Meet Chicago’s new morning mouths

Mason Schreader and Zach “Remy” Hoesly

Mason Schreader and Zach “Remy” Hoesly

If we’re to believe the ratings, nearly one in four Chicago radio listeners wakes up every morning to Felicia Middlebrooks and Pat Cassidy on WBBM Newsradio, Eric Ferguson and Kathy Hart on The Mix, or Steve Harvey on V103.

Those three shows deliver a combined 23.5 percent share of all morning-drive listeners, totaling a cumulative weekly audience of 2,095,700, according to the latest Nielsen Audio figures. That leaves all the other stations to divide up the rest.

Since the start of the year, seven new morning shows have debuted on Chicago radio, marking the biggest drive-time turnover in years. Add to that two other hosts who recently returned after medical leaves, and you need a score card to keep everything straight.

Here are the latest front-line personalities to turn up on radio’s dawn patrol:

Imported from St. Louis, Mason Schreader and Zach “Remy” Hoesly debuted in January as “Mason & Remy” on iHeartMedia’s new country music station WEBG FM 95.5. (The station currently ties for 29th in mornings with a 1.0 share and 205,700 cume.)

Big John Howell

Big John Howell

Big John Howell, a 27-year Chicago radio veteran, debuted in January on Cumulus Media news/talk WLS AM 890. (The station currently ties for 26th in mornings with a 1.1 share and 133,500 cume.)

Kyle Santillian

Kyle Santillian

Kyle Santillian, a former morning host from Greensboro, North Carolina, stepped up 43 markets in January to team with Kendra "Kendra G" Gilliams and holdover Leon Rogers on iHeartMedia urban contemporary WGCI FM 107.5. (The station currently ties for 16th in mornings with a 2.2 share and 487,500 cume.)

Pete McMurray and Dan McNeil

Pete McMurray and Dan McNeil

Pete McMcMurray and Dan McNeil, two Chicago radio pros who’d never worked together before, were teamed in March to succeed Steve Downes on Hubbard Radio classic hits WDRV FM 97.1. (The station currently ties for sixth in mornings with a 3.8 share and 454,900 cume.)

Dan Proft

Dan Proft

Dan Proft, former morning co-host on WLS AM, officially succeeded Big John Howell alongside co-host Amy Jacobson in March on Salem Media news/talk WIND AM 560. (The station currently ranks 31st in mornings with a 0.9 share and 95,400 cume.)

Erich "Mancow" Muller

Erich "Mancow" Muller

Erich “Mancow” Muller, controversial larger-than-life showman on Chicago radio and TV for more than two decades, emerged the winner of a sham contest in March to host mornings on Cumulus Media classic rock WLUP FM 97.9. (The station currently ties for 26th in mornings with a 1.1 share and 251,000 cume.)

Alex "El Genio" Lucas

Alex "El Genio" Lucas

Entravision Communications’ syndicated “El Show de Alex ‘El Genio’ Lucas” was added to the morning lineup in March at Univision Radio adult contemporary WPPN FM 106.7. (The station currently ranks 25th in mornings with a 1.2 share and 167,300 cume.)

Carl Grapentine

Carl Grapentine

Carl Grapentine, a 29-year veteran of the market, returned as morning host on classical WFMT FM 98.7 in February after nearly three months off recovering from quadriceps tendon surgery on both legs. (The station currently ties for 22nd in mornings with a 1.3 share and 133,000 cume.)

Jack Diamond

Jack Diamond

Jack Diamond, longtime radio fixture in Washington, D.C., returned as morning host on Cumulus Media classic hits WLS FM 94.7 this week after nearly fours month off recovering from surgery for diverticulitis. He rejoined Brant Miller and Marti Jones, who continue on the show. (The station currently ties for 12th in mornings with a 2.8 share and 399,300 cume.)