Audacy began the revamp of CHR “B96” WBBM-FM Chicago today as the station moved to a 50/50 gold to current/recurrent presentation with a Rhythmic lean.
With sweepers proclaiming “Chicago’s favorite radio station is back,” B96 is now positioning as “The music you’ve always loved and the best of what’s new”. The station has also returned to the logo it used throughout out much of the 2000s and 2010s.
The 10am hour of B96 featured:
- TLC – Waterfalls
- Glass Animals – Heat Waves
- Nelly – E.I.
- Doja Cat ft. Sza – Kiss Me More
- Montell Jordan – This Is How We Do It
- Beyonce – Crazy In Love
- Metro Boomin ft. The Weeknd and 21 Savage – Creepin’
- 2Pac/Dr. Dre – California Love
- Taylor Swift – Anti Hero
- Steve Lacy – Bad Habit
- Missy Elliot – Work It
- T.I. ft. Rihanna – Live Your Life
- Miguel – Sure Thing
WBBM-FM is currently tied for nineteenth in the Chicago market with a 1.9 share trailing iHeartMedia’s “103.5 Kiss-FM” WKSC and its 2.7.
The changes at B96 follow the departure of longtime programmer Todd Cavanah after 33 years at the station and the arrival of Molly Cruz to succeed him. There were expectations of this move taking place last month as part of larger changes at Audacy’s Chicago cluster that have so far not come to fruition.
Steve Kingston 
Steve Varholy 
Ronda Feliciano
How many commercials are they airing before during or after the music sweep?
In middays and afternoons yesterday, B96’s spot breaks were:
10:28am – 6:45 in length
10:58am – 6:45
11:17am – 5:30
12:53pm – 8:00
1:11pm – 6:00
1:42pm – 6:15
2:53pm – 9:30
3:14pm – 6:00
3:57pm – 6:30
4:12pm – 7:00
5:56pm – 8:45
6:28pm – 5:45
6:42pm – 6:00
In comparison, 103.5 Kiss-FM’s were:
10:10am – 5:30 in length
10:39am – 6:45
11:11am – 7:30
11:40am – 7:15
12:13pm – 3:45
12:43pm – 5:30
1:11pm – 7:45
1:41pm – 7:30
2:11pm – 9:00
3:10pm – 10:00
4:10pm – 10:30
5:51pm – 13:30
6:23pm – 9:00
6:42pm – 8:15
6:58pm – 6:30
Good thing it’s Chicago and you can get away with that kind of spot loads.
Okay so I have been a loyal B96 listener, since I was a teen I’m 48 now.
I have to say I didn’t like some of the music you guys played but now, you went Tooooooo far back. You definitely need to add a little more to date stuff.
if your really going back to your roots bring back Tim Spinning Schomer, Too Cool Cris and Julian Jumpin Perez and play the Chicago house and Freestyle.
We need a station like that. Or I do lol