Chicago Fanatics Message Board :: View topic - McNeil & McMurray to host ‘McMornings’ on The Drive

Ladies and gentlemen, get ready for “The McMorning Show.”
Veteran Chicago radio personalities Dan McNeil and Pete McMurray are about to team up as morning co-hosts on Hubbard Radio classic hits WDRV FM 97.1, sources said.
If all goes as planned, the duo will succeed Steve Downes, who announced Friday he was retiring after 14 years at The Drive. Downes agreed to continue hosting the show, which airs from 5 to 10 a.m. weekdays, until his replacement is named.
McNeil, who has spent his entire 30-year Chicago radio career in the sports/talk genre, last week turned down an offer to reclaim his former job as midday personality on CBS Radio sports/talk WSCR AM 670. “It’s true the Score and I didn’t reach an agreement and I remain a free agent,” he told fans on Facebook. “To those of you who are disappointed, I assure you I’m not finished world shakin’ yet. You will get ample notice where you can find me.”
More surprising than McNeil’s move to The Drive is that of McMurray, whose star has been on the rise at Tribune Media news/talk WGN AM 720. The Peoria native has been busy in Chicago ever since he joined the former WCKG in 1998. Following two stints on WCKG, two on WLUP FM 97.9, and two on WKQX FM 101.1, McMurray landed at WGN as late-night host in September 2013 and was promoted to evenings five months later.
McMurray told WGN bosses Tuesday that he was leaving to accept an offer from The Drive.

Greg Solk, senior vice president of programming for Hubbard Radio, declined to comment Tuesday.
But the pairing of the mercurial, opinionated McNeil with the steady and affable McMurray bears the trademark of Solk, a shrewd programmer who has worked with both personalities in the past. While capitalizing on the popularity of the two characters, the move appears aimed at strengthening The Drive’s appeal to its target audience of men between 25 and 54.
In the latest Nielsen Audio survey, mornings on The Drive tied for eight place overall with a 2.9 percent share and cumulative weekly audience of 341,400. Among men 25-54, mornings tied for ninth place with a 3.4 share and weekly cume of 133,900.

Author:	spmack [ Tue Feb 10, 2015 3:47 pm ]
Post subject:	McNeil & McMurray to host ‘McMornings’ on The Drive
Per Feder http://www.robertfeder.com/2015/02/10/m ... the-drive/

Author:	rogers park bryan [ Tue Feb 10, 2015 3:48 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: McNeil & McMurray to host ‘McMornings’ on The Drive
50 pages...at least

Author:	rogers park bryan [ Tue Feb 10, 2015 3:49 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: McNeil & McMurray to host ‘McMornings’ on The Drive
Who is Pete McMurray? Congrats Mac!

Author:	Kirkwood [ Tue Feb 10, 2015 3:52 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: McNeil & McMurray to host ‘McMornings’ on The Drive
Quote: Ladies and gentlemen, get ready for “The McMorning Show.” Veteran Chicago radio personalities Dan McNeil and Pete McMurray are about to team up as morning co-hosts on Hubbard Radio classic hits WDRV FM 97.1, sources said. If all goes as planned, the duo will succeed Steve Downes, who announced Friday he was retiring after 14 years at The Drive. Downes agreed to continue hosting the show, which airs from 5 to 10 a.m. weekdays, until his replacement is named. McNeil, who has spent his entire 30-year Chicago radio career in the sports/talk genre, last week turned down an offer to reclaim his former job as midday personality on CBS Radio sports/talk WSCR AM 670. “It’s true the Score and I didn’t reach an agreement and I remain a free agent,” he told fans on Facebook. “To those of you who are disappointed, I assure you I’m not finished world shakin’ yet. You will get ample notice where you can find me.” More surprising than McNeil’s move to The Drive is that of McMurray, whose star has been on the rise at Tribune Media news/talk WGN AM 720. The Peoria native has been busy in Chicago ever since he joined the former WCKG in 1998. Following two stints on WCKG, two on WLUP FM 97.9, and two on WKQX FM 101.1, McMurray landed at WGN as late-night host in September 2013 and was promoted to evenings five months later. McMurray told WGN bosses Tuesday that he was leaving to accept an offer from The Drive. Greg Solk, senior vice president of programming for Hubbard Radio, declined to comment Tuesday. But the pairing of the mercurial, opinionated McNeil with the steady and affable McMurray bears the trademark of Solk, a shrewd programmer who has worked with both personalities in the past. While capitalizing on the popularity of the two characters, the move appears aimed at strengthening The Drive’s appeal to its target audience of men between 25 and 54. In the latest Nielsen Audio survey, mornings on The Drive tied for eight place overall with a 2.9 percent share and cumulative weekly audience of 341,400. Among men 25-54, mornings tied for ninth place with a 3.4 share and weekly cume of 133,900. Good for him. Though 5am - 10am. Rough hours.

Author:	DannyB [ Tue Feb 10, 2015 3:53 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: McNeil & McMurray to host ‘McMornings’ on The Drive
I actually like McMurray. He's not comatose.

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Author:	jimmypasta [ Tue Feb 10, 2015 3:53 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: McNeil & McMurray to host ‘McMornings’ on The Drive
Chester W Coppock · Radio Host at WLS 890AM · 1,013 followers I like mac but he will get bore din not to exceed two weeks. However, Greg is a bright guy...he has to see something. Reply · · 2 minutes ago

Author:	Dr. Kenneth Noisewater [ Tue Feb 10, 2015 3:53 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: McNeil & McMurray to host ‘McMornings’ on The Drive
I don't listen to FM radio. Does The Drive play music? What is this show going to be?

