In the old days, radio was uncomplicated. A guy in a booth would play a song he liked, or Jack Benny would tell a joke to an audience, and people either listened or they didn’t. Today, with competition from Internet and satellite radio, not to mention cable television, video games and e-mail, traditional AM and FM stations have to carve niches and rely on focus groups in their quests to create identities on the dial. Here, we show two ways Chicagoland’s 80-plus radio stations distance themselves from one another — by creating distinctive (and quotable) morning shows, and by meticulously testing their listeners’ tastes. Plus, in case you need guidance when you’re surfing the channels, here’s our complete listing of Chicago’s radio stations.
`Testing, testing . . . ‘
How songs get on the radio
In the weeks since the multiplatinum-selling “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” soundtrack dominated the Grammy Awards, fans of old-time bluegrass and hillbilly records have stepped up their criticism of country radio. Why, they want to know, won’t stations such as Chicago’s US99 play the Soggy Bottom Boys’ deep-country “I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow” among the Faith Hills, Alan Jacksons and Tim McGraws?
Two words: auditorium testing. Most major radio stations, two or three times a year, invite about 200 listeners to a hotel ballroom. The subjects, carefully chosen for their ages and genders, hear 15-second snippets of 500 songs, rating each one on a test sheet. “I would say it’s really influential,” says Mary Shuminas, Q101’s music director. “We don’t want to be presumptuous and say we know what listeners like.”
If a song fares amazingly well in the tests, few radio programmers can resist adding it to the playlist. If a song tanks, stations tend to ignore it altogether. Thus, the 1988 Jane’s Addiction non-hit “Jane Says” came roaring back on Q101 and other alt-rock stations after surprisingly strong test numbers. Ricky Martin’s “Livin’ La Vida Loca,” so ubiquitous two years ago, disappeared for similar reasons.
But guess which category “Man of Constant Sorrow” falls into — at least among white 25-to-44-year-old women (whom country stations covet for their product-consumption habits)? “All through 2001, that song tested at the bottom,” says Chris Ackerman, vice president of Coleman Research, a Raleigh, N.C.-based company that works with Chicago alt-rock fixture Q101, along with other stations of various formats.
“It has only just begun to test better as a result of Grammy-related hype,” Ackerman adds. “Our sense is it’s going to test okay for first half of this year and then it’s going to go away.”
For listeners who believe radio should be free-form and spontaneous, auditorium testing has been the enemy since it first caught on two decades ago. Although it technically gives listeners what they want, some say the carefully controlled testing process robs programmers of all room to experiment.
“If you’re always relying on statistics and quantitative methods to program your station, that makes for very uninteresting programming,” says Kyle Cantrell, operations manager of WSM-AM, a Nashville country station that regularly plays “O Brother” tracks in addition to modern country. “There has to be some recognition that music is art, and art in and of itself is subjective.”
With some exceptions — such as “Man of Constant Sorrow” — stations typically use auditorium testing for older, established songs. To gauge newer material, they generally use weekly phone surveys, in which poll-takers rate snippets of songs. Station programmers, of course, retain veto power.
“You have to be very careful how you interpret things,” Ackerman says. “Put a song like ‘We Are the World’ in any test and I guarantee it’ll be in the top 25 [of tested songs]. But that doesn’t mean it’ll be relevant for the station to play. Music testing is a great tool — but an imperfect tool.”
FM STATIONS
88.1 WCRX
Columbia College, dance, hip-hop, R&B
312-663-1600
Although it probably won’t last beyond the next semester or two, “The Jim and Keith Morning Show” (7 a.m. Wednesdays) is worth hearing just for its Tom Jones fetish. Plus: house music, new and old. (This item as published has been corrected in this text.)
88.1 WLTL
Lyons Township High School, variety rock
708-482-9585
88.1 WSSD
Blues
773-928-8800
A little Muddy Waters and a lot of Bobby “Blue” Bland, Bobby Rush and Denise LaSalle.
88.3 WZRD
Northeastern Illinois University
773-442-4578
“The Wizard” is typically eclectic college programming.
88.3 WXAV
St. Xavier University
773-298-3375
Check out the ’80s retro show, 4 p.m. Tuesdays.
88.5 WHPK
University of Chicago, mixed use
773-702-8424, 773-702-8289
Nataliya Yufa introduces old-old-school music on “Classical Time Travel” noon Wednesdays.
88.9 WMXM
Lake Forest College
847-234-3100
88.7 WRSE
Elmhurst College, mixed use
630-617-3498
88.7 WLUW
Loyola University, community use
312-915-6558
“Radio Free Chicago,” a local-music show, features bands such as Frisbie and OK Go.
89.3 WNUR
Northwestern University, mixed use
847-491-7101
WNUR is a free-form mix of reggae, blues, metal, world and country programming.
