Hubbard Radio Chicago

Eric Ferguson and his co-workers at 101.9 The Mix have a new boss.

Jimmy Steal, who’s been a prominent Los Angeles radio programmer for two decades, has been named vice president of brand and content at WTMX 101.9-FM, the Hubbard Radio hot adult-contemporary station. His appointment was announced Wednesday. Continue reading →

Lite FM

For WLIT 93.9-FM — and more than three million listeners to the iHeartMedia adult contemporary station — 2018 ended on a high note.

The final weeks of nonstop Christmas music delivered an eye-popping 13.3 percent share and a cumulative weekly audience of 3,065,800 to Lite FM, according to Nielsen Audio figures released Tuesday. Continue reading →

George Preston

George Preston, former afternoon host and opera producer at WFMT 98.7-FM, is returning to the classical music station as vice president and general manager, parent company Window to the World Communications Inc. announced Tuesday.

Since 2013 Preston has been general manager of Cheyenne Mountain Public Broadcast House’s classical and jazz stations in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He rejoins WFMT on March 1. Continue reading →

Wes McKane

It’s a whole new day on the station that bills itself as “Lake County’s Best Variety.”

Today marks the debut of a new talent lineup on WXLC 102.3-FM, the Alpha Media hot adult-contemporary station. Continue reading →

Barry Rozner

Robservations on the media beat:

Daily Herald sports columnist Barry Rozner may be calling it quits after 10 years as a prominent weekend and fill-in personality at Entercom sports/talk WSCR 670-AM. Rozner told Mitch Rosen, operations director of The Score, that he does not expect to be back as host of "Hit & Run," which airs from 9 a.m. to noon Sundays during baseball season. "We’re still communicating and we’ll see what comes of it, but I don’t — at this moment — see a path to returning," Rozner said Sunday. "No hard feelings. No one to blame. There’s just no role there for me comparable to the last 10 years, when I hosted nearly 1,400 shows. If it’s over, I will miss 'Hit & Run' more than I can properly express. It was a great run and I’m grateful for the opportunity Mitch gave me." Rozner has filled in for weekday hosts on The Score more often than anyone else, but he's been passed over for promotion to a full-time position three times. Rosen, who was out of town, said he plans to meet with Rozner when he returns. "Barry has been a great team member on 'Hit & Run' and a terrific fill-in host loved by all," Rosen said. "I hope he continues." Continue reading →

Tribune Publishing

In a stunning shakeup at the top of Tribune Publishing, Justin Dearborn is out as chairman and chief executive officer of the parent company of the Chicago Tribune.

Dearborn’s sudden departure was announced Thursday along with the appointment of David Dreier, a Tribune Publishing board member and former U.S. congressman, as chairman, and Tim Knight, president of Tribune Publishing, as CEO. Continue reading →

Kevin Cross

Kevin Cross, a prominent Chicago sports producer and media executive for more than 25 years, has been promoted to senior vice president/general manager of NBC Sports Chicago, the regional sports network announced Thursday.

Cross, who most recently was vice president of content for NBC Sports Chicago, will head day-to-day operations of the network, which includes the Blackhawks, Bulls, Cubs and White Sox as its team partners. Continue reading →

Violeta Podrumedic

Robservations on the media beat:

Violeta Podrumedic, afternoon traffic reporter on Tribune Broadcasting news/talk WGN 720-AM, is changing lanes. Starting next month, she’ll join Eric Ferguson’s top-rated morning show on Hubbard Radio hot adult-contemporary WTMX 101.9-FM. Podrumedic, a Chicago native who began as a newsroom intern at WGN, has been a contributor to the afternoon show hosted by Roe Conn and Anna Davlantes since 2016. Her last day on WGN was Friday. “Violeta provides a whole new perspective and voice to our group,” Ferguson said. “She received great guidance from Roe Conn, who I have always felt is one of the most talented broadcasters in Chicago. We’re lucky to have ownership who supports expanding our show to continue to be successful. Now the goal is to not screw it all up!” Continue reading →

Ann Dwyer (Photo: WTTW/Chicago Tonight)

Ann Dwyer has been promoted to editor of Crain’s Chicago Business, becoming the first woman to lead the editorial staff in the publication’s 41-year history.

Dwyer, 54, who most recently was managing editor, joined Crain's in 1995 as a copy editor and later moved to the news desk. She succeeds Michael Arndt, who resigned in November after six years as editor. Continue reading →

Erich Mancow Muller

Robservations on the media beat:

Mark Konkol

Declaring himself “a new Mancow,” Erich Mancow Muller says he's had nothing but a positive experience on and off the air in the two weeks since he took over as morning host on WLS 890-AM. “I think people will be shocked in that they are not shocked,” he said of his role on the Cumulus Media news/talk station. “We talk to the people that are making headlines and try to figure out what we all can do to make Chicago a place where people want to stay. I think the new show has more upside than any I have ever done.” Joining Muller in studio as a contributor each day has been Mark Konkol, the Pulitzer Prize-winning former columnist for the Sun-Times and DNAinfo Chicago. True to form, Muller joked: “I think the new show is like the current mayor’s race: ‘We hope it’s better than what came before it, but it looks doubtful.’” Continue reading →