The Street Mix (1993)
Around February 1993, the name of the B96 mix show was changed from "The B96 Bud Light Dance Party" to "The New B96 Bud Light Street Mix” with Frankie "Hollywood" Rodriguez as the host. Rodriguez also hosted a Monday-through-Thursday night program called "Street Buzz," which showcased the latest news in the Chicago club scene and even played a few dance cuts that were normally not part of the station's playlist. The addition of hip hop mixes, alongside the usual house, techno, & freestyle product, was a possible factor in why B96 changed the title of its mix show from the “Dance Party” to the “Street Mix.” In March of 1993, B96 added mixes done by guest DJs and held a contest, "The Final Six," in search of a new mixmaster. The finalists consisted of Alan "Baddmixx" Boyd, Rustin "Jammin" Harris, Bobby D, Joe "Naw-T-Boy" Nardi, Phil K Swift, and Paul B. Although Alan "Baddmix" Boyd was declared the winner of "The Final Six" contest, it was the 3rd place finisher, Bobby D, who was known for his “Edit Crazy” mixtapes and had previously done guest mixes on WGCI, that eventually became the newest B96 mixmaster.
Veterans of the Chicago house scene were also doing guest mixes on B96 during this period, such as Tyree Cooper and Mike “Hitman” Wilson, who had previously done mixes on B96 in 1989 and 1990. However, the guest mixers weren't limited to those who represented the Chicago club scene. Mixers and producers representing other cities would occasionally do guest mixes on B96 during this time, such as Todd Terry, Roger Sanchez, Frankie Knuckles, Junior Vasquez, and Kevin Saunderson, all of whom represented New York except for Saunderson, who represented Detroit. The addition of the New York-based house mixes was largely due to B96 airing a syndicated program called "Sounds of The New York Underground," which was hosted by Deborah Rath & Jeff Romanowski, on-air personalities on New York’s rhythmic top 40 station WQHT "Hot 97." Besides B96, other rhythmic top 40 stations, such as KWPR "Power 106" in Los Angeles and 106.1 KMEL in San Francisco, also aired the syndicated mix show. Despite the name change from "Dance Party" to "the Street Mix," the addition of guest mixers, newcomer Bobby D., and the syndicated "Sounds of the New York Underground," B96's original mixmaster lineup of Frankie "Hollywood" Rodriguez, Julian "Jumpin'" Perez, Bad Boy Bill, Brian Middleton, and Tim "Spinnin'" Schommer remained intact.
The main style of B96 mixers had also changed throughout 1993 and the next few years to follow, as the techno and rave sound that dominated much of the airwaves in 1992 was being phased out in favor of returning to house music. However, the style of house music differed from the hip house style that was prominent from 1989 to 1991. A new wave of Chicago house artists was growing in popularity, such as Cajmere ("Percolator"), Dajae ("U Got Me Up" and "Brighter Days"), DJ Sneak ("Work It"), and DJ Funk ("Pump It"). House records and remixes from New York-based artists, such as Todd Terry ("Jumpin'", "Sum Sum Sigh" under the alias House of Gypsies), Masters at Work ("I Can't Get No Sleep" with vocalist India, "Love & Happiness (Yemaya Y Ochùn)" under the alias River Ocean), Erick Morillo ("I Like to Move it" and "Go On Move" as a member of Reel 2 Real), David Morales ("In De Ghetto," the "Def Club Remix" of Mariah Carey's "Dreamlover") and Armand Van Helden ("Witch Doktor," "Donkey") were also featured heavily in the B96 mix sets during the early-to-mid 1990s.
Each B96 mixer was also developing a distinct sound in the mid-1990s. For example, Bad Boy Bill had a rawer house sound, while Bobby D combined a mixture of sounds ranging from house, commercial Euro-dance, and booty bass music. Perez experimented with deep house and garage cuts, although he would revert to a style much like what both Bad Boy Bill and Bobby D were doing at the time. Tim “Spinnin’” Schommer remained loyal to freestyle, although he would also do hip hop sets during this time. Frankie “Hollywood” Rodriguez would often mix flashbacks varying from 1970s disco to the 1980s dance sound of defunct 102.7 WBMX, although by 1994 he would stop providing mixes and remain on the station as an on-air personality. Middleton would slowly evolve into a more disco-based underground house sound. Occasionally, some of the B96 mixers (including guest ones) would briefly mix hip hop alongside the house sound, though it would be a few years before B96 would gain a regular mixmaster who specifically mixed hip hop sets when DJ Speed became a regular mixer in 1997.
Although the B96 mixes were never syndicated to air in other markets, there would be a rare occasion where one of the B96 mixers would do a guest spot on an out-of-market radio station's mix show, such as Bad Boy Bill doing guest mixes on Power 106 Los Angeles' "Powertools" mix show. Bill and longtime "Powertools" mixer Richard "Humpty" Vission later teamed up in a pair of mix CDs called "The House Connection" from 1997 to 1998. In addition, several of Vission’s remixes and releases in the mid to late 1990s, such as 1995’s “The Feeling” by Sugar and 1996’s “Energy” by Devone, were often heard in the B96 mix sets.
B96's Affiliation With Hot Mix
While the Friday and Saturday night weekend mix shows were locally produced and exclusively made for the station, B96 would also air nationally syndicated mixes that were provided by Hot Mix Productions, a Phoenix-based radio project created by Dave Rajput and Andrew Starr. While Hot Mix was originally launched in 1985 and had a limited number of affiliates by the end of the 1980s, the service became more nationally syndicated in 1990 due to a partnership with ABC Radio Networks. That same year, B96 began airing the syndicated Hot Mixes as part of the Sunday night show called "Sunday Night Mix," hosted by Brian Middleton, airing from 8 PM to midnight. The mixes provided by Hot Mix were engineered by 1 individual, first by Dave Rajput, although other mixers, such as C.L. McSpadden and Markus Schulz, would later create the mixes as the 1990s progressed. The Hot Mixes were a four-hour music block containing two 25-minute mixes per hour, and each mix usually featured 5 to 7 songs. Many tracks featured in the Hot Mixes were exclusively found in DJ-only mix compilations, many of which were made by various remix service labels, such as Hot Tracks, Ultimix, X-Mix, Mixx-It, and Powerhouse, the last of which was a label created by Hot Mix itself. As a result, these special remixes were rarely heard outside the FM dial. For example, there would be a dance remix of a popular R&B or pop song that was heard only during these mix sets, whereas the LP or single version would normally be heard outside the mix shows.
By early 1993, B96 discontinued the Sunday Night Mix program and replaced most of its time slot with the locally produced talk show "Private Lives." As a result, the station started airing the Hot Mixes in newly created weekday mix hours: the B96 12 O'Clock Lunch Party, the B96 5 O’Clock Traffic Jam, and the B96 10 O'Clock Remix. Both the 12 O'Clock Lunch Party and the 5 O’Clock Traffic Jam were 1-hour mixes that aired 5 times a week, Monday to Friday, consisting of then-contemporary dance/pop/R&B/hip-hop music. While both mix hours were created in the style of the Hot Mixes, one difference was that the Lunch Party mixes usually featured two 25-minute mixes, while the Traffic Jam was a continuous 50-minute mix. The B96 10 O'Clock Remix was originally similar to the 12 O'Clock Lunch Party and 5 O'Clock Traffic Jam but only aired every Monday through Thursday at 10:00 PM, as Friday nights were reserved for the locally produced B96 Street Mix (formerly known as the B96 Dance Party). It is likely that B96 aired one hour of the weekly four-hour Hot Mix in this time slot, although these mixes also aired on the Lunch Party hour. Unlike the B96 Dance Party/Street Mix sets, there was usually no DJ identification other than a station ID throughout the mix, although Brian Middleton, who also did some remixes on Hot Mix's long-defunct remix label Powerhouse Records, handled additional mixes that aired on B96 in the style of Hot Mix. By July 1994, the 10 O'Clock Remix would evolve away from syndicated Hot Mixes and more toward sets done by one of the B96 mixmasters, such as Bad Boy Bill or Bobby D, that would normally be heard every Friday and Saturday night.
In 1996, the 12 O'Clock Lunch Party was expanded to four hours and renamed "The B96 At Work Dance Party," which now aired from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The first hour mix usually consisted of two 25-minute sets of disco and dance-pop flashbacks from the 1970s and 1980s. These mixes were provided by Hot Mix's spin-off series, Retromix, which originally launched in July 1993, although B96 did not start airing them until 1996. The remaining hours of the At Work Dance Party consisted of two 25-minute sets of then-current dance remixes altthough some mix sets consisted of mid-tempo pop, R&B, and hip-hop songs that had a BPM ranging from around 90 to 105. Occasionally, mixes done by the regular B96 mixmasters appeared alongside the Hot Mixes. A flashback hour, featuring older tracks from the late 1970s to the early 1990s ranging from disco, synthpop, freestyle, house, R&B, and hip-hop, aired right before the At Work Dance Party, although B96 had added this hour a year prior. In August 1996, the flashback hour was dropped when B96 heavily revamped its morning show lineup and added a weekday edition of "Private Lives," the station's popular Sunday night talk show. By 1998, B96 ended the At Work Dance Party and reverted to just the 12 O'Clock Lunch Party mix hour, abandoning the remaining mix hours.
The B96 Street Flava (1994-1999)
In late 1994, Julian “Jumpin'” Perez created a broad-based, personality-heavy radio show that would represent the music evolution occurring on the streets and in the nightclubs of Chicago. That show was called "the B96 Street Flava," and it aired every Sunday night. The "Street Flava" was an immediate hit and sounded even more rhythmic than what the station normally sounded like during the non-mix show hours. Each hour contained a 10 to 15-minute mix ranging from house, hip hop, freestyle, and old school. The house mixes were usually the harder, tech house sound that both Bad Boy Bill and Bobby D were playing rather than the soulful garage house sound that would be heard on rival WGCI. The hip hop mixes featured the hottest rap cuts of the moment. The freestyle mixes contained both newer freestyle cuts and old-school favorites. Lastly, the old school mixes were a combination of classic house and dance cuts heard on long-defunct 102.7 WBMX in the 1980s and the 1989-1992 period of B96. Classic freestyle cuts were rarely heard in the old-school sets as they were already featured in the main freestyle sets.
The mixes featured on the "Street Flava" were done by guest DJs rather than the regular B96 mixmasters. Some of these guest mixers would eventually become regular B96 mixmasters in the future, such as DJ Speed, Mixin’ Marc (aka Marc Stout), DJ Flipside, and Dan Morell, who mixed under the name "DJ Smurf" before going under his real name. Long-time Chicago house DJ and producer Mike Dunn was the voice-over announcer during the "Street Flava" and sometimes did the hip hop mixes presented on the program. The success of the "Street Flava" prompted B96 management to promote Julian as a weekday overnight on-air personality in 1995. Teaming with fellow mixmaster Tim "Spinnin'" Schommer and later a female co-host, Candi Gomez (known on-air simply as "Candi"), Julian "Jumpin'" Perez enjoyed the success of hosting the highly rated "Street Flava" for the next several years until the show's cancellation in late 1999.
The B96 Mixmaster Throwdown Series (1996-2001)
In 1996, B96 released a series of mix CDs called the “B96 Mixmaster Throwdown” containing 10-minute mixes from each of the B96 Mixmasters. There were six CDs total in the series, lasting from 1996 to 2001. Prior to the "Mixmaster Throwdown" series, B96 had released a mixed CD called "Summer '95" in the summer of 1995 as a contest prize exclusive, but the format was the same as the “Mixmaster Throwdown” as it featured a short mix from Julian “Jumpin’” Perez, Bad Boy Bill, Bobby D, Tim “Spinnin’” Schommer, and Brian Middleton, who also provided an introduction to the mixes. Overall, the “Summer ‘95” CD was primarily a prototype of the Mixmaster Throwdown CDs.
The same year B96 released its Mixmaster Throwdown series, the station also added two new mixers to its mixer lineup: DJ Markski and To Kool Chris. DJ Markski would focus primarily on Eurodance, as prior to his arrival, only Bobby D would occasionally mix Eurodance records in an otherwise house-dominated mix show. Before joining B96, DJ Markski had previously done mix sets for the dance-leaning college radio station WLUW-FM "Energy 88.7." To Kool Chris, meanwhile, mixed a wide range of styles, such as hard house, euro-dance, freestyle, and old school cuts of the 1980s and early 1990s. During this period, hard house records from local labels, such as Underground Construction, to Los Angeles-based labels like Aqua Boogie, would be the most prominent style of house that was being featured on the B96 mixes.
History of B96 (Revised Version)
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Disman00911
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Re: History of B96 (Revised Version)
Last edited by Disman00911 on Mon Apr 13, 2026 6:33 pm, edited 7 times in total.
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Disman00911
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Re: History of B96 (Revised Version)
Mix Show Shake Up (1998-2006)
By the end of the 1990s, the once-dominant mix shows on B96 were becoming stale and lacked variety, as most DJs were mixing hard house and tech house records. Bad Boy Bill left the station in 1998 to focus more on his worldwide DJ tours. Additionally, the "Street Flava" Sunday night show was shortened from four hours to three, as the popular sex advice show "Private Lives" was extended by an hour. The “B96 Street Flava” show was eventually canceled by the end of 1999. That same year, new members joined the B96 mixmaster team. One such mixer was Mixin Marc, who mixed progressive house, tech house, and trance records. He remained on B96 until 2012 but returned two years later, mixing under his real name, Marc Stout. Another addition to the B96 Street Mix lineup in the late 1990s was renowned house producer Maurice Joshua, known for the 1989 house anthem "This Is Acid," who was also recognized for producing house remixes of songs by various R&B and pop artists, such as Destiny’s Child, Mary J. Blige, and *NSYNC. His style of house music was deeper and more soulful—similar to what the DJs on rival WGCI were mixing at the time—contrasting sharply with the hard house style favored by most other B96 mixers. B96 also added hip-hop mixers DJ Speed and Dan Morell (formerly known as "DJ Smurf") to its lineup to increase musical diversity. Both DJs had previously been guest mixers on B96's "Street Flava" show before becoming the station's regular hip-hop mixers.
By 2003, new rival WSKC 103.5 Kiss FM would also create a mix show called "Klub Kiss" and even managed to lure Julian “Jumpin’” Perez away from B96 after his contract was not renewed on October 28, 2002. However, Julian "Jumpin'” Perez would return to B96 just one year later and brought along his new team of mixers, such as Josh “The Funky One”, DJ Boogie Boy, Billy the Kid, DJ Nonstop, and Double Impact, a duo consisting of Louie Loop & Greg the Groove. As a result, Bobby D, To Kool Chris, and DJ Markski would be tossed from B96 to make room for Perez and his team of mixers, who were collectively known as the "Super Mix 6" during their time at 103.5 Kiss FM. In addition to his return to B96, Perez became the station's new mix show director. However, he was soon criticized by some of his long-time fans for his shift away from house music and the heavy emphasis on hip hop in his mix sets. Another member of the B96 mixmaster team during this period was DJ Spin. It was also around this time that “B96 Street Mix" was rebranded as the "B96 Afterparty."
In 2005, Tim "Spinnin" Schommer departed from B96. By 2000, Schommer had shifted his focus more toward house music rather than freestyle, a genre that had effectively died after a mid-1990s revival. However, he occasionally continued to mix older tracks from classic freestyle artists such as TKA, the Cover Girls, George LaMond, and Safire, alongside classic house and dance tracks from the 1990s. By 2003, Schommer stopped producing mixes on B96, likely due to the return of Julian “Jumpin’” Perez and his team of mixers from 103.5 Kiss FM joining the B96 mix team. Schommer remained on B96 as an on-air personality until his departure in 2005. Long-time personality and mixer Brian Middleton, who had also no longer provided mixes by 2003, stayed at B96 until his release in 2006.
The weekend shows would not be the only ones suffering as the 12 p.m. Lunch Party and the 5 p.m. Traffic Jam mixes were also losing a lot of their luster compared to where they were in the 1990s. The Traffic Jam mixes continued to be provided by Hot Mix until around late 2000, when JamTraxx Media took over production of the mixes. During this time, the mixes primarily focused more on hip hop and R&B hits rather than dance remixes of popular songs of the era. By 2006, the 5 O'Clock Traffic Jam mixes were discontinued, and B96 mixer DJ Flipside had taken over duties for the 5 p.m. hour, bringing some life back to the once-stale mixes. Flipside’s mix show “Flipside at 5” would be a staple on B96 until its cancellation in 2018.
Current Era, Demise & Revival (2007-present)
The B96 Street Mix was reintroduced after phasing out the "Afterparty" brand in late 2007. Both DJ Flipside and DJ Spin remained members of the B96 mixmaster team, in addition to newer mixers joining the station's mix roster in the late 2000s and into the 2010s, such as DJ Metro, DJ Josh R., DJ Trentino, DJ Simone, and DJ Meg, the latter being the station’s first female mixer. In 2009, veteran DJ Bad Boy Bill returned to B96 to provide guest mixes, which he would continue to do throughout much of the 2010s. In 2010, B96 introduced Noon Ka-Boom, mixing classic 1980s and 1990s dance, R&B, and rap songs from the original “Killer Bee” & "Party Radio" eras as well as rap, R&B, and even dance hits of the early 2000s. However, the Noon Ka-Boom mixes have long since discontinued. In 2014, Marc Stout, formerly known as Mixin' Marc, returned to the B96 Street Mix lineup after a two-year absence.
On August 3, 2018, The B96 Street Mix was cut back from seven hours to four hours, airing at 12:00am instead of 10:00pm. It was not exactly known why the Street Mix hours were cut back, though rumors suggested that Entercom executives considered the show not to be Portable People Meter (PPM)-friendly. The Street Mix itself also faced some criticism among some fans as the mixers were regulated to a tighter playlist of Top 40 remixes instead of playing what they wanted, resulting in a staler product. In addition, DJ Flipside's 5:00pm mix hour "Flipside @ 5" was also cancelled. As a result, B96 offerred no mix show hours outside the Friday and Saturday night Street Mix. In August of 2020, the B96 Street Mix was unceremoniously cancelled and replaced with jockless programming known as the “After Hours.” As a result, B96 no longer featured mixes of any kind since 1986. Three of B96’s mixers, DJ Metro, DJ Nonstop, and DJ Flipside, would continue to mix at sister station WBMX 104.3 Jams alongside Julian Jumpin' Perez as "The BMX Four." Following Perez's retirement from mixing in 2022, DJ Meg took his place in the lineup.
