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WCHI-FM (95.5 Hertz) is a mainstream rock formatted radio station located in Chicago, owned and operated by iHeartMedia. WCHI-FM has studios located at the Illinois Center complex on Michigan Avenue in Downtown Chicago, and it broadcasts from a 5.3 kilowatt transmitter based atop John Hancock Center.
WCHI-FM broadcasts three channels in the HD Radio format.http://hdradio.com/station_guides/widget.php?id=4 HD Radio Guide for Chicago
In 1964, WDHF was sold to Federal Broadcasting Corporation for $200,000." Changing hands", Broadcasting. December 16, 1963. p. 70. Retrieved February 24, 2019. Controlling interest in Federal Broadcasting was owned by comedian Bob Newhart. Its studios were moved to Chicago Loop, at 108 N. State St. In 1966, WDHF was sold to the National Science Network for $427,000." Changing hands", Broadcasting. April 18, 1966. p. 48. Retrieved February 24, 2019. In 1971, the station's transmitter was moved to the John Hancock Center on the Near North Side of Chicago. Under deHaan's, Newhart's and the National Science Network's ownership, WDHF aired an easy listening/big band format." Stations By Format", Billboard. October 16, 1965. p. 62. Retrieved February 24, 2019." Stations By Format", Billboard. November 19, 1966. p. 38. Retrieved February 24, 2019.Duston, Anne. " WCLR-FM Clarions 'Clear Sound' MOR as Others Probe Rock Chance", Billboard. April 14, 1973. p. 22. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
In 1973, the station was sold to Metromedia for $2.75 million and it adopted an adult contemporary format." An even dozen for Metromedia", Broadcasting. March 19, 1973. p. 53. Retrieved February 24, 2019.Hannigan, Ingrid. " Roberts Revamps WDHF-FM: Using Mature 'Top 100' Pitch", Billboard. October 6, 1973. p. 32. Retrieved February 24, 2019. The following year, WDHF adopted a top 40 format. During this era, WDHF was the local broadcaster of the weekly syndicated program American Top 40." American Top 40 Is Moving Alot of Burgers in Waterloo", Billboard. May 3, 1975. p. 23. Retrieved February 25, 2019. Jim Channell, known on the air as "Captain Whammo", was a DJ on the station during its top 40 years." Classic Christian Gold, Saturdays at Noon EST on SnT Radio.com", SnT Radio.com. Retrieved February 25, 2019." WDHF-FM's Captain Whammo Jingle - Spring/Summer 1976", Chicagoland Radio and Media. May 7, 2012. Retrieved February 25, 2019.Eric Zorn. " Deejay's Fate Was Etched in Concrete", Chicago Tribune. March 4, 1985. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
On December 1, 1976, the station's callsign was changed to WMET, while retaining its top 40 format." WDHF Changes To WMET - 12/01/76", Chicagoland Radio and Media. December 1, 2014. Retrieved February 25, 2019. In 1979, Metromedia flipped WMET to an AOR format." Top 40 Fading at WMET-FM", Billboard. April 21, 1979. p. 18. Retrieved February 25, 2019. In 1982, WMET was sold to Doubleday Broadcasting for $9.5 million." Doubleday Buys WMET Chicago for 9.5 Million", Billboard. September 4, 1982. p. 3. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
On January 11, 1985, at 3 p.m., WMET switched to an adult contemporary format.Eric Zorn. " WMET's Advertising Prank More Than Enough", Chicago Tribune. January 14, 1985. Retrieved February 25, 2019. As a promotional stunt, in the days leading up to the format change the station periodically interrupted the rock programming with static and a man's voice stating "enough is enough". Ratings were poor under the new format, and the station was sold to Flint Chicago Associates for $12.5 million in early 1986.Eric Zorn. " Soft Rock Format a Losing Proposition, So WMET Owner Decides To", Chicago Tribune. September 19, 1985. Retrieved February 25, 2019." On April 14, 1986 Flint Chicago Associates, Inc. Finalized their $12,500,000 acquisition of WMET-FM Chicago, Illinois from Doubleday Broadcasting, Inc.", Broadcasting. April 28, 1986. p. 95. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
