# What the fuck happened to Q101? (Chicago) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 19, 2011, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-happened-to-q101-chicago/589639 "2011-07-19T23:02:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-happened-to-q101-chicago/589639/1 "2011-07-19T23:02:54Z")
I don’t usually listen to radio, but lately I have been turning it on on my way to work. I turned on Q101 this morning and they were playing OLDIES? What the fuck happened to Q101? It’s some easy-listening bullshit now! I’m angry and confused! Q101 has been a hard rock station my entire goddamn life. Where’d it go? ☹ ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-happened-to-q101-chicago/589639/2 "2011-07-19T23:35:07Z")
My local rock station (96.1) abruptly fired its morning DJs recently…I can’t say I was ever a huge fan of their show, but it was decent enough that I would listen until I got on the road. The station replaced them with a past-his-prime DJ known for his work way back in the day on the area’s former classic rock station. He’s an annoying, sexist pig now; I’ve pretty much stopped listening to that station in the morning. Do you have access to an MP3 player? Would you consider a satellite radio subscription? (That might not work so well if you’re in Chicago though; the satellite signal often bounces around in large cities.) ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-happened-to-q101-chicago/589639/3 "2011-07-19T23:54:15Z")
It was sold a while ago. Why they waited to change the format I’m not sure but it’s been comming for a while. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-happened-to-q101-chicago/589639/4 "2011-07-19T23:55:16Z")
I think it’s supposed to be talk/news radio as well, or a sister station turned into that. Not fun. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-happened-to-q101-chicago/589639/5 "2011-07-20T01:14:38Z")
Sometimes radio stations give lots of advance warning that they’re going to change formats, but it seems that most of the time they switch formats without letting the listeners know beforehand. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-happened-to-q101-chicago/589639/6 "2011-07-20T01:23:52Z")
I feel your pain. I am still mourning the loss of [KMET](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KMET_%28defunct%29) back in 1987. “Little bit of heaven 94.7 KMET Tweedle dee.” ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-happened-to-q101-chicago/589639/7 "2011-07-20T01:32:33Z")
Looks like this one had [been announced](http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=8203465)a month ago or so. > [@](#): > > Emmis released a statement Tuesday stating that Q101 (WKQX 101.1 FM) and The Loop (WLUP 97.9 FM) will be transferred to Merlin Media, which will be acquired by Chicago-based private equity firm GTCR and Michaels. > The transfer will take place over the next 45 days. Included in that transfer is a reported change of format for Q101 from alternative rock to news-talk radio. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-happened-to-q101-chicago/589639/8 "2011-07-20T01:58:24Z")
Wow, 97.9 is the only other remotely-listenable station out here. Guess it’s time to burn some cds ☹ ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-happened-to-q101-chicago/589639/9 "2011-07-20T02:07:00Z")
I stream Napster or Pandora in the car, with my iPhone. Both services work with Droids, too, if that might be an option. At least an Mp3 player of some sort? I heard the announcement about Q101 a little while ago. The format changed last Thursday. A little part of my old teenage self died a little. Though I understand it. I haven’t listened to the radio regularly in about 8 years. I hadn’t been listening, but I always knew it was still _there_, you know? ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-happened-to-q101-chicago/589639/10 "2011-07-20T02:28:00Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > Wow, 97.9 is the only other remotely-listenable station out here. Guess it’s time to burn some cds ☹ Just give up and listen to NPR - that’s what I did 😃 ---
**Author:** ![banjoDavid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@banjoDavid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/banjoDavid)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-happened-to-q101-chicago/589639/11 "2011-07-20T03:28:49Z")
but check out WLUW, 88.7 FM or [wluw.org](http://wluw.org) Amazing mix of alternative, Americana, Democracy Now, and interesting specialty shows. I host 2 specialty shows, myself David ---