On February 2, 2026, B96's sister station, WBMX 104.3 Jams, flipped its format from classic hip hop to simulcasting sports station WSCR 670 "The Score" and changed its call letters from WBMX to WSCR. A few days after 104.3's format flip, B96 announced on its official Facebook page that it would bring back the B96 Street Mix, resulting in the station airing mix show content for the first time since 2020. In addition, DJ Flipside's "Flipside @ 5" mixes at 5pm would also return to the station for the first time since 2018. However, the newly revived B96 Street Mix would only air on Saturday nights from 10pm to midnight instead of airing on both Friday and Saturday nights like in years past, in addition to only airing for 2 hours instead of 6 to 7 hours. In addition, the station only has two mixers, DJ Flipside and DJ Metro, as the other two members of the former "BMX 4," DJ Nonstop and DJ Meg, were not featured in the revival of the B96 Street Mix.
Where Are They Now?
On May 19, 2006, former B96 mixer To Kool Chris leased time for a Saturday night music show called "Dance Factory FM" that aired on the same frequencies that were once home to Cyber Radio and Energy 92.7 & 92.5. After the demise of Energy 92.7 in January 2003, there had been a desire for dance music to return to the Chicago airwaves. Aside from To Kool Chris, other DJs featured on Dance Factory FM's lineup included former B96 mixers Bobby D and DJ Markski, in addition to other mixers such as Erik K, DJ Caffeine, and Danny V. Luis "2Live" Lopez, who worked at the old Energy 92.7 & 92.5, was Dance Factory FM's host. On May 14, 2007, Dance Factory was expanded to seven nights a week from 9 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. The weekday shows carry a dance CHR format with live mixes several times nightly, while the weekend shows remain a DJ mix format. However, there would be no plans for Dance Factory FM to air 24/7 as the "Nine FM" variety hits format that aired during the rest of the hours on the 92.7 frequency was retained. Nine FM would since be abandoned and replaced with a simulcast of its sister station, liberal talk radio WCPT 820 AM, in 2008. In addition, Dance Factory FM's hours were trimmed back in the years that followed, airing only on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights.
After leaving B96 in 2006, Brian Middleton would join WILV (now WTBC) 100.3 "Love FM," which was a rhythmic-leaning Adult Contemporary station at the time. In 2007, WILV introduced a Saturday night mix show, playing primary disco and pop records of the 1970s and 1980s. Middleton was featured as one of WILV's mixers, as was Tim "Spinnin'" Schommer, who departed from B96 a year before Middleton did. Other mixers included Martin "Boogieman" Luma and DJ JM3. However, by the end of 2008, WILV would cancel the Saturday night mix show. Middleton would remain at 100.3 FM, even as the station shifted its focus to 1980s-based AC hits and again to current-based AC hits until his firing in 2020 due to Hubbard Radio reducing the number of its staff.
In 2011, Q101, which was now suffering from poor ratings, flipped formats to an all-news format and changed its call letters from WKQX to WIQI. As a result, WIQI was now competing against B96’s sister station WBBM-AM Newsradio 780, which was also simulcast on WCFS 103.5 FM. However, the all-news approach was hugely unpopular, and WIQI flipped formats to a 1990s-based adult hits format on July 12, 2012, which was the format that WCFS used prior to flipping to a simulcast of WBBM-AM Newsradio 780. By 2013, the station slowly became more rhythmic and added a weekend night mix show, “The History of House Party,” hosted by former B96 mixer and personality Frankie Hollywood Rodriguez. Other mixers included White Knight, Teri Bristol, and former B96 mixer Tim "Spinnin'" Schommer. The music featured on the mix show consisted of both new dance hits and the classic dance tracks of the late 1980s and 1990s. However, ratings were still poor and station owner Merlin Media sold the station to Cumulus Media on January 10, 2014, which flipped WIQI back to alternative rock and restored the call letters “WKQX”. However, the station did not have the rights to the name “Q101” and was a separate entity rather than a continuation of the original Q101 brand from 1992 to 2011 until April 28, 2022, when Cumulus Radio (WKQX's owner) bought the Q101 branding rights back.
On June 10, 2017, WBMX.com, a website that was dedicated to the original 102.7 WBMX Chicago, began airing classic dance songs every Saturday on suburban Elmhurst-based WCKG 102.3 FM, which featured a brokered format ranging from conservative-skewing talk shows during the weekday and heavy metal-based Rebel Radio at night. The Rhythmic AC/Dance format focuses mostly on 1970s disco, classic 1980s dance hits that were popular on the original WBMX, and 1990s dance music that was originally popular on B96 back when they were new. Occasionally, dance classics from the 2000s and more recent dance-pop hits would be played as well. In addition, the nightly mix show, "Saturday Night Live Ain’t No Jive Chicago Dance Party," a staple of the original WBMX, also made a return featuring mixes by many veteran Chicago-based DJs, such as original Hot Mix 5 member Mickey "Mixin'" Oliver and former WBMX & B96 mixer Frankie "Hollywood" Rodriguez. Other featured DJs would include Martin "Boogieman" Luna, Tony "Boom-Boom" Badea, DJ Al Mooshey, Quick Mix Mike, DJ Tony Cano, DJ Triple H, DJ Perry, and DJ Quick Vic. Weekly guest mixers, such as former B96 mixer Tim "Spinnin'" Schommer, and even DJs based outside Chicago, such as England’s Graeme Park and Ben Liebrand, would also be featured. The mixes largely consist of dance classics of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, and newer dance records consisting of both original records and remixes of older songs. A Friday night mix show would later be added, named "Friday Night Jams," much like the original WBMX.
By December 2017, direct references to the call letters WBMX would be dropped when Entercom-owned 104.3 WMJK flipped formats from classic hits of the 1970s & 1980s to classic hip hop/R&B of the 1990s & 2000s and changed their call letters to WBMX. As a result, WBMX.com was eventually rebranded as "The Beat Chicago," launching an online-only 24/7 radio station without WCKG's unrelated brokered programming. On April 23, 2018, WGCK flipped formats from brokered talk to an affiliate of Fox Sports, thus becoming a sports talk radio station. For a while, the Friday and Saturday night mix show hours presented on The Beat Chicago continued to air on WCKG but would ultimately be dropped from the station’s lineup. Currently, "The Beat Chicago" continues to live on as an online-only radio station streaming on MixCloud, and while their format varies between classic R&B of the 1960s to the early 2000s and classic hits of the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s during the weekdays, on the weekend the station provides a classic dance format of the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, reminiscent of the dance years of B96 during the 1990s and long-defunct Energy 92.7 & 92.5, in addition to continuing Friday and Saturday night mixes.
On November 18, 2017, WJMK 104.3, a classic hits station focused on 1970s and 1980s music and one of B96's sister stations, changed its format to classic hip hop and R&B, featuring songs from the 1990s, 2000s, and early 2010s. On December 4, 2017, the newly branded 104.3 Jams changed its call letters to WBMX, the same call letters previously used by rival station 102.7 V103 (WVAZ) from 1973 to 1988, before that station switched from mainstream urban to urban AC—a format 102.7 FM still maintains today. Between 1988 and 2017, the WBMX call letters were assigned to sister station Mix 104.1 FM in Boston, which features a Hot AC format. The Boston station changed its call letters to WWBX as the WBMX call letters were transferred to 104.3 FM in Chicago. On December 29, 2017, 104.3 Jams announced a new mix show team called "The BMX Four," consisting of former and current B96 mixers DJ Flipside, DJ Nonstop, DJ Metro, and Julian "Jumpin'" Perez, who had also mixed at the original WBMX and during his time at B96. The BMX Four made its on-air debut on New Year’s Eve 2017. In addition to his mixing duties, Julian "Jumpin'" Perez became an on-air personality, hosting the night shift on 104.3 Jams. In July 2022, Julian Perez left 104.3 and retired. He was succeeded by DJ Meg, who was one of the final mixers at B96 before the station abruptly stopped providing mixes in 2020. In January 2026, Audacy, previously known as Entercom, announced that 104.3 Jams would flip formats to simulcasting WSCR 670 "The Score," effective February 2. As a result, DJ Flipside and DJ Metro rejoined B96 on its revived Street Mix that began Saturday nights starting on February 7. However, it is unknown if DJ Nonstop and DJ Meg will join them in the near future.
By the end of the 1990s, the once-dominant mix shows on B96 were becoming stale and lacked variety, as most DJs were mixing hard house and tech house records. Bad Boy Bill left the station in 1998 to focus more on his worldwide DJ tours. Additionally, the "Street Flava" Sunday night show was shortened from four hours to three, as the popular sex advice show "Private Lives" was extended by an hour. The “B96 Street Flava” show was eventually canceled by the end of 1999. That same year, new members joined the B96 mixmaster team. One such mixer was Mixin Marc, who mixed progressive house, tech house, and trance records. He remained on B96 until 2012 but returned two years later, mixing under his real name, Marc Stout. Another addition to the B96 Street Mix lineup in the late 1990s was renowned house producer Maurice Joshua, known for the 1989 house anthem "This Is Acid," who was also recognized for producing house remixes of songs by various R&B and pop artists, such as Destiny’s Child, Mary J. Blige, and *NSYNC. His style of house music was deeper and more soulful—similar to what the DJs on rival WGCI were mixing at the time—contrasting sharply with the hard house style favored by most other B96 mixers. B96 also added hip-hop mixers DJ Speed and Dan Morell (formerly known as "DJ Smurf") to its lineup to increase musical diversity. Both DJs had previously been guest mixers on B96's "Street Flava" show before becoming the station's regular hip-hop mixers.
By 2003, new rival WSKC 103.5 Kiss FM would also create a mix show called "Klub Kiss" and even managed to lure Julian “Jumpin’” Perez away from B96 after his contract was not renewed on October 28, 2002. However, Julian "Jumpin'” Perez would return to B96 just one year later and brought along his new team of mixers, such as Josh “The Funky One”, DJ Boogie Boy, Billy the Kid, DJ Nonstop, and Double Impact, a duo consisting of Louie Loop & Greg the Groove. As a result, Bobby D, To Kool Chris, and DJ Markski would be tossed from B96 to make room for Perez and his team of mixers, who were collectively known as the "Super Mix 6" during their time at 103.5 Kiss FM. In addition to his return to B96, Perez became the station's new mix show director. However, he was soon criticized by some of his long-time fans for his shift away from house music and the heavy emphasis on hip hop in his mix sets. Another member of the B96 mixmaster team during this period was DJ Spin. It was also around this time that “B96 Street Mix" was rebranded as the "B96 Afterparty."
In 2005, Tim "Spinnin" Schommer departed from B96. By 2000, Schommer had shifted his focus more toward house music rather than freestyle, a genre that had effectively died after a mid-1990s revival. However, he occasionally continued to mix older tracks from classic freestyle artists such as TKA, the Cover Girls, George LaMond, and Safire, alongside classic house and dance tracks from the 1990s. By 2003, Schommer stopped producing mixes on B96, likely due to the return of Julian “Jumpin’” Perez and his team of mixers from 103.5 Kiss FM joining the B96 mix team. Schommer remained on B96 as an on-air personality until his departure in 2005. Long-time personality and mixer Brian Middleton, who had also no longer provided mixes by 2003, stayed at B96 until his release in 2006.
The weekend shows would not be the only ones suffering as the 12 p.m. Lunch Party and the 5 p.m. Traffic Jam mixes were also losing a lot of their luster compared to where they were in the 1990s. The Traffic Jam mixes continued to be provided by Hot Mix until around late 2000, when JamTraxx Media took over production of the mixes. During this time, the mixes primarily focused more on hip hop and R&B hits rather than dance remixes of popular songs of the era. By 2006, the 5 O'Clock Traffic Jam mixes were discontinued, and B96 mixer DJ Flipside had taken over duties for the 5 p.m. hour, bringing some life back to the once-stale mixes. Flipside’s mix show “Flipside at 5” would be a staple on B96 until its cancellation in 2018.
Current Era, Demise & Revival (2007-present)
The B96 Street Mix was reintroduced after phasing out the "Afterparty" brand in late 2007. Both DJ Flipside and DJ Spin remained members of the B96 mixmaster team, in addition to newer mixers joining the station's mix roster in the late 2000s and into the 2010s, such as DJ Metro, DJ Josh R., DJ Trentino, DJ Simone, and DJ Meg, the latter being the station’s first female mixer. In 2009, veteran DJ Bad Boy Bill returned to B96 to provide guest mixes, which he would continue to do throughout much of the 2010s. In 2010, B96 introduced Noon Ka-Boom, mixing classic 1980s and 1990s dance, R&B, and rap songs from the original “Killer Bee” & "Party Radio" eras as well as rap, R&B, and even dance hits of the early 2000s. However, the Noon Ka-Boom mixes have long since discontinued. In 2014, Marc Stout, formerly known as Mixin' Marc, returned to the B96 Street Mix lineup after a two-year absence.
On August 3, 2018, The B96 Street Mix was cut back from seven hours to four hours, airing at 12:00am instead of 10:00pm. It was not exactly known why the Street Mix hours were cut back, though rumors suggested that Entercom executives considered the show not to be Portable People Meter (PPM)-friendly. The Street Mix itself also faced some criticism among some fans as the mixers were regulated to a tighter playlist of Top 40 remixes instead of playing what they wanted, resulting in a staler product. In addition, DJ Flipside's 5:00pm mix hour "Flipside @ 5" was also cancelled. As a result, B96 offerred no mix show hours outside the Friday and Saturday night Street Mix. In August of 2020, the B96 Street Mix was unceremoniously cancelled and replaced with jockless programming known as the “After Hours.” As a result, B96 no longer featured mixes of any kind since 1986. Three of B96’s mixers, DJ Metro, DJ Nonstop, and DJ Flipside, would continue to mix at sister station WBMX 104.3 Jams alongside Julian Jumpin' Perez as "The BMX Four." Following Perez's retirement from mixing in 2022, DJ Meg took his place in the lineup.
On February 2, 2026, B96's sister station, WBMX 104.3 Jams, flipped its format from classic hip hop to simulcasting sports station WSCR 670 "The Score" and changed its call letters from WBMX to WSCR. A few days after 104.3's format flip, B96 announced on its official Facebook page that it would bring back the B96 Street Mix, resulting in the station airing mix show content for the first time since 2020. In addition, DJ Flipside's "Flipside @ 5" mixes at 5pm would also return to the station for the first time since 2018. However, the newly revived B96 Street Mix would only air on Saturday nights from 10pm to midnight instead of airing on both Friday and Saturday nights like in years past, in addition to only airing for 2 hours instead of 6 to 7 hours. In addition, the station only has two mixers, DJ Flipside and DJ Metro, as the other two members of the former "BMX 4," DJ Nonstop and DJ Meg, were not featured in the revival of the B96 Street Mix.
Where Are They Now?
On May 19, 2006, former B96 mixer To Kool Chris leased time for a Saturday night music show called "Dance Factory FM" that aired on the same frequencies that were once home to Cyber Radio and Energy 92.7 & 92.5. After the demise of Energy 92.7 in January 2003, there had been a desire for dance music to return to the Chicago airwaves. Aside from To Kool Chris, other DJs featured on Dance Factory FM's lineup included former B96 mixers Bobby D and DJ Markski, in addition to other mixers such as Erik K, DJ Caffeine, and Danny V. Luis "2Live" Lopez, who worked at the old Energy 92.7 & 92.5, was Dance Factory FM's host. On May 14, 2007, Dance Factory was expanded to seven nights a week from 9 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. The weekday shows carry a dance CHR format with live mixes several times nightly, while the weekend shows remain a DJ mix format. However, there would be no plans for Dance Factory FM to air 24/7 as the "Nine FM" variety hits format that aired during the rest of the hours on the 92.7 frequency was retained. Nine FM would since be abandoned and replaced with a simulcast of its sister station, liberal talk radio WCPT 820 AM, in 2008. In addition, Dance Factory FM's hours were trimmed back in the years that followed, airing only on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights.
After leaving B96 in 2006, Brian Middleton would join WILV (now WTBC) 100.3 "Love FM," which was a rhythmic-leaning Adult Contemporary station at the time. In 2007, WILV introduced a Saturday night mix show, playing primary disco and pop records of the 1970s and 1980s. Middleton was featured as one of WILV's mixers, as was Tim "Spinnin'" Schommer, who departed from B96 a year before Middleton did. Other mixers included Martin "Boogieman" Luma and DJ JM3. However, by the end of 2008, WILV would cancel the Saturday night mix show. Middleton would remain at 100.3 FM, even as the station shifted its focus to 1980s-based AC hits and again to current-based AC hits until his firing in 2020 due to Hubbard Radio reducing the number of its staff.
In 2011, Q101, which was now suffering from poor ratings, flipped formats to an all-news format and changed its call letters from WKQX to WIQI. As a result, WIQI was now competing against B96’s sister station WBBM-AM Newsradio 780, which was also simulcast on WCFS 103.5 FM. However, the all-news approach was hugely unpopular, and WIQI flipped formats to a 1990s-based adult hits format on July 12, 2012, which was the format that WCFS used prior to flipping to a simulcast of WBBM-AM Newsradio 780. By 2013, the station slowly became more rhythmic and added a weekend night mix show, “The History of House Party,” hosted by former B96 mixer and personality Frankie Hollywood Rodriguez. Other mixers included White Knight, Teri Bristol, and former B96 mixer Tim "Spinnin'" Schommer. The music featured on the mix show consisted of both new dance hits and the classic dance tracks of the late 1980s and 1990s. However, ratings were still poor and station owner Merlin Media sold the station to Cumulus Media on January 10, 2014, which flipped WIQI back to alternative rock and restored the call letters “WKQX”. However, the station did not have the rights to the name “Q101” and was a separate entity rather than a continuation of the original Q101 brand from 1992 to 2011 until April 28, 2022, when Cumulus Radio (WKQX's owner) bought the Q101 branding rights back.
