Hatchetman wrote:
what the hell do they mean by "alternative rock?" Coldplay?
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| WKQX is Back https://mail.chicagofanatics.com/viewtopic.php?f=84&t=69427 |
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| Author: | Terry's Peeps [ Wed Apr 25, 2012 8:37 am ] |
| Post subject: | WKQX is Back |
Randy rocks Chicago again: Merlin conjures up new alternative Posted in Robert Feder | Chicago Media blog by Robert Feder on Apr 24, 2012 at 8:00pm Nine months after Merlin Media turned legendary alternative rocker Q101 into FM News 101.1, it’s bringing back the format on a smaller station at the far, far end of the dial. Effective this Monday, sources said, low-power WLFM-LP (87.7) will jettison the smooth jazz music it has featured since 2009 as Chicago’s Smooth 87.7 and become an alternative rock station with a revival of the call letters WKQX. The new format is expected to originate from the same Merchandise Mart studios occupied by Merlin Media’s two Chicago stations, all-news WIQI-FM (101.1) and classic rock WLUP-FM (97.9). Headed by Randy Michaels, the former Tribune Co. CEO, Merlin Media acquired the two stations from Emmis Communications (along with a third one in New York) and launched the new company last summer. Under a local marketing agreement announced Tuesday, Merlin Media will assume full control over programming, sales and operations of 87.7 FM, although current owner Venture Technologies Group LLC, will retain its license. There’s still a possibility smooth jazz might show up on one of Merlin’s HD digital channels. But for all practical purposes, the maneuver takes smooth jazz off terrestrial radio in Chicago for the second time in three years. Smooth 87.7 was launched in the wake of Clear Channel’s decision to pull the plug on smooth jazz after 22 years on WNUA-FM (95.5), which switched to a Spanish-language music format in 2009. Despite the challenges of an obscure signal at the end of the dial and little promotion, Smooth 87.7 drew more respectable ratings than many other well-established stations in the market. In the latest Arbitron quarterly survey, it attracted a cumulative weekly audience of nearly 500,000, and ranked 26th with a 1.2 percent share of adults between 25 and 54. What made the station vulnerable was the unusual nature of its signal and the uncertain status of its license. All along, in fact, it was a low-power television station masquerading as a radio station. Without assurances from the Federal Communications Commission that it can continue to operate after 2015, its current ownership group opted to cash out. "The business dedication was made in large part by the regulatory uncertainty of the analog TV Channel 6/87.7FM dial position in the long term," said Paul Koplin, CEO of Venture Technologies Group. "The success of 87.7 to this point is validated by the fact that Merlin Media, led by Randy Michaels, wants to partner with us." Terms of the local marketing agreement were not disclosed, nor was it clear under what circumstances Merlin Media might assume ownership of the station. The decision to revive alternative rock — the very same format Merlin Media abandoned when it dumped Q101 — is intended to attract younger listeners who presumably are more willing to seek out a station at the end of the dial than “older people who have no clue that it’s there,” an insider said. The key to profitability will be to sell advertising on the new WKQX in combination with The Loop, which has been enjoying higher ratings than it did under Emmis Communications ownership. The company continues to struggle with its flagship property, FM News 101.1, which still languishes near rock bottom after more than nine months on air. Within hours of Tuesday’s announcement, Merlin Media began airing one-minute newscasts on 87.7 twice each hour, provided by FM News 101.1. The impending demise of Smooth 87.7 prompted a gracious message of thanks to listeners from WLFM program director and midday personality Rick O’Dell, Chicago’s longtime ambassador of smooth jazz. “I speak for everyone at 87.7 when I say it was a wonderful, exciting three years as Chicago’s smooth choice,” O’Dell wrote on the station’s website. “We are grateful to have had your support. Everyone on the WLFM staff will miss the incredible relationship we've had with you. There's been nothing like it in my career — I can tell you that. . . . And who knows what might be down the road? I like to be an optimist in these kinds of situations.” |
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| Author: | Douchebag [ Wed Apr 25, 2012 8:45 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: WKQX is Back |
Somehow The Loop has sucked even more (I never thought that could be possible) since Merlin Media took it over. This new WKQX will no doubt suck as well. |
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| Author: | sjboyd0137 [ Wed Apr 25, 2012 8:48 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: WKQX is Back |
Douchebag wrote: Somehow The Loop has sucked even more (I never thought that could be possible) since Merlin Media took it over. This new WKQX will no doubt suck as well. This |
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| Author: | Hatchetman [ Wed Apr 25, 2012 8:48 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: WKQX is Back |
what the hell do they mean by "alternative rock?" Coldplay? |
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| Author: | jimmypasta [ Wed Apr 25, 2012 8:49 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: WKQX is Back |
The Loop: How many times can you listen to Led Zeppelin over and over and over. |
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| Author: | sjboyd0137 [ Wed Apr 25, 2012 8:50 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: WKQX is Back |
Hatchetman wrote: what the hell do they mean by "alternative rock?" Coldplay? Q101 would be the only station in town to play bands such as Tool, Sublime, 311, etc...newer rock, if you will. |
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| Author: | jimmypasta [ Wed Apr 25, 2012 8:51 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: WKQX is Back |
Hatchetman wrote: what the hell do they mean by "alternative rock?" Coldplay?
