RIP Chicago Rock
Originally published at Civin.org. Please leave any comments there.
Q101 AND THE LOOP NO MORE?!
First off this is mainly going to be on Q101 as while I love The Loop it hasn’t had as much of an impact on my music tastes. It’s classic rock that I already had listened to by the time I found the station. Love it but not as much of an impact.
Q101 and The Loop were both purchased by Randy Michael’s Merlin Media recently. Their plan? Kill off The Loop and turn Q101 into an all news station. Thursday, tomorrow, (soon enough today) Q101 is going to have it’s last day on the air.
Not only are these Chicago’s main and only mainstream rock stations but they are also the main force behind the majority of radio sponsored bands visiting Chicago. Granted this will of course be taken up by others but this has been THE music stations that Chicago residents who have listened to rock and alternative over the past 20 years HAVE listened to. (Rock 103.5 and The Zone went away so long ago they aren’t even a footnote these days. Only this time there is no other station to truly turn to that can carry the torch.)
Q101 brought forth not just the events they sponsored but THEY are the ones that gave many bands their initial airplay - Smashing Pumpkins, Disturbed, Rise Against, and Fall Out Boy are prime examples. Chicago Alternative rock has had a lot of influence and big names come from it over the years and now the outlet they’ve made it through is going away.
Looks like XM radio may be getting my subscription after all.
Fuck you Randy Michael’s Merlin media. I mean seriously guys from every rock enthusiast in Chicago just fuck each and every one of you that supported this decision and had any say in it in any way shape or form. This is your second chance in Chicago and I believe I can speak for all of us that we all hope you fail even more spectacularly than the first time.