On June 10, 2017, WBMX.com, a website that was dedicated to the original 102.7 WBMX Chicago, began airing classic dance songs every Saturday on suburban Elmhurst-based WCKG 102.3 FM, which featured a brokered format ranging from conservative-skewing talk shows during the weekday and heavy metal-based Rebel Radio at night. The Rhythmic AC/Dance format focuses mostly on 1970s disco, classic 1980s dance hits that were popular on the original WBMX, and 1990s dance music that was originally popular on B96 back when they were new. Occasionally, dance classics from the 2000s and more recent dance-pop hits would be played as well. In addition, the nightly mix show, "Saturday Night Live Ain’t No Jive Chicago Dance Party," a staple of the original WBMX, also made a return featuring mixes by many veteran Chicago-based DJs, such as original Hot Mix 5 member Mickey "Mixin'" Oliver and former WBMX & B96 mixer Frankie "Hollywood" Rodriguez. Other featured DJs would include Martin "Boogieman" Luna, Tony "Boom-Boom" Badea, DJ Al Mooshey, Quick Mix Mike, DJ Tony Cano, DJ Triple H, DJ Perry, and DJ Quick Vic. Weekly guest mixers, such as former B96 mixer Tim "Spinnin'" Schommer, and even DJs based outside Chicago, such as England’s Graeme Park and Ben Liebrand, would also be featured. The mixes largely consist of dance classics of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, and newer dance records consisting of both original records and remixes of older songs. A Friday night mix show would later be added, named "Friday Night Jams," much like the original WBMX.
By December 2017, direct references to the call letters WBMX would be dropped when Entercom-owned 104.3 WMJK flipped formats from classic hits of the 1970s & 1980s to classic hip hop/R&B of the 1990s & 2000s and changed their call letters to WBMX. As a result, WBMX.com was eventually rebranded as "The Beat Chicago," launching an online-only 24/7 radio station without WCKG's unrelated brokered programming. On April 23, 2018, WGCK flipped formats from brokered talk to an affiliate of Fox Sports, thus becoming a sports talk radio station. For a while, the Friday and Saturday night mix show hours presented on The Beat Chicago continued to air on WCKG but would ultimately be dropped from the station’s lineup. Currently, "The Beat Chicago" continues to live on as an online-only radio station streaming on MixCloud, and while their format varies between classic R&B of the 1960s to the early 2000s and classic hits of the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s during the weekdays, on the weekend the station provides a classic dance format of the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, reminiscent of the dance years of B96 during the 1990s and long-defunct Energy 92.7 & 92.5, in addition to continuing Friday and Saturday night mixes.
On November 18, 2017, WJMK 104.3, a classic hits station focused on 1970s and 1980s music and one of B96's sister stations, changed its format to classic hip hop and R&B, featuring songs from the 1990s, 2000s, and early 2010s. On December 4, 2017, the newly branded 104.3 Jams changed its call letters to WBMX, the same call letters previously used by rival station 102.7 V103 (WVAZ) from 1973 to 1988, before that station switched from mainstream urban to urban AC—a format 102.7 FM still maintains today. Between 1988 and 2017, the WBMX call letters were assigned to sister station Mix 104.1 FM in Boston, which features a Hot AC format. The Boston station changed its call letters to WWBX as the WBMX call letters were transferred to 104.3 FM in Chicago. On December 29, 2017, 104.3 Jams announced a new mix show team called "The BMX Four," consisting of former and current B96 mixers DJ Flipside, DJ Nonstop, DJ Metro, and Julian "Jumpin'" Perez, who had also mixed at the original WBMX and during his time at B96. The BMX Four made its on-air debut on New Year’s Eve 2017. In addition to his mixing duties, Julian "Jumpin'" Perez became an on-air personality, hosting the night shift on 104.3 Jams. In July 2022, Julian Perez left 104.3 and retired. He was succeeded by DJ Meg, who was one of the final mixers at B96 before the station abruptly stopped providing mixes in 2020. In January 2026, Audacy, previously known as Entercom, announced that 104.3 Jams would flip formats to simulcasting WSCR 670 "The Score," effective February 2. As a result, DJ Flipside and DJ Metro rejoined B96 on its revived Street Mix that began Saturday nights starting on February 7. However, it is unknown if DJ Nonstop and DJ Meg will join them in the near future.
Last edited by Disman00911 on Mon Apr 13, 2026 6:49 pm, edited 8 times in total.
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Disman00911
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Re: History of B96 (Revised Version)
Eddie and Jobo
Although B96's heavy blend of dance, R&B, and hip-hop music played a massive role in catapulting the station into becoming one of Chicago's top-rated radio stations in the early 1990s, perhaps the biggest trademark of the Killer Bee/Party Radio era of B96 was the popular morning duo Ed Volkman and Joe Bohannon, better known as Eddie & Jobo.
Pre-Eddie & Jobo (1982-1988)
When WBBM-FM launched its Top 40 format in 1982, the station would go through a cycle of morning show hosts throughout most of the decade. Steve Davis was WBBM-FM’s first morning show host when the station was known as Hot Hits 96 Now. In January 1983, Davis left the station, and Tomm Rivers was hired to replace him. In August 1983, Dick Biondi replaced Rivers as B96’s new morning show host. In May 1984, Biondi left B96, and Don Geronimo, who was doing evenings at B96 at the time, was moved to the morning shift. A year later, Geronimo left B96 over creative differences with upper management. In May 1985, Chuck Evans, who went by the on-air name “Chuck Nasty,” was B96’s new morning show host. However, Evans only lasted a few months on the air, and by October 1985, he was replaced by Mark Sebastian. A year later, in August 1986, Sebastian left B96 for crosstown rival WYTZ 94.7 “Z95” and was replaced by Ed Volkman.
First stint (1988-1994)
Joe Bohannon first signed on at B96 in 1984, hosting evenings as “JoBo In Chicago.” Bohannon was also the station's music director from 1984 to 1989. Ed Volkman started at B96 in 1986, hosting the morning drive along with Karen Hand and Mike Elston. On October 25, 1988, Elston was gone from B96, and Bohannon would be moved to the morning drive alongside Volkman and Hand; thus, the “Eddie & JoBo” show was born. The duo enjoyed success and contributed greatly to B96’s increase in the ratings for the next seven years before the duo’s controversial firing in May 1994. They invited their listeners, who they dubbed “The World’s Most Dangerous Audience,” to assist in some classic radio bits such as confession Wednesdays, cold water wake-up calls, the daily Twinkie check, and the infamous mattress attacks.
Eddie & Jobo were known for their pranks. Case in point is an "April Fool's Day" broadcast in 1993, where the duo tricked listeners into believing that B96 was flipping formats from top 40/dance to a classical format similar to actual classical stations WFMT 98.7 FM and WNIB 97.1 FM (now WDRV "The Drive" with a classic rock format since 2001), using the moniker "The Classic Sounds of Classical 96." Although Eddie & Jobo were not exactly shock jocks in the style of Howard Stern or Steve Dahl, their antics would often give B96 the wrong type of attention. On May 4, 1991, the duo was suspended for four days without pay by B96 after airing a hoax during a "Confessions Wednesdays" feature, in which a female caller, claiming to be the wife of a WLS-TV Channel 7 executive, confessed that her family had been selected as a Nielsen family participant, which violated the ratings service's rules. It should also be noted that WLS-TV was owned by Capital Cities/ABC Inc. (now Cumulus Media), the same ownership that also owned B96's then-arch-rival WYTZ 94.7 FM.
Controversy & Firing (1993-1994)
In September 1993, B96 endured controversy when Eddie and Jobo found themselves in a multimillion-dollar defamation lawsuit filed against them by then-WMAQ-TV NBC 5 news anchor Joan Esposito. On a March 23, 1993 broadcast, JoBo falsely aired a statement that Esposito had been impregnated by a member of the Chicago Bulls basketball team instead of her then-late husband, Bryan Harwood, prompting Esposito to sue. In addition to Esposito's lawsuit, Eddie & Jobo found themselves in more trouble on March 4, 1994, when they were hit with a libel suit by William P. O'Malley, a Cook County Circuit Court judge, when the duo suggested on air that the judge had taken a bribe from Major League Baseball slugger Jose Canseco, who was acquitted by O'Malley on April 22, 1993, after hearing a case where Canseco, who played for the Texas Rangers at the time, was accused of hitting a man at a nightclub in Chicago.
On May 10, 1994, Eddie and Jobo were fired after leaking classified details of the $1 million settlement in Esposito's defamation suit against them to Chicago Sun-Times columnist Bill Zwecker. Esposito eventually won $1 million and a public apology from B96, which aired in July 1994. There was also growing tension between Eddie and Jobo as Eddie felt that he should not have been blamed for JoBo's statement that got the duo in trouble in the first place. The duo was rumored to be splitting up, yet on October 27, 1994, Eddie and Jobo would be hired by WIOQ-FM, a Top 40 station in Philadelphia that had shifted away from a rhythmic format similar to B96 onto a more mainstream format, playing rock-leaning pop artists such as Gin Blossoms, Melissa Etheridge, the Pretenders, and Bon Jovi. However, the duo would last only a year in their new city, as Eddie, a proud Chicagoan who was hesitant to work in another city, left WIOQ in September 1995, and Jobo was fired in January 1996. The absence of Eddie and Jobo would ultimately hurt B96, especially in the morning show slot for the next two years.
Morning Show Woes (1994-1997)
After the firing of Eddie and Jobo in May 1994, "Private Lives" host Karen Hand and Gary Spears—who had been temporarily rehired by B96 following his release in September 1993—briefly took over the morning slot on B96. The station soon decided to take the morning drive in a new direction, inviting listeners to "choose" the new morning show through what was known as "the B96 Morning Show Open Auditions," which ran throughout the summer of 1994. Terry Jacobs and Bill Cody were eventually selected by B96 listeners as the successors to Eddie & JoBo and made their on-air debut on September 12, 1994. However, few people warmed up to “T.J. & Wild Bill,” and the number of listeners dropped sharply. B96’s morning ratings suffered, with Eddie & JoBo’s 5.7 share plummeting to 1.9. T.J. & Wild Bill lasted just 10 months before being fired. In a 1995 Billboard interview, B96 PD Todd Cavanah conceded that the T.J. and Wild Bill morning show was like a bad blind date with little chance of success. Additionally, both men lacked direct ties to the Chicagoland area and could not connect with B96’s core audience.
On July 24, 1995, B96 evening host George McFly and overnight host Frankie "Hollywood" Rodriguez—who had by then stopped providing mixes on the B96 Street Mix—were moved to the morning drive slot in hopes of offsetting a drastic ratings decline. Unlike T.J. and Wild Bill, George and Frankie were familiar to B96 listeners and were not random outsiders. However, this change also proved unpopular, as “George & Frankie” managed only a 2.1 share. McFly ultimately left B96 in July 1996 and joined the now-defunct top 40 station WXTR "Z104" in Washington, D.C. Compared to the period from 1990 to 1994, B96’s overall ratings during 1995 and 1996 were lower due to the fallout from firing the popular morning duo Eddie and Jobo and their widely unpopular replacements, T.J. and Wild Bill. B96 struggled to maintain its third-place position among all Chicago radio stations, competing against adult contemporary WLIT 93.9 "Lite FM", country WUSN 99.9 FM, Urban AC 102.7 WVAZ (V-103), alternative WKQX "Q101", and sister station all-news WBBM AM 780. At this point, B96 was unlikely to surpass WGCI or WGN-AM as Chicago’s overall number one radio station.
In August 1996, B96 once again took the morning drive in a new direction by splitting the time slot and airing two separate shows. Frankie’s morning show aired from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m., followed by B96’s hugely popular Sunday night sex talk show, "Private Lives," hosted by Karen Hand and Dr. Kelly Johnson. "Private Lives" aired from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Finally, B96 began to see marked improvement in the ratings, but only in the 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. slot, as Frankie’s ratings continued to suffer severely. Caving to pressure from a campaign led by former co-workers and on-air host Karen Hand, plus a relentless barrage of phone calls and letters sent by Eddie and JoBo loyalists, B96 announced on December 12, 1996, that Eddie & JoBo had been rehired and would return to host the morning drive along with Frankie “Hollywood” Rodriguez on January 13, 1997, from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. Reaction to B96's decision to bring back Eddie & JoBo was so positive that the duo won the Silver Dome Award for "Best Personality of the Year 1996" by the Illinois Broadcasters Association, even though they were only on the air in commercials airing in December 1996 to promote their return to the station.
B96 began to see significant improvements in their morning drive ratings as the combination of the “Eddie & JoBo and Frankie” show and “Private Lives” gradually gained traction, even though Frankie "Hollywood" Rodriguez eventually left the program and B96 altogether by 1997. Concerned about the possibility of another lawsuit, station management exercised strict control over the show. They made on-air staff changes and imposed a taped delay, sometimes as long as 20 minutes. Every word spoken by the duo was closely monitored and had to be approved by a member of management before airing. Additionally, a member of management was always required to be in the studio with Eddie & JoBo; otherwise, they were not permitted to broadcast. Eddie & JoBo adapted to these changes, and the ratings continued to climb back to their former glory.
Second Stint (1997-2008)
Initially, the Eddie & JoBo show remained popular on B96 after returning to the station in January 1997. The “Private Lives” show was dropped from the morning drive slot in 1999, although the Sunday night show continued on B96 until 2002. Eddie & JoBo hosted from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. under strict restrictions until May 29, 2002. Rival station WKSC-FM 103.5 Kiss FM made an offer for them to host the morning drive without restrictions on their station. B96 pulled the show as a negotiation tactic in hopes of retaining the hosts. Negotiations continued until July, when B96 announced at an on-air press conference that Eddie & JoBo had signed a seven-year, $21 million deal to begin immediately, which also ended all restrictions on the show. B96 no longer felt a tape delay was necessary, and Eddie & JoBo resumed a live show on July 22, 2002.
Unfortunately, Eddie and JoBo experienced a decline in ratings over the years. Many observers attributed this to B96’s steady drop in popularity after the station shifted away from its heavy dance music format in favor of a hip-hop and R&B-leaning format starting in the late 1990s. The station fell from #1 among younger radio listeners in 1998 to #9 by the mid-2000s. Additionally, Eddie and JoBo were aging and no longer aligned with B96’s key demographic of females aged 18 to 34. To better appeal to this demographic, Erica Cobb, a younger female co-host, was added to the program in October 2005. In an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times, B96 PD Todd Cavanah described the Eddie and JoBo Show prior to Cobb’s arrival as a “Sausage-Fest,” referring to the lack of a female presence following Karen Hand’s departure from B96 in 2002. On November 21, 2008, Eddie & JoBo were fired by B96 for the second and final time. Cobb was also dismissed alongside Eddie & JoBo.
Eddie & Jobo After B96 (2011-2012)
After being fired by B96 in 2008, Eddie and JoBo were hired by B96's sister station, 104.3 WJMK, on March 14, 2011. WJMK had rebranded with a classic hits format called “K-Hits” after abandoning its polarizing variety hits format, “Jack-FM.” Other former B96 alumni, George McFly and Gary Spears, also worked at K-Hits. However, WJMK focused on rock-based classic hits from the 1970s and 1980s, rather than the dance and R&B hits of the 1980s and 1990s that B96 was known for when those DJs were there. On December 12, 2012, Eddie and Jobo were fired from WJMK due to low ratings. In late 2017, WJMK changed formats from classic hits to classic hip hop and R&B from the 1990s and 2000s, playing songs once featured on B96 during Eddie and JoBo's tenure. The station, now known as WBMX 104.3 Jams, would continue airing until 2026, when it was announced that the station would flip formats to simulcasting sports talk WSCR 670 "The Score" and change its call letters to WSCR-FM.
Post-Eddie & Jobo Era (2008-present)
On December 31, 2008, it was announced that Julian Nieh and Jamar "J Niice" McNeil would replace the Eddie & JoBo & Erica Show. "J Niice & Julian on the Radio" debuted on January 5, 2009, in the 5:30 a.m.-10 a.m. slot, during which B96 saw its ratings increase. On November 28, 2012, Julian Nieh left B96, and the show was renamed "The J. Show with Showbiz Shelly" with J. Niice as the main host and Michelle "Showbiz Shelly" Menaker as co-host. In April 2018, B96 hired Kevin “DreX” Buchar, who had been the morning host for rival 103.5 Kiss FM from 2003 to 2010, as the station's new morning show host, replacing J Niice and Showbiz Shelly. Showbiz Shelly soon joined 103.5 Kiss FM after being let go by B96. However, DreX’s ratings were disappointing, debuting in 22nd place among all Chicago radio morning shows. On February 08, 2019, DreX was gone from B96 after just 10 months with the station. His co-hosts, Gabe Ramirez and Nina Hajian, were retained and promoted as B96's new morning hosts. In August 2021, Hajian left B96, and Ramirez became a solo host. On April 4, 2022, B96 featured a new morning show based in Phoenix, called "the Morning Mess," consisting of Joey Rodriguez, Jeana Shepard, Aneesh Ratan, and Karla Hernandez. The previous morning host, Gabe Ramirez, left the role but remained on B96 in another role until he was gone from the station in 2024. By February 2024, the B96 morning show changed again, with Hernandez teaming up with John Moug in “Moug and Karla Mornings.”
Although B96's heavy blend of dance, R&B, and hip-hop music played a massive role in catapulting the station into becoming one of Chicago's top-rated radio stations in the early 1990s, perhaps the biggest trademark of the Killer Bee/Party Radio era of B96 was the popular morning duo Ed Volkman and Joe Bohannon, better known as Eddie & Jobo.
Pre-Eddie & Jobo (1982-1988)
When WBBM-FM launched its Top 40 format in 1982, the station would go through a cycle of morning show hosts throughout most of the decade. Steve Davis was WBBM-FM’s first morning show host when the station was known as Hot Hits 96 Now. In January 1983, Davis left the station, and Tomm Rivers was hired to replace him. In August 1983, Dick Biondi replaced Rivers as B96’s new morning show host. In May 1984, Biondi left B96, and Don Geronimo, who was doing evenings at B96 at the time, was moved to the morning shift. A year later, Geronimo left B96 over creative differences with upper management. In May 1985, Chuck Evans, who went by the on-air name “Chuck Nasty,” was B96’s new morning show host. However, Evans only lasted a few months on the air, and by October 1985, he was replaced by Mark Sebastian. A year later, in August 1986, Sebastian left B96 for crosstown rival WYTZ 94.7 “Z95” and was replaced by Ed Volkman.
