After the entire staff at Q101 was let go on July 14, 2011 the music programming was synced to KROX-FM station in Austin, Texas. Both stations were owned by Emmis Communication, which sold WKQX to Merlin Media and the Q101 brand was sold to Broadcast Barter Radio Networks.
On July 15, 2011 at approximately 1:01am, Q101’s final show, Local 101, ended with the song “Tonight, Tonight” by The Smashing Pumpkins. Radio staff Chris Payne, Pogo and others in the studio bid farewell by playing “Friday I’m in Love” by The Cure, which was the first song played at Q101’s inception.
On July 21, 2011, WKQX changed its call letters to WWWN, and on July 29, 2011 WWWN ended a temporary Adult Contemporary stunt that was hosted by former host Robert Murphy of “Murphy in the Morning” and launched an 24/7 all-news format branded as “FM News 101.1 — Chicago’s only 24-hour all-news station.”
The news talent for WWWN are listed as Ed Curran, Debra Dale, Mary Ellen Geist, Rob Hart, Dave Williams, Charlie Meyerson, Sam Sylk and Jill Urchak.
It sounded good today. It’s like they have an all-star cast! I think Merlin has a few more tricks up it’s sleeve…does JB ring a bell??? Let’s hope!
I’m surprised that Q101 still existed!