Roy Leonard

Funeral mass will be Saturday (September 13) for Roy Leonard, the beloved Chicago broadcasting legend who died last Thursday at 83.

Leonard was a popular and respected talk show host and entertainment critic for WGN AM 720 for more than three decades until his retirement in 1998. He also hosted the “Family Classics” movie series and reviewed theater and films for WGN-Channel 9. Continue reading →

Tommy Edwards

So long, L’il Tommy.

Tommy Edwards, the iconic Chicago broadcaster who excelled as both an on-air personality and behind-scenes programmer, is signing off after an amazing 54 years in radio.

Edwards, 70, announced Friday he’s retiring as midday host at WJMK FM 104.3, the CBS Radio classic hits station. Following a weeklong on-air celebration of his career, his last show on K-Hits will be September 12. Continue reading →

Roy Leonard

One of Chicago’s most popular and respected broadcasters for decades, Roy Leonard brought the world of entertainment in all its forms to generations of loyal listeners with warmth, class and style.

Leonard died Thursday at Evanston Hospital after a brief illness. He was 83. Continue reading →

Steve Cochran

Robservations on the media beat:

Just days after marking his one-year anniversary as morning personality on news/talk WGN AM 720, Steve Cochran received a big vote of confidence from his Tribune Broadcasting bosses. On Thursday he signed a new four-year contract to stay right where he is. Terms were not disclosed, but Todd Manley, vice president of content and programming at WGN, confirmed the deal and called Cochran “a treasure to us.” In the latest Nielsen Audio survey, WGN ranked second in mornings with a 5.4 percent share and a cumulative weekly audience of 276,600. “Thanks to my amazing staff of Andrea Darlas, Dave Eanet, Orion Samuelson, Mary Vandevelde, Kevin Powell and my son, Ross, 5 a.m. is actually fun,” Cochran said. “Working for Jimmy de Castro, Todd Manley and Larry Wert is as good as it gets — and I feel like we are just getting started.” Continue reading →

Karen Meyer

Karen Meyer may be irreplaceable, but WLS-Channel 7 hopes to carry on her mission.

After more than two decades as a unique presence in all of local television, Meyer announced Thursday she’s retiring from the ABC-owned station to spend full-time in Southern California with her husband. Her last day on air will be September 28. Continue reading →

There’s a new nighttime lineup in Chicago, according to radio ratings released Tuesday for the period from July 17 to August 13.

Here’s a look at Chicago’s top 10 evening shows as measured by Nielsen Audio among all listeners age 6 and older from 7 p.m. to midnight Monday through Friday, followed by average share of audience (with previous month’s share in parentheses). Continue reading →

There’s a new afternoon scorecard in Chicago, according to radio ratings released Tuesday for the period from July 17 to August 13.

Here’s a look at Chicago’s top 10 afternoon shows as measured by Nielsen Audio among all listeners age 6 and older from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, followed by average share of audience (with previous month’s share in parentheses). Continue reading →

There’s a new midday pecking order in Chicago, according to radio ratings released Tuesday for the period from July 17 to August 13.

Here’s a look at Chicago’s top 10 midday shows as measured by Nielsen Audio among all listeners age 6 and older from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, followed by average share of audience (with previous month’s share in parentheses). Continue reading →

There’s a new morning line in Chicago, according to radio ratings released Tuesday for the period from July 17 to August 13.

Here’s a look at Chicago’s top 10 morning shows as measured by Nielsen Audio among all listeners age 6 and older from 6 to 10 a.m. Monday through Friday, followed by average share of audience (with previous month’s share in parentheses). Continue reading →

Pat Hughes (Photo: Stephen Green)

As Cubs baseball nears the end of its historic run on WGN AM 720, veteran play-by-play announcer Pat Hughes is getting big props from the Tribune Broadcasting news/talk station.

On Tuesday Hughes will be named the latest inductee in the WGN Radio Walk of Fame. He'll be enshrined among the station’s legendary personalities with a plaque embedded in the walkway outside Tribune Tower studios at 435 North Michigan Avenue. Continue reading →