First stint (1988-1994)
Joe Bohannon first signed on at B96 in 1984, hosting evenings as “JoBo In Chicago.” Bohannon was also the station's music director from 1984 to 1989. Ed Volkman started at B96 in 1986, hosting the morning drive along with Karen Hand and Mike Elston. On October 25, 1988, Elston was gone from B96, and Bohannon would be moved to the morning drive alongside Volkman and Hand; thus, the “Eddie & JoBo” show was born. The duo enjoyed success and contributed greatly to B96’s increase in the ratings for the next seven years before the duo’s controversial firing in May 1994. They invited their listeners, who they dubbed “The World’s Most Dangerous Audience,” to assist in some classic radio bits such as confession Wednesdays, cold water wake-up calls, the daily Twinkie check, and the infamous mattress attacks.
Eddie & Jobo were known for their pranks. Case in point is an "April Fool's Day" broadcast in 1993, where the duo tricked listeners into believing that B96 was flipping formats from top 40/dance to a classical format similar to actual classical stations WFMT 98.7 FM and WNIB 97.1 FM (now WDRV "The Drive" with a classic rock format since 2001), using the moniker "The Classic Sounds of Classical 96." Although Eddie & Jobo were not exactly shock jocks in the style of Howard Stern or Steve Dahl, their antics would often give B96 the wrong type of attention. On May 4, 1991, the duo was suspended for four days without pay by B96 after airing a hoax during a "Confessions Wednesdays" feature, in which a female caller, claiming to be the wife of a WLS-TV Channel 7 executive, confessed that her family had been selected as a Nielsen family participant, which violated the ratings service's rules. It should also be noted that WLS-TV was owned by Capital Cities/ABC Inc. (now Cumulus Media), the same ownership that also owned B96's then-arch-rival WYTZ 94.7 FM.
Controversy & Firing (1993-1994)
In September 1993, B96 endured controversy when Eddie and Jobo found themselves in a multimillion-dollar defamation lawsuit filed against them by then-WMAQ-TV NBC 5 news anchor Joan Esposito. On a March 23, 1993 broadcast, JoBo falsely aired a statement that Esposito had been impregnated by a member of the Chicago Bulls basketball team instead of her then-late husband, Bryan Harwood, prompting Esposito to sue. In addition to Esposito's lawsuit, Eddie & Jobo found themselves in more trouble on March 4, 1994, when they were hit with a libel suit by William P. O'Malley, a Cook County Circuit Court judge, when the duo suggested on air that the judge had taken a bribe from Major League Baseball slugger Jose Canseco, who was acquitted by O'Malley on April 22, 1993, after hearing a case where Canseco, who played for the Texas Rangers at the time, was accused of hitting a man at a nightclub in Chicago.
On May 10, 1994, Eddie and Jobo were fired after leaking classified details of the $1 million settlement in Esposito's defamation suit against them to Chicago Sun-Times columnist Bill Zwecker. Esposito eventually won $1 million and a public apology from B96, which aired in July 1994. There was also growing tension between Eddie and Jobo as Eddie felt that he should not have been blamed for JoBo's statement that got the duo in trouble in the first place. The duo was rumored to be splitting up, yet on October 27, 1994, Eddie and Jobo would be hired by WIOQ-FM, a Top 40 station in Philadelphia that had shifted away from a rhythmic format similar to B96 onto a more mainstream format, playing rock-leaning pop artists such as Gin Blossoms, Melissa Etheridge, the Pretenders, and Bon Jovi. However, the duo would last only a year in their new city, as Eddie, a proud Chicagoan who was hesitant to work in another city, left WIOQ in September 1995, and Jobo was fired in January 1996. The absence of Eddie and Jobo would ultimately hurt B96, especially in the morning show slot for the next two years.
Morning Show Woes (1994-1997)
After the firing of Eddie and Jobo in May 1994, "Private Lives" host Karen Hand and Gary Spears—who had been temporarily rehired by B96 following his release in September 1993—briefly took over the morning slot on B96. The station soon decided to take the morning drive in a new direction, inviting listeners to "choose" the new morning show through what was known as "the B96 Morning Show Open Auditions," which ran throughout the summer of 1994. Terry Jacobs and Bill Cody were eventually selected by B96 listeners as the successors to Eddie & JoBo and made their on-air debut on September 12, 1994. However, few people warmed up to “T.J. & Wild Bill,” and the number of listeners dropped sharply. B96’s morning ratings suffered, with Eddie & JoBo’s 5.7 share plummeting to 1.9. T.J. & Wild Bill lasted just 10 months before being fired. In a 1995 Billboard interview, B96 PD Todd Cavanah conceded that the T.J. and Wild Bill morning show was like a bad blind date with little chance of success. Additionally, both men lacked direct ties to the Chicagoland area and could not connect with B96’s core audience.
On July 24, 1995, B96 evening host George McFly and overnight host Frankie "Hollywood" Rodriguez—who had by then stopped providing mixes on the B96 Street Mix—were moved to the morning drive slot in hopes of offsetting a drastic ratings decline. Unlike T.J. and Wild Bill, George and Frankie were familiar to B96 listeners and were not random outsiders. However, this change also proved unpopular, as “George & Frankie” managed only a 2.1 share. McFly ultimately left B96 in July 1996 and joined the now-defunct top 40 station WXTR "Z104" in Washington, D.C. Compared to the period from 1990 to 1994, B96’s overall ratings during 1995 and 1996 were lower due to the fallout from firing the popular morning duo Eddie and Jobo and their widely unpopular replacements, T.J. and Wild Bill. B96 struggled to maintain its third-place position among all Chicago radio stations, competing against adult contemporary WLIT 93.9 "Lite FM", country WUSN 99.9 FM, Urban AC 102.7 WVAZ (V-103), alternative WKQX "Q101", and sister station all-news WBBM AM 780. At this point, B96 was unlikely to surpass WGCI or WGN-AM as Chicago’s overall number one radio station.
In August 1996, B96 once again took the morning drive in a new direction by splitting the time slot and airing two separate shows. Frankie’s morning show aired from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m., followed by B96’s hugely popular Sunday night sex talk show, "Private Lives," hosted by Karen Hand and Dr. Kelly Johnson. "Private Lives" aired from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Finally, B96 began to see marked improvement in the ratings, but only in the 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. slot, as Frankie’s ratings continued to suffer severely. Caving to pressure from a campaign led by former co-workers and on-air host Karen Hand, plus a relentless barrage of phone calls and letters sent by Eddie and JoBo loyalists, B96 announced on December 12, 1996, that Eddie & JoBo had been rehired and would return to host the morning drive along with Frankie “Hollywood” Rodriguez on January 13, 1997, from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. Reaction to B96's decision to bring back Eddie & JoBo was so positive that the duo won the Silver Dome Award for "Best Personality of the Year 1996" by the Illinois Broadcasters Association, even though they were only on the air in commercials airing in December 1996 to promote their return to the station.
B96 began to see significant improvements in their morning drive ratings as the combination of the “Eddie & JoBo and Frankie” show and “Private Lives” gradually gained traction, even though Frankie "Hollywood" Rodriguez eventually left the program and B96 altogether by 1997. Concerned about the possibility of another lawsuit, station management exercised strict control over the show. They made on-air staff changes and imposed a taped delay, sometimes as long as 20 minutes. Every word spoken by the duo was closely monitored and had to be approved by a member of management before airing. Additionally, a member of management was always required to be in the studio with Eddie & JoBo; otherwise, they were not permitted to broadcast. Eddie & JoBo adapted to these changes, and the ratings continued to climb back to their former glory.
Second Stint (1997-2008)
Initially, the Eddie & JoBo show remained popular on B96 after returning to the station in January 1997. The “Private Lives” show was dropped from the morning drive slot in 1999, although the Sunday night show continued on B96 until 2002. Eddie & JoBo hosted from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. under strict restrictions until May 29, 2002. Rival station WKSC-FM 103.5 Kiss FM made an offer for them to host the morning drive without restrictions on their station. B96 pulled the show as a negotiation tactic in hopes of retaining the hosts. Negotiations continued until July, when B96 announced at an on-air press conference that Eddie & JoBo had signed a seven-year, $21 million deal to begin immediately, which also ended all restrictions on the show. B96 no longer felt a tape delay was necessary, and Eddie & JoBo resumed a live show on July 22, 2002.
Unfortunately, Eddie and JoBo experienced a decline in ratings over the years. Many observers attributed this to B96’s steady drop in popularity after the station shifted away from its heavy dance music format in favor of a hip-hop and R&B-leaning format starting in the late 1990s. The station fell from #1 among younger radio listeners in 1998 to #9 by the mid-2000s. Additionally, Eddie and JoBo were aging and no longer aligned with B96’s key demographic of females aged 18 to 34. To better appeal to this demographic, Erica Cobb, a younger female co-host, was added to the program in October 2005. In an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times, B96 PD Todd Cavanah described the Eddie and JoBo Show prior to Cobb’s arrival as a “Sausage-Fest,” referring to the lack of a female presence following Karen Hand’s departure from B96 in 2002. On November 21, 2008, Eddie & JoBo were fired by B96 for the second and final time. Cobb was also dismissed alongside Eddie & JoBo.
Eddie & Jobo After B96 (2011-2012)
After being fired by B96 in 2008, Eddie and JoBo were hired by B96's sister station, 104.3 WJMK, on March 14, 2011. WJMK had rebranded with a classic hits format called “K-Hits” after abandoning its polarizing variety hits format, “Jack-FM.” Other former B96 alumni, George McFly and Gary Spears, also worked at K-Hits. However, WJMK focused on rock-based classic hits from the 1970s and 1980s, rather than the dance and R&B hits of the 1980s and 1990s that B96 was known for when those DJs were there. On December 12, 2012, Eddie and Jobo were fired from WJMK due to low ratings. In late 2017, WJMK changed formats from classic hits to classic hip hop and R&B from the 1990s and 2000s, playing songs once featured on B96 during Eddie and JoBo's tenure. The station, now known as WBMX 104.3 Jams, would continue airing until 2026, when it was announced that the station would flip formats to simulcasting sports talk WSCR 670 "The Score" and change its call letters to WSCR-FM.
Post-Eddie & Jobo Era (2008-present)
On December 31, 2008, it was announced that Julian Nieh and Jamar "J Niice" McNeil would replace the Eddie & JoBo & Erica Show. "J Niice & Julian on the Radio" debuted on January 5, 2009, in the 5:30 a.m.-10 a.m. slot, during which B96 saw its ratings increase. On November 28, 2012, Julian Nieh left B96, and the show was renamed "The J. Show with Showbiz Shelly" with J. Niice as the main host and Michelle "Showbiz Shelly" Menaker as co-host. In April 2018, B96 hired Kevin “DreX” Buchar, who had been the morning host for rival 103.5 Kiss FM from 2003 to 2010, as the station's new morning show host, replacing J Niice and Showbiz Shelly. Showbiz Shelly soon joined 103.5 Kiss FM after being let go by B96. However, DreX’s ratings were disappointing, debuting in 22nd place among all Chicago radio morning shows. On February 08, 2019, DreX was gone from B96 after just 10 months with the station. His co-hosts, Gabe Ramirez and Nina Hajian, were retained and promoted as B96's new morning hosts. In August 2021, Hajian left B96, and Ramirez became a solo host. On April 4, 2022, B96 featured a new morning show based in Phoenix, called "the Morning Mess," consisting of Joey Rodriguez, Jeana Shepard, Aneesh Ratan, and Karla Hernandez. The previous morning host, Gabe Ramirez, left the role but remained on B96 in another role until he was gone from the station in 2024. By February 2024, the B96 morning show changed again, with Hernandez teaming up with John Moug in “Moug and Karla Mornings.”
Last edited by Disman00911 on Wed Jan 21, 2026 12:22 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Disman00911
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Re: History of B96 (Revised Version)
Concerts
From the 1990s until the end of the 2010s, B96 sponsored annual concerts featuring artists whose music was featured on the station’s playlist. According to B96 MD Erik Bradley, the station paid each artist to perform at their concerts. Perhaps the most popular of these concerts was the Summer Bash, held every June since its debut in 1992. From 2016 to 2019, the Summer Bash took place at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont. Between 2006 and 2015, the event was held at Toyota Park (renamed SeatGeek Stadium in 2018) in Bridgeview, which was also the home stadium of the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer (MLS) at the time. Prior to 2006, the venue for the Bash varied throughout the Chicagoland area, including the First Midwest Bank Amphitheater in Tinley Park (1994–1998), Route 66 Raceway in Joliet (1999–2003), and Maywood Park in Melrose Park (2004). In 2005, the Summer Bash was not held; instead, a "Bee-Kini" Bash took place at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, featuring a much smaller lineup of performers. Known for showcasing several marquee performers in a day-long series of sets, the B96 Summer Bash was one of the premier radio station concerts in the U.S., alongside other notable events such as 102.7 KIIS-FM's "Jingle Ball" and "Wango Tango" in Los Angeles, WHTZ-FM Z100's "Jingle Ball" in New York, and rock station KPNT 105.7's "Point Fest" in St. Louis.
The Summer Bash concert series proved so successful that B96 began adding other concert series, such as the Halloween Bash, which debuted around 1996, and the Jingle Bash, which has been held during the Christmas holiday season since 2000. Both concert series are often held at the Allstate Arena (formerly known as the Rosemont Horizon until 1999), rather than outdoor venues like the Summer Bash, due to the colder weather Chicago experiences during the fall and winter months. Since 2016, the Summer Bash has also been held at the Allstate Arena. Additionally, the Halloween Bash has been discontinued, with the most recent event occurring in 2002. In the 2020s, B96 had not held any concerts, as the most recent concerts the station sponsored occurred in 2019 with the Summer Bash and Jingle Bash concerts, which were last held in 2019. No concerts were held in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but even as the pandemic ended around 2022, B96 has not hosted any concerts as of this date.
Summer Bash Lineups
Year - 1992
Date - n/a
Venue - n/a
Town - n/a
Performers - n/a
Notes - The first Summer Bash held; Was known as "Eddie & Jobo’s Summer Jam" and was hosted by Eddie and Jobo; Note: The original lineup from the 1992 event is unknown at this time.
Year - 1993
Date - n/a
Venue - n/a
Town - n/a
Performers - RuPaul, Silk, Snow, & 5 other acts that are unknown at this time.
Notes - Known as "Summer Jam '93" and was hosted by Eddie and Jobo.
Year - 1994
Date - June 26
Venue - New World Music Theatre
Town - Tinley Park
Performers - K7, Color Me Badd, Jocelyn Enriquez, Gabrielle, Chantey Savage, Zhane, Stevie B, DJ Miko, 2 in a Room, Jon Secada, Salt N Pepa.
Notes - Known as "Summer Jam '94".
Year - 1995
Date - June 24
Venue - New World Music Theatre
Town - Tinley Park
Performers - K7, Real McCoy, Da Brat, Crystal Waters, 69 Boyz, Cynthia, Technotronic, George Lamond, 20 fingers ft Gillette, and Fun Factory.
Notes - Known as Summer Jam '95; Paula Abdul arrived in helicopter, but did not perform.
Year - 1996
Date - June 29
Venue - New World Music Theatre
Town - Tinley Park
Performers - White Knight, J'son, Big Sister, Buffy, Monica, Planet Soul, Lime, Shannon, Max-a-Million, 3T, 2 Unlimited, Real McCoy, Amber, Coolio, Too Kool Chris, Tony Rich Project, the Outhere Bros., All 4 One, and the Quad City DJs.
Notes - Known as Summer Bash '96; Shannon & Lime were presented as "Flashback Legends" in an ad to promote the concert.
Year - 1997
Date - June 29
Venue - New World Music Theatre
Town - Tinley Park
Performers - Wild Orchid, 3rd Party, Le Click, Real McCoy, Jon Secada, AZ Yet, Freak Nasty, Salt N' Pepa, Erasure, DJ Company.
Notes -
Year - 1998
Date - June 29
Venue - New World Music Theatre
Town - Tinley Park
Performers - Boyz II Men, Destiny's Child, 'N Sync, Savage Garden, Mase, Voices of Theory, and K.P. & Envyi.
Notes - Mariah Carey made a surprise appearance and performed "One Sweet Day" with Boyz II Men.
Year - 1999
Date - July 19
Venue - Route 66 Raceway
Town - Joliet
Performers - N'Sync, 98 Degrees, Shanice, Tyrese, Venga Boys, Busta Rhymes, Keith Sweat, and Ricky Martin.
Notes - Britney Spears was scheduled to perform but had cancelled her appearance. She would appear in the station's "Halloween Bash" concert later that year.
Year - 2000
Date - June 17
Venue - Route 66 Raceway
Town - Joliet
Performers - Sisqo, Brian McKnight, Pink, LFO, Mandy Moore, Joe, Eiffel 65, Ice Cube, Enrique Iglesias, Destiny's Child, Eve, Hanson, and Faze 4.
Notes -
Year - 2001
Date - June 30
Venue - Route 66 Raceway
Town - Joliet
Performers - Jay-Z, Faze4, Willa Ford, Trick Daddy, K-Ci & JoJo, Dream, Tyrese, Ricky Martin, 3LW, O'Town, Eden's Crush, ATC and Sisqo.
Notes -
Year - 2002
Date - June 22
Venue - Route 66 Raceway
Town - Joliet
Performers - Nelly, Brian McKnight, Fat Joe, Shakira, P. Diddy, Paulina Rubio, Mary J. Blige, Naughty By Nature, Nick and Aaron Carter, Ja Rule and Ashanti.
Notes -
Year - 2003
Date - July 26
Venue - Route 66 Raceway
Town - Joliet
Performers - Lil' Kim, Ginuwine, Da Brat, Sarai, Ludacris, Smilez and Southstar, Frankie J, Mya, Nick Cannon, and Fabolous.