89.1 WONC
North Central College, progressive rock
630-637-5100
90.9 WDCB
College of DuPage, jazz
630-942-4200
Home of “Those Were the Days.”
90.1 WMBI
Religious
312-329-4300
See 1110 AM.
89.7 WONU
Christian contemporary
815-9395089
91.5 WBEZ
News, NPR, jazz
312-832-9150
Chicago’s public-radio juggernaut.
91.9 WJCH
Religious
815-725-1331, 800-543-1495
This Joliet station pumps up listeners with the 11 a.m. “Sunday Serenade.”
92.3 WPWX
R&B
773-734-4455
New kid on the urban block is challenging WGCI for R& B supremacy.
92.5 WDEK
Top 40
312-573-9400
This station plays anything modern and upbeat, such as Pink and Baha Men.
92.7 WDEK
Top 40
312-573-9400
See 92.5 FM.
93.1 WXRT
Progressive rock
773-777-1700
WXRT has mellowed but still plays the new stuff.
93.5 WJTW
`80s, ’90s and today 815-556-0100
New-age pianist John Tesh calls his Sunday syndicated radio show “music and intelligence for your life.”
93.9 WLIT
Soft rock
More Top Picks Best Commercial Deep Fryers For Busy Kitchens
312-329-9002
Santana’s “Smooth” and Dido’s “Thankyou” are today’s lite hits.
94.3 WJKL
Christian music
847-741-7700
This low-key station is like a God-centered WLIT-FM.
94.7 WZZN
alternative rock
312-984-9923
This version of “alternative” includes the Cranberries and Puddle of Mudd.
95.1 WIIL
Adult rock
262-694-7800
95.5 WNUA
Smooth jazz
312-645-9550
Home of morning host Ramsey Lewis, the silkiest voice this side of Luther Vandross.
95.9 WERV
Classic rock
630-898-6668
96.3 WBBM
Top 40
312-944-6000
If you don’t know B96, you don’t know urban pop.
97.1
WDRV
Classic rock
(This item has been added to this text.)
97.9 WLUP
Rock
312-440-5270
The classics, dude.
98.3 WCCQ
Country
815-729-4400
Chicagoland’s “other” country station.
98.7 WFMT
Classical, fine arts
773-279-2000
WFMT is the only major classical show in town–on the radio, that is.
99.5 WUSN
Country
312-649-0099
A hit parade of mainstream Nashville sounds.
100.3 WNND
Adult contemporary
312-297-5100
Most popular show? ” ‘Love Notes!'” responds the receptionist.
100.7 WBVS
Hot hits
815-556-0100
101.1 WKQX
Alternative rock
312-245-1200
The home of Mancow.
101.9 WTMX
Adult contemporary
312-946-1019
Goo Goo Dolls, Sarah McLachlan and other polished rock and pop acts.
102.3 WYBA
R&B
773-734-4455
Oldies in the morning.
102.3 WXLC
Contemporary hits
847-336-7900
Adult contemporary hits to soothe you.
102.7 WVAZ
Adult, urban contemporary
312-360-9000
Herb “The Cool Gent” Kent’s 50-year Chicago-radio career continues here on weekend mornings.
103.1 WXXY
Spanish contemporary hits
312-573-9400
On the weekday show “Planeta Viva,” deejays Veronica Medina and David Miranda banter between Spanish hits.
103.5 WKSC
Top 40
312-255-5100
MTV hunk Carson Daly’s countdown show is weeknights at 11 p.m.
103.9 WXRD
Classic rock
219-462-6111
104.3 WJMK
Oldies
312-977-1800
Veteran deejay Greg Brown takes requests daily during his “Brown Bag Lunch.”
104.7 WCFL
Contemporary Christian
800-520-9235
Focus on the Family is at 10:30 a.m. weekdays.
105.1 WOJO
Mexican regional
312-649-0105
Adriana Rodriguez takes requests weeknights at 7 p.m.
105.5 WZSR
Adult contemporary
312-755-9248
105.9 WCKG
Talk
312-240-7900
Steve Dahl rambles through his personal madness on weekday afternoons.
106.3 WYCA
Gospel
773-734-4455
106.7 WZFS
Contemporary Christian music
847-437-5200
Happy, happy deejays occasionally talk between the steady stream of holy music.
107.5 WGCI
Urban contemporary
312-986-6900
WGCI’s local-music feature, “Chicago Home Jams, ” is at 8:20 p.m. weekdays.
107.9 WLEY
Spanish regional
312-920-9500
Morning host El Capitan plays all the Jose Jose and German Valdez you could want.
AM STATIONS
1600 WCGO
Nostalgia
708-755-5900
Longtime Chicago deejay Eddie Hubbard handles the big-band-heavy “Hubbard’s Cupboard ” on Sundays.
1590 WONX
Ethnic
847-475-1590
In addition to a nightly Assyrian music-and-information show, WONX also features Spanish music.
