From: wdp@gagme.chi.il.us (Bill Pfeiffer)
Subject: Changes at WLUP (was What happened to Brandmier?)
Originator: wdp@gagme
Organization: Gagme Public Access UNIX, Chicago, Illinois.
Distribution: chi
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 07:23:02 GMT


As a long time Steve and Garry listener and occasional Brandmeier
listener, I am a bit upset about the changes at the LOOP AM-1000.  I
think that S&G's style is much more atuned to the afternoon drive than
the mornings,  and that Johnnie B's is the opposite.  Johnnie is very
energetic, almost frenetic at times.  He is more schtick and is very
suited to the morinings.

Steve and Garry, have evolved over the years to a more thoughtful,
and mature kind of irreverence and are well suited IMHO to the drive
home.  They are more than radio schtick-men.  They are quite socially
aware and their humor is based on a deeper sense of reality.  Their
humoros approach to social matters is quite pointed and very
authentic-sounding.   Yes Yes I know that Steve is really full of
himself and often does over-step himself at times, but I truly miss
them in the afternoons.

** BUT WHAT'S WORSE **

...is the fact that in this frantic switch-eroo, S&G were not only
moved to mornings, but were moved OFF of the AM-1000 roster completely
and on to the FM where they stand alone in the midst of a
non-stop-rock-machine.  S&G helped put AM-1000 on the map, and indeed,
helped put AM in general on the map in this city.   From their time on
WLS-AM to their christening of WLUP-AM, S&G have been a staple on the
band, and on that station.  It is one thing to put them on in the
mornings, and quite another to remove them from the roster all
together, and reduce them from a 50,000 watt AM covering large parts
of four states, to a 6,000 watt FM which may cover 50 miles, to a good
receiver, before the noise covers it.  There is a 97.9 station as
close as Grand Rapids Michigan!  

Besides the massive reduction in real coverage, now S&G are absent
from the veiw of those who listen to AM-1000, the station that S&G were
primarily responsible for making the success story that it is.
Burried on the FM where no other programming is similar to theirs (as
opposed to the AM where Johnnie, Kevin and others compliment the
line-up of comedic personalities), only the real dyed-in-the-wool S&G
fans will follow them there.  Not only to the other end of the day,
but to another band as well.  

All of this to accomidate Howeird Stern!

I can understand the LOOP wanting Howard on their air, he is popular
and it is better (from their point of veiw) to have him in their
stable than on a competitor.  -BUT - to offer him the massive coverage
and format recognition of AM-1000 to the exclusion of local legends
Steve and Garry, is IMHO a low class and dumb move.

Howard Stern is on FM stations in every market except this one.  Why
did't the LOOP put HIM on the FM, where he is everywhere else, and
leave S&G on the AM?  After all that these men (S&G) have meant to so many
Chicagoans, it looks like the station is just putting them on the FM
to fade away.  With all their flaws and ego-battles, S&G have consistantly
delivered a top 5 and usually top 3 rating in their afternoon slot.
Brandmeier has also delivered big numbers.  

Stern talks about New York all of the time, He is a local NY jock who
happens to be on a satellite.  Hearing about Paramus Park and Brooklyn
is of far less interest that the cutting wit, pointed gems and
personality humor of a Steve Dahl and Garry Meier.  Sure, since I live
in the Chicago metro, I can still hear S&G, but I wonder how long they
will remain the primal forces in Chicago radio, that they always have
been, while tucked away from the limelight of the AM gang, a limelight
THEY helped to bring about.  Gone is the interaction between them and
the rest of the AM crew.  Gone are their names from the promos of the
day.  Sure they are still here, but it is almost like they have
vanished.  Like they have been placed out to pasture to slowly sink
into ratings oblivion, then perhaps canned later for that reason.

AM-1000 is nationally famous for their innovative programming.  FM
97.9 is, after all, just another album rock station in a sea of album
rock stations.  Steve and Garry deserve more exposure, they deserve a
better shake and I think LOOP management has made a grave error in
favoring the satellite fed Howard Stern over our local broadcast
treasures.  But, *they* run the station, not I, and only time will tell
what will happen next.  

Thanks for  reading my sermon.

William Pfeiffer
Moderator - rec.radio.broadcasting - Internet Radio Journal
rrb@airwaves.chi.il.us
 
 



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