Notes -
Year - 2004
Date - August 24
Venue - Maywood Park
Town - Melrose Park
Performers - R. Kelly, D12, Twista, Ma$e, J-Kwon, Houston, Jojo, the Ying Yang Twins, and Nina Sky.
Notes -
Year - 2005
Date - June 12
Venue - Six Flags Great America
Town - Gurnee
Performers - Frankie J, Baby Bash, and Natalie.
Notes - The Summer Bash was not held that year. Instead, B96 held the "Teeny Weeny Bee-Kini Bash" which featured a much smaller lineup of performers.
Year - 2006
Date - June 24
Venue - Toyota Park
Town - Bridgeview
Performers - Mary J Blige, Sean Paul, Pink, Ray-J, T-Pain, Chameleon Pin, Ne-Yo, Rihanna.
Notes - the first SummerBash held at Toyota Park.
Year - 2007
Date - June 14
Venue - Toyota Park
Town - Bridgeview
Performers - Akon, Rihanna, T-Pain, Ciara, Ne-Yo, Hilary Duff, MIMS, Gym Class Heroes, Paula Deanda, & Dude N Nem.
Notes -
Year - 2008
Date - June 13
Venue - Toyota Park
Town - Bridgeview
Performers - Nastasha Bedingfield, Flo Rida, Pitbull, Jesse McCartney, Danity Kane, Ray-J, & T-Pain.
Notes -
Year - 2009
Date - June 13
Venue - Toyota Park
Town - Bridgeview
Performers - Akon, Kelly Clarkson, The Black Eyed Peas, Flo Rida, LMFAO, Kid Cudi, Twista.
Notes - also known as "B96 Summerbash XV"
Year - 2010
Date - June 12
Venue - Toyota Park
Town - Bridgeview
Performers - Charice, JLS, Travis Garland, B.O.B., Taio Cruz, Cascada, New Boyz, Jason Derulo, Lyaz, T-Pain, Ludacris.
Notes -
Year - 2011
Date - June 11
Venue - Toyota Park
Town - Bridgeview
Performers - Joe Jonas, Far East Movement, Lupe Fiasco, Jay Sean, Big Time Rush, Keri Hilson, New Boyz, Chris Brown, Pitbull.
Notes -
Year - 2012
Date - June 16
Venue - Toyota Park
Town - Bridgeview
Performers -Flo Rida, Gym Class Heroes, The Wanted, Big Time Rush, Sean Paul, Dev, Mike Posner, Karmin and more.
Notes - DJ Flipside and Bad Boy Bill provided DJ mixes.
Year - 2013
Date - June 15
Venue - Toyota Park
Town - Bridgeview
Performers - Zedd, Avril Lavigne, Demi Lovato, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Timeflies, Ne-Yo, Afrojack, Cher Lloyd, Sammy Lloyd, and Miley Cyrus.
Notes - Sammy Adams was a replacement for Ariana Grande, who was one of the original performers but cancelled. Grande would appear in the station's "Jingle Bash" concert later that year.
Year - 2014
Date - June 14
Venue - Toyota Park
Town - Bridgeview
Performers - G.R.L., Hot Chelle Rae, Icona Pop, Little Mix, Jason Derulo, Austin Mahone, Iggy Azalea, Jennifer Lopez, and Pitbull.
Notes -
Year - 2015
Date - June 20
Venue - Toyota Park
Town - Bridgeview
Performers - Usher, Axewell InGrosso, Nick Jonas, Flo Rida, Walk the Moon, Fifth Harmony, R5, Tove Lo, Natalie La Rose, Jake Miller.
Notes -
Year - 2016
Date - June 26
Venue - Allstate Arena
Town - Rosemont
Performers - Ariana Grande, Daya, BeBe Rexha, Mike Ponser, Charlie Puth, Calvin Harris, Meghan Trainor, & Frankie.
Notes - Bebe Rexha filled in for Iggy Azalea, who was originally supposed to attend; The Bash would be moved from Toyota Park to the Allstate Arena from this point forward.
Year - 2017
Date - June 24
Venue - Allstate Arena
Town - Rosemont
Performers - Cheat Codes, Dua Lipa, Noah Cyrus, Hailee Steinfeld, Liam Payne, Camila Cabello, Niall Horan, Zedd, Jason Derulo, & Kygo.
Notes -
Year - 2018
Date - June 23
Venue - Allstate Arena
Town - Rosemont
Performers - 5 SOS, Bebe Rexha, Bazzi, Laim Payne, Why Don't We, Dua Lipa, Alessia Cara, Meghan Trainor, & Hasley.
Notes -
Year - 2019
Date - June 22
Venue - Allstate Arena
Town - Rosemont
Performers -5 Seconds of Summer, Why Don't We, Bazzi, CNCO, Ava Max, Ally Brooke, Bryce Vine, Loud Luxury, and The Drax Project.
Notes - The final B96 Summer Bash to date.
Halloween Bash Lineups
Year - 1996
Date - October 3
Venue - Rosemont Horizon
Town - Rosemont
Performers - The Fugees, Bayside Boys, Love Tribe, Rob Base, Jocelyn Enriquez, Stevie B., Donna Lewis, No Mercy, La Bouche and Quad City DJ's.
Notes - Culture Beat was scheduled to perform but cancelled.
Year - 1997
Date - October 30
Venue - Rosemont Horizon
Town - Rosemont
Performers - En Vogue, Hanson, Le Click, Backstreet Boys, Robyn, Aaliyah.
Notes -
Year - 1998
Date - October 29
Venue - Rosemont Horizon
Town - Rosemont
Performers - Usher, Monica, Pras, Mya, Nicole, Inoj, Sweetbox, Tantaya Ali.
Notes -
Year - 1999
Date - October 27
Venue - Allstate Arena
Town - Rosemont
Performers - 98 Degrees, Britney Spears, Lou Bega, L.F.O., Blaque, Christina Aguilera, and Tracie Spencer.
Notes - Rosemont Horizon was renamed Allstate Arena on June 09, 1999.
Year - 2000
Date - October 27
Venue - Allstate Arena
Town - Rosemont
Performers - R. Kelly, Pink, Mikalia, Ruff Endz, and Kandi, Faze 4, & Christina Aguilera.
Notes -
Year - 2001
Date - October 27
Venue - Allstate Arena
Town - Rosemont
Performers - Fabolous, Lil Mo, Eve, P Diddy, Afroman, Vi3, Craig David, & Toya.
Notes -
Year - 2002
Date - October 24
Venue - Allstate Arena
Town - Rosemont
Performers - Christina Aguliera, Kelly Rowland, LL Cool J, Missy Elliot, Shaggy.
Notes - The final Halloween Bash held.
Jingle Bash Lineups
NOTE: The Jingle Bash lineups from 2002 and between 2004 and 2007 are currently unknown at this time. In more recent years, the Jingle Bash has been sponsored by Pepsi.
Year - 2000
Date - December 9
Venue - Allstate Arena
Town - Rosemont
Performers - 98 Degrees, Boyz II Men and Shaggy.
Notes - This was the 1st held Jingle Bash.
Year - 2001
Date - n/a
Venue - Allstate Arena
Town - Rosemont
Performers - Alicia Keys, Vi3, 112, Missy Elliot, & Tweet.
Notes -
Year - 2002
Date - n/a
Venue - n/a
Town - n/a
Performers - n/a
Notes - n/a
Year - 2003
Date - December 13
Venue - House of Blues
Town - Chicago
Performers - Wyclef Jean, Baby Bash, Frankie J., Avant, & Murphy Lee.
Notes -
Year - 2004
Date - n/a
Venue - n/a
Town - n/a
Performers - n/a
Notes - n/a
Year - 2005
Date - n/a
Venue - n/a
Town - n/a
Performers - n/a
Notes - n/a
Year - 2006
Date - n/a
Venue - n/a
Town - n/a
Performers - n/a
Notes - n/a
Year - 2007
Date - n/a
Venue - n/a
Town - n/a
Performers - n/a
Notes - n/a
Year - 2008
Date - December 16
Venue - Allstate Arena
Town - Rosemont
Performers -
Notes - Rihanna, Chris Brown, David Archuleta, Jesse McCartney, Shontelle, Kevin Rudolf, and Brody Jenner.
Year - 2009
Date - December 13
Venue - Allstate Arena
Town - Rosemont
Performers - Justin Beiber, Pitbull, Jump Smokers, Jerehim, Livvi Franc, Jay Sean, David Guetta, Sean Kingston, Keri Hilson.
Notes -
Year - 2010
Date - December 11
Venue - Allstate Arena
Town - Rosemont
Performers - Justin Beiber, Far East Movement, Mike Posner, Bruno Mars, Nelly, Jason Derulo, Auburn, and Jump Smokers.
Notes -
Year - 2011
Date - December 17
Venue - Allstate Arena
Town - Rosemont
Performers - Enrique Iglesias, Joe Jonas, Selena Gomez, Jason Derulo, Cobra Starship, LMFAO, and others.
Notes -
Year - 2012
Date - December 15
Venue - Allstate Arena
Town - Rosemont
Performers - PYS, Justin Bieber, Pitbull, Carly Rae Jepsen, Calvin Harris, Austin Mahone, and Afrojack.
Notes -
Year - 2013
Date - December 14
Venue - Allstate Arena
Town - Rosemont
Performers - Avicii, Ariana Grande, Austin Mahone, Armin van Buuren, Jason Derulo, Jonas Brothers, and Pitbull.
Notes -
Year - 2014
Date - December 6
Venue - Allstate Arena
Town - Rosemont
Performers - Ariana Grande, 5 Seconds of Summer, Rixton, MKTO, Lil Jon, Martin Garrix, Pharrell Williams.
Notes -
Year - 2015
Date - December 12
Venue - Allstate Arena
Town - Rosemont
Performers - Demi Lovato, 5 Seconds of Summer, Jason Derulo, Shawn Mendes, Pentatonix, Omi, and Hailee Steinfeld.
Notes -
Year - 2016
Date - December 10
Venue - Allstate Arena
Town - Rosemont
Performers - Britney Spears, Shawn Mendes, Fifth Harmony, the Chain Smokers, G-Easy, One Republic, DNCE, and Alessia Cara.
Notes -
Year - 2017
Date - December 7
Venue - Allstate Arena
Town - Rosemont
Performers - Taylor Swift, Backstreet Boys, Fifth Harmony, Khalid, Logic, and Sabrina Carpenter.
Notes -
Year - 2018
Date - December 8
Venue - Allstate Arena
Town - Rosemont
Performers - 2018 Camila Cabello, Shawn Mendes, Cardi B, Mike Ponser, Why Don't We, & Lauv.
Notes -
Year - 2019
Date - December 7
Venue - Allstate Arena
Town - Rosemont
Performers - Katy Perry, Camila Cabello, Marshmello, Normani, Monsta X, Lil Tecca, NCT127, and AJ Mitchell.
Notes - The final Jingle Bell held to date.
The B-Bash and Other Concerts
Listed below are other concerts B96 has sponsored over the years, such as the B-Bash.
Year - 1990
Date - May
Venue - n/a
Town - n/a
Performers - Louie Louie, Perfect Gentlemen, Linear, George Lamond and Seduction.
Notes - Known as the "B-Bash" and was held around May 1990 to celebrate WBBM-FM's Top 40 format debut on May 02, 1982. Eddie & Jobo were the hosts and Julian "Jumpin'" Perez, Bad Boy Bill, and Mike “Hitman” Wilson provided mixes. Was also broadcast on B96 live.
Year - 1990
Date - November 09
Venue - UIC Pavilion
Town - Chicago
Performers - Stevie B, George Lamond, TKA, Sweet Sensation, Joey Kid, & 2 In A Room.
Notes - Annual "B-Bash" also known as "THE B96 KILLER BEE BASH". Was also broadcast on B96 live.
Year - 1990 or 1991
Date - n/a
Venue - n/a
Town - Chicago
Performers - C+C Music Factory
Notes - One of the first B-Bashes held; was held at a small nightclub. It is currently unknown if other acts aside from C + C Music Factory performed.
Year - 1991
Date - December 31
Venue - n/a
Town - Chicago
Performers - Icy Blu, Kym Sims, Ce Ce Peniston & Boyz II Men.
Notes - B96 Bud Light New Years Eve B-Bash. Was also broadcast on WBBM-TV Channel 2 as part of the station's New Years Eve coverage.
Year - 1993
Date - March
Venue - China Club
Town - Chicago
Performers - Cajmere, Expose.
Notes - The station also held a DJ search called “The Final Six”.
Year - 1993
Date - November
Venue - n/a
Town - n/a
Performers - Shai, Collage, Fast Eddie, White Knight, and Reality (Bad Boy Bill and Kool Rock Steady).
Notes - Known as the "Turkey Jam" and was held sometime around the Thanksgiving holiday.
Year - 1994
Date - March
Venue - n/a
Town - n/a
Performers - CeCe Peniston, Jocelyn Enriquez, Gabrielle, and Domino.
Notes - A spring break concert held around late March that year.
Year - 1994
Date - November 26
Venue - n/a
Town - n/a
Performers - Ini Kamoze, Crystal Waters, Jade, Rochelle, Miranda, Fast Eddie, & DJ Sneak.
Notes - Annual "B-Bash"
Year - 1995
Date - July 15
Venue - Soldier Field
Town - Chicago
Performers - Boyz II Men and TLC.
Notes - Known as the "B96 Superfest".
Year - 2002
Date - December 20
Venue - n/a
Town - Chicago
Performers - TKA, K7 & George Lamond.
Notes - Known as the "B96 Flashback Reunion".
Year - 2003
Date - February 7
Venue - n/a
Town - Chicago
Performers - Cynthia, Johnny O, Lidell Townsell.
Notes - 2003 Known as "Eddie & Jobo's Flashback Party 2".
From the 1990s until the end of the 2010s, B96 sponsored annual concerts featuring artists whose music was featured on the station’s playlist. According to B96 MD Erik Bradley, the station paid each artist to perform at their concerts. Perhaps the most popular of these concerts was the Summer Bash, held every June since its debut in 1992. From 2016 to 2019, the Summer Bash took place at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont. Between 2006 and 2015, the event was held at Toyota Park (renamed SeatGeek Stadium in 2018) in Bridgeview, which was also the home stadium of the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer (MLS) at the time. Prior to 2006, the venue for the Bash varied throughout the Chicagoland area, including the First Midwest Bank Amphitheater in Tinley Park (1994–1998), Route 66 Raceway in Joliet (1999–2003), and Maywood Park in Melrose Park (2004). In 2005, the Summer Bash was not held; instead, a "Bee-Kini" Bash took place at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, featuring a much smaller lineup of performers. Known for showcasing several marquee performers in a day-long series of sets, the B96 Summer Bash was one of the premier radio station concerts in the U.S., alongside other notable events such as 102.7 KIIS-FM's "Jingle Ball" and "Wango Tango" in Los Angeles, WHTZ-FM Z100's "Jingle Ball" in New York, and rock station KPNT 105.7's "Point Fest" in St. Louis.
The Summer Bash concert series proved so successful that B96 began adding other concert series, such as the Halloween Bash, which debuted around 1996, and the Jingle Bash, which has been held during the Christmas holiday season since 2000. Both concert series are often held at the Allstate Arena (formerly known as the Rosemont Horizon until 1999), rather than outdoor venues like the Summer Bash, due to the colder weather Chicago experiences during the fall and winter months. Since 2016, the Summer Bash has also been held at the Allstate Arena. Additionally, the Halloween Bash has been discontinued, with the most recent event occurring in 2002. In the 2020s, B96 had not held any concerts, as the most recent concerts the station sponsored occurred in 2019 with the Summer Bash and Jingle Bash concerts, which were last held in 2019. No concerts were held in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but even as the pandemic ended around 2022, B96 has not hosted any concerts as of this date.
Summer Bash Lineups
Year - 1992
Date - n/a
Venue - n/a
Town - n/a
Performers - n/a
Notes - The first Summer Bash held; Was known as "Eddie & Jobo’s Summer Jam" and was hosted by Eddie and Jobo; Note: The original lineup from the 1992 event is unknown at this time.
Year - 1993
Date - n/a
Venue - n/a
Town - n/a
Performers - RuPaul, Silk, Snow, & 5 other acts that are unknown at this time.
Notes - Known as "Summer Jam '93" and was hosted by Eddie and Jobo.
Year - 1994
Date - June 26
Venue - New World Music Theatre
Town - Tinley Park
Performers - K7, Color Me Badd, Jocelyn Enriquez, Gabrielle, Chantey Savage, Zhane, Stevie B, DJ Miko, 2 in a Room, Jon Secada, Salt N Pepa.
Notes - Known as "Summer Jam '94".
Year - 1995
Date - June 24
Venue - New World Music Theatre
Town - Tinley Park
Performers - K7, Real McCoy, Da Brat, Crystal Waters, 69 Boyz, Cynthia, Technotronic, George Lamond, 20 fingers ft Gillette, and Fun Factory.
Notes - Known as Summer Jam '95; Paula Abdul arrived in helicopter, but did not perform.
Year - 1996
Date - June 29
Venue - New World Music Theatre
Town - Tinley Park
Performers - White Knight, J'son, Big Sister, Buffy, Monica, Planet Soul, Lime, Shannon, Max-a-Million, 3T, 2 Unlimited, Real McCoy, Amber, Coolio, Too Kool Chris, Tony Rich Project, the Outhere Bros., All 4 One, and the Quad City DJs.
Notes - Known as Summer Bash '96; Shannon & Lime were presented as "Flashback Legends" in an ad to promote the concert.
Year - 1997
Date - June 29
Venue - New World Music Theatre
Town - Tinley Park
Performers - Wild Orchid, 3rd Party, Le Click, Real McCoy, Jon Secada, AZ Yet, Freak Nasty, Salt N' Pepa, Erasure, DJ Company.
Notes -
Year - 1998
Date - June 29
Venue - New World Music Theatre
Town - Tinley Park
Performers - Boyz II Men, Destiny's Child, 'N Sync, Savage Garden, Mase, Voices of Theory, and K.P. & Envyi.
Notes - Mariah Carey made a surprise appearance and performed "One Sweet Day" with Boyz II Men.
