http://xmradio.com/programming/full_channel_listing.jsp?sort=number
Posted on 06/21/2006 4:31:47 AM PDT by Chi-townChief
Of all the stations on Chicago radio's "watch list" (if there were such a list, that is), the one in most critical condition has to be Clear Channel Radio's "Real Oldies" WRLL-AM (1690).
Nothing is official, but insiders say it could be only a matter of weeks before Clear Channel bosses pull the plug on the format and a talent lineup that includes such personalities as Larry Lujack, Tommy Edwards, Scotty Brink, Tom Murphy and Ron Smith.
Plagued from its inception in 2003 with a substandard signal that barely covers the metropolitan area, "Real Oldies" has languished at the bottom of the ratings all along. Arbitrends released Tuesday show the station tied for 36th place with a 0.5 percent share and with a cumulative weekly audience of 116,200.
Any hopes of growth were dashed when ABC turned its WZZN-FM (94.7) from active rock to "True Oldies" last fall. Despite its lackluster lineup and promotion, WZZN wins by default with its superior signal.
John Gehron, who put "Real Oldies" on the air, nurtured and protected the format as Clear Channel's regional boss here. Once he left the company (only to resurface as head of Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Radio), the station's days were numbered.
No decision has been made on a new format, but the most likely scenario would turn WRLL into a time-brokered outlet that would lease all of its air time to an outside company.
Most common time-brokered formats include religious, ethnic and foreign language programs.
If Clear Channel does pull the plug on oldies, at least one of the station's stars shouldn't be idle for long.
Edwards, the Chicago radio legend who serves as morning personality, program director and operations manager of "Real Oldies," already has been approached about a drive-time on-air job at a bigger and better local station, sources said.
Too bad he won't be able to bring Ol' Uncle Lar along with him this time.
Dialing: Changing channels
*As if it weren't already hard enough to find Dick Biondi and the other great jocks who've been relegated to the Internet and HD Radio, now CBS Radio is switching their Web address.
Starting next week, Biondi, Greg Brown, Fred Winston and Connie Szerszen will be moved to a new site at www.OldiesChicago.com. They had been streaming oldies at www.wjmk.com since their old station, WJMK-FM (104.3), morphed into adult hits "Jack FM" last year.
"Since WJMK is 'Jack's' call letters, we want to distinguish the two entities more for clarification in the ratings process," said John Sebastian, program director of "Jack FM."
*Look for WGN-Channel 9 morning weatherman Paul Konrad and entertainment reporter Dean Richards to make special guest appearances on Steve Cochran's "Clean Comedy All Stars" show this weekend.
Cochran, a seasoned standup comic and midday personality at Tribune Co.-owned news/talk WGN-AM (720), will be the headliner at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Genesee Theatre in north suburban Waukegan.
*Radio One Communications, which owns and operates four stations in northwest Indiana -- WXRD-FM (103.9), WLJE-FM (105.5), WZVN-FM (107.1) and WAKE-AM (1500) -- has begun construction on expanded studios and offices in Valparaiso.
Tracking: 'Hippo' gets bigger
*"Nude Hippo: Your Chicago Show," an offbeat local treat on cable since 1997, is gaining a new outlet on WMAQ-Channel 5's Web site. Starting Thursday, segments from the weekly half-hour comedy/talk show will be streamed at www.nbc5.com.
Hosted by Tony Lossano and Amy Zanglin, "Nude Hippo" still airs at 7 p.m. Thursdays on Chicago Cable Channel 25.
*Janet Davies, entertainment reporter and host of "190 North," will be joined by Terri Hemmert, midday personality at adult rock WXRT-FM (93.1), in co-hosting WLS-Channel 7's coverage of this weekend's 37th annual Gay Pride Parade. The one-hour special will air at 11:35 p.m. Sunday on the ABC-owned station.
Grand marshal of the parade will be George Takei of "Star Trek" fame.
*The Museum of Broadcast Communications has received a $40,000 grant from the Chicago Community Trust to help create an exhibit on Chicago's radio and television history.
I always thought those lyrics were:
"If I have to beg and plead, to the symphony."
Awful. Just awful, what they did to it.
Thanks! I know there is a 1250 playing (sometimes) in the Central Jersey/Staten Island area too. Probably the same station? I dunno.
If you're in southern NJ at the shore, WJRZ is a good station too. But it fades out north of Bricktown. They also do an internet stream.
Sounds illegal.
http://xmradio.com/programming/full_channel_listing.jsp?sort=number
Anotherrrr hour of muuuusic pow! pow! powwwwwerrrrrr!
I watched a documentary the other day about Howlin' Wolf aka Chester Burnett. They played Wolf's "Smokestack Lightning", and it was the best new tune I've heard in twenty years. That's right, that was the first time I ever heard that song.
.One of the big cultural tragedies of growing up in the midwest during the fifties and sixties was having to listen to polka music on weekends instead of blues masters like Howlin' Wolf and the rest of them.
I always thought those lyrics were:"If I have to beg and plead, to the symphony."
I know what you mean. So many song lyrics were unintelligible that people made up their own without even knowing it. Louie Louie being prime example #1. (not a dirty word in it - to the disappointment of many teens 'back then')
And that's another reason why AM radio stunk :-)
Both polka and blues are fine with me.
I'll bet you a lot of money there are millions of Boomers, like me, who swore they'd never listen to Sinatra and the rest of the music from that era probably changed their minds when they hit forty. Good music is timeless. The great music of the first half of the twentieth century will live on long after todays tripe if forgotten.
Incidentally, I have a son-in-law in his twenties whose favorite artist is Sinatra. I'm more of a Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole fan, but Sinatra is alright. Don't get me wrong, I still love sixties style rock (and a lot of other types of music genres..long live Celtic folk). But maturity brings appreciation for music from other eras and idioms.
Welcome. Enjoy. Dave Hogan hosts - he's a local legend. Went away to Asheville for a time; but is back in Tri Cities of Upper East Tennessee.
Wow,where to begin? I could see where "getting an education" on the music of that era would be tougher today than it was for me,someone who lived it (most of it,at least)
There was so much great stuff..late 50's-early 60's bobby socks,girl groups,Phil Spector,folk....mid-late 60's British invasion,folk and lots of great "pop" stuff".
If there was one CD that *I* would recommend to begin your "education",I'd say it's the soundtrack to "Good Morning,Vietnam".
I could go on,but it's take a couple of days to finish (music,along with politics,are my two great passions!).
I've got over 10,000 oldies!! On my external hard-drive and iPods!! Rock on!! You never grow old with rock n roll!! Etc Etc :-))
I like polkas too... as long as they're Irish polkas.
Boy,you've got me beat by a mile.Thanks to a CD burner and access to an *enormous* collection of great stuff,I have about 5,300 according to my Access file (I cataloged them all...took me months to do).
"Boy,you've got me beat by a mile.Thanks to a CD burner and access to an *enormous* collection of great stuff,I have about 5,300 according to my Access file (I cataloged them all...took me months to do)."
I was in "radio" for years. Loved it.
Thanks!
>>Sounds illegal.
Better call the police then.
Seriously, that's a pretty cool site!
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