WKQX (101.1 FM) is a commercial radio station licensed to Chicago, Illinois, featuring an alternative rock format known as "Q101". Owned by Cumulus Media, the station serves the Chicago metropolitan area. WKQX's studios are located in the NBC Tower, while the station transmits from atop the John Hancock Center. In addition to a standard analog transmission, WKQX broadcasts over two HD Radio channels.
WKQX is best known for carrying an alternative rock format that, from 1992 until 2011 and since 2022, has used the "Q101" brand. A sale of the station to Merlin Media in August 2011 saw outgoing owner Emmis Communications sell the "Q101 Chicago" name, intellectual property and all underlying trademarks for a unrelated internet radio station bearing the same name, while WKQX itself flipped to all-news radio under Merlin Media as WWWN, then to adult contemporary as WIQI. Reverting to alternative under a long-term local marketing agreement by Cumulus Media in 2014, the station branded instead under the restored WKQX call sign until Cumulus reacquired the Q101 trademarks on May 3, 2022. A former NBC Radio owned-and-operated station, WKQX's studios were located in the Merchandise Mart from the station's 1948 launch to 2016; the station relocated to the NBC Tower, the current home of onetime sister station WMAQ-TV, on August 4, 2016."Tour Of Our New Home!", WKQX. August 4, 2016. Retrieved February 10, 2019.Feder, Robert. "Cumulus Media moving to NBC Tower", RobertFeder.com. November 18, 2015. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
WKQX-HD2 airs a classic rock format branded as "The Loop" that was previously heard on the former WLUP (97.9 FM), now WCKL."WLUP-FM's Mancow Muller: 'The Loop Meant Something.'", Inside Radio. March 7, 2018. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
History The NBC years
NBC, which had an owned-and-operated station in Chicago since 1931 with WMAQ (),"NBC 25th Anniversary Edition", Billboard. December 1, 1951. pp. 52, 54. Retrieved February 7, 2020. signed on WMAQ-FM on October 13, 1948, from studios in the Merchandise Mart. Its transmitter was located atop the Civic Opera Building, where it broadcast with an ERP of 24,000 watts. In its early years, WMAQ-FM generally operated as an outright simulcast of WMAQ.1958 Broadcasting Yearbook, Broadcasting, 1958. p. A-276. Retrieved February 7, 2019."Stations By Format", Billboard. October 16, 1965. p. 62. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
The station began airing a classical music format afternoons and evenings in 1966, though it continued to simulcast WMAQ during mornings and early afternoons."NBC plans programming for its O&O FM's", Broadcasting. July 25, 1966. pp. 38, 40. Retrieved February 8, 2019."Stations By Format", Billboard. November 19, 1966. p. 38. Retrieved February 8, 2019. By the early 1970s, it had adopted an easy listening format.Paige, Earl. "WMAQ Keeping Up With MOR; Uses Distinguishable Sound", Billboard. October 9, 1971. p. 17. Retrieved February 8, 2019. In 1970, the station's transmitter was moved to the John Hancock Center.
In late 1972, WMAQ-FM adopted an automated adult hits format, with programming from TM Productions."TM's Adult Stereo Rock", Billboard. December 30, 1972. p. 20. Retrieved February 8, 2019. In 1974, the station's call letters were changed to WJOI. In January 1975, WMAQ 670 adopted a country music format.Hall, Claude. "Chicago's WMAQ Hits Air", Billboard. January 11, 1975. p. 18. Retrieved February 8, 2019. WJOI followed suit, and aired an automated country music format aimed at a somewhat younger audience than WMAQ, with programming from TM Productions.
In June 1975, the station's call letters were changed to WNIS-FM, and it adopted an all news format carrying NBC Radio Network's News and Information Service (NIS)."Journalism Briefs", Broadcasting. March 15, 1976. p. 100. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
In January 1977, the station's call sign was changed to WKQX, and it adopted an album-oriented rock format."NIS orphans plan their next moves", Broadcasting. November 22, 1976. p. 25. Retrieved February 8, 2019.Hall, Claude. "Vox Jox", Billboard. January 22, 1977. p. 58. Retrieved February 8, 2019. The program director was Bob Pittman, who later created MTV and is now CEO of iHeartMedia. Bob Heymann served as assistant program director and morning drive host, and Bob King was the music director. Mitch Michaels did afternoon drive and Lorna Ozmon did nights.