Year - 1999
Date - July 19
Venue - Route 66 Raceway
Town - Joliet
Performers - N'Sync, 98 Degrees, Shanice, Tyrese, Venga Boys, Busta Rhymes, Keith Sweat, and Ricky Martin.
Notes - Britney Spears was scheduled to perform but had cancelled her appearance. She would appear in the station's "Halloween Bash" concert later that year.
Year - 2000
Date - June 17
Venue - Route 66 Raceway
Town - Joliet
Performers - Sisqo, Brian McKnight, Pink, LFO, Mandy Moore, Joe, Eiffel 65, Ice Cube, Enrique Iglesias, Destiny's Child, Eve, Hanson, and Faze 4.
Notes -
Year - 2001
Date - June 30
Venue - Route 66 Raceway
Town - Joliet
Performers - Jay-Z, Faze4, Willa Ford, Trick Daddy, K-Ci & JoJo, Dream, Tyrese, Ricky Martin, 3LW, O'Town, Eden's Crush, ATC and Sisqo.
Notes -
Year - 2002
Date - June 22
Venue - Route 66 Raceway
Town - Joliet
Performers - Nelly, Brian McKnight, Fat Joe, Shakira, P. Diddy, Paulina Rubio, Mary J. Blige, Naughty By Nature, Nick and Aaron Carter, Ja Rule and Ashanti.
Notes -
Year - 2003
Date - July 26
Venue - Route 66 Raceway
Town - Joliet
Performers - Lil' Kim, Ginuwine, Da Brat, Sarai, Ludacris, Smilez and Southstar, Frankie J, Mya, Nick Cannon, and Fabolous.
Notes -
Year - 2004
Date - August 24
Venue - Maywood Park
Town - Melrose Park
Performers - R. Kelly, D12, Twista, Ma$e, J-Kwon, Houston, Jojo, the Ying Yang Twins, and Nina Sky.
Notes -
Year - 2005
Date - June 12
Venue - Six Flags Great America
Town - Gurnee
Performers - Frankie J, Baby Bash, and Natalie.
Notes - The Summer Bash was not held that year. Instead, B96 held the "Teeny Weeny Bee-Kini Bash" which featured a much smaller lineup of performers.
Year - 2006
Date - June 24
Venue - Toyota Park
Town - Bridgeview
Performers - Mary J Blige, Sean Paul, Pink, Ray-J, T-Pain, Chameleon Pin, Ne-Yo, Rihanna.
Notes - the first SummerBash held at Toyota Park.
Year - 2007
Date - June 14
Venue - Toyota Park
Town - Bridgeview
Performers - Akon, Rihanna, T-Pain, Ciara, Ne-Yo, Hilary Duff, MIMS, Gym Class Heroes, Paula Deanda, & Dude N Nem.
Notes -
Year - 2008
Date - June 13
Venue - Toyota Park
Town - Bridgeview
Performers - Nastasha Bedingfield, Flo Rida, Pitbull, Jesse McCartney, Danity Kane, Ray-J, & T-Pain.
Notes -
Year - 2009
Date - June 13
Venue - Toyota Park
Town - Bridgeview
Performers - Akon, Kelly Clarkson, The Black Eyed Peas, Flo Rida, LMFAO, Kid Cudi, Twista.
Notes - also known as "B96 Summerbash XV"
Year - 2010
Date - June 12
Venue - Toyota Park
Town - Bridgeview
Performers - Charice, JLS, Travis Garland, B.O.B., Taio Cruz, Cascada, New Boyz, Jason Derulo, Lyaz, T-Pain, Ludacris.
Notes -
Year - 2011
Date - June 11
Venue - Toyota Park
Town - Bridgeview
Performers - Joe Jonas, Far East Movement, Lupe Fiasco, Jay Sean, Big Time Rush, Keri Hilson, New Boyz, Chris Brown, Pitbull.
Notes -
Year - 2012
Date - June 16
Venue - Toyota Park
Town - Bridgeview
Performers -Flo Rida, Gym Class Heroes, The Wanted, Big Time Rush, Sean Paul, Dev, Mike Posner, Karmin and more.
Notes - DJ Flipside and Bad Boy Bill provided DJ mixes.
Year - 2013
Date - June 15
Venue - Toyota Park
Town - Bridgeview
Performers - Zedd, Avril Lavigne, Demi Lovato, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Timeflies, Ne-Yo, Afrojack, Cher Lloyd, Sammy Lloyd, and Miley Cyrus.
Notes - Sammy Adams was a replacement for Ariana Grande, who was one of the original performers but cancelled. Grande would appear in the station's "Jingle Bash" concert later that year.
Year - 2014
Date - June 14
Venue - Toyota Park
Town - Bridgeview
Performers - G.R.L., Hot Chelle Rae, Icona Pop, Little Mix, Jason Derulo, Austin Mahone, Iggy Azalea, Jennifer Lopez, and Pitbull.
Notes -
Year - 2015
Date - June 20
Venue - Toyota Park
Town - Bridgeview
Performers - Usher, Axewell InGrosso, Nick Jonas, Flo Rida, Walk the Moon, Fifth Harmony, R5, Tove Lo, Natalie La Rose, Jake Miller.
Notes -
Year - 2016
Date - June 26
Venue - Allstate Arena
Town - Rosemont
Performers - Ariana Grande, Daya, BeBe Rexha, Mike Ponser, Charlie Puth, Calvin Harris, Meghan Trainor, & Frankie.
Notes - Bebe Rexha filled in for Iggy Azalea, who was originally supposed to attend; The Bash would be moved from Toyota Park to the Allstate Arena from this point forward.
Year - 2017
Date - June 24
Venue - Allstate Arena
Town - Rosemont
Performers - Cheat Codes, Dua Lipa, Noah Cyrus, Hailee Steinfeld, Liam Payne, Camila Cabello, Niall Horan, Zedd, Jason Derulo, & Kygo.
Notes -
Year - 2018
Date - June 23
Venue - Allstate Arena
Town - Rosemont
Performers - 5 SOS, Bebe Rexha, Bazzi, Laim Payne, Why Don't We, Dua Lipa, Alessia Cara, Meghan Trainor, & Hasley.
Notes -
Year - 2019
Date - June 22
Venue - Allstate Arena
Town - Rosemont
Performers -5 Seconds of Summer, Why Don't We, Bazzi, CNCO, Ava Max, Ally Brooke, Bryce Vine, Loud Luxury, and The Drax Project.
Notes - The final B96 Summer Bash to date.
Halloween Bash Lineups
Year - 1996
Date - October 3
Venue - Rosemont Horizon
Town - Rosemont
Performers - The Fugees, Bayside Boys, Love Tribe, Rob Base, Jocelyn Enriquez, Stevie B., Donna Lewis, No Mercy, La Bouche and Quad City DJ's.
Notes - Culture Beat was scheduled to perform but cancelled.
Year - 1997
Date - October 30
Venue - Rosemont Horizon
Town - Rosemont
Performers - En Vogue, Hanson, Le Click, Backstreet Boys, Robyn, Aaliyah.
Notes -
Year - 1998
Date - October 29
Venue - Rosemont Horizon
Town - Rosemont
Performers - Usher, Monica, Pras, Mya, Nicole, Inoj, Sweetbox, Tantaya Ali.
Notes -
Year - 1999
Date - October 27
Venue - Allstate Arena
Town - Rosemont
Performers - 98 Degrees, Britney Spears, Lou Bega, L.F.O., Blaque, Christina Aguilera, and Tracie Spencer.
Notes - Rosemont Horizon was renamed Allstate Arena on June 09, 1999.
Year - 2000
Date - October 27
Venue - Allstate Arena
Town - Rosemont
Performers - R. Kelly, Pink, Mikalia, Ruff Endz, and Kandi, Faze 4, & Christina Aguilera.
Notes -
Year - 2001
Date - October 27
Venue - Allstate Arena
Town - Rosemont
Performers - Fabolous, Lil Mo, Eve, P Diddy, Afroman, Vi3, Craig David, & Toya.
Notes -
Year - 2002
Date - October 24
Venue - Allstate Arena
Town - Rosemont
Performers - Christina Aguliera, Kelly Rowland, LL Cool J, Missy Elliot, Shaggy.
Notes - The final Halloween Bash held.
Jingle Bash Lineups
NOTE: The Jingle Bash lineups from 2002 and between 2004 and 2007 are currently unknown at this time. In more recent years, the Jingle Bash has been sponsored by Pepsi.
Year - 2000
Date - December 9
Venue - Allstate Arena
Town - Rosemont
Performers - 98 Degrees, Boyz II Men and Shaggy.
Notes - This was the 1st held Jingle Bash.
Year - 2001
Date - n/a
Venue - Allstate Arena
Town - Rosemont
Performers - Alicia Keys, Vi3, 112, Missy Elliot, & Tweet.
Notes -
Year - 2002
Date - n/a
Venue - n/a
Town - n/a
Performers - n/a
Notes - n/a
Year - 2003
Date - December 13
Venue - House of Blues
Town - Chicago
Performers - Wyclef Jean, Baby Bash, Frankie J., Avant, & Murphy Lee.
Notes -
Year - 2004
Date - n/a
Venue - n/a
Town - n/a
Performers - n/a
Notes - n/a
Year - 2005
Date - n/a
Venue - n/a
Town - n/a
Performers - n/a
Notes - n/a
Year - 2006
Date - n/a
Venue - n/a
Town - n/a
Performers - n/a
Notes - n/a
Year - 2007
Date - n/a
Venue - n/a
Town - n/a
Performers - n/a
Notes - n/a
Year - 2008
Date - December 16
Venue - Allstate Arena
Town - Rosemont
Performers -
Notes - Rihanna, Chris Brown, David Archuleta, Jesse McCartney, Shontelle, Kevin Rudolf, and Brody Jenner.
Year - 2009
Date - December 13
Venue - Allstate Arena
Town - Rosemont
Performers - Justin Beiber, Pitbull, Jump Smokers, Jerehim, Livvi Franc, Jay Sean, David Guetta, Sean Kingston, Keri Hilson.
Notes -
Year - 2010
Date - December 11
Venue - Allstate Arena
Town - Rosemont
Performers - Justin Beiber, Far East Movement, Mike Posner, Bruno Mars, Nelly, Jason Derulo, Auburn, and Jump Smokers.
Notes -
Year - 2011
Date - December 17
Venue - Allstate Arena
Town - Rosemont
Performers - Enrique Iglesias, Joe Jonas, Selena Gomez, Jason Derulo, Cobra Starship, LMFAO, and others.
Notes -
Year - 2012
Date - December 15
Venue - Allstate Arena
Town - Rosemont
Performers - PYS, Justin Bieber, Pitbull, Carly Rae Jepsen, Calvin Harris, Austin Mahone, and Afrojack.
Notes -
Year - 2013
Date - December 14
Venue - Allstate Arena
Town - Rosemont
Performers - Avicii, Ariana Grande, Austin Mahone, Armin van Buuren, Jason Derulo, Jonas Brothers, and Pitbull.
Notes -
Year - 2014
Date - December 6
Venue - Allstate Arena
Town - Rosemont
Performers - Ariana Grande, 5 Seconds of Summer, Rixton, MKTO, Lil Jon, Martin Garrix, Pharrell Williams.
Notes -
Year - 2015
Date - December 12
Venue - Allstate Arena
Town - Rosemont
Performers - Demi Lovato, 5 Seconds of Summer, Jason Derulo, Shawn Mendes, Pentatonix, Omi, and Hailee Steinfeld.
Notes -
Year - 2016
Date - December 10
Venue - Allstate Arena
Town - Rosemont
Performers - Britney Spears, Shawn Mendes, Fifth Harmony, the Chain Smokers, G-Easy, One Republic, DNCE, and Alessia Cara.
Notes -
Year - 2017
Date - December 7
Venue - Allstate Arena
Town - Rosemont
Performers - Taylor Swift, Backstreet Boys, Fifth Harmony, Khalid, Logic, and Sabrina Carpenter.
Notes -
Year - 2018
Date - December 8
Venue - Allstate Arena
Town - Rosemont
Performers - 2018 Camila Cabello, Shawn Mendes, Cardi B, Mike Ponser, Why Don't We, & Lauv.
Notes -
Year - 2019
Date - December 7
Venue - Allstate Arena
Town - Rosemont
Performers - Katy Perry, Camila Cabello, Marshmello, Normani, Monsta X, Lil Tecca, NCT127, and AJ Mitchell.
Notes - The final Jingle Bell held to date.
The B-Bash and Other Concerts
Listed below are other concerts B96 has sponsored over the years, such as the B-Bash.
Year - 1990
Date - May
Venue - n/a
Town - n/a
Performers - Louie Louie, Perfect Gentlemen, Linear, George Lamond and Seduction.
Notes - Known as the "B-Bash" and was held around May 1990 to celebrate WBBM-FM's Top 40 format debut on May 02, 1982. Eddie & Jobo were the hosts and Julian "Jumpin'" Perez, Bad Boy Bill, and Mike “Hitman” Wilson provided mixes. Was also broadcast on B96 live.
Year - 1990
Date - November 09
Venue - UIC Pavilion
Town - Chicago
Performers - Stevie B, George Lamond, TKA, Sweet Sensation, Joey Kid, & 2 In A Room.
Notes - Annual "B-Bash" also known as "THE B96 KILLER BEE BASH". Was also broadcast on B96 live.
Year - 1990 or 1991
Date - n/a
Venue - n/a
Town - Chicago
Performers - C+C Music Factory
Notes - One of the first B-Bashes held; was held at a small nightclub. It is currently unknown if other acts aside from C + C Music Factory performed.
Year - 1991
Date - December 31
Venue - n/a
Town - Chicago
Performers - Icy Blu, Kym Sims, Ce Ce Peniston & Boyz II Men.
Notes - B96 Bud Light New Years Eve B-Bash. Was also broadcast on WBBM-TV Channel 2 as part of the station's New Years Eve coverage.
Year - 1993
Date - March
Venue - China Club
Town - Chicago
Performers - Cajmere, Expose.
Notes - The station also held a DJ search called “The Final Six”.
Year - 1993
Date - November
Venue - n/a
Town - n/a
Performers - Shai, Collage, Fast Eddie, White Knight, and Reality (Bad Boy Bill and Kool Rock Steady).
Notes - Known as the "Turkey Jam" and was held sometime around the Thanksgiving holiday.
Year - 1994
Date - March
Venue - n/a
Town - n/a
Performers - CeCe Peniston, Jocelyn Enriquez, Gabrielle, and Domino.
Notes - A spring break concert held around late March that year.
Year - 1994
Date - November 26
Venue - n/a
Town - n/a
Performers - Ini Kamoze, Crystal Waters, Jade, Rochelle, Miranda, Fast Eddie, & DJ Sneak.
Notes - Annual "B-Bash"
Year - 1995
Date - July 15
Venue - Soldier Field
Town - Chicago
Performers - Boyz II Men and TLC.
Notes - Known as the "B96 Superfest".
Year - 2002
Date - December 20
Venue - n/a
Town - Chicago
Performers - TKA, K7 & George Lamond.
Notes - Known as the "B96 Flashback Reunion".
Year - 2003
Date - February 7
Venue - n/a
Town - Chicago
Performers - Cynthia, Johnny O, Lidell Townsell.
Notes - 2003 Known as "Eddie & Jobo's Flashback Party 2".
Last edited by Disman00911 on Tue Apr 14, 2026 5:44 pm, edited 17 times in total.
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Disman00911
- Posts: 587
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Re: History of B96 (Revised Version)
Awards
Since finding success as a Rhythmic Top 40 station in the 1990s, B96 has been nominated multiple times for awards given by key media companies, such as Billboard. Below are some of the known awards the station has won during its Rhythmic period.
Station of the Year
1991 Billboard Radio Awards major- market Top 40 station of the year
1991 Gavin Seminar: Top 40 Major Market Station of the Year
1992 FMQB "CHR/Top40" Station of the Year
2000 Radio Station of the Year by Ted Cox (Daily Herald TV/Radio Columnist of the Daily Herald)
2003 Billboard Airplay Monitor Radio Awards - Rhythmic Top 40 Radio Station of the Year-Major Market
2008 Radio & Records (R&R) Rhythmic Station of the Year (markets 1 -15)
Program Director of the Year
1991 Billboard Radio Awards Major Market Program/Operations Director of the Year - Dave Shakes
1991 Gavin Seminar: Top 40 Major Market Program Director/Operations Manager of the Year - Dave Shakes
2002 Billboard Radio Awards - Major Market Rhythmic Top 40 PD (Todd Cavanah)
Music Director of the Year
1991 Billboard Radio Awards Major Market Music Director of the Year - Todd Cavanah
1994 Gavin Top 40 Large Market Assistant Program Director /Music Director Of The Year - Erik Bradley (shared with WCKZ "Kiss 102" Charlotte as Bradley worked at the station before joining B96)
1995 FMQB "Street Beat Best Ears" - Erik Bradley
1996 Gavin Top 40 Major Market Assistant Program Director/Music Director of the Year - Erik Bradley
1998 Gavin Top 40 Major Market APD/MD - Erik Bradley
1998 Radio & Records (R&R) Rhythmic MD of the Year (Erik Bradley)
1999 Radio & Records (R&R) Rhythmic MD of the Year (Erik Bradley)
2000 Billboard Airplay Monitor Radio Seminar & Awards - Music Director (Erik Bradley)
2000 Radio & Records (R&R) Rhythmic MD of the Year (Erik Bradley)
2001 Radio & Records (R&R) Rhythmic MD of the Year (Erik Bradley)
2002 Radio & Records (R&R) Rhythmic MD of the Year (Erik Bradley)
2002 Billboard Radio Awards - Major Market Rhythmic Top 40 assistant PD /music director (Erik Bradley)
2006 Radio & Records (R&R) Rhythmic MD of the Year (Erik Bradley)
2007 Radio & Records (R&R) Rhythmic MD of the Year (Erik Bradley)
2008 Radio & Records (R&R) Rhythmic MD of the Year (Erik Bradley)
Personality of the Year
1996 Best Personality of the Year - Eddie & Jobo (Silver Dome Awards by the Illinois Broadcasters Association)
Since finding success as a Rhythmic Top 40 station in the 1990s, B96 has been nominated multiple times for awards given by key media companies, such as Billboard. Below are some of the known awards the station has won during its Rhythmic period.
