[Ccarc] WLS of Old Coming to WLS-FM??

[Tom Murray]

“WLS-FM” is back home at Chicago’s 94.7, and there’s more local control. 
The dropping of Scott Shannon’s “True Oldies” label along with the WZZN calls, plus GM Mike Fowler’s declaration that “we’re going to develop this into the top 40 WLS of old”, all suggest that the station’s headed more classic hits and somewhat away from Shannon’s syndicated oldies format. Fowler also hints about hiring some personalities previously associated with WLS (890) to add more local flavor. One of the issues about “bringing back WLS” is the one that legendary former PD John Rook talks about – which WLS? The one from the 1960s, or the one from the 1970s? Sounds like the current thinking is to go with the 70s, focusing the music library from 1964-1982. Like everybody who’s doing oldies – but is this really classic hits now? – Fowler talks about the 25-54 demo, and he wants to “youthen” the station more into that advertiser-friendly cocoon, and be less 35-64. Shannon’s been feeling the same impulse, but Chicago may want to go further.Coming along with the WLS-FM calls – new jingles and a new logo. 
WZZN GM Mike Fowler’s going the whole nine yards in re-creating an on-air time machine centered on a previous generation’s WLS. He says “we want to make it a cohesive package that presents the music in the framework of when it was all new.” So there’s a new logo for WLS-FM and a new jingle package. (With this music, jingles make a big difference.) The jock staff already boasts two names associated with former times: evening jock Dick Biondi and 6-10am guy Brant Miller. (Scott Shannon’s listed from 10am-3pm, followed by Greg Brown, 3-7. Shannon voices overnights.) The Sun-Times’ Robert Feder says quite correctly that there’s no problem with Citadel getting FCC approval to drop WZZN and become WLS-FM again. Citadel controls the fate of the calls because it owns WLS (890) – which is where this history all started in the first place. The facelift for 94.7 happens Thursday, June 26. And the story gives me a chance to review all the things 94.7 has been since it was “Disco ’DAI” WDAI. It was WRCK (partially simulcasting WLS), then WLS-FM (a partial simulcast), CHR in its own right as “Z95” WYTZ, then WLS-FM again (but talk, sometimes simulcasting WLS), the short and catastrophic “Hell Radio” (not consultant Randy Michaels’ first choice for the format). Then WLS-FM (doing talk, when Tom Tradup was managing the combo). Then country WKXK, classic rock WXCD, modern rock “Zone” WZZN, and then oldies (still as WZZN). I’m told the question about 94.7 going back to its top 40 roots is one of the very oldest topics on the Radio-Info.com message boards, back to 1999. 
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