**Author:** ![Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimmy_Gibbler)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-happened-to-q101-chicago/589639/12 "2011-07-20T03:51:41Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > Just give up and listen to NPR - that’s what I did 😃 Me too. Except instead of NPR, I went with B96. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-happened-to-q101-chicago/589639/13 "2011-07-20T03:55:20Z")
> [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](#): > > Me too. Except instead of NPR, I went with B96. Aaaah! I couldn’t _possibly_ do that! ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-happened-to-q101-chicago/589639/14 "2011-07-20T03:59:26Z")
Q101 was my favorite station when I lived in Chicago. I had heard some rumblings through the grapevine that there was going to be a format switch, so I sent an email a couple weeks ago inquiring about a Q101 t-shirt. Never heard back. I guess they were more concerned with losing their jobs than giving me free schwag. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-happened-to-q101-chicago/589639/15 "2011-07-20T04:51:12Z")
What! Nooooo! :mad: Q101 was one of the few stations I listened to! Granted lately I have been commuting by train instead of car so a lot less radio time but WTF? I thought Q101 had a good niche in Chicago. Now I am left with WXRT for music which is a fine station but I like options. Other than that WBEZ is the only other station I’ll tune in now (for news). Probably one of the biggest radio markets in the US and there are only two stations I care to listen to? That is fucked up. ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angel_of_the_lord/32/2949_2.png) [@Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_the_Lord)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-happened-to-q101-chicago/589639/16 "2011-07-20T04:56:18Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > Wow, 97.9 is the only other remotely-listenable station out here. Guess it’s time to burn some cds ☹ 93.1 isn’t bad, either. Sometimes they throw on some meh 80s stuff, but they also do some decent alt. Not as hard as Q101, but acceptable. They’ve been around for ages, too. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-happened-to-q101-chicago/589639/17 "2011-07-20T05:29:32Z")
> [@Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](#): > > 93.1 isn’t bad, either. Sometimes they throw on some meh 80s stuff, but they also do some decent alt. Not as hard as Q101, but acceptable. They’ve been around for ages, too. WXRT is a Chicago icon. I’ve heard more truely alternative stuff on XRT than Q101. XRT will play stuff like [Rorrigo Y Gabriela](http://www.rodgab.com/) that Q101 would never touch because they’re afraid it’s not “hard” enough. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-happened-to-q101-chicago/589639/18 "2011-07-20T05:31:29Z")
Here in Portland a few years back we had an am station switch formats from talk radio to golden oldies right in the middle of an interview. The host said something to the effect of “We’ll be right back with Councilperson Smith right after these messages!”, and that was the end of that. It later came out that while the show was on the air, all the desks were cleared out by security, personal items were boxed up and taken to the main lobby, then all the hosts that were in the building were escorted out. ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angel_of_the_lord/32/2949_2.png) [@Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_the_Lord)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-happened-to-q101-chicago/589639/19 "2011-07-20T07:15:00Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > WXRT is a Chicago icon. I’ve heard more truely alternative stuff on XRT than Q101. > XRT will play stuff like [Rorrigo Y Gabriela](http://www.rodgab.com/) that Q101 would never touch because they’re afraid it’s not “hard” enough. Oh, I agree. I’ve been listening to it from the cradle; my mom’s listened to them as long as they’ve been on the air. They’re hands-down my favorite music station in Chicago. I do recognize, though, that they are a bit different than Q101. Of course, they also make it so that, upon telling my mom about any new, awesome band I’ve found, I have about even odds that she’s already heard of them. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-happened-to-q101-chicago/589639/20 "2011-07-20T07:29:19Z")
My problem is, either my tastes have changed, or WXRT has becoming boring-ass middle-of-the-road rock music. I mean, shit, I find myself listening to NPR 95% of the time in the car because every radio station bores me to tears, unless I happen to find a good college or even high school frequency. I remember XRT being much more varied and interesting through the mid-90s until, perhaps not coincidentally, with their sale to Westinghouse (which became part of CBS later). That said, it still has its good points, and I enjoy my Breakfast with the Beatles. Now get off my lawn! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-happened-to-q101-chicago/589639.md?page=2)