Steve Cochran

When Steve Cochran opens the mic on WLS 890-AM at the crack of dawn today, he’ll become the fifth morning host in 10 years at the Cumulus Media news/talk station. And he’ll have nowhere to go but up.

“It’s no secret that this morning show has a huge hole to climb out of, and I believe we will,” Cochran, 61, said Tuesday. “I’m not getting up at 3 a.m. to lose.” Continue reading →

Bob Stroud and Kevin Matthews

Chicago radio veterans Bob Stroud and Kevin Matthews are among 24 nominees for induction to the Radio Hall of Fame, the Chicago-based shrine to radio’s greatest performers and programs announced Monday.

Stroud, who’s on the ballot for the third time, disclosed last week he was stepping down as top-rated midday personality at WDRV 97.1-FM, the Hubbard Radio classic rock station where he’s spent the last 21 of his 43 years in radio.

Matthews, a first-time nominee, spent 18 years on Chicago radio, including a 12-year run as a mainstay of the former WLUP AM and FM. Since 2008, when he was diagnosed with a rare type of multiple sclerosis, Matthews has been living in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Continue reading →

The Drive 97.1

Talk about going out on top.

In the run-up to his announced retirement from WDRV 97.1-FM, legendary midday personality Bob Stroud led the Hubbard Radio classic rock station to No. 1 in Chicago radio ratings released Monday.

Nielsen Audio figures for May showed The Drive in first place overall, first in middays with Stroud, and first in afternoons with Steve Seaver and Janda Lane. Continue reading →

NBC Sports Chicago/Marquee Sports Network

Twice in recent weeks Chicago’s regional sports networks have shown they cannot be trusted.

In both cases editorial standards were compromised in ways that shortchanged viewers and raised suspicions. In the end, they came off as kowtowing to teams whose owners have substantial equity interests in the networks. Continue reading →

Rick Hall

Robservations on the media beat:

SHE 100.3

Rick Hall, manager of digital audio and on-air host at Chicago-based Moody Radio, has been hired as afternoon personality and music director at WSHE 100.3-FM, the Hubbard Radio adult contemporary station. He replaces Jay Styles, who was traded in November to Hubbard’s KQMV in Seattle. Jeff England, vice president and market manager of Hubbard Radio Chicago, called Hall “a multi-talented personality/programmer who’ll bring great value to our SHE listeners, advertisers and community.” Earlier in his career Hall worked on the air country WUSN 99.5-FM and former adult contemporary WCFS 105.9-FM, both under CBS Radio ownership. In the latest Nielsen Audio survey, SHE 100.3 tied for 15th in afternoons with a 2.6 percent share and cumulative weekly audience of 424,700. Continue reading →

Bart Shore

For 25 years he’s been the most familiar and authoritative voice of traffic on Chicago radio. But after delivering his last report Wednesday morning on iHeartMedia hip-hop WGCI 107.5-FM, Bart Shore suddenly found himself over and out.

Shore was cut by Total Traffic & Weather Network, a unit of iHeartMedia, 10 months after he moved to North Carolina with his wife while continuing to work remotely. Continue reading →

WBBM/Bears Radio

Robservations on the media beat:

Three Chicago stations are vying for the radio rights to Chicago Bears football broadcasts, according to multiple sources. Audacy all-news WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM, radio flagship of the Bears since 2000, is seeking to renew the franchise when its current deal expires after next season. This time around two others bidding for the Bears are: WMVP 1000-AM, the Good Karma Brands ESPN sports/talk station; and WCHI 95.5-FM, the rock music station owned by iHeartMedia. No word yet on when a decision will be announced. Continue reading →

Bob Stroud

In all of Chicago radio you won’t find a more talented, knowledgeable, genial or universally admired personality than Bob Stroud. But soon you won’t find him hosting middays anymore.

Stroud, 71, announced Tuesday he’s stepping down from the top-rated midday show he’s hosted for 21 years at WDRV 97.1-FM. His last day of full-time work at the Hubbard Radio classic rock station will be June 30. Continue reading →

Steve Cochran

Ten years ago this fall the legendary Don Wade stepped down as morning star at WLS 890-AM as he battled the brain cancer that eventually would take his life. With him and his wife/on-air partner, Roma Wade, went the last successful morning show at the heritage news/talk station.

Now, with the station’s ratings at a historic low, Cumulus Media is turning to longtime Chicago radio personality Steve Cochran to bring back listeners.

Cochran, 61, former morning host at Nexstar Media news/talk WGN 720-AM, signed Tuesday to host mornings at WLS. Starting June 15, he’ll be heard from 5:30 to 9 a.m. Monday through Friday. Continue reading →

Marty Lennartz

Marty Lennartz, a lifelong Chicagoan whose four decades at WXRT 93.1-FM began as producer of Terri Hemmert’s morning show, is about to become morning host himself at the Audacy adult album alternative station.

Starting Monday, Lennartz will shift from afternoons to mornings at 93 XRT, succeeding Richard Milne, who’s leaving to care for his ailing wife. Milne’s last day on the air will be Friday. Continue reading →