From: mandrews@portal.hq.videocart.com (Mike Andrews)
Subject: Re: Changes at WLUP (was What happened to Brandmier?)
Organization: VideOcart Inc.
Distribution: chi
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 21:10:58 GMT

In article <1992Nov6.072302.20797@gagme.chi.il.us> wdp@gagme.chi.il.us (Bill Pfeiffer) writes:
>
>...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!  

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

I think you're missing the plan.  Stern talked about this at one of the few
times I tuned him in, as he was doing his usual gloating over ratings in
NY and LA and begging for ratings elsewhere.  He wanted to be on the FM but
the LOOP gave the FM to Steve and Garry.  He says that they demanded it.
He said, "OK. So put me on the AM, I'll still be #1 in 3 months!"  He said that
Brandmier made the "smart" move by switching to afternoons, which Mark &
Brian should have done in LA.

But here's what I think happened.  The LOOP had to sign up Stern so they 
could control his Chicago outlet.  They called on Steve & Garry's egos 
with a challenge to go head-to-head with him to show him up, which they've
been itching to do for a while.

Look at the LOOP's position on this.  If Stern fails against S&G, then S&G
can go into syndication as the team that killed the "giant."  The other
radio stations around the country would leap at the chance to put on a
show to trounce Stern.  If Stern does as well here as in NY and LA, then the
LOOP still wins - it still airs the top shows in the morning.

They made a similar move when they signed up Eddie Schwartz.  They showed up
WGN by outbidding them and shut up Schwartz by putting him on AM-1000. Then
they bought the Blackhawks games so his show is almost always pre-empted.

Steve and Garry have been hinting that Stern will be gone and they'll be on
both the AM and FM soon, so I expect that Stern's ratings haven't been
good in Chicago.  That should be expected since Stern really only became
#1 in markets that didn't have decent radio teams like Chicago.  Mark and
Brian are just 2nd rate Steve & Garry clones.  And Stern himself has been
ripping them off for years.  I predict that Stern will have the same 
longevity as Morton Downey, Jr. and those before him.  Those one-trick pony
acts don't have staying power.

--Mike Andrews