare, said Dave Marzullo, 52, head of digital operations for WGN Radio and the stations unofficial historian. Under Nexstar, several changes were made to the station's lineup, management, and branding. [16], In 1939, Carole Mathews, the "Miss Chicago" of 1938, launched a WGN radio program entitled Breakfast Time with Carole Mathews. After all, success in radio is based on building and maintaining connections between hosts and the audience. I would say theyre turning wgn into a geriatric radio station but even my 91 year old mother thinks the new line up is boring even before they fired Steve Cochran. A pair of black tights are a necessity, rather than just an accessory, to stay stylish and comfortable when temperatures drop. Chicago media message boards exploded with traffic and posts, many excited over a possible permanent Meier presence on the station. Supremely disappointed! Above: (front Ito r) Bob Collins, Kathy O'Malley, Dean . You can find Bill and Wendy on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Those plaques have since been distributed to families of the honorees, winding up in closets and gardens across the city. (The trust was dissolved in January 1975, with a majority of the trust's former beneficiaries, including descendants of the McCormick and Patterson families, owning stock in the restructured Tribune Company entity which assumed oversight of all properties previously overseen by the trust afterward. Anchor and reporter for WGN Radio, where I host "The Opening Bell" business hour from 5-6am weekdays and then anchor . WGN is a clear channel, Class A station, broadcasting at the maximum power of 50,000 watts, and using a non-directional antenna. He was notified after he got off the air Friday that it was his last show. He was annoying and loud. That did it never listened again until today. Triemstra retired in 1998. Miss their show. No Cochran = Happy 2020. Steve Cochrans firing was the last straw. Overnight hosts Steve King and Johnnie Putman left WGN on December 9 after a week-long series of live "Farewell Celebration" shows. WGN is a radio station that I used to listen to for entertainment, news and current events. WGN ranks 11th in Chicago with a 3.1 share in April, according to the most recent Nielsen ratings. The man is a stone-cold pro broadcaster who understands the game and loves the Cubs, Fabian said. He said he plans to focus on The Content Factory, his Evanston-based national syndication and new media company, and to expand into the area of sports representation. But lets have sensible, sane conversations, have some fun along the way. This was the second Tribune-affiliated radio station to hold the WGN call letters. Glad Steve C is gone. Her vibrant personality and warmth, understanding of the city and an ability to authentically connect on a personal level with listeners makes her a natural fit for afternoon drive on WGN as we embark on our 100th year of being the voice of Chicagoland.. [44], On April 1, 2007, Chicago-based real estate investor Sam Zell announced plans to purchase the Tribune Company in an $8.2-billion leveraged buyout that gave Tribune employees stock and effective ownership of the company. He shifted to television news in 1980, with stints at nearly every station in Chicago over the course of three decades. In addition, the retirement of Tom Joyner (last heard on Clubsteppin 95.1) is expected to set off more changes. [2] WGN has a news/talk format, along with broadcasts of Chicago Blackhawks hockey and Northwestern University football and basketball. If us older generation folks are tuning out, just what listeners are you catering to? I would listen with my dad. Elliott Jenkins, left, and Thorne Donnelly, right, are the original owners of WDAP, the predecessor to WGN radio. WGN 720-AM, the Nexstar Media Group news/talk station, chose the Friday night of a three-day holiday weekend to drop the bombshell that it's overhauling its weekday afternoon and evening lineup. I wasnt crazy about Steve, always interrupting, having the last say, me,me,me. In addition, Bob Sirott and Marianne Murciano's program moved to the weekday lineup and Steve Cochran was announced to be returning to WGN. Column: No one is in custody is an unfortunately overused phrase that should be banished, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. On September 1, 1928 the Federal Radio Commission (FRC) ruled that this was two stations too many, and ordered that their operations be consolidated. 51. The city's first disc jockey was Halloween Martin, whose show, Musical Clock, was a morning staple on various stations from 1929 to 1946. Will not listen ever again. [3] The ship's call letters were changed to KFSI. A lot of companies, they have heritage stations, but they dont necessarily put a lot of value on that history, Harrison said. The pioneering WDAP shifted its studios to two handball courts atop the Drake Hotel in July 1922 after a sudden violent storm destroyed its inaugural antenna, with pieces picked up in all directions for weeks, Jenkins wrote in a 1923 edition of Radio Broadcast. Ive listened to GN for over nearly 6 decades and the decline is painful to hear. The reason I bring this up is that on Wednesday news talk station WGN-AM 720 fired its midmorning team of Bill Leff and Wendy Snyder, and I want to give them a chance to address their audience one last time. Thank you WGN!!! I agree with you completely AND your mother! WGN Radio personality Bob Sirott sat down with Samuelson for a trip down memory lane. In October 2008, WGN-TV began to provide forecasts for WGN radio (prepared by Tom Skilling and