Gapers Block has ceased publication.

Gapers Block published from April 22, 2003 to Jan. 1, 2016. The site will remain up in archive form. Please visit Third Coast Review, a new site by several GB alumni.
 Thank you for your readership and contributions. 

TODAY

Friday, April 19

Gapers Block
Search

Gapers Block on Facebook Gapers Block on Flickr Gapers Block on Twitter The Gapers Block Tumblr


Transmission
« See Billy Corgan on Chicago Live! Mexicans With Guns at Darkroom »

News Tue Jun 21 2011

Q101 to Become an All-News Station?

Photobucket

News broke this morning that Emmis Communications has sold Q101 (WKQX) and the Loop (WLUP) to Merlin Media, led by former CEO of Tribune Co. Randy Michaels. While neither Q101 nor Merlin Media have officially announced the fate of the station, journalist Robert Feder tipped us off this morning that 101.1 will drop music and become an all-news station within the next 45 days. While we are still awaiting an official announcement, several Q101 DJs and employees have all but confirmed the rumors via Twitter this morning.

Q101 has been an alternative music institution in Chicago for the past two decades and their departure will undoubtedly leave a gaping hole in the heart of the Chicago music scene.

 
GB store

Scott / June 22, 2011 9:16 AM

A gaping hole? No more Alice In Chains and Rage Against The Machine circa 1994.

that_girl / June 22, 2011 1:39 PM

I have to admit a small amount of schaudenfraude here based on personal experience with one of their DJs...

But I will miss the only station in town to ever play Our Lady Peace.

rebelution / June 22, 2011 4:12 PM

Goodbye to hearing sublime and slightly stooped on the radio. Q101 will be missed dearly.

Lisa / July 13, 2011 3:12 PM

I can't believe they are taking away the only ALternative Rock station that Chicago has. Even if they made The Loop all talk, it would be a sad day in Chicago but at least you could turn the knob to The Drive, XRT and hear similar music. The best too all the deejays who are out of a job. Dont the new media company know that if it isn't broke, don't fix it? Damn the new people taking over. I hope you fail miserably. Talk is for AM!
Friday will be the day the music died. Good Bye Godsmack, Korn, Rage, Offspring, Smoking Popes, Gravity Kills and all the other great Alternative bands!

~M. / July 14, 2011 1:01 AM

Everything Lisa said rings true.

I am losing my default station, just as I lost 94.7 before it became Oldies.
Now I am down to 2 1/3 station options...(the 1/3 being a station that changes after 9pm)

I know radio is seen as somewhat a dying medium, but to do something such as this...it's demeaning to the music scene. It's insulting to see a great pillar of Chicago radio be turned into another rather useless "news-feed."

Kelly Reaves / July 14, 2011 4:57 PM

I'm with Scott. Good riddance. If you want to hear some decent music on the radio start at 89.3 go down.

GB store

Feature Thu Dec 31 2015

Our Final Transmission Days

By The Gapers Block Transmission Staff

Transmission staffers share their most cherished memories and moments while writing for Gapers Block.

Read this feature »

Blogroll

  Chicago Music Media

Alarm Magazine
BackStage
Big Rock Candy Mountain
Boxx Magazine
Brooklyn Vegan Chicago
Can You See The Sunset From The Southside
Chicago Reader Music
Chicagoist Arts & Events
ChicagoMusic.org
Chicago Music Guide
Chicago Singles Club
CHIRP
Country Music Chicago
Cream Team
Dark Jive
Daytrotter
The Deli Chicago
Jim DeRogatis
Do312
Fake Shore Drive
Gowhere Hip Hop
Gridface
The Hood Internet
Innerview
Jaded in Chicago
Largehearted Boy
Little White Earbuds
Live Fix Blog
Live Music Blog
Loud Loop Press
Oh My Rockness
Pop 'stache
Pitchfork
Pop Matters
Resident Advisor
Songs:Illinois
Sound Opinions
Sun-Times Music Blog
Theft Liable to Prosecution
Tribune Music
UR Chicago
Victim Of Time
WFMU's Beware of the Blog
Windy City Rock

  Venues:

Abbey Pub
Andy's Jazz Club
Aragon Ballroom
Auditorium Theatre
Beat Kitchen
B.L.U.E.S
Bottom Lounge
Buddy Guy's Legends
The Burlington
California Clipper
Concord Music Hall
Congress Theater
Constellation
Cubby Bear
Double Door
Elbo Room
Empty Bottle
FitzGerald's
Green Mill
The Hideout
Honky Tonk BBQ
House of Blues
Kingston Mines
Lincoln Hall
Logan Square Auditorium
Martyrs'
Mayne Stage
Metro
The Mutiny
Old Town School of Folk Music
Park West
The Promontory
Red Line Tap
Reggie's Rock Club & Music Joint
The Riviera
Rosa's
Schubas
Thalia Hall
The Shrine
Smartbar
Subterranean
Symphony Center
Tonic Room
Township
Uncommon Ground
The Vic
The Whistler

  Labels, Promoters
  & Shops:

Alligator Records
Atavistic
Beverly Records
Bloodshot Records
Dave's Records
Delmark Records
Drag City
Dusty Groove
Flameshovel Records
Groove Distribution
He Who Corrupts
Hozac
Jam Productions
Jazz Record Mart
Kranky Records
Laurie's Planet of Sound
Minty Fresh
Numero Group
mP Shows
Permanent Records
Reckless Records
Smog Veil Records
Southport & Northport Records
Thick Records
Thrill Jockey Records Touch & Go/Quarterstick Records
Victory Records

GB store

Events

Featured Series














 

Transmission on Flickr

Join the Transmission Flickr Pool.


About Transmission

Transmission is the music section of Gapers Block. It aims to highlight Chicago music in its many varied forms, as well as cover touring acts performing in the city. More...
Please see our submission guidelines.

Editor: Sarah Brooks, sarah@gapersblock.com
Transmission staff inbox: transmission@gapersblock.com

Archives

 

Transmission Flickr Pool
 Subscribe in a reader.

GB store

GB Store

GB Buttons $1.50

GB T-Shirt $12

I ✶ Chi T-Shirts $15