The first song played after the flip was Rise Against’s “Satellite”. (Hat tip to Radio Insight.)

As the launch of Q87 took place, the station tweeted, (@Q877Chicago) “Yep, we just birthed this bitch. WKQX and Alternative are back in Chicago on 87.7FM!” The station is also on Facebook here.

Just a few short weeks after entering into a limited marketing agreement with Venture Technologies Group, Merlin Media and its investor group are making good on their promise to restore alt rock to the airwaves in Chicago, which have been lacking that format since they took it off last summer.

Currently, WLFM-LP 87.7 has been stunting with a simulcast of FM News 101.1, but that will change at some point on Monday when the call letters become WKQX-LP. The station will be helmed by longtime Randy Michaels acolyte Jim Richards, who worked with Michaels at Jacor, Clear Channel, and most recently at Tribune Media, which he left in November of 2010. For most of last year, he programed an alt/hot AC station in Seattle until an abrupt departure at the end of 2011. Richards will assume the title of Operations Manager for both WKQX-LP and WLUP-FM.

The unusual nature of the 87.7 frequency leaves a lot of doubt about the viability of the station. Technically, 87.7 isn’t really a radio station. It’s the audio portion of a low power TV station broadcasting on Ch. 6. The FCC has allowed the frequency to be used for radio broadcasts as long as video is also being transmitted on the analog frequency for Ch. 6. However, in September of 2015, all low power TV stations will be forced to convert to digital, which would render 87.7 completely useless for radio broadcasting.

Merlin Media is also expected to launch a new format on 106.9 FM in Philadelphia, which will reportedly be branded as “IQ 106.9″ with a news/talk format.

At the end of 2011, Sandberg and Dahl parted ways after budget constraints forced cuts in the operation. Since her departure, she has worked for several local event and media companies until landing in her new role at B96.

In the latest Abitron ratings, the “J & Julian” show ranked fifth in persons 18-34.

Send your congrats to Mary on Twitter and Facebook.

Sarosky is upset after seeing a new billboard for Merlin Media’s FM New 101.1 which depicts the former governor with the phrase, “He Never Listens.” The attorney claims that to use Blago’s image on a billboard without obtaining consent might be a violation of Illinois’ Right to Publicity Act. That law precludes the use of a person’s identity for commercial purposes unless consent is granted.

Sarosky told Crain’s Chicago Business, “I don’t think they got Rod Blagojevich’s consent to do this. The question is, what do we do? We haven’t made any decision yet, but it clearly seems to be a violation of the law.”

Merlin Media hasn’t offered any official statement on the matter and won’t disclose how many of the billboards they’ve placed or how long the image of Blago will stay on the billboard.

Lazare has continually promoted this idea of “The Score” being heard on one of CBS’ FM sticks, if not 105.9 then 104.3, the current home of JACK-FM. The problem with this idea is that it simply doesn’t make any sense. What advantage would CBS gain by putting a station already transmitting on a 50kw AM license that can be heard throughout the Midwest on an FM stick with a considerably smaller coverage pattern? The quick answer always seems to be demographics. Most of the popular wisdom suggests that the AM band skews much older than the FM band. Advertisers like younger listeners with disposable income, so the FM stations are more desirable. However, both Lazare and Sherman point out that “The Score” and ESPN 1000 WMVP-AM both do very well in the highly coveted 25-54 year-old demographic.

Lazare:

In the key 25- to 54-year-old adult demo Monday through Sunday, WSCR was in a tie for ninth place in the most recent December Arbitron ratings.

Sherman:

In the fall ratings book, both stations were tied for first in men ages 25-54, the demographic that means the most to advertisers on sports talk radio.

Would “The Score” really pick up that many younger listeners if they were heard on the FM band? It seems like they are doing fairly well with the old AM stick.

CBS also likes offering demographic cells to advertisers. While Fresh FM hasn’t done phenomenal numbers yet, it offers advertisers a nice supplemental audience to the already strong US99. Sacrificing that marketing opportunity to “The Score” seems like a strange move. In 2008, “The Score” billed $15.7 million in a down economy, putting it ahead of “The Loop”, Q101, and JACK-FM, and just behind “The Drive” and KISS-FM. The sports talker is hardly struggling.

Additionally, CBS just brought int veteran programmer Bill Gamble to run Fresh FM. Gamble’s track record has generally been pretty good, so it would be unlikely that CBS would pull the plug on the format without giving Gamble time to do his magic.

There does not appear to be a compelling argument for CBS to do anything with “The Score” other than leave it alone on the AM band.

What about the idea of a third sports talker in Chicago?

