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WBBM-FM (96.3 MHz, "B96") is a gold-based contemporary hit radio station in Chicago, Illinois. It is owned by Audacy, Inc. The station has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 3,300 watts, transmitting from atop the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower). FM Query Results: WBBM-FM, fcc.gov. Retrieved March 11, 2019. The station's studios and offices are located at Two Prudential Plaza in the Chicago Loop.
In 1943, the station's call sign was changed to WBBM-FM. In 1946, the station began broadcasting on 99.3 MHz. In 1947, the station's frequency was changed to 97.1 MHz, and in 1953, WBBM-FM moved to its current frequency of 96.3 MHz. In the 1950s, as network programming moved from radio to television, WBBM-AM-FM carried a full service middle of the road format of popular music, news and talk. After 1964, most of the music was eliminated, in favor of talk and news.
"The Young Sound" aired instrumental of recent hits, contemporary pop instrumentals from artists like Herb Alpert, and contemporary vocal hits from artists like Petula Clark. Every hour's playlist was designed so that each song would complement the titles that preceded and followed it. Initially, the station had a three to one instrumental to vocal ratio. However, its playlist was skewed towards a young audience, which distinguished it from most easy listening and beautiful music stations of the era.
In 1971, the station's transmitter was moved to the John Hancock Center.
Dick Bartley, who later became a popular syndicated radio personality, spent time at WBBM-FM as program director and morning disc jockey in the late 1970s.Ghrist, John R. (1996). Valley Voices: A Radio History. Crossroads Communications. p. 44." Billboard Arbitron DJ Rating Performance", Billboard. September 30, 1978. p. 32. Retrieved September 30, 2018. WBBM-FM briefly carried American Top 40 with Casey Kasem during the soft rock years.Hall, Doug. " Vox Jox", Billboard. August 11, 1979. p. 18. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
During the latter half of 1986, B96's format began to tweak slowly towards a rhythmic top 40 direction, and a couple of years later during the late 1980s, began to embrace dance product. Despite those moves at the time, the station retained a selection of mainstream titles.Hoffman, Wayne. " After years of indifference, radio stations are actively courting gay men—some more openly than others", The Advocate. January 21, 1997. p. 81-82. Retrieved February 11, 2019.Ross, Sean. " PD of the week", Billboard. May 19, 1990. pp. 19, 22. Retrieved February 11, 2019. In May 1990, the station became known as "The Killer Bee: B96". In 1995, the station began to add more R&B and hip hop as the dance scene diminished.Carter, Kevin. " PD Cavanah Sees Success By Broadening B96's List", Billboard. September 23, 1995. p. 100. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
In October 2008, the station's slogan was changed from "Chicago's Hits and Hip-Hop" to "Chicago's #1 Hit Music Station", as its format shifted back to mainstream Top 40.
On April 21, 2023, WBBM-FM shifted to a "Classic hits"-based rhythmic top 40 format featuring some current top 40/CHR songs, along with a broader playlist of songs from the 1990s to the present day. This follows the trend of other struggling Top 40/CHRs flipping to the format, such as WFLC in Miami and KLIF-FM in Dallas-Fort Worth, to attract a wider listener base. The station also reverted to its heritage logo used throughout the 2000s and 2010s.
Since 1992, the station has presented the B96 SummerBash concert." 2011 B96 Pepsi SummerBash Guide", CBS 2 Chicago. June 9, 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
On January 5, 2009, Julian Nieh and Jamar "J. Niice" McNeil started a new morning show, "J. Niice & Julian on the Radio". The two were previously together at iHeartMedia's WIHT in Washington, D.C. Nieh stayed with the show until December 2012." Julian Nieh Exits B96", Chicagoland Radio and Media. November 28, 2012. Retrieved February 11, 2019. The show continued as "The J Show", with J. Niice as the host alongside Showbiz Shelly and Gabe.Feder, Robert. " B96 reboots morning show after Julian jumps", Time Out Chicago. November 28, 2012. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
J. Niice left in March 2018 and in April, B96 debuted "DreX & Nina" with Gabe Ramirez still being kept on.Goldsborough, Bob. " J Niice, former WBBM-FM morning host, sells Near South Side condo for $370,500", Chicago Tribune. August 24, 2018. Retrieved February 11, 2019." Changes At WBBM-F (B96)/Chicago As J Niice And Showbiz Shelly Exit Mornings; 'DreX' Rumored To Return", All Access Music Group. March 29, 2018. Retrieved February 11, 2019." DreX Out At Chicago's 'B96' After Less Than A Year", Inside Radio. February 8, 2019. Retrieved March 10, 2019. DreX left B96 in February 2019 and the show became "Gabe and Nina in the Morning", hosted by Gabe Ramirez and Nina Hajian. In September 2021, Hajian left the station, with Ramirez continuing to host the show, which was renamed "B96 Mornings"." Gabe & Nina", Chicago's B96. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
In April 2022, 'The Morning Mess', hosted by Joey 'Nachoo' Rodriguez, Aneesh, Jeana and Karla, moved from Phoenix sister station KALV-FM to host mornings on WBBM-FM. Live 101.5 Phoenix's Morning Mess to Move to B96 Chicago In February 2024, 'The Morning Mess' would come to an end, as Rodriguez would return to KALV-FM, Jeana moved to middays, and Aneesh left the station; Karla remained in mornings. Joey Boy Returns to Live 101.5 as Morning Mess Fractures in Half The Morning Mess Comes to an End at B96 Later that month, John Moug, formerly of KPLZ Seattle, would join the station for mornings. B96 Launches Moug & Karla in Mornings
On February 2, 2017, CBS Radio announced it would merge with Entercom and would no longer be part of the CBS Corporation.Venta, Lance. " CBS Radio to Merge with Entercom", RadioInsight. February 2, 2017. Retrieved February 11, 2019. The merger was approved on November 9, 2017, and was consummated on November 17.
In January 2006, the station officially launched its HD2 FM subcarrier, airing a Dance Top 40 format as "B96 Dance"." Major Radio Groups Announce HD2 Formats", All Access Music Group. January 19, 2006. Retrieved February 11, 2019. That format moved to a subchannel on co-owned 105.9 WCFS-FM in February 2019 and rebranded as "Energy". WBBM-FM's HD2 subchannel then switched to an Entercom format known as "Channel Q", a talk and EDM format, aimed at the LGBTQ community and heard in many served by Entercom FM stations. Entercom's 'Channel Q' Expands To Six New Markets Via HD Side Channels, Inside Radio. February 27, 2019. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
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