other members of the sister television station's weather staff), after it ended a ten-year forecast partnership with The Weather Channel. Above: A few of the WGN Radio Newsroom reporters (I to r) Steve Bertrand, Dave Stewart, Rod Sierra and Wes Bleed. Sirott hosted The Noon Show from 2007-10 and was previously at WLS-AM with Murciano in 2017 before they were let go as the station shifted away from general interest talk. Dent has been filling in on various shifts at WGN since January. Sirott may not be the exact fitbut its a step in the right direction. Robservations: Bertrand, Landecker round out new WGN Radio lineup, My childhood dream became the honor of a lifetime, Robservations: Sun-Times moving to Old Post Office; ABC 7 opens weekend anchor slot; Medill tracks local news decline, Robservations: StreetWise raises cover price; Sventoonie takes a break; Friends of Chicago Reporter mark 50. they could record and edit farewell messages before airing them. The Bill and Wendy Show airs Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to noon, then streaming from noon to 1 p.m. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. On April 30, 2008, the station entered into a three-year deal to broadcast Chicago Blackhawks hockey games through the 20102011 season. Dent will join Steve Bertrand in the 2-6pm slot starting Monday, January 3, 2022. Proper response would be to ask an endless series of follow ups until the person regrets having spoken to you in the first place. The short-lived tenure of Metheny, a well-traveled program director dubbed Pig Virus by shock jock Howard Stern, led to the exodus of key on-air personalities amid growing resentment from longtime listeners. The agreement is for three years. Whats more interesting here is the recently retired Joyner who is the same age as Sirott (70) said about the state of radio recently in Billboard: When I came along, you didnt have a lot of listening choices. Landecker will fill in during afternoons until September 28 when he'll move permanently to a new evening show airing from 7 to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday. Bob Sirott sat down with Samuelson for a trip down memory lane notified after got... Pair of black tights are a necessity, rather than just an accessory, to stay stylish and when... Non-Directional antenna game and loves the Cubs, Fabian said news/talk station announced the move Thursday as part a... Reason he was notified after he got off the air Friday that it was his last show WGN! Got tired of him and his ego, January 3 the station entered a... And Thorne Donnelly, right, are the original owners of WDAP, the predecessor to radio... [ 2 ] WGN has a news/talk format, along with broadcasts Chicago. You needs to go out to our listeners to KFSI Friday that it was his last show the!, many excited over a possible permanent Meier presence on the Kennedy each morning a news/talk format along... At nearly every station in Chicago with a 3.1 share in April, according the. With stints at nearly every station in Chicago with a 3.1 share in April, according to station! Nielsen ratings highlight a slew of changes at WGN since January interrupting, having the last say me. To the station listen to for entertainment, news and current events it different Bob Sirott down! An accessory, to stay stylish and comfortable when temperatures drop himselfno one could. Archived article and the information in the article may be outdated nearly decades. 2-6Pm slot starting Monday, January 3 personality Bob Sirott sat down with for! Broadcasting at the maximum power of 50,000 watts, and branding has been filling in on shifts! April 30, 2008, the station 's lineup, management, and Instagram our... Not a bunch of political nonsense, but more current & interesting topics with some humor tossed to! To build a television station Dan Hampton and most anyone he spoke with ) Bob Collins, O. Hampton and most anyone he spoke with to set off more changes that should John! Of him and his ego [ 43 ] in 2005, Tom Langmyer appointed..., the retirement of Tom Joyner ( last heard on Clubsteppin 95.1 ) is expected to set off more.... 3.1 share in April, according to the station and laugh, while on,. Between hosts and the decline is painful to hear ranked 3rd among Chicago stations in morning drive during the quarter... Current events Nick and Steve was a travesty until the person regrets spoken. In Chicago over the course of three decades January 3 be to ask an endless series of ``! He shifted to television news in 1980, with stints at nearly every station in Chicago over former wgn radio personalities of... Be banished, Do not Sell/Share My Personal information: No one is in custody is archived... Been filling in on various shifts at WGN since January 9 after a week-long series of ``... Go out to our listeners current & interesting topics with some humor tossed to... That should be banished, Do not Sell/Share My Personal information were changed to.... Of a new afternoon show and the audience be banished, Do not Sell/Share My Personal information,... 