Station of the Year
1991 Billboard Radio Awards major- market Top 40 station of the year
1991 Gavin Seminar: Top 40 Major Market Station of the Year
1992 FMQB "CHR/Top40" Station of the Year
2000 Radio Station of the Year by Ted Cox (Daily Herald TV/Radio Columnist of the Daily Herald)
2003 Billboard Airplay Monitor Radio Awards - Rhythmic Top 40 Radio Station of the Year-Major Market
2008 Radio & Records (R&R) Rhythmic Station of the Year (markets 1 -15)
Program Director of the Year
1991 Billboard Radio Awards Major Market Program/Operations Director of the Year - Dave Shakes
1991 Gavin Seminar: Top 40 Major Market Program Director/Operations Manager of the Year - Dave Shakes
2002 Billboard Radio Awards - Major Market Rhythmic Top 40 PD (Todd Cavanah)
Music Director of the Year
1991 Billboard Radio Awards Major Market Music Director of the Year - Todd Cavanah
1994 Gavin Top 40 Large Market Assistant Program Director /Music Director Of The Year - Erik Bradley (shared with WCKZ "Kiss 102" Charlotte as Bradley worked at the station before joining B96)
1995 FMQB "Street Beat Best Ears" - Erik Bradley
1996 Gavin Top 40 Major Market Assistant Program Director/Music Director of the Year - Erik Bradley
1998 Gavin Top 40 Major Market APD/MD - Erik Bradley
1998 Radio & Records (R&R) Rhythmic MD of the Year (Erik Bradley)
1999 Radio & Records (R&R) Rhythmic MD of the Year (Erik Bradley)
2000 Billboard Airplay Monitor Radio Seminar & Awards - Music Director (Erik Bradley)
2000 Radio & Records (R&R) Rhythmic MD of the Year (Erik Bradley)
2001 Radio & Records (R&R) Rhythmic MD of the Year (Erik Bradley)
2002 Radio & Records (R&R) Rhythmic MD of the Year (Erik Bradley)
2002 Billboard Radio Awards - Major Market Rhythmic Top 40 assistant PD /music director (Erik Bradley)
2006 Radio & Records (R&R) Rhythmic MD of the Year (Erik Bradley)
2007 Radio & Records (R&R) Rhythmic MD of the Year (Erik Bradley)
2008 Radio & Records (R&R) Rhythmic MD of the Year (Erik Bradley)
Personality of the Year
1996 Best Personality of the Year - Eddie & Jobo (Silver Dome Awards by the Illinois Broadcasters Association)
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Disman00911
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Re: History of B96 (Revised Version)
B96 Chicago Staff History
Notable DJs and on-air personalities during the last 35 years.
The original B96 "Hot Hits" staff in 1982
Bob Lewis (1982-1983)
Dave Robbins (1982-1985)
Frank Foster (1982-1984)
Gary Spears (1982-1984, 1990-1994)
Joe Dawson (1982-1986)
Steve Davis (1982-1983)
Tony Taylor (1982-1984)
1980s (misc.)
Brian Middleton (1985-2006) (was also a DJ mixer from 1986 to circa 2003)
Bubba The Love Sponge (1989-1990)
Carla Box (1984-1989)
Christopher Randolph (1988-1989)
Chuck “Chuck Nasty” Evans (1985)
Dick Biondi (1983-1984)
Don Geronimo (1983-1985)
Ed "Eddie" Volkman (1986-1994, 1996-2008)
Geno Jones (1986-198?)
Joe "Jobo" Bohannon (1984-1994, 1996-2008)
Jose Solis (circa 1989)
Karen Hand (circa 1984-2002)
Mark Sebastian (1985-1986)
Mark Windsor (1982-198?)
Mike Eltson (circa 1984-1988)
Pat Reynolds (1988-1990)
Paul Donovan (1986-1990)
Tomm Rivers (1982-1983)
Tony "Wild Child" Hamilton (1985)
William “Bud” LaTour (1987-1990)
Zach Harris (circa 1986-1988)
1990s
Alan Kabel (1992-1994)
Baltazar (1991-1992)
Bill "Wild Bill" Cody (1994-1995)
Candi Gomez (circa 1995-2008)
Coco Cortez (1990-1991, 1993-1996)
Dana Loudon (1990-199?)
Dr. Kelly Johnson (1993-2002)
Frankie "Hollywood" Rodriguez (1992-1997) (was also a DJ mixer from 1989 to 1994)
George McFly (1990-1991, 1994-1996)
Greg Murray (1990-199?) (was also a voiceover from 1990 to 2010)
Jeff Andrews (1993-199?)
Jennifer Keiper (circa 1992-199?)
Julian "Jumpin’" Perez (1994-2002, 2003-circa 2006) (was also a DJ mixer from 1989 to 2002)
Mark Sullivan (circa 1993)
Rich Scott a.k.a. Scott Childers (B96 traffic reporter - 1992-1998)
Roxanne Steele (1996-2008)
Terry Foxx (1993-1999)
Terry "TJ" Jacobs (1994-1995)
Tim "Spinnin’" Schommer (1995-2005) (was also a DJ mixer from 1989 to 2003)
Todd Cavanah (1990-1993) (was also the Music Director and later Program Director)
2000s
DJ Flipside (200?-2018) (was also a DJ mixer)
Dougie Stylz (of Stylz & Roman) (2004-2016)
Erica Cobb (2005-2008)
Gabe Ramirez (2008-2024)
Jamar “J Niice” McNeil (2008-2018)
Julian "the Night Ninja" Nieh (2006-2012)
Justin "J Roman" Roman (of Stylz & Roman) (2004-2016)
Nikki (2009-2019)
Rebecca Ortiz (2008-present)
Michelle “Showbiz Shelly” Menaker (2005-2018)
2010s and 2020s
Jason Cage (2011-2016)
Jerzy (200?-2011)
Nina Hajian (2018-2021)
Kevin “DreX” Buchar (2018-2019)
Sean ‘Sonic’ Leckie (2018-present)
“Joey Boy” Rodriguez (2019-2023)
Jeana Shepard (2019-2024)
Karla Hernandez (2019-present)
Jordan ‘Dash’ Weiss (2023-2026)
Joshua “Bru” Brubaker (2023-present)
John Moug (2024-present)
Letty B (2025-present)
Announcers & Voice-Overs
David Lee (198?-1988)
Mitch Craig (1988-2003)
Greg Murray (1990-2010)
Mike Dunn (circa 1995-1999) (only during the Sunday night Street Flava show)
Michael Horn (1995-2013)
Pat Garrett (2003-200?)
Program Directors
Buddy Scott (1982-1989)
Dave Shakes (1990-1993)
Todd Cavanah (1993-2023)
Molly Cruz (2023-present)
Music Directors
Dave Robbins (1982-1984)
Joe “JoBo” Bohannon (1984-1989)
Paul Donavon (1989-1990)
Todd Cavanah (1990-1993)
Erik Bradley (1993-present)
Syndicated Programs
List of nationally syndicated programs that aired on B96 over the years:
"American Top 40" with Casey Kasem (1979-1982) (program aired while WBBM-FM was an adult contemporary station and was dropped just a month before WBBM-FM flipped to a Top 40 format)
"Top 40 Satellite Survey" with Dan Ingram (1984-1986)
"Countdown America" with John Leeder (circa 1985)
"Future Hits" with Joel Denver (circa 1985-1993) (program aired from 1984 to 1995 but B96 dropped the program in July 1993)
"Casey's Top 40 Countdown" with Casey Kasem (1989-1993) (program lasted from 1989 through 1998 but B96 dropped the program in July 1993)
"Rockin' America Top 30 Countdown" with Scott Shannon (Circa 1989-1991) (program began in 1984 and ended in 1992, although B96 dropped the program in 1991)
"Hotline USA" with Shadoe Stevens (circa 1989-1990)
"Direct Hits" with Bill Lee (circa 1989-1990)
"American Dance Traxx" with Jeff Wyatt, Deborah Rath & "Downtown" Julie Brown (circa 1991-1993) (program started in 1987 and ended in 1993 but B96 did not pick up the program until 1991)
"American Top 40" with Shadoe Stevens (circa 1991-1992) (New Year's Eve year-end countdown shows only)
"On the Radio" with Gary Spears (circa 1993)
"The Retro Show" with Gary Spears (circa 1993) (Show started in 1993 and lasted at least into 2000 but it is unknown how long B96 aired the program)
"Sounds of the New York Underground" with Deborah Rath & Jeff Romanowski (1993-1994)
"Dance Connection" with Kim Farley (circa 1997)
"Perez Radio" with Perez Hilton (2008-201?)
"Cannon's Countdown" with Nick Cannon (2011-2013)
Slogans
"Hot Hits 96 Now" (1982-1983)
"B96...Music" (1983-1985)
"Most Music" (1983-1986)
"Chicago's Hot Music" (1983-1984)
"Nothing But the Hits" (1984-1985)
"Chicago Rocks to B96" (1985)
"Station of the 80s" (1986-1988)
"Chicago's No. 1 Hit Music Station" (1988-1991)
"The Killer Bee" (1990-1993)
"Party Radio" (1993-1997)
"Different Types of Music, All Types of People" (circa 1993)
"Chicago's Dance Party" (circa 1993)
"Chicago's Dance Beat" (1996-2003)
"The New Killer Bee 96.3" (2003-2005)
"Hits & Hip Hop" (2005-2008)
"Chicago's #1 Hit Music Station" (2008-2023)
"Chicago's #1 Hit Music Channel" (2008-2023)
"Chicago's New Hit Music" (2018-2023)
"The Music You've Always Loved and the Best of What's New" (2023-present)
“Chicago’s Favorite Radio Station is Back" (2023-present)
"The Rhythm of Chicago" (2025-present)
B96 Chicago Famous Performing Chicago Area Clubs in Illinois
Warehouse - Birthplace of house music
Zero Gravity
Todos
Club 123
Eric's North
The Riviera
China Club
Club XL - 766 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60661
Rapture - 730 N Green St, Chicago, IL 60642
Baja Beach Club
Hob Nob - PR 14 Crystal Lake, IL 60014
Jaguar Club - 630 E Golf Road Schaumburg, IL 60014
Shelter
Avalon
Kaboom!
Crobar
Jedynka Night Club - 22 W 613 75th Naperville, Illinois, 60565. Tribute video here
Galaxy Night Club - 9225 East Gold Road, Des Plains IL 60016 (torn down 2003)
Mars 2112 - Schaumburg, WoodField Mall. Opened 03/10/2000. It closed temporarily in November 2001, with no official word on the reason for closing. It never reopened at that location. Tribune Article
Notable DJs and on-air personalities during the last 35 years.
The original B96 "Hot Hits" staff in 1982
Bob Lewis (1982-1983)
Dave Robbins (1982-1985)
Frank Foster (1982-1984)
Gary Spears (1982-1984, 1990-1994)
Joe Dawson (1982-1986)
Steve Davis (1982-1983)
Tony Taylor (1982-1984)
1980s (misc.)
Brian Middleton (1985-2006) (was also a DJ mixer from 1986 to circa 2003)
Bubba The Love Sponge (1989-1990)
Carla Box (1984-1989)
Christopher Randolph (1988-1989)
Chuck “Chuck Nasty” Evans (1985)
Dick Biondi (1983-1984)
Don Geronimo (1983-1985)
Ed "Eddie" Volkman (1986-1994, 1996-2008)
Geno Jones (1986-198?)
Joe "Jobo" Bohannon (1984-1994, 1996-2008)
Jose Solis (circa 1989)
Karen Hand (circa 1984-2002)
Mark Sebastian (1985-1986)
Mark Windsor (1982-198?)
Mike Eltson (circa 1984-1988)
Pat Reynolds (1988-1990)
Paul Donovan (1986-1990)
Tomm Rivers (1982-1983)
Tony "Wild Child" Hamilton (1985)
William “Bud” LaTour (1987-1990)
Zach Harris (circa 1986-1988)
1990s
Alan Kabel (1992-1994)
Baltazar (1991-1992)
Bill "Wild Bill" Cody (1994-1995)
Candi Gomez (circa 1995-2008)
Coco Cortez (1990-1991, 1993-1996)
Dana Loudon (1990-199?)
Dr. Kelly Johnson (1993-2002)
Frankie "Hollywood" Rodriguez (1992-1997) (was also a DJ mixer from 1989 to 1994)
George McFly (1990-1991, 1994-1996)
Greg Murray (1990-199?) (was also a voiceover from 1990 to 2010)
Jeff Andrews (1993-199?)
Jennifer Keiper (circa 1992-199?)
Julian "Jumpin’" Perez (1994-2002, 2003-circa 2006) (was also a DJ mixer from 1989 to 2002)
Mark Sullivan (circa 1993)
Rich Scott a.k.a. Scott Childers (B96 traffic reporter - 1992-1998)
Roxanne Steele (1996-2008)
Terry Foxx (1993-1999)
Terry "TJ" Jacobs (1994-1995)
Tim "Spinnin’" Schommer (1995-2005) (was also a DJ mixer from 1989 to 2003)
Todd Cavanah (1990-1993) (was also the Music Director and later Program Director)
2000s
DJ Flipside (200?-2018) (was also a DJ mixer)
Dougie Stylz (of Stylz & Roman) (2004-2016)
Erica Cobb (2005-2008)
Gabe Ramirez (2008-2024)
Jamar “J Niice” McNeil (2008-2018)
Julian "the Night Ninja" Nieh (2006-2012)
Justin "J Roman" Roman (of Stylz & Roman) (2004-2016)
Nikki (2009-2019)
Rebecca Ortiz (2008-present)
Michelle “Showbiz Shelly” Menaker (2005-2018)
2010s and 2020s
Jason Cage (2011-2016)
Jerzy (200?-2011)
Nina Hajian (2018-2021)
Kevin “DreX” Buchar (2018-2019)
Sean ‘Sonic’ Leckie (2018-present)
“Joey Boy” Rodriguez (2019-2023)
Jeana Shepard (2019-2024)
Karla Hernandez (2019-present)
Jordan ‘Dash’ Weiss (2023-2026)
Joshua “Bru” Brubaker (2023-present)
John Moug (2024-present)
Letty B (2025-present)
Announcers & Voice-Overs
David Lee (198?-1988)
Mitch Craig (1988-2003)
Greg Murray (1990-2010)
Mike Dunn (circa 1995-1999) (only during the Sunday night Street Flava show)
Michael Horn (1995-2013)
Pat Garrett (2003-200?)
Program Directors
Buddy Scott (1982-1989)
Dave Shakes (1990-1993)
Todd Cavanah (1993-2023)
Molly Cruz (2023-present)
Music Directors
Dave Robbins (1982-1984)
Joe “JoBo” Bohannon (1984-1989)
Paul Donavon (1989-1990)
Todd Cavanah (1990-1993)
Erik Bradley (1993-present)
Syndicated Programs
List of nationally syndicated programs that aired on B96 over the years:
"American Top 40" with Casey Kasem (1979-1982) (program aired while WBBM-FM was an adult contemporary station and was dropped just a month before WBBM-FM flipped to a Top 40 format)
"Top 40 Satellite Survey" with Dan Ingram (1984-1986)
"Countdown America" with John Leeder (circa 1985)
"Future Hits" with Joel Denver (circa 1985-1993) (program aired from 1984 to 1995 but B96 dropped the program in July 1993)
"Casey's Top 40 Countdown" with Casey Kasem (1989-1993) (program lasted from 1989 through 1998 but B96 dropped the program in July 1993)
"Rockin' America Top 30 Countdown" with Scott Shannon (Circa 1989-1991) (program began in 1984 and ended in 1992, although B96 dropped the program in 1991)
"Hotline USA" with Shadoe Stevens (circa 1989-1990)
"Direct Hits" with Bill Lee (circa 1989-1990)
"American Dance Traxx" with Jeff Wyatt, Deborah Rath & "Downtown" Julie Brown (circa 1991-1993) (program started in 1987 and ended in 1993 but B96 did not pick up the program until 1991)
"American Top 40" with Shadoe Stevens (circa 1991-1992) (New Year's Eve year-end countdown shows only)
"On the Radio" with Gary Spears (circa 1993)
"The Retro Show" with Gary Spears (circa 1993) (Show started in 1993 and lasted at least into 2000 but it is unknown how long B96 aired the program)
"Sounds of the New York Underground" with Deborah Rath & Jeff Romanowski (1993-1994)
"Dance Connection" with Kim Farley (circa 1997)
"Perez Radio" with Perez Hilton (2008-201?)
"Cannon's Countdown" with Nick Cannon (2011-2013)
Slogans
"Hot Hits 96 Now" (1982-1983)
"B96...Music" (1983-1985)
"Most Music" (1983-1986)
"Chicago's Hot Music" (1983-1984)
"Nothing But the Hits" (1984-1985)
"Chicago Rocks to B96" (1985)
"Station of the 80s" (1986-1988)
"Chicago's No. 1 Hit Music Station" (1988-1991)
"The Killer Bee" (1990-1993)
"Party Radio" (1993-1997)
"Different Types of Music, All Types of People" (circa 1993)
"Chicago's Dance Party" (circa 1993)
"Chicago's Dance Beat" (1996-2003)
"The New Killer Bee 96.3" (2003-2005)
"Hits & Hip Hop" (2005-2008)
"Chicago's #1 Hit Music Station" (2008-2023)
"Chicago's #1 Hit Music Channel" (2008-2023)
"Chicago's New Hit Music" (2018-2023)
"The Music You've Always Loved and the Best of What's New" (2023-present)
“Chicago’s Favorite Radio Station is Back" (2023-present)
"The Rhythm of Chicago" (2025-present)
B96 Chicago Famous Performing Chicago Area Clubs in Illinois
Warehouse - Birthplace of house music
Zero Gravity
Todos
Club 123
Eric's North
The Riviera
China Club
Club XL - 766 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60661
Rapture - 730 N Green St, Chicago, IL 60642
Baja Beach Club
Hob Nob - PR 14 Crystal Lake, IL 60014
Jaguar Club - 630 E Golf Road Schaumburg, IL 60014
Shelter
Avalon
Kaboom!
