Media
Bong Hits 4 Freedom
At first glance it’s a story of a high-school kid versus his principal in a quirky schoolyard First Amendment stand. A student fought for his right to hold up a sign that read “Bong Hits 4 Jesus” during what may or may not have been a school fieldtrip.
A Third Down & Ten
Trent Modglin had the idea of starting a cultural magazine years ago. “I was close to turning 30 and said, ‘If I don’t do it now, I’m never going to do it,’” says the DeKalb-area native. “I didn’t want to look back when I was 40 and say, ‘I wish I’d done that magazine about […]
Save Internet Radio
Is the musical Wild West of Internet radio about to become as predictable as commercial broadcast radio? A new Copyright Royalty Board measure that goes into effect July 15th would massively increase the rate webcasters must pay each time they stream a song, and put thousands of small, independent outlets out of business.
Please Mr. Postman
Small, independently owned publications such as No Depression and Punk Planet could face financial ruin if a proposed rate hike goes through July 15th.
The Return Of Garry Meier
My parents, who divorced in 1972, will never get back together – they’re dead. But now there may be hope for the pioneering radio duo of Steve Dahl and Garry Meier.
In Through The Out Door
It’s a lesson in taking the high road and not bashing your ex in public. Make that ex-boss.
News Of Every Kind
GOOD NEWS: When Chicago radio personalities get fired they wind up in one of four places: Michigan (Kevin Matthews), TV (Mancow), the ether (Garry Meier), or the Internet. The last is where you can find former WXRT-FM (93.1) jock Bobby Skafish.
Bad Radio Hurts Musicians
“When my life and my income and my profession are affected by media consolidation, we don’t need to make a move any further in the wrong direction,” George Jones said at a recent Federal Communications Commission media ownership hearing in Nashville. Jones was one of several country musicians – including Naomi Judd – who testified […]
Rockin’ Rock ‘N’ Roll Radio – Let’s Go!
Few things are more satisfying to the ears than hearing Robyn Hitchcock unveil a new song played live with Peter Buck and Scott McCaughey on free radio, then listening to them explain its context and spin some of their favorite records.
The Unheard Music?
Last spring we reported public radio station WBEZ-FM (91.5) and its satellites (Chesterton, Indiana’s WBEW-FM (89.5) and Morris’ WBEQ-FM (90.7)) would scrap music programming altogether when they switch to all news and talk in January. Now Chicago Public Radio says it plans to retain a smidgen of music on WBEZ.
Male Monarch Of Most Media
Move over media royalty Howard Stern and Oprah Winfrey, and make way for renaissance rocker Rob Zombie.
Rock Star Parking
Local musicians who haven’t checked out the independently produced local TV show “Upscale TV” should do so – and soon.
Not-So-Sacred Cow
We were never fans of Erich “Mancow” Muller, the libertarian shock jock who started drawing young male listeners to him like flies when he came to Chicago in 1994. But we were not pleased when Emmis Communications-owned WKQX-FM (101.1) dumped his top-rated “Mancow’s Morning Madhouse” in July.
Tribune Tribulations
There’s a heavy dark cloud draping the gothic spires of Tribune Tower these days, making Chicago ground zero for one of the country’s major media sagas.
Stuck In Muck
The ratings numbers tell us people in Chicago are hearing the radio. But how many people are really listening? Chicago radio used to crackle; it used to excite, entertain, energize, influence, and order its listeners. Now it’s white noise. Today, Chicago radio is becoming to entertainment choices what the Chicago Blackhawks are to sports choices.
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