Chicago Radio

This discussion stems from the departure of Mancow Muller from WKQX, also known as Q101.

P: In ranking order of my least favorite radio personalities: 1. Rush 2. Don Imus 3. Mancow.
I’d say 4. would be David Lee Roth, but his career didn’t last as long as this sentence.

D: Unfortunately, Q101 will probably throw some terrible morning dj on there in absence of mancow.

P: In my opinion, that channel has been in a steady decline since Mancow arrived, not necessarily contributing to him. But when I flip to that station and hear NEW ROCK ALTERNATIVE, and Black from Pearl Jam comes on, it tells me these people have some gears to switch. It used to be a pool deck favorite during summers in HS and college, but stations like that and 105.9, which was a GREAT channel for classic rock (now it is round the clock mic howlers), I have turned to 780 AM and 91.5. If I want music, I turn to the CD player or my iTrip. Most of the music I listen to is not on the radio anyway.
They’ll get a spillover from WGCI or B96. Or pick up some idiot who will try to outdo Mancow and Stern combined. Getting himself arrested as a badge of honor. With a fatter, sloppier sidekick who will have a studder and dentures.
“hey I know, we can get ourselves a midget smaller than theirs.”

D: Q101 has actually jumped leaps & bounds in my book in the last year. they stopped playing only new stuff and went back through all of their playlists and now they'll play anything they've ever played, like even talking heads stuff, it's been much better. that's the reason you heard black on there. they still play too much new crap that i don't like, but more often than not i'll find something listenable on there. they've had to compete with the Jack FM's of the world and their 5,000 song playlists.

P: Which is probably why they’ve improved. They finally have competition. The Loop is starting to go downhill in my book, aside from Think Pink and Getting the Led Out. Their idea of deep cuts barely scratches the surface. [Anonymous] listens to 101.9 loyally, and I will say, if nothing else, they haven’t changed their format in years. They play popular songs along the same genre. They aren’t trying to slip in an Eminem song. XRT has also been great. One of the last true Chicago radio stations. They are located on the NW Side. A one story building with a 500 foot antenna on top of it. As Steve Dahl put it, “that place was built back when Chicago worked. Try getting that kind of building approval these days.”

D: Actually, I think XRT has gone downhill. They used to throw some curveballs in there but lately it's seemed as predictible as 101.9. The music quality is better than the mix's, but they never rock the boat -- they're definitely scared of losing listeners to other stations. That's the whole radio dilemma -- no one wants to try anything new because they're afraid they'll lose their market share.

P: And they are really afraid because not only do that have XM to deal with, but they have Sirius as well. Give it another year or so and you’ll have a third. They also have webcasts to deal with. They can preach free radio all they want, but if you are going to offer me a poached perch for free, and a top sirloin for $13 a month, I’ll take the latter. This discussion is exactly why I listen to talk radio, mainly news. NPR knows it has a limited market, fan base, and pocket to reach in to.

D: Unfortunately not everyone is as picky about their listening experience as we are. I usually opt for my cds.

P: But the fact of the matter is, for a city this size, we should have great radio. Instead we have almost a mockery. By the way, what the hell is this DreX channel?

D: 103.5 -- it's not bad hip hop/dance stuff for most of the day, they play the usual new stuff that gets played in clubs/whatever. The morning show is this guy named Drex, it's very focused on the high school to mid-20 yr old crowd.

The topic of radio in Chicago has hardly been discussed. People either do not mind the crap they are hearing, or have never heard radio anywhere else. Next radio discussion will handle sports talk and AM Radio.