Crobar
Jedynka Night Club - 22 W 613 75th Naperville, Illinois, 60565. Tribute video here
Galaxy Night Club - 9225 East Gold Road, Des Plains IL 60016 (torn down 2003)
Mars 2112 - Schaumburg, WoodField Mall. Opened 03/10/2000. It closed temporarily in November 2001, with no official word on the reason for closing. It never reopened at that location. Tribune Article
Last edited by Disman00911 on Mon Apr 13, 2026 10:15 pm, edited 6 times in total.
-
Disman00911
- Posts: 587
- Joined: Mon Apr 04, 2022 11:09 pm
Re: History of B96 (Revised Version)
References
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Kening, Dan. "Deadly Farce?" Chicago Tribune. 12 Feb 1991. [External Link Removed for Guests]
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"Elsewhere". The M Street Journal. 1 Apr 1991. P. 6. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Lippencott on the Loose". Radio & Records. 3 May 1991. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Rosen, Craig. "KSHE, KROQ Hoaxes No Joke To FCC." Billboard. 4 May 1991. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Kening, Dan. "Contemporary Hit Radio: B96 & Z95." Radio Chicago: Spring 1991 Edition. 1991. [External Link Removed for Guests]
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"Major Radio Stations Giving Local Music Added Attention". Chicago Tribune. 2 April 1993. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Borillo, Carla. "More & More Stations Talking About Sex". Billboard. P. 84, 87 & 90. 03 Apr 1993. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Gillen, Pat. "Shakedown at B96". Network 40. 07 May 1993. P. 12. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Latin Mix." Billboard 22 May 1993. P. 106. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"New Syndie Mix Show In The House". Network 40. 04 Jun 1993. P. 4. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Beer, Lenny. "Stone Temple Pilots & More". Hits. P. 16. 05 Jul 1993. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Major Market PDs in Motion". Radio & Records 30 Jul 1993. P. 22. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Kaempfer, Paul. "The Rating's Are Out, The Rating's Are Out". Chicago Airways: August 1993 Issue. 1993. P. 12. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Kaempfer, Paul. "Roll Out the Retro". Chicago Airways: August 1993 Issue. 1993. P. 16. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Lai, Annette M. "For Radio, Summer Means James." Gavin. 06 Aug 1993. P. 6. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Kening, Dan. "More Stations, More Choices - But Less Top 40 Variety." Chicago Tribune. 31 Aug 1993. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Profilin'...B96/Chicago's D.M.C. Jeff Andrews". FMQB. 07 Jan 1994. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Denver, Joel. "On The `High -Energy Dance' Tip" Radio & Records. P.31. 28 Jan 1994. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Ortiz, Lou. "Judge Files Libel Suit Against 2 DJs." Chicago Sun-Times. 4 Mar 1994. HighBeam Research. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Rhythm Nation". Network 40. 01 Apr 1994. P. 32. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Bad Raps in Chicago". Network 40. P. 4. 24 Jun 1994. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Nidetz, Steve. "Volkman Says He's Not In Same Corner As `Jobo'." Chicago Tribune. 10 Jul 1994. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Scarpone, Salwa & Michael Futagaki. "1994 New York Music Summit & Radio Seminar Mixer Review". P. 42-45. Hitmakers. 2 Sep 1994. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Ear to the Ground." Hitmakers. P. 52. 04 Nov 1994. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Ward, Dwyane. "Todd Cavanah /Erik Bradley: Keeping B96 Ahead in '95." Network 40. 20 Jan 1995. P. 10-11. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Love, Walt. "Winds Of Change In Chicago Urban Race." Radio & Records. 02 Feb 1995. P. 32. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Shands, Mark. "Put Your Radio on TV!". Hitmakers. 3 Mar 1995. P. 27. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Flick, Larry. "Surveying Chicago's Boisterous, Exciting Scene". Billboard. 22 Apr 1995. P. 23. [External Link Removed for Guests]
“Todd Cavanah & Erik Bradley: PD & MD, B96, Chicago”. Hitmakers. 5 May 1995. P. 22. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Ross, Sean. "Top 40/Crossover Format In Crossroads?" Billboard Top 40 Airplay Monitor. 14 Jul 1995. P. 1,4. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Amusement Business." Billboard. 15 Jul 1995. P. 15. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Flick, Larry. " Club- Rooted Hi -NRG Sound Finds Transatlantic Success." Billboard. 12 Aug 1995. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Carter, Kevin. "PD Cavanah Sees Success By Broadening B96's List" Billboard 23 Sep 1995. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Feder, Robert. "AIDS Series Earns Local Emmy Award." Chicago Sun-Times. Sun-Times News Group. 1995. Retrieved March 07, 2017 from HighBeam Research: [External Link Removed for Guests]
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“Killer B' Attacks Chicago (Again).” ‘’Radio & Records.’’. 30 Aug 1996. P. 21. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Williams, Jean A. "`Bash' a hip-hop good time." Chicago Sun-Times. Sun-Times News Group. 1996. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Smoron, Paige. "B-96 Bash haunts Horizon with hits." Chicago Sun-Times. 2 Nov 1996. HighBeam Research. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Hoffman, Wayne. "The Audience is Listening". The Advocate. 21 Jan 1997. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Eng, Monica, "B-96 Not The Same Old Grunge Gring." Chicago Tribune. 01 Jul 1997. [External Link Removed for Guests]
DeRogatis, Jim. "B-96 Halloween Bash." Chicago Sun-Times. Sun-Times News Group. 31 Oct 1997. HighBeam Research. [External Link Removed for Guests]
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Novia, Tony. "Mixing It Up In The Windy City." Radio & Records. P. 38. 21 Nov 1997. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Hot Tickets: Boyz II Men Headline 'Bash'." Post-Tribune (IN). Sun-Times News Group. 19 Jun 1998. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Eng, Monica. "Hot Stars Throw Off Sparks at B-96 Bash". Chicago Tribune. 30 Jun 1998. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Bash Was Blast" Chicago Tribune. 29 Jun 1999. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"October 27 - B96 Halloween Bash concert in Chicago". XRay: The Largest Britney Spears Image Gallery. 27 Oct 1999. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Taubeneck, Anne. "A Marathon Bash." Chicago Tribune. 19 Jun 2000. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"B96 Halloween Bash 2001" Crazy for Vi3. 2001. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Carlozo, Paul. "The Rap on R. Kelly". Chicago Tribune. 19 Apr 2002. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Schiffman, Marc. "B96 From Hot Hits To Hot In Herre." Billboard Top 40 Airplay Monitor. P. 7,10,15. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"TKA/K7/GL". clubfreestyle.com. 05 Dec 2002. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Programming: The New (Old) B96.3". Billboard Airplay Monitor. 17 Jan 2003. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Radio Concert Monitor". Billboard Airplay Monitor. 07 Feb 2003. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Klub Kiss". 103.5 Kiss-FM.. 21 Apr 2003. [External Link Removed for Guests] <br?
Klein, Joshua. "B96 Bash a crash-and-burn affair." Chicago Tribune 24 Jun 2003. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"B96 Summer Bash with Lil' Kim, Ginuwine, Da Brat, Sarai..." Chicago Tribune. 23 Jul 2003. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Neyfakh, Leon. "Getting Juicy" The Harvard Crimson 30 Sep 2004. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Heine, Paul. "Todd Cavanah PD, WBBM Chicago VP of Rhythmic Top 40, Infinity." Billboard Airplay Monitor. 11 Mar 2005. P. 10. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Moody, Nekesa Mumbi. "Natalie enjoying her 'Crazy' summer tour." Chicago Sun-Times. Sun-Times News Group. 10 Jun 2005. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"B96 Summer Bash 2005". Radio Discussions. 24 Aug 2005. [External Link Removed for Guests]
“Street Talk”. P. 23. Radio & Records. 11 Nov 2005. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"B96 Slow Jam." Radio Discussions 14 Feb 2006. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Bontoya, Phil. "Let the Party Begin: B96 Summer Bash '06". Concert Livewire. 24 Jun 2006. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"B-96 Changes." Radio Discussions 24 Jul 2006. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Radio Mix Show DJs Who Did it Best." Radio Discussions. 22 Nov 2006. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Kaempfer, Rick. "Karen Hand." Chicago Radio Spotlight. 26 Jan 2008. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Dunham, Darnella. "First-Timers And Familiar Faces." Radio & Records. 03 Oct 2008. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Eddie & JoBo Exit B96". ‘'All Access. 21 Nov 2008. [External Link Removed for Guests]
jeremy1069fm. "WKSC-FM Chicago 10-19-01". YouTube. 7 Jun 2009.
Battistini, Pete. "American Top 40 Reflections: Al Mitchell AT40 Guest Hosts". American Top 40. 2010. P. 24-25. [External Link Removed for Guests]
John H. "B96 Chicago". B96 Chicago blog. 9 May 2010. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Feder, Robert. "Randy Michaels' first disaster in Chicago? It was 'hell'". WBEZ 91. 5 Chicago. 24 Oct 2010. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Lazare, Lewis. "Instinct Pays Off at B96". Chicago Sun-Times. 24 Dec 2010. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"PowerTools Mix Show (10-24-1992)". Simfonik. Jun 2011. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"A History of the B96 Summer Bash". B96 9 Jun 2011. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Ross, Sean. “It’s Over, Everyone Listens To Techno”. ‘’Radio-Info’’. 27 Sep 2011. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"WBBM-FM's 'B96 Jingle Bash 2011' Coming December 17th." Chicagoland Radio & Media. 13 Oct 2011. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Wbbm-Fm B96 Station Overview." StudyMode. 13 Dec 2011. [External Link Removed for Guests]
The Museum of Classic Chicago Television ([External Link Removed for Guests]). "WBBM-FM 96 - "The Mellow Sound Of Chicago" (Commercial, 1978)". YouTube. 22 Feb 2012.
Gomez, Luis. "Past and present B96 personalities share Summer Bash memories". Chicago Tribune. 12 Jun 2012. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Feaster, Ellis. "WBBM-FM B96 Chicago - Bubba The Love Sponge - 1990." YouTube. 3 Jan 2013.
Phil Swift. "B96 Chicago Mixer Search The Final 6 DJ Battle At the China Club 1993 Phil K Swift". YouTube. 12 Mar 2013.
UpperMidwestAircheck, "WBBM-FM Chicago October 1992 Alan Kabel." YouTube. 9 May 2013.
West, Steve & Robyn Watts. "Chicago CHR Wars – WBBM-FM (B-96) vs. WYTZ (Z-95) | March, 1991". Airchexx. 19 May 2013. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"WCBR (Cyber Radio 92-7) – Arlington Heights/Chicago, IL – 6/7/97 – Magic Juan." FM Airchecks. 22 Jun 2013. [External Link Removed for Guests]
West, Steve & Robyn Watts. "Chicago CHR Wars 2 – “B96” WBBM-FM, “Z95” WYTZ & “Q101” WKQX | 1991." Airchexx. 24 Jun 2013. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"WBBM-FM (B96) – Chicago – 12/31/95 – George McFly & Frankie Hollywood Rodriguez (Top 96 of ’95)" FM Airchecks 31 Dec 2013. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Zerwekh, Robert. "WBBM-FM 96.3 Chicago, IL - 31 December 1982." YouTube. 21 May 2015.
Amato, Sal & Lee Michaels. “U-Dance With B96.” WBMX.com. 29 Sep 2015. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Mediabase Makes Panel Changes". All Access. 9 Mar 2016. [External Link Removed for Guests]
dth1971. "An AT40 history on the Chicago 94.7 FM frequency". American Top 40 Fun & Games Site. 27 May 2016. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Buczak, Lizzy, "The B96 Pepsi Summer Bash Recap – This Is What You Came For!". B96. 27 Jun 2016. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Smokin’ Joe Dawson on B-96 WBBM-FM Chicago | September 2, 1986". Airchexx. 25 Aug 2016. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Paul H. "WBBM 96.3 FM CHICAGO, ILLINOIS Week: 10/09/82". ARSA. 31 Aug 2016. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"B96 Announces Jingle Bash 2016 Lineup." Chicagoland Radio & Media. 21 Sep 2016. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"WBMX brings back the city’s most listened to dance music party in its history". WBMX.com. 1 Jun 2017. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"WBBM (B96)/Chicago Announces Lineup For Pepsi Jingle Bash". All Access. 6 Oct 2017. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Venta, Lance. "104.3 WJMK Chicago Flips To Classic Hip-Hop". Radio Insight. 17 Nov 2017. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"104.3 JAMS Chicago Flips Call Letters to WBMX-FM". Radio Online. 8 Dec 2017. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Andrews, Jeremy. "BMX new mixshow". Chicago Media Chat. 29 Dec 2017. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"The 2018 B96 Pepsi Summer Bash". B96. 4 Apr 2018. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Venta, Lance. "Showbiz Shelley Joins 103.5 Kiss-FM Chicago." Radioinsight. 19 Apr 2018. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Feder, Robert. "Chicago radio ratings: ‘Eric in the Morning’ reigns supreme". Robert Feder. 12 Jun 2018. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"B96 Cancels Flipside at 5". Chicago Media Chat. 31 Aug 2018. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"The 2018 B96 Pepsi Jingle Bash." B96. 17 Sep 2018. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"B-96 Street Mix/WKQX Electric Playground." Chicago Media Chat. 27 Sep 2018. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Feder, Robert. "B96 rejects DreX as morning host". Robert Feder. 08 Apr 2019. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Greg, “What Happened To B96 Mix Show?”. Chicago Media Chat. 15 Aug 2020. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"B96 Mornings About To Get Messy" R.A.M.P. (Radio And Music Pros). 16 Mar 2022. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Jones, Pete. "Veteran Chicago Mixer Julian 'Jumpin' Perez Posts Radio Exit". All Access. 08 Jul 2022. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"After 33 Years, Todd Cavanah Departs Audacy Chicago." RadioInsight. 4 Apr 2023. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Venta, Lance. "Molly Crus Moves To B96 As Brand Manager." RadioInsight. 5 Apr 2023. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Venta, Lance. "B96 Moves Back To Its Roots". RadioInsight. 21 Apr 2023. [External Link Removed for Guests]'
Venta, Lance. "WSCR Finally Scores FM Upgrade". RadioInsight. 14 Jan 2026. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Venta, Lance. "104.3 Jams Says Farewell With B96 Simulcast." RadioInsight. 30 Jan 2026. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Childers, Scott. "A Quick History of Chicago’s 94.7 FM." WLS history. 1999-2015. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Romanowski, Jeff. "Sounds of the NY Underground". Jeff Romanowski. 2017. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Chicago, IL Airchecks." Mostly Upper Midwest Airchecks. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Bobby D's Biography". Last.fm. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Mix Connection Multimedia." Discogs. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Chip E." Discogs. [External Link Removed for Guests].
"100.3 WPNT becomes “Windy 100” WNND". Format Change. [External Link Removed for Guests]
“103.5 The Beat” flips from Rhythmic Oldies to CHR “Kiss-FM”. Format Change. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"The Young Sound". All That Is Music. 2019. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"WBBM/FM Stereo 96 Chicago's Favorite Rock, WBBM-FM. April 21, 1973." ARSA (Airheads Radio Survey Archive). Retrieved October 11, 2019. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"B96 Pepsi Jingle Bash" Radio.com. 2019. [External Link Removed for Guests]
[External Link Removed for Guests]
McCormick, Moira. "Chicago AC Stations Battle For Top Spot". Billboard. 30 Jan 1982. P. 23. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Penchansky, Alan. "WBBM -FM To Shift ACCORDING TO ARBITRON REPORTS To `Hot Hits' Format." Billboard. 24 Apr 1982. P. 25. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Bornstein, Rollye. "Vox Jox." Billboard. 18 Jun 1983. P. 24. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Dahl, Bill. “Inside Chicago Radio”. ‘’Chicago Radio Guide.’’ May 1985. P. 104. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Freeman, Kim. "Vox Jox". Billboard. 28 Jun 1986. P. 14. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Ross, Sean. "B/U Fall Wars '86." Radio & Records. 14 Nov 1986. P. 64. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Denver, Joel. "Programmers' Think Tank: The Trends Ahead." Radio & Records. 28 Nov 1986. P.38 & 42. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Denver, Joel. "A Lesson in Radio Facelifts." Radio & Records. 6 Feb 1987. P. 60. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Love, Walt. "Urban Wars: Spring '87". Radio & Records.. 8 May 1987. P. 46. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Denver, Joel. "Tie Score in Chicago War". Radio & Records. 29 Jan 1988. P. 41. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Feder, Robert. "Radio slogans defy truth in advertising." Chicago Sun-Times. Sun-Times News Group. 1988. Retrieved March 07, 2017 from HighBeam Research: [External Link Removed for Guests]
Denver, Joel. "The Chicago Story: B96 Edges Z95. Radio & Records. 06 May 1988. P. 42 & 44. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Ross, Sean. "AT40' Prepares Shadoe Stevens Push". Billboard. 28 May 1988. P. 1, 16. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Pyramid Denies WNUA Format Flip". Radio & Records. 02 Jun 1989. P. 28. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Ross, Sean. "Vox Jox". Billboard. 28 Oct 1989. P.13. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Ross, Sean. "PD of the Week: Dave Shakes WBBM-FM Chicago". Billboard. 19 May 1990. P. 19. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Westlake, Dawn. "All In the Family: Keith Middleton and My Three Sons." Radio Chicago: Summer 1990 Issue 1990. P. 18. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Denver, Joel. "Dave Shakes Up Chicago". Radio & Records. 12 Oct 1990. P. 50. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Denver, Joel. "WPLJ, Z95 Fight For Ratings & Respect." Radio & Records. 25 Jan 1991. P. 54, 56. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Counterpunching in Chicago". Radio & Records. 08 Feb 1991. P. 32. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Ross, Sean. "WYTZ: Now It's El Puerco Poderoso Rolling Stone Winners; Perun To WZOU". Billboard 9 Feb 1991. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Kening, Dan. "Deadly Farce?" Chicago Tribune. 12 Feb 1991. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Z95 Goes to Hell!". Radio & Records. 15 Mar 1991