In the spring of 1977, Chicago gained another AOR station, WLUP,Hall, Claude. "'War Babies' Target of WLUP", Billboard. March 19, 1977. p. 16. Retrieved February 8, 2019. resulting in four FM rock stations (WKQX, WXRT, WDAI, and WLUP) competing against each other. In 1978, WKQX began "sponsoring" the Triad music magazine, which was formerly associated with free-form Chicago radio station WXFM. By January 1979, WDAI switched to an all-disco format and WKQX became an adult contemporary station;Baker, Cary. "Hawaiian Purchases Chicago WLUP-FM", Billboard. January 20, 1979. p. 28. Retrieved February 8, 2019.Penchansky, Alan. "Chi Turmoil: Changes in Format and Station Personnel Charged to Blizzard", Billboard. March 24, 1979. p. 22. Retrieved February 8, 2019. Joel Sebastian hosted mornings."Stations, everywhere: a listeners' guide to the AM and FM bands", Chicago Tribune Magazine. March 4, 1979. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
Q101 In the early 1980s, WKQX began to be branded "Q-101"."Variety & Flexibility AC's Only Constants", Billboard. August 29, 1981. p. 23. Retrieved February 8, 2019. By the mid-1980s, the station had evolved into a hot AC format.Chicago Radio Guide, Vol. 1, Issue 1. May 1985. Retrieved February 9, 2019. During this period, the station carried Sexually Speaking with Dr. Ruth Westheimer and the Rick Dees Weekly Top 40.Sneed, Michael; Lavin, Cheryl. "That Old Gang of Mine...", Chicago Tribune. February 4, 1985. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
From 1983 to 1993, Robert Murphy was the morning drive host on Q101.Feder, Robert. "Robert Murphy out at WLS FM", RobertFeder.com. December 20, 2016. Retrieved February 9, 2019.Stark, Phyllis; Boehlert, Eric; Borzillo, Carrie. "Vox Jox", Billboard. May 22, 1993. p. 111. Retrieved February 9, 2019. Tommy Edwards joined the station as program director in 1986.McCormick, Moria. "New WKQX PD Will 'Freshen' Station's Sound", Billboard. March 1, 1986. pp. 11, 15. Retrieved February 9, 2019. Starting in 1987, NBC began a two-year-long divestiture of their radio properties.Stevenson, Richard W. "NBC to Sell Its Radio Networks", The New York Times. July 21, 1987. Retrieved February 9, 2019. In 1988, Emmis Communications purchased WKQX, along with four other NBC radio stations, for $121.5 million.Storch, Charles. "5-Station Deal Bolsters Broadcaster", Chicago Tribune. February 21, 1988. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
In the mid to late 1980s, WKQX aired an adult top 40 format, with the slogan "Today's Music".Ross, Sean. "Adult Top 40's Eclectic Mix Thrives: Less AC, Hard Hits Spark Odd Format", Billboard. August 20, 1988. p. 10. Retrieved February 9, 2019.Chicagoland Radio Waves, MediaTies. Summer 1988. Retrieved February 9, 2019. Q101 continued to evolve,Ross, Sean; Stark, Phyllis; Levy, Rochelle. "Vox Jox", Billboard. December 7, 1991. p. 73. Retrieved February 9, 2019. and on July 14, 1992, WKQX adopted an alternative rock format as "Chicago's New Rock Alternative".Stark, Phyllis; Boehlert, Eric; Borzillo, Carrie. "Vox Jox", Billboard. July 25, 1992. p. 65. Retrieved February 9, 2019. Bill Gamble was the station's Program Director.Stark, Phyllis. "Chicago's Bill Gamble Keeps WKQX In Tune With Listeners", Billboard. July 8, 1995. p. 84. Retrieved February 9, 2019. In July 1993, former MTV VJ Mark Goodman was hired as morning host, replacing Robert Murphy, but he remained in this position less than a year.Kening, Dan. "For Mark Goodman Deejaying at Q-101 Is No Radical Departure", Chicago Tribune. September 14, 1993. Retrieved February 9, 2019.Stark, Phyllis. "Vox Jox", Billboard. May 14, 1994. p. 98. Retrieved February 9, 2019. In July 1998, Q101 became the new home of Mancow Muller's morning show after he left WRCX the previous month.Kirk, Jim. "So Far, Muller's Mates Aren't Jumping Ship", Chicago Tribune. June 30, 1998. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