1580 WKKD
More Top Picks 84
Ethnic
847-475-1590
WONX (below) and WKKD share most of their programming.
1570 WBEE
Jazz, gospel, blues
708-331-7840
Tune in to “Legends of Jazz” for classsic cuts by Charlie Parker and Billie Holiday.
1530 WJJG
News, talk, standards
708-493-1530
Morning host Joe Gentile calls himself the “Baron of Barrington,” a title for which we suspect there’s little competition.
1490 WPNA
Ethnic programming
708-848-8980, 773-777-9762
Jarek Obrecki’s “Lunchtime Polka Show” is one of many nationalities this 51-year-old station represents.
1470 WCFJ
Ethnic, variety, urban talk
773-792-1121
This varied station’s programming includes syndicated Sporting News shows , current affairs and various ethnic programming.
1450 WVON
Urban talk
773-247-6200
Monique Carradine’s show invites callers to discuss issues of race and politics.
1450 WCEV
Ethnic, religious
773-282-6700
Sharing a frequency with WVON, WCEV’s weekday (and some weekend) programming includes news, religion and talk regarding various nations.
1430 WEEF
Ethnic programming
847-967-8798, 847-831-5441
When Greece’s state-run airline, Olympic Airways, has to cut services, WEEF’s George Sklavounis is there.
1410 WRMN
News, talk
847-741-7700
1390 WGCI
Gospel 312-986-6900
Legendary gospel voices sing songs of praise; hear hometown favorite Rev. Clay Evans, 9 p.m. Sundays.
1340 WJOL
Sports, talk
815-556-0100
1330 WKTA
Ethnic
847-498-3350
Russians come in at 6 a.m. weekdays, then Koreans at 9 a.m., then Russians again at 5 p.m., with a break for Germans at 10 a.m. Saturdays.
1300 WRDZ
Radio Disney
312-683-1300
Kiddie pop featuring ‘N Sync and Britney Spears.
1280 WBIG
News, talk
630-851-5200
The Radio Shopping Show, with its deals for pizza, oil changes and office supplies, is on the air weekdays at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
1240 WSBC
Ethnic, variety
773-792-1121
How’s this for variety? A sports show weekdays at 10 a.m. and a jazz showcase daily at 5 p.m.
1220 WKRS
News, talk
847-336-7900
1200 WLXX
Tropical
312-738-1200
La X’s Latin Caribbean mix gets harder at night, when Ray Rubio’s “Haciendo Radio” focuses on club music.
1160 WYLL
Christian talk
847-956-5030; 847-437-5200
Chicago’s Faith Tabernacle features Pastor Llarena.
1110 WMBI
Religious
312-329-4300
The Moody Church anchors the Sunday-service programming at 10 a.m.
1080 WNWI
Ethnic
708-201-9600
Polish music every day, with brief glimpses of Serbia, Romania, Lithuania and the Jewish Torah.
1030 WNVR
Polish
773-588-6300
930 WAUR
Religious, talk
630-428-1450
Irvin Baxter is host of a politics-and-religion show, 5 p.m. weekdays.
1000 WMVP
Sports
312-980-1000
ESPN’s drier-than-a-sandstorm anchorman Dan Patrick has returned to his radio roots.
890 WLS
News, talk
312-984-0891
Garry Meier (with Roe Conn) anchors the 2 p.m. weekday slot with sober humor and commentary.
850 WAIT
News, talk
815-459-7000
820 WCSN
Sports talk (daytime hours only)
773-792-1121
Syndicated Sporting News programming, including a weekly show by Phil Jackson.
750 WNDZ
Religious talk
780 WBBM
News
312-944-6000
Traffic reports read so quickly you can barely make out “Ike” and “accident.”
670 WSCR
Sports talk
312-245-6000
Mike North babbles from noon to 4 p.m. daily.
720 WGN
Variety, talk
312-222-4700
More Cubs coverage than you could shake a Wrigley Field vine at.
560 WIND
Spanish talk
312-751-5560
Elisa Alfonso’s long-running news-politics-and-everything-else show, “Chicago al Dia,” takes to the air at noon weekdays.
– – –
Did he just say that?
Checking in on top morning deejays
To Tom Skilling: “Do you remember when everybody had that poster of Farrah Fawcett with the red bathing suit? You are like that, Tom, in weathercasting.” — WGN-AM, the Spike O’Dell Show
“RuPaul is doing the `Vagina Monologues’ show now, right?” — WVAZ-FM’s syndicated Tom Joyner in the Morning Show
“What better way to begin your workday than with smooooooooth jaaaaaaaazzzz?” — WNUA-FM, the Ramsy Lewis Show
“Hey, Ben Affleck, let me give you some advice: gay porno!” — WKQX-FM’s Mancow’s Morning Madness