This idea seems a little more possible, but it’s unlikely that it would resemble either “The Score” or ESPN 1000. Sherman points out that there are some major markets that can sustain more than two sports talk stations, but in the case of Dallas’ KTCK-FM “The Ticket”, the station is a hybrid sports talk / hot talk station, that is less about the X’s and O’s the big game and more about DD’s, if you get the drift. It’s possible that a creative programmer in Chicago could make it work, but so-called “hot talk” in Chicago has a mixed recent history.

There’s also the issue of play-by-play sports availability. Much of the revenue lifeblood of sports talk stations comes from this type of programming. WGN-AM has already locked down the Cubs and Blackhawks for the foreseeable future. The Bears aren’t leaving WBBM-AM anytime soon. The White Sox seem content on “The Score”. The Bulls already had a brief stint on WCKG-FM a few season ago, before the station flipped. There may be some college teams looking for new homes, but those are hardly compelling selling points for a new station.

To play armchair programmer, what about a station that features some combination of  Dan Patrick, Steve Dahl, Dennis Miller, Bruce Wolf, Matt Abbatacola, and Bill Leff? There would be plenty of sports, but there would also be a lot of talk about a lot of other topics that appeal to men —pop culture, politics, women, etc. The talent seems to be out there. Is there a broadcast company willing to take the risk?

The elimination of Sirott’s show coincides with another of cost-cutting moves, including the release of Dave Stewart, the station’s City Hall reporter and a 28-year veteran.  Others released this week include “Sports Central” weekend co-host  Glen Koslowski, producer of the Steve Cochran show Rick O’Connor, and producer of the Milt Rosenberg show Zack Christenson.

The company is under increasing pressure to cut costs as realign programming priorities as parent company the Tribune Company attempts to emerge from bankruptcy All of these moves come amid speculation that WGN is negotiating with Jonathan Brandmeier to join the station, either in afternoon or morning drive.

It’s unclear if the elimination of the producer positions for Cochran’s show and Rosenberg’s show indicates that either or both of those show may soon be coming to and end. There seems to be little doubt that Cochran will not be re-signed by the company at the end of his current contract.

Meanwhile, Conn’s patience began to wear thin. As he watched his own contract coming to and end, Conn found himself stuck between his loyalty to his partner and his professional aspirations. In the end, Conn took a seven-figure deal with WLS, leaving Meier on the street for the next several years.

The re-launched “Roe Conn Show” took to the air in the summer of 2004 with newsman Jim Johnson and traffic reporter Christina Filiaggi both locked into long-term deals. The show lacked the creativity and dry wit that it possessed when Meier sat alongside Roe. Johnson couldn’t match Meier’s skill as a foil to Roe, and Filiaggi didn’t seem to add much at all.

It became clear early on that the show lacked both the creative and ratings punch it once had. The new station GM John Gallagher quickly ushered in a series of auditions, including Bruce Wolf and Bill Leff. As the show limped along in 2005, Leff was eventually added as Roe’s new sidekick, but the show remained, “The Roe Conn Show”, with Leff, Johnson, and Filiaggi playing only supporting roles.

The early criticism of the new foursome was that Conn marginalized his cohorts, reducing their roles to minor ones. Leff would occasionally score a punch line, but it often came at awkward moments in the show. Much of the natural chemistry that Conn enjoyed with Meier simply didn’t exist alongside Leff. The partnership was clearly uneasy from the start, as Leff had no desire to rock the boat.

For a brief period of time in 2006, the show enjoyed a resurgence that allowed the team to renegotiate their contracts and extend the show from 6pm to 7pm each evening. The move would prove to be detrimental to the show and would eventually be reversed.

In early 2008, with the show’s wheels spinning, massive cutbacks were ordered by station owners Citadel Broadcasting. Among those out of a job were Filiaggi, who seemed almost expendable at this point. Also released was the show’s longtime technical producer. In the summer, Abritron launched their new audience measurement technique, the Portable People Meters or PPMs. This measurement technique began to shake-up some longtime radio talent in Chicago, as their ratings began to quickly slide. The Roe Conn Show was no exception.

In June, Filiaggi was re-hired, thanks the lobbying efforts of Conn, but Conn’s eyes were already on another addition that he was hoping to make to his team. Veteran TV reporter Amy Jacobson had been fired by WMAQ-TV Ch. 5 on July 10, 2007, because of her involvement in the investigation of the disappearance of Lisa Stebic. Jacobson was videotaped in the backyard of Lisa’s husband Craig. She was wearing a bikini top and a towel, which raised questions of journalistic integrity.

Jacobson soon found herself regularly appearing on Conn’s show on WLS, and by early 2009, Leff and Filiaggi were both let go by WLS to make way for Jacobson. Conn had once again reshuffled his team, hoping to strike ratings gold. Jacobson had been promised a substantive role in the show, perhaps even a true co-host position, depending on who you choose to believe. But once again, Conn had no desire to share the spotlight with anyone, and Jacobson’s role was quickly reduced to traffic and weather reports and the occasional rejoinder.