In May 1986, the station's call sign was changed to WRXR, and it adopted an early version of what would later become the adult hits format (described as "Male Adult Contemporary" by station management), with a playlist featuring artists like The Beach Boys, The Doobie Brothers, ZZ Top and Sade." WMET Now 'Male AC' WRXR", Radio & Records. May 2, 1986. p. 3. Retrieved February 25, 2019. In 1987, WRXR was sold to Pyramid Broadcasting for $15 million." Changing Hands", Broadcasting. March 2, 1987. p. 72. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
In 1995, the station's owner, Pyramid Communications, was acquired by Evergreen Media.Stark, Phyllis. " Evergreen Signs Deal to Purchase Pyramid; Julie Kahn Exits Shamrock's KNEW/KSAN", Billboard. July 29, 1995. p. 114. Retrieved February 26, 2019. In 1997, Evergreen merged with Chancellor Broadcasting.Peers, Martin. " Viacom Radio Signs Off", Variety. February 18, 1997. Retrieved February 26, 2019. Chancellor merged with Capstar and restructured as AMFM, Inc. in 1999, and in 2000 merged with iHeartMedia making WNUA a Clear Channel station." Chancellor to Become AMFM Inc.", AdAge. May 20, 1999. Retrieved February 26, 2019." Clear Channel-AMFM Merger Gets Approval", Associated Press. Los Angeles Times. August 30, 2000. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
WNUA was the home of the now-defunct Ramsey Lewis morning show, and it was also where he recorded his syndicated show, Legends of Jazz (which showcased the music of instrumentalists Charlie Parker, Oscar Peterson and Miles Davis, as well as vocalists Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald) for distribution to other smooth jazz stations across the nation.Harrington, Richard. " A Jazz Legend Nurtures His Gospel Roots", Washington Post. May 19, 2006. Retrieved February 26, 2019.Kirk, Jim. " Karen Williams Making Smooth Exit From WNUA", Chicago Tribune. October 15, 1998. Retrieved February 26, 2019. The show lived on in Chicago on WRME-LD during that station's run, and later on WDCB.Robert Feder. " WDCB brings back 'Legends of Jazz with Ramsey Lewis'", RobertFeder.com. December 23, 2014. Retrieved February 26, 2019." Legends of Jazz with Ramsey Lewis", WDCB. Retrieved February 26, 2019. Other on-air staff included Karen Williams, Rick O'Dell, Danae Alexander, Dave Koz, Bill Cochran, Scott Adams, Annie Ashe, Dona Mullen, Glenn Cosby, and Porsche Stevens." Koz To Afternoons, Alexander In Nights On WNUA", All Access Music Group. December 1, 2006. Retrieved February 27, 2019." WNUA Smooth Jazz Reunion Party w/ O'Dell, Cochran, Adams, More", Chicagoland Radio and Media. September 26, 2012. Retrieved February 27, 2019.Robert Feder. " Web streaming keeps 'Real Oldies' spinning", Chicago Sun-Times. September 21, 2006. Retrieved February 27, 2019. Rick O'Dell was also program director/music director." WNUA-FM's Rick O'Dell Ousted as Clear Channel Starts Cutting; CEO Confirms Elimination of Around 1,850 Jobs", Chicago Tribune. January 20, 2009. Retrieved February 27, 2019." CRM Interview: Rick O'Dell", Chicagoland Radio and Media. March 24, 2014. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
In late 2006, three smooth jazz personalities, WNUA's Ramsey Lewis, Annie Ashe, and Dave Koz, were tapped by Broadcast Architecture to syndicate their respective shows on its Smooth Jazz Network.Sterling, Christopher H.; O'Dell, Cary (2010). The Concise Encyclopedia of American Radio. Routledge. p. 385. Retrieved February 27, 2019." Wilson To Host Middays On BA Smooth Jazz Network", All Access Music Group. October 6, 2006. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