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| Author: | Hatchetman [ Wed Apr 25, 2012 9:02 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: WKQX is Back |
sjboyd0137 wrote: Q101 would be the only station in town to play bands such as Tool, Sublime, 311, etc...newer rock, if you will. Oh, like noisy shit that teenagers can brood to. |
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| Author: | sjboyd0137 [ Wed Apr 25, 2012 9:06 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: WKQX is Back |
Hatchetman wrote: sjboyd0137 wrote: Q101 would be the only station in town to play bands such as Tool, Sublime, 311, etc...newer rock, if you will. Oh, like noisy shit that teenagers can brood to. It's more like noisy shit that dudes in their 40's don't understand 
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| Author: | spmack [ Wed Apr 25, 2012 9:17 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: WKQX is Back |
That sucks about Smooth Jazz leaving.... |
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| Author: | Douchebag [ Wed Apr 25, 2012 9:18 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: WKQX is Back |
spmack wrote: That sucks about Smooth Jazz leaving.... Is this what you use to seduce Lipid? |
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| Author: | sjboyd0137 [ Wed Apr 25, 2012 9:20 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: WKQX is Back |
Douchebag wrote: spmack wrote: That sucks about Smooth Jazz leaving.... Is this what you use to seduce Lipid? The only thing that gets lipid going is this guy: 
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| Author: | spmack [ Wed Apr 25, 2012 9:25 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: WKQX is Back |
Douchebag wrote: spmack wrote: That sucks about Smooth Jazz leaving.... Is this what you use to seduce Lipid? He's a Power 92 kind of guy. |
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| Author: | Gloopan Kuratz [ Wed Apr 25, 2012 11:09 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: WKQX is Back |
Bring back Brooke Hunter |
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| Author: | spanky [ Wed Apr 25, 2012 11:12 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: WKQX is Back |
Gloopan Kuratz wrote: Bring back Brooke Hunter She used to be hot. 
