 Randy Michael's radio venture Merlin Media is dropping its news format in Chicago and New York. (July 17, 2012) |
After less than a year as an FM all-news station, Randy Michaels’ Merlin Media pulled the plug Tuesday morning on FM News 101.1, and replaced it with an adult hits format.
"It was a difficult decision to make, but after a year of minimal audience engagement, coupled with the format’s inherent expense, I felt it was time to make a change," said Michaels, CEO of Merlin Media and the former chief executive of Tribune Co., owner of the Chicago Tribune.
Merlin made the same move at its New York station, replacing all-news with alternative rock.
 In Chicago, Merlin launched FM news last summer with the idea that news and information would appeal to the bigger FM audience, and a female audience in particular. But the strategy was cut off at the pass by WBBM-780, the CBS-owned all-news AM station that began simulcasting on FM. Radio listeners never found FM News 101.1, which has been mired at the bottom of ratings.  Â
The new station will use the i101 moniker. It said it plans to play "stuff from the 90s, stuff from the 2000s and some stuff that doesn’t make sense at all."
Michaels formed Merlin Media last year to acquire three stations from Emmis Communications, converting Chicago rock station Q101 to all-news on July 31. That was one day before market leader WBBM made its FM move.
Michaels resigned under pressure from the CEO post at Tribune Co. in October 2010 the wake of news reports alleging he had created a sexually charged "frat house" atmosphere in the corporate suite of the bankrupt media company.
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