WNUA won Radio & Records Smooth Jazz Station of the Year award eight consecutive years, from 1998 to 2005,Archer, Carol. " To the Victors Go the Spoils", Radio & Records. July 8, 2005. p. 51. Retrieved February 27, 2019.Hough, Alexander. " Chicago Smooth Jazz Ambles On ", Chicagoist. June 8, 2009. Retrieved February 27, 2019. and was the recipient of the Marconi Award for NAC/Jazz Station of the Year in 2004." 2004 Marconi Radio Award Winners", National Association of Broadcasters. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
Following lackluster ratings as Mega 95.5, on June 19, 2012, after playing "Creo en Ti" by Mexican rock band Reik, WNUA switched to a Regional Mexican format known as "El Patrón 95.5" to more directly compete with WLEY-FM and WOJO.Venta, Lance. " Mega 95.5 Flips to Regional Mexican", Radio Insight. Retrieved February 28, 2019." Mega 95.5 Becomes El Patrón", Format Change Archive. Retrieved February 28, 2019. However, the station's ratings failed to improve; in the December 2014 ratings report for the market, WNUA held a 1.9 share of the market.Venta, Lance. " iHeartMedia Launches Big 95.5 Chicago", Radio Insight. January 5, 2015. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
On January 12, 2015, WNUA changed callsigns to WEBG to match the "Big" branding. The callsign WEBG was previously used by Orlando, Florida sister station WRUM from 2004 to 2005.
WEBG would serve as the Chicago affiliate of The Bobby Bones Show, first in evenings on a delay before being moved to mornings in August 2018." Big 95.5 Chicago Moves Bobby Bones to Mornings", Radio Insight. August 6, 2018. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
On September 3, 2020, at 11 a.m., after playing "Happy Trails" by Roy Rogers, WEBG began stunting with music from various genres (the first song being "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" by R.E.M.), punctuated by liners during the top-of-the-hour station identification stating "It's going to sound weird here. Keep listening". The country format moved to the HD2 subchannel of the station; the previous smooth jazz format on that subchannel was subsequently moved to a new HD3 subchannel." Big 95.5 Chicago Drops Country and Begins Stunting", Radio Insight. September 3, 2020. Retrieved September 4, 2020." Domain Insight 9/3: What's Next for 95.5 Chicago?", Radio Insight. September 3, 2020. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
At 5 p.m. that day, after playing "The Final Countdown" by Europe, WEBG flipped to rock as "Rock 95.5". The first song on "Rock" was "Enter Sandman" by Metallica. The format, while playing similar music to what it had during the days of WDHF, WMET, and even WRXR, also features a variety of rock reaching into the 1990s and as far as the late 2000s. The flip positions WEBG between Hubbard's classic rock-formatted WDRV and Cumulus Media' alternative rock-formatted WKQX, and brings a harder-edged rock station back to the market for the first time since WLUP was sold and flipped to K-Love in 2018." Rock 95.5 Chicago Debuts Replacing Big 95.5", Radio Insight. September 3, 2020. Retrieved September 4, 2020.Robert Feder. " iHeartMedia blows up WEBG's country format for new 'Rock 95 Five'", RobertFeder.com. August 3, 2020. Retrieved September 4, 2020. Following the format change, WEBG applied to change its call sign to WCHI-FM; the change took effect on September 14, 2020.
On September 14, 2020, iHeartMedia announced that Angie Taylor from sister station WKSC-FM would host mornings on WCHI, alongside Abe Kanan." Angi Taylor To Host Mornings On Rock 95.5 Chicago", RadioInsight. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
After a social media campaign for the slot, night host Maria Palmer was moved to mornings alongside Matthew (Marris) Harris and Michael Mason. They launched the "January 6th Erection" of the Morning Mosh Pit on January 6, 2025.
Smooth jazz returned to 95.5's HD2 sub-channel in December 2018. After the flip of WEBG to rock on September 3, 2020, the analog/HD1's previous country format moved to 95.5-HD2.
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