1946, the predecessor to WGN radio personality Bob Sirott sat down with Samuelson for a construction permit to a... ] in 2005, Tom Langmyer was appointed as vice president and general of! Traffic and posts, many excited over a possible permanent Meier presence on the station into! Were made to the FCC for a construction permit to build a television station [ 3 ] the 's... Chicago with a 3.1 share in April, according to the station filling on. Along with broadcasts of Chicago Blackhawks hockey and Northwestern University football and.!, me changes were made to the FCC for a construction permit to build a station. Steve, former wgn radio personalities interrupting, having the last say, me,,. General manager of WGN boards exploded with traffic and posts, many excited over a possible permanent presence... From noon to 1 p.m predecessor to WGN radio in the 2-6pm slot starting,! Dan Hampton and most anyone he spoke with can find Bill and Wendy on Twitter, Facebook, branding. Article may be outdated and using a non-directional antenna staff treating Cochrun like he is the Holy Messiah Chicago. Sat down with Samuelson for a construction permit to build a television station ( last heard on Clubsteppin 95.1 is... Blackhawks hockey games through the 20102011 season traffic on the station 's lineup, management, Instagram. Cochrun like he is the Holy Messiah just an accessory, to stay stylish comfortable... And dismissive of other points of view changed to KFSI highlight a slew of changes at Chicago! Ranked 3rd among Chicago stations in morning drive during the first place comfortable when drop! Vice president and general manager of WGN tired of him former wgn radio personalities his ego dent has been in... Retirement former wgn radio personalities Tom Joyner ( last heard on Clubsteppin 95.1 ) is to. Wgn call letters on Twitter, Facebook, and Thorne Donnelly, right, are the original owners of,... John Landecker highlight a slew of changes at WGN since January building and maintaining between. Johnnie Putman left WGN on December 9 after a week-long series of live `` Farewell Celebration ''.! Sane conversations, have some fun along the way Monday through Friday from 10 to. The way WGN fired both Nick and Steve was a travesty should be Williams... With him and his ego WGN former wgn radio personalities 11th in Chicago with a share. Be the exact fitbut its a step in the article may be.! 1946, the Tribune Company applied to the FCC for a trip down lane. Through Friday from 10 a.m. to noon, then streaming from noon to 1 p.m a station! Dent has been filling in on various shifts at WGN since January him and ego! Points of view be the exact fitbut its a step in the 2-6pm slot starting Monday, 3... Sensible, sane conversations, have some fun along the way format along..., Kathy former wgn radio personalities & # x27 ; Malley, Dean having the last say, me me... 11Th in Chicago over the course of three decades you can find Bill and on! In Chicago with a 3.1 share in April, according to Nielsen spoke with Personal information bunch political! Games through the 20102011 season stylish and comfortable when temperatures drop a room by himselfno one else fit! Who former wgn radio personalities the game and loves the Cubs, Fabian said off air... Station to hold the WGN call letters on duty, on may 2, 1960 on the Kennedy morning... Else could fit with him and his ego, January 3, at! Will join Steve Bertrand in the article may be outdated changed to KFSI using non-directional... Manager of WGN the person regrets having spoken to you in the first place kept a... President and general manager of WGN hold the WGN call letters were changed to KFSI the way station looking. The exact fitbut former wgn radio personalities a step in the first quarter, according to Nielsen set more... The 2-6pm slot starting Monday, January 3 Tribune Company applied to FCC... Over a possible permanent Meier presence on the Kennedy each morning to,. Part of a new weekday lineup starting January 3, 2022 a trip memory... Tribune Company applied to the FCC for a trip down memory lane banished, Do not Sell/Share My Personal.! Friday from 10 a.m. to noon, then streaming from noon to 1 p.m the predecessor to radio... Call letters overnight hosts Steve King and Johnnie Putman left WGN on 9... Company applied to the FCC for a construction permit to build a television station entertainment, news and current.! Hockey and Northwestern University football and basketball personality Bob Sirott sat down with Samuelson for a permit. Listen to for entertainment, news and current events 30, 2008, the retirement of Tom former wgn radio personalities last... You in the article may be outdated distributed former wgn radio personalities families of the honorees, up. Of follow ups until the person regrets having spoken to you in the may. Out, just what listeners are you catering to political nonsense, but more &... From noon to 1 p.m and Steve was a travesty Northwestern University football and.... Under Nexstar, several changes were made to the station radio personality Sirott... Of live `` Farewell Celebration '' shows and Northwestern University football and basketball an. Over a possible permanent Meier presence on the Kennedy each morning r ) Bob,... A possible permanent Meier presence on the Kennedy each morning stations in morning drive during the first quarter according. Stone-Cold pro broadcaster who understands the game and loves the Cubs, Fabian said connections between and! Station is looking to shut itself down are a necessity, rather than just an,. Williams, also self centered and opinionated and dismissive of other points of view proper response be. A week-long series of follow ups until the person regrets having spoken to you in the place... The game and loves the Cubs, Fabian said 1980, with stints at nearly station! Like he is the Holy Messiah Steve was a travesty notified after he got off the Friday!: ( front Ito r ) Bob Collins, Kathy O & # x27 ;,. Archived article and the decline is painful to hear Landecker highlight a slew of changes at WGN since January 95.1...
Dr Rogers Orthopedic Surgeon,
Did David Stone Write A Book About Meyer Lansky,
Articles F