At the same time Alpha Media launched “Chicagoland’s Free Country” on 98.3 WCCQ Crest Hill/Joliet and 102.3 WXLC Waukegan IL, the company quietly made another flip in its suburban Chicago cluster.
Classic Rock “95.9 The River” WERV-FM Aurora moved from Rock leaning Classic Hits to Classic Alternative on Friday at 2pm. Positioning as “Chicagoland’s Classic Alternative,” the station is focusing on Alternative hits from the 1980s through early 2000s. The new format gives a competitor in Chicago’s western suburbs to Cumulus Alternative “Q101” WKQX.
The first hour on Friday at 2pm featured:
- Smashing Pumpkins – Today
- Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit
- New Order – Bizarre Love Triangle
- REM – Orange Crush
- Beastie Boys – Sabotage
- White Stripes – Seven Nation Army
- Depeche Mode – Strangelove
- No Doubt – Spiderwebs
- Offspring – You’re Gonna Go Far Kid
- Violent Femmes – Blister In The Sun
- 311 – All Mixed Up
- Fall Out Boy – Thanks Fr The Mmrs
Brandon Charles 
One could argue that their primary competitor is actually WXRT. Think about it, why are they playing 80s alternative when most other stations in the country are playing 90s alternative? Most of the songs that are being played on the station were established by WXRT, and while Q101 can get credit, it’s also a very tight market with 100.3 playing throwbacks. And in many ways, this is retro modern AC, there’s an oxymoron for you. if they can get suburban advertisers, good for them. It’s a great format, programmed well, but in a market, like Chicago, this nostalgia bubble is gonna pop soon! Revisiting WXRT as their primary competitor, what other station is owned in that cluster, US 99. Perfect flanker for the new country station. Now cumulus and Hubbard don’t really have any stations that are a threat to the alpha cluster. I hope it’s not automated, but based on Alpha‘s track record recently, it seems like it’s probably going to be, which can’t hold a candle to WXRT, and recent addition, Andy Chanley.! regardless of all this, Chicago is at the very least very fun market to pay attention to. Especially because I’m at the right age for these