{"id":6327,"date":"2015-01-13T11:05:16","date_gmt":"2015-01-13T17:05:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.robertfeder.com\/?p=6327"},"modified":"2015-01-13T11:05:16","modified_gmt":"2015-01-13T17:05:16","slug":"big-95-5-rounds-out-live-local-country-lineup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/robertfeder.dailyherald.com\/2015\/01\/13\/big-95-5-rounds-out-live-local-country-lineup\/","title":{"rendered":"Big 95.5 rounds out local country lineup"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Amber<\/a>

<\/a> Amber \"Alabama\" Cole<\/p><\/div>\n

Chicago\u2019s new country music station WEBG FM 95.5<\/a> completed its local talent lineup Tuesday with the hiring of Amber \u201cAlabama\u201d Cole to host afternoons and Erik Zachary to host evenings.<\/p>\n

Branded as Big 95.5, the iHeartMedia station previously announced <\/a>the hiring of Mason Schreader and Zach \u201cRemy\u201d Hoesly as morning personalities and Steve Stewart as program director and midday host. The station switched<\/a> to country January 5 after five years in Spanish-language music formats.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s most remarkable about the lineup is that all four dayparts will be occupied by local hosts broadcasting live from studios in Chicago \u2014 unlike other iHeartMedia stations here, which include voice-tracked and syndicated programs. It underscores the company\u2019s effort in taking on CBS Radio WUSN FM 99.5, <\/a>which has a 33-year head start in the format.<\/p>\n

Cole, who calls herself \u201cAlabama\u201d on the air, has been afternoon host and music director at iHeartMedia\u2019s WNOH in Norfolk, Virginia, since last September. A native of Pinson, Alabama, she previously was afternoon host and promotion director at WJIM in Lansing, Michigan, and worked part time at WDZH in Detroit.<\/p>\n

\"Alabama is incredibly talented and fiercely competitive,\" Stewart said in a statement. \u201cShe not only does a great show but is also nonstop in the community and on all social media platforms. Alabama will be seen all over Chicago!\"<\/p>\n

On her Facebook<\/a> and Twitter<\/a> pages Tuesday, Cole counted down the hours to the announcement of her move to Chicago: \"5 hours and I get to share the biggest news of my life ever!\"; \"2 hours 30 minutes! AHHHHHHHHHHH\" and \"Less than 30 minutes. The count down begins and I'm dying!\"<\/p>\n

\"Erik<\/a>

Erik Zachary<\/p><\/div>\n

Zachary, a northwest suburban native who graduated last year from Columbia College Chicago, began as an intern at iHeartMedia Chicago and has been on the air at Top 40 WKSC FM 103.5<\/a> since 2012. Stewart called him \u201cone of the most energetic air talents in Chicago.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"To say that I\u2019m ecstatic would be a severe understatement,\u201d Zachary was quoted as saying. \u201cI\u2019ve grown up in the Chicagoland area and when I first got called to be on-air at 103.5 Kiss FM, I thought nothing could ever beat that feeling. I was wrong. Not only do I have the opportunity to talk with Chicago country fans five nights a week, but I get to be a part of launching what is guaranteed to be a BIG station. The country format is one that I\u2019ve grown extremely passionate about, so to be given the chance to work every day with a team of the industry\u2019s absolute best in my hometown. That is simply unreal.\"<\/p>\n

Here is the Monday through Friday lineup on Big 95.5:<\/em><\/p>\n