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| Author: | spanky [ Wed Apr 25, 2012 11:14 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: WKQX is Back |
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| Author: | Hatchetman [ Wed Apr 25, 2012 11:15 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: WKQX is Back |
jeez, her face looks like a Mac truck. never heard of her before. |
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| Author: | spanky [ Wed Apr 25, 2012 11:16 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: WKQX is Back |
Hatchetman wrote: jeez, her face looks like a Mac truck. never heard of her before. Almost 20 years ago she was the goods. She hosted night time on Q101 in their prime years. |
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| Author: | Urlacher's missing neck [ Wed Apr 25, 2012 11:30 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: WKQX is Back |
Awesome!! I can never get enough bush, local h and cake. You can keep that mess. 89.1 rocks and this will not. |
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| Author: | SHARK [ Wed Apr 25, 2012 12:47 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: WKQX is Back |
What's wrong with the new 'KQX? It's on an FM signal that's hard to pick up. I wish they'd simply pull the plug on that "FM News 101.1" or whatever that is. No one's listening to that... |
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| Author: | Northside_Dan [ Wed Apr 25, 2012 12:52 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: WKQX is Back |
Urlacher's missing neck wrote: Awesome!! I can never get enough bush, local h and cake. You can keep that mess. 89.1 rocks and this will not. Love 89.1. Wish the signal had a bit more power. The DJ's are obviously a train wreck, but they play a lot of good stuff. I'm sure i'll be listening to new q101 due to a lack of other options. I miss hearing Nirvana every half hour |
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| Author: | SHARK [ Wed Apr 25, 2012 12:56 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: WKQX is Back |
Northside_Dan wrote: Urlacher's missing neck wrote: Awesome!! I can never get enough bush, local h and cake. You can keep that mess. 89.1 rocks and this will not. Love 89.1. Wish the signal had a bit more power. The DJ's are obviously a train wreck, but they play a lot of good stuff. I'm sure i'll be listening to new q101 due to a lack of other options. I miss hearing Nirvana every half hour I'd rather listen to Reality Bites, a 24/7 alternative rocker completely commercial free on DIRECTV 838 than a station that's simply hard to pick up. In fact, 'KQX should've moved the alternative rock format to where the Loop is now at 97.9 FM. In fact, is it just me or does The Loop & The Drive, 97.1 FM, sound awfully similar these days? I thought so. |
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| Author: | KDdidit [ Wed Apr 25, 2012 3:24 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: WKQX is Back |
SHARK wrote: Northside_Dan wrote: Urlacher's missing neck wrote: Awesome!! I can never get enough bush, local h and cake. You can keep that mess. 89.1 rocks and this will not. Love 89.1. Wish the signal had a bit more power. The DJ's are obviously a train wreck, but they play a lot of good stuff. I'm sure i'll be listening to new q101 due to a lack of other options. I miss hearing Nirvana every half hour I'd rather listen to Reality Bites, a 24/7 alternative rocker completely commercial free on DIRECTV 838 than a station that's simply hard to pick up. In fact, 'KQX should've moved the alternative rock format to where the Loop is now at 97.9 FM. In fact, is it just me or does The Loop & The Drive, 97.1 FM, sound awfully similar these days? I thought so. The Drive has the douchey sounding voice over guy. |
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| Author: | Colonel Angus [ Wed Apr 25, 2012 7:28 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: WKQX is Back |
jimmypasta wrote: The Loop: How many times can you listen to Led Zeppelin over and over and over. It's like they own 10 of those Time Life CD sets and play the same fucking songs over and over again. |
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| Author: | Curious Hair [ Thu Apr 26, 2012 6:18 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: WKQX is Back |
Fuck smooth jazz. I hate that it's called "smooth jazz." Inasmuch as it has nothing to do with the blues or improvisation, it is not jazz. It should just be called "smooth" or something. We should have an actual jazz station. |
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| Author: | SHARK [ Fri Apr 27, 2012 1:04 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: WKQX is Back |
Curious Hair wrote: Fuck smooth jazz. I hate that it's called "smooth jazz." Inasmuch as it has nothing to do with the blues or improvisation, it is not jazz. It should just be called "smooth" or something. We should have an actual jazz station. Curious, that's what WNUA 95.5 called themselves for years before going Spanish about a year ago. 'NUA called themselves "Smooth Jazz"... |
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| Author: | jimmypasta [ Fri Apr 27, 2012 1:05 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: WKQX is Back |
I use 87.7 to put myself to sleep each night. |
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| Author: | Hank Scorpio [ Fri Apr 27, 2012 4:25 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: WKQX is Back |
Curious Hair wrote: Fuck smooth jazz. I hate that it's called "smooth jazz." Inasmuch as it has nothing to do with the blues or improvisation, it is not jazz. It should just be called "smooth" or something. We should have an actual jazz station. You see the kids today with their hippin and their hoppin, the bippin and the boppin. They dont know what the JAZZ is all about. Jazz is like Jell-o pudding pops, no its like Kodak film, wait it's like the NEw COke, it'll be around forever. 
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| Author: | KDdidit [ Fri Apr 27, 2012 4:36 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: WKQX is Back |
Where will I hear Ned's Atomic Dustbin? |
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| Author: | spanky [ Fri Apr 27, 2012 4:39 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: WKQX is Back |
KDdidit wrote: Where will I hear Ned's Atomic Dustbin? 
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