Specialty shows on the station, like Local 101, showcased promising local acts, many of whom went on to achieve greater prominence.Kyles, Kyra. "Chicago Playlist", Chicago Tribune. July 18, 2008. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
On April 1, 2005, WKQX went "on shuffle", with its playlist expanded from 200 to approximately 1,000 songs. Instead of focusing solely on new music, they expanded their playlist to include classic alternative rock from the 1980s and 1990s, and some 1970s artists. Mancow was dropped by the station on July 14, 2006, with Emmis Communications replacing his show with one that they felt would better appeal to their target demographic."Q101 Announces Plans For New Morning Show", Emmis Communications. July 11, 2006. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
On September 18, 2006, Q101 launched The Morning Fix, a morning show led by former WXDX-FM Pittsburgh personality Alan Cox, and presented in a manner similar to The Daily Show, featuring a blend of current events and pop culture.Thomas, Mike. "Q101 unveils Mancow-free morning cast", Chicago Sun-Times. August 31, 2006. Retrieved February 9, 2019."Q101 Calls It 'The Morning Fix'", All Access Music Group. September 28, 2006. Retrieved February 9, 2019. However, on November 9, 2007, The Morning Fix underwent major changes when it was decided that morning airtime would be more wisely used playing music; the changes resulted in only 2 of the shows' original 6 members remaining, Alan Cox and Jim "Jesus" Lynam. On August 1, 2008, Cox and Lynam were let go, with management moving Brian Sherman and Steve Tingle from afternoons to the morning slot.
During its tenure as an alternative rock station, WKQX served as host to several music festivals and events, mainly Jamboree at Tweeter Center in Tinley Park every June, and Twisted (formerly Twisted Christmas) at various venues every December.VanOsdol, James. "Q101 Timeline", Time Out Chicago. August 16, 2011. Retrieved February 9, 2019.Kot, Greg. "Warm and fuzzy fest", Chicago Tribune. May 21, 2001. Retrieved March 9, 2019."WKQX-FM Announces Latest 'Twisted' Concert", Chicagoland Radio & Media. October 25, 2010. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
Purchase by Merlin Media On June 21, 2011, Emmis announced that it would sell WKQX, sister station WLUP-FM, and WRXP-FM in New York City to Merlin Media, whose CEO was former Tribune Company and Clear Channel Communications executive Randy Michaels."WLUP/WKQX Sold To New Company Owned By Randy Michaels", Chicagoland Radio and Media. June 21, 2011. Retrieved February 9, 2019. Emmis, who retained a minority stake in Merlin Media, granted Merlin a local marketing agreement to operate WKQX and WLUP-FM from July 15 until the sale officially closed on September 1."Merlin Media Officially Owns WLUP & WWWN", Chicagoland Radio and Media. September 2, 2011. Retrieved February 9, 2019. A format flip for WKQX, from alternative rock to all-news, was rumored after the sale was announced. Michaels was on record as saying, "My favorite format has always been spoken radio... it's time for spoken word to move to FM."
The entire airstaff at Q101 was dismissed upon Merlin Media's formal takeover that July 14.Feder, Robert. "New Q101 is about to take listeners for a ride", Time Out Chicago. July 13, 2011. Retrieved February 9, 2019. That same day, Emmis sold off the "Q101" name, related intellectual properties, and the Q101.com web domain, to Broadcast Barter Radio Networks."Q101's Past, Present & Future To Continue Online At New Q101.com", Chicagoland Radio and Media. July 14, 2011. Retrieved February 9, 2019.