From: wdp@gagme.chi.il.us (Bill Pfeiffer)
Newsgroups: chi.general
Subject: Re: Changes at WLUP (was What happened to Brandmier?)
Date: 11 Nov 92 22:40:27 GMT
Followup-To: rec.radio.broadcasting
Distribution: chi
Organization: Gagme Public Access UNIX, Chicago, Illinois.
Originator: wdp@gagme

In article <1992Nov9.220053.12897@sdc.com> kenk@sdc.com (Ken Konecki) writes:
>In article <1992Nov6.072302.20797@gagme.chi.il.us> wdp@gagme.chi.il.us (Bill Pfeiffer) writes:
>>I think that S&G's style is much more atuned to the afternoon drive than
>>the mornings
>
>This is interesting considering that Steve and Garry became a
>team working the morning drive on WLUP-FM (before AM-1000 was
>WLUP-AM).  At the time, Garry Meier was to Steve Dahl what Buzz
>is to Johnny B; the person who read the news and made a good
>straight man.  If they are more suited to the PM drive it's only
>because they've adapted to it.

Exactly.  S&G are totally different people and personalities than they
were back then.  In fact Steve Dahl started out in this city on WDAI
with no partner at all.  Then, when the two of them got paired up at
'LUP-FM, they were far more energetic than they are now.  They were
more like shock-jocks then.  Also, there was little competition for
their nutty and innovative schtick.

S&G have matured, calmed down and grown up, just like their audience.
They're now more laid back, thoughtful and their humor is subtler.
That is why I feel that they are better in the PM, and will probably
not fare as well in the mornings as they did in the beginning.
Brandmeier IS morning radio personified.  He is very good at it,
energetic, funny and rapid-fire, BUT no where near as deep and thought
provoking as Steve and Garry are.    

>>S&G helped put AM-1000 on the map, and indeed,
>>helped put AM in general on the map in this city.
>
>This needs to be qualified a bit; Steve and Garry put AM-1000 on
>the map to the younger crowd which had abandoned it in favor of
>FM.  

AM-1000 was aquired by Evergreen Media 'FOR' the S&G show.  Before
that it was WCFL, which stood for 'We Can't Find Listeners'.  The
station was bought with the current format in mind, to be anchored by
S&G, who already had substantial success at WLS for 10 years.  S&G did
indeed put AM-1000 on the map, and did wonders for the viability of
the entire band.  

>WGN was and is the most listened to station in Chicago but
>their demographics lean quite heavily toward an older audience.

That lead is substantially decreasing every ratings period.  
In PM drive WGCI beat them last time.

>I give more credit to Kevin Matthews than Steve Dahl for making
>the AM loop as popular as it is.  After all, WLS-FM did quite a
>fizzle when Steve and Garry were there.

Kevin Mathews is a funny and brilliant dude, no doubt.  It was,
however, S&G who discovered and  suggested that Mathews be hired by
AM-1000.  As for WLS, their fizzle came AFTER S&G left.  Dispite
malevolent treatment and managerial harrassment at WLS, S&G continued
to be their top rated show at all times.  When S&G were 'suspended'
for a day, WLS's switchboard was JAMMED with callers asking what was
up?  After firing S&G, WLS went so far in the toilet, that they went
to all-talk, where they continued their chicken-poop policies and wound
up losing their heaviest hitters, and a good deal of their ratings as
well.
 
The AM loop is/was popular because untill these recent changes, you
could count on programming of a unique and interesting nature... all
day long.  The station is a legend all over the country.   Now, with
S&G on the FM, Ed Tyll gone (in favor of a Brandmeier re-broadcast)
and such, a lot of the 'chemistry' is gone... or at least substantially
different.  They should never have taken S&G off of the AM in favor of
satelite Stern.  I think history will bear out this assesment.

As for WGN, they had a 'unbeatable' winner with Wally Phillips in the
mornings.  NOBODY could touch him.  He moved to afternoons and guess
what?  The chemistry was altered and he is gone, WGN's morning lock is
gone forever and the station is worse off for it.  I think that
monkeying with a success story is stupid.  Plain and simple.  Let's
hope that the LOOP bosses have not out smarted themselves.   

>Trivia time for the true Steve and Garry fan: who is Garry
>parodying when he does 'Cliff'?

Cliff Mercer, ex WGN jock.

Take care all

William Pfeiffer
Moderator - rec.radio.broadcasting - Internet Radio Journal.


>Ken Konecki
>e-mail:kenk@sdc.com    -or-    ...!uunet!tellab5!sdc!kenk
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