Q101 Chicago
Q101 Chicago is a commercial Internet radio station based in Chicago, Illinois, serving primarily Chicago and the surrounding Chicago metropolitan area. Independently owned by Broadcast Barter Radio Networks from the dropping of the format in June 2011 until being acquired by current WKQX owner Cumulus Media in April 2022, the station streams a modern rock format promoted as a "continuation" of "Q101," the intellectual property and related trademarks of Chicago-licensed terrestrial radio station WKQX (101.1 FM) between 1992 and 2011 (divested from then-station owner Emmis Communications in July 2011). This streaming service is not to be  confused with the current WKQX, which despite programming a modern rock format of its own and also streams online in addition to their standard analog transmission, is branded and identified as "101WKQX". However, the branding is expected to return to the station shortly, after current WKQX owner Cumulus Media announced they had acquired all trademarks and IP relating to Q101 from BBRN on April 18, 2022. History. On June 21, 2011, WKQX (101.1 FM) and sister station WLUP (97.9 FM) were sold by then-owner Emmis Communications to Merlin Media, who had plans to launch an all-news station on  WKQX's frequency. That July 14, the day before Merlin was to take over both stations via a local marketing agreement, Emmis divested the intellectual property of "Q101" – the name, history from 1992-2011, logos, social media profiles, trademarks and domain name – to Broadcast Barter Radio Networks, headed by Matt Dubiel and Mike Noonan. Consequently, the Internet stream of WKQX ceased as a stream of the station at midnight and began programming separately as a new streaming service, initially without DJs or commercials, under the "Q101.com" name. Thus, July 15, 2011 can be regarded as the "start date" for the  current "Q101 Chicago." Upon taking over WKQX, Merlin Media changed the station's callsign to WWWN, then to WIQI; the WKQX calls were "parked" on a then-silent radio station in Watseka, Illinois owned by Merlin Media's CEO. Then, on April 30, 2012, Merlin Media began leasing WLFM-LP, a low-power analog television channel broadcasting on analog channel 6 but whose aural power is receivable at 87.7 MHz, changed the callsign to WKQX-LP and launched a modern rock format of their own as "Q87.7." At the same time, the operators of "Q101 Chicago" began a simulcast of  their audio stream at various times on WJJG (1530 AM), an AM radio station licensed to operate during the daytime hours managed by Matt Dubiel, one of the people behind BBRN. BBRN then filed a trademark infringement suit against Merlin Media following the launch of "Q87.7"; the case would be settled out of court. WIQI and WLUP were taken over by Cumulus Media in a local marketing agreement announced on January 3, 2014; the modern rock format heard on "Q87.7" would be moved over to WIQI, which concurrently changed back to the WKQX callsign. After a month-long simulcast period  with WKQX-LP with oblique "101.1 FM" branding, WKQX was relaunched as "101WKQX" on February 17, 2014, with no connection to "Q101 Chicago" and would not use the "Q101" moniker. On April 18, 2022, current WKQX owner Cumulus Media announced it had acquired all trademarks and IP relating to Q101 Chicago, including ownership of the stream, and would be re-placing the brand back onto the 101.1 frequency shortly thereafter. Cumulus Chicago Vice President/Market Manager Marv Nyren reported to "Daily Herald" journalist Robert Feder that discussions had been ongoing for over four years to reach a deal with Dubiel  to reacquire the rights to the brand.