Fresh Listen: WXRT Chicago, WRNR Annapolis

When Triple-A WXRT began its transition in 2020 from one of Chicago’s most-admired stations to one of its most successful, it was still necessary to point out that a lot of unlikely things had happened in the ratings during COVID. There were success stories in niche/long-listening-span formats from Classical to Classic Country, each of them defying the wisdom that all listeners wanted from radio anymore was “Circles” and “Blinding Lights” every hour.

When we wrote about WXRT in 2020, it was up 3.9-4.9 6-plus over two months, its highest share ever, and fifth in the market. By 2023, it reached another personal best at 6.1. In the recently released March ratings, it was up 5.6-6.1, tying that number and leading the market for the first time under new PD Michelle Rutkowski and MD Andy Chanley.

We’re taking a Fresh Listen this week to both WXRT and WRNR Annapolis, Md. The latter, in itself, is a surprise. We took a “Final Listen” to WRNR on its previous frequency in 2022, following the announcement of the station’s sale. Last year, it returned on a translator; in February, it added a second translator on the same frequency in Washington, D.C., under new owners Kirk Litton and Jay Stevens and director of programming Jason Kidd.

WXRT’s success has been one in an ongoing series of pleasant surprises from both commercial and non-comm Triple-A outlets. On day 2 of the ratings, KEXP Seattle also scored a personal best, 4.7-6.3. The format’s success challenges the notion of broadcast radio as able to appeal to only the most passive listeners — those who haven’t somehow mustered the initiative to switch to DSPs or podcasts yet. WXRT is library-based, but it makes a big deal out of the new music it plays, and advocates for songs new and old. With its format counterparts, it’s the strongest argument that curation is still a valuable entity for radio.

Here’s WXRT just before 10 a.m., April 22 with middayer Annalisa:

• Bruce Springsteen, “Tenth Avenue Freeze Out”
• Oasis, “Wonderwall”
• Clash, “London Calling”
• Strokes, “Going Shopping”
• Cure, “Pictures of You” — provided a hook to talk about both Chanley’s Freeform at Four feature, as well as a Cure show from the station’s concert archives to air Friday night (24) at 9 p.m.
• Tom Petty, “You Wreck Me”
• Bakar, “Hell N Back”
• Smithereens, “Blues Before and After”
• White Stripes, “Seven Nation Army”
• Dehd, “Bad Love”
• Billy Idol, “White Wedding”
• Buffalo Traffic Jam, “Fool’s Gold” — “interesting vocals” commented Annalisa on her backsell (the song had a customized new-music sweeper as well) before taking caller 10 for Cubs/Reds tickets
• Stone Temple Pilots, “Big Empty”
• Sniff ‘n’ the Tears, “Driver’s Seat”
• Spoon, “The Underdog”
• Mumford & Sons f/Chris Stapleton, “Hero” — Annalisa was glad the two acts had met and decided to collaborate.

Part of what I liked about WXRT in 2026, and now, was the feeling that something was actually happening on the radio. I expected that to be more challenging for WRNR, returning on a translator after two years off the air and initially jockless. In November, Stevens and Litton introduced hosts. In February, they added a second frequency, allowing the station to be heard “from the Bay Bridge to Bethesda,” as a sweeper declares.

WRNR is doing what you would want from a radio station with a new lease on life. Listeners from local organizations welcome them back on the air. The sweepers into spotbreaks thank “hometown sponsors” for helping bring WRNR back. The on-air geography cites both markets (“from Kent Island to 495” says another sweeper). 

Musically, WRNR is reminiscent of WXPK (The Peak) Westchester, N.Y., in terms of its sweep and ’90s Alt presence (an acknowledgment of heritage Alternative WHFS), but with  all-eras variety. Here’s WRNR with p.m. driver Neci, an ‘HFS veteran, just before 2 p.m., April 21:

• Nirvana, “Lithium”
• Vance Joy, “Clarity”
• Tori Amos, “Cornflake Girl”
• Noah Kahan, “The Great Divide”
• Bruce Hornsby & Range, “The Way It Is”
• Cannons, “Starlight”
• Buffalo Springfield, “Bluebird”
• Aretha Franklin, “Think” — Neci’s sponsored “pick of the day”
• Stephen Sanchez, “Sweet Love”
• Cockroaches (Rolling Stones), “Rough and Twisted”
• Jane’s Addiction, “Been Caught Stealing”
• Guided By Voices, “Hold On Hope”
• Joe P, “Off My Mind”
• Red Hot Chili Peppers, “Dani California”
• Bob Marley & Wailers, “Jammin’”