WLUP studio

An independent arbitrator has ruled against Cumulus Media over the company’s use of voice-tracking — the practice of recording a disc jockey’s words and playing them back on the air later — at classic rock WLUP FM 97.9 and alternative rock WKQX FM 101.1.

About a dozen current and former employees of The Loop and 101WKQX will be awarded back pay covering the period from last spring to the present, according to the arbitrator’s opinion issued April 2.

The decision, which followed two days of hearings last January, was hailed as a victory for the Screen Actors Guild/American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, the union representing broadcast talent. The Chicago local of SAG-AFTRA had been pursuing the case since May 2014 — shortly after Cumulus Media took over the two stations from Merlin Media, which had widely expanded the use of voice-tracking around the clock.

At issue was the company’s right to use the recorded voices of its air personalities seven days a week or on holidays while paying them only for a standard work week. The arbitrator sided with SAG-AFTRA that the practice was a violation of the union’s contract.

The ruling marked the only time in Chicago (and one of the few times in the United States) that the issue of payment for voice-tracking had been challenged in arbitration.

“We are extremely pleased with the outcome of this arbitration,” said Eric Chaudron, executive director of Chicago SAG-AFTRA. “It has vindicated the position we have taken from the start regarding voice-tracking at our stations."

Peter Bowen, vice president and Chicago market manager of Cumulus Media, declined to comment Friday.

Still licensed to Merlin Media, The Loop and 101WKQX have been operated by Cumulus Media under a local marketing agreement since January 2014.