Author:	spmack [ Tue Feb 10, 2015 3:54 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: McNeil & McMurray to host ‘McMornings’ on The Drive
They'll be going up against M&H....I can't wait until we get the vitriolic stories of Mulligan and Bernstein.

Author:	IkeSouth [ Tue Feb 10, 2015 3:54 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: McNeil & McMurray to host ‘McMornings’ on The Drive
holy shit... there was a pete mcmurray in rockford on WXRX rock station when i was a kid... i loved the guy and always wondered where he went. is this the same guy!?!??!?

Author:	badrogue17 [ Tue Feb 10, 2015 3:55 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: McNeil & McMurray to host ‘McMornings’ on The Drive
Fucking Pete McMurray has failed at every station he's ever been at yet still keeps getting prime gigs. He must have something on someone important .

Author:	jimmypasta [ Tue Feb 10, 2015 3:55 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: McNeil & McMurray to host ‘McMornings’ on The Drive
IkeSouth wrote: holy shit... there was a pete mcmurray in rockford on WXRX rock station when i was a kid... i loved the guy and always wondered where he went. is this the same guy!?!??!? he has a man about town show on NBC late Saturday nights called 24/7.

Author:	DannyB [ Tue Feb 10, 2015 3:55 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: McNeil & McMurray to host ‘McMornings’ on The Drive
IkeSouth wrote: holy shit... there was a pete mcmurray in rockford on WXRX rock station when i was a kid... i loved the guy and always wondered where he went. is this the same guy!?!??!? It is. I think he followed Dahl at some point after that.

Author:	Beardown [ Tue Feb 10, 2015 3:56 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: McNeil & McMurray to host ‘McMornings’ on The Drive
How much, Mac? Did you get the 500k per that Zimmerman wouldn't give you? McMurray gets 150k probably.

Author:	IkeSouth [ Tue Feb 10, 2015 3:57 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: McNeil & McMurray to host ‘McMornings’ on The Drive
DannyB wrote: IkeSouth wrote: holy shit... there was a pete mcmurray in rockford on WXRX rock station when i was a kid... i loved the guy and always wondered where he went. is this the same guy!?!??!? It is. I think he followed Dahl at some point after that. my god, i thought he went to LA or some shit. last time i heard him was 20 years ago. i always woke up to him, he was ALWAYS so positive and not stupid. this could be huge.

Author:	IkeSouth [ Tue Feb 10, 2015 4:00 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: McNeil & McMurray to host ‘McMornings’ on The Drive
RFDC wrote: Boilermaker Rick wrote: Mac wins again. Seems clear he wants to kick M&H's ass in the ratings easily will. the score better have mike north on speed dial

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Author:	Brick [ Tue Feb 10, 2015 3:58 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: McNeil & McMurray to host ‘McMornings’ on The Drive
Mac wins again.

Author:	RFDC [ Tue Feb 10, 2015 3:59 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: McNeil & McMurray to host ‘McMornings’ on The Drive
Boilermaker Rick wrote: Mac wins again. Seems clear he wants to kick M&H's ass in the ratings

Author:	Kirkwood [ Tue Feb 10, 2015 3:59 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: McNeil & McMurray to host ‘McMornings’ on The Drive
I imagine it'll be like Johnny B's show on the Loop? Probably a little more music mixed in I'd imagine.

Author:	IkeSouth [ Tue Feb 10, 2015 3:59 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: McNeil & McMurray to host ‘McMornings’ on The Drive
Boilermaker Rick wrote: Mac wins again. talent trumps all obstacles.

Author:	Beardown [ Tue Feb 10, 2015 4:00 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: McNeil & McMurray to host ‘McMornings’ on The Drive
Coppock made a post after Feder's column. Said Mac won't make it 2 weeks.

Author:	Beardown [ Tue Feb 10, 2015 4:01 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: McNeil & McMurray to host ‘McMornings’ on The Drive
Finfer wins too. He's probably gonna produce it.

Author:	badrogue17 [ Tue Feb 10, 2015 4:01 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: McNeil & McMurray to host ‘McMornings’ on The Drive
Cue a post from Mac now that he has something to plug here in 3,2,1.......

Author:	jimmypasta [ Tue Feb 10, 2015 4:02 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: McNeil & McMurray to host ‘McMornings’ on The Drive
Beardown wrote: Coppock made a post after Feder's column. Said Mac won't make it 2 weeks. yeah,I quoted him here in one of the 27 threads about this.

Author:	Beardown [ Tue Feb 10, 2015 4:03 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: McNeil & McMurray to host ‘McMornings’ on The Drive
I've never listened to this McMurray guy. But I've seen him on FOX's Sunday night show in Rant and Rave. Feder is right. He's the affable, always happy type. So Mac can say the controversial things and he can say nice things.

Author:	Brick [ Tue Feb 10, 2015 4:04 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: McNeil & McMurray to host ‘McMornings’ on The Drive
Can McMurray sing parody songs?

Author:	jimmypasta [ Tue Feb 10, 2015 4:04 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: McNeil & McMurray to host ‘McMornings’ on The Drive
http://247citysecrets.com/cast-of-247-city-secrets/

Author:	Peoria Matt [ Tue Feb 10, 2015 4:05 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: McNeil & McMurray to host ‘McMornings’ on The Drive
Peoria's own pete McMurray. Zimmerman should be fired for allowing this to happen.

Author:	Minooka Meatball [ Tue Feb 10, 2015 4:07 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: McNeil & McMurray to host ‘McMornings’ on The Drive
Not official until Larz says so.

Author:	bigfan [ Tue Feb 10, 2015 4:08 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: McNeil & McMurray to host ‘McMornings’ on The Drive
That MAC FM, was a clue...Hmmm...of course looks like a few people wouldnt have caught that one!