The ratings slide was already underway. The show slipped badly throughout 2009, especially in the most advertiser-friendly demographics. At the same time, Conn’s massive seven-figure salary loomed large in a market where such paydays were fast becoming things of the past. Citadel Broadcasting faced bankruptcy, and it became clear that something had to be done with Conn and his show.

Some insiders suggested that Conn should have been shown the door, as he lacked the ability to generate the ratings he once did with Meier. Conn had already begun exploring alternative career options and launched his own syndicated daily feature, “The Roe Report,” while reportedly auditioning for a TV gig at CNN.

The easy decision would have been to move the syndicated Sean Hannity Show into the daypart that Conn had occupied for nearly 13 years. The cost reduction would have been huge, and the ratings would likely have remained the same.

But like the proverbial cat with nine lives, Conn has found yet another way to survive. According to reports, Conn will now be partnered with Cisco Cotto, a one-time reporter with WLS who has spent the past three years as the voice of the right wing agenda on WIND-AM’s morning show. Conn will be taking a huge reduction in salary under this new arrangement. He’ll also be giving up something that he’s enjoyed for the last six years – top billing on his own show. The new show will contractually include both Conn’s name and Cotto’s name.

Just days before the new show was set to take to the air, it suffered another blow. ABC 7 anchor Ron Magers, who had been a daily contributor to the show since the Garry Meier days, was informed that Citadel Broadcasting would not be extending his deal into 2010. Mager’s daily interaction with Conn at 3pm had been one of the show’s strongest segments for years. The station blamed budget cutbacks for the move.

As 2010 begins, Conn will attempt to resurrect his career once again, with his fourth co-host in six years. Cotto is perhaps the least entertaining of Conn’s prior co-hosts. His reputation has been as a political firebrand, quick to defend the Republican agenda and to speak in conservative talking points. Those who have worked with Cotto have described him as difficult to work with and perpetually lazy in his show prep. Both counts could also be made against Conn, as well. It’s unclear how these two egos will co-exist on a show that has belonged solely to Conn since Meier’s departure in 2004.

Publicly, both Conn and Cotto are talking nicely about each other and about the future of the show, but behind the scenes, the tension is high. Conn will be slow to give up control of his show to the younger and less skilled Cotto. There’s no doubt that Cotto will move quickly to seize his piece of the pie. Meanwhile, questions remain about Jacobson’s future role in the show. It would seem that Cotto is taking the job that Jacobson was promised less than a year ago.

It’s not likely that anyone will confuse the new Conn and Cotto show with the successful Roe and Garry show of a decade ago. As WLS seeks to tilt it’s programming to the right, it’s not clear whether longtime Conn fans will be as loyal to the new pairing as they have in the past. Clearly, the show will be less entertaining than it was when Garry Meier was part of the show. It will also not be as political as much of the rest of the WLS line-up, as Conn has never shown a comfort level wading too deeply into the conservative political waters. At best, he’s a right-leaning moderate. More accurately, he’s a moderate forced to temper his views on a conservative radio station.

The WLS of 2010 bears little resemblance to the Petri dish of talk that it was just ten years ago. With the departure of names like Garry Meier, Jay Marvin, Deborah Rowe, Jerry Agar, Eileen Byrne, Jake Hartford, and others, the station has become a homogenous blend of right wing talking points. With the addition of Cotto to the afternoons, it seems that WLS will continue in that direction. The only real question is how much longer will Roe Conn survive?

Here are the … uh … highlights of the event.

In a surprising reshuffling move, Clear Channel has decided to dump Tom Joyner from the morning drive slot on WVAZ-FM after 13 years. Starting on Tuesday, Steve Harvery, currently heard on WGCI-FM, will move into the slot on WVAZ and will be heard on both stations until March 31. No immediate plans have been announced for a new morning program on WGCI.

It’s not clear what motivated the change, especially since Clear Channel owns both stations and, it would seem, by having to marquee urban radio personalities in morning drive, the company could corner the market.

However, the move does seem to fuel specualtion that WGCI may be on the verge of flipping formats. A recent look at the billing numbers for January and February of 2009 show that WGCI has greatly underperformed compared to the first two months from last year. Is it possible that Clear Channel is ready to pull the plug on the landmark station and go in a different direction? WGCI has been hurt by the roll-out of PPMs last year, and with an already soft economy eroding radio revenues, Clear Channel may be ready to consolidate much of its urban billing onto a single station and take WGCI in another direction. Some have speculated that Clear Channel is poised to launch either a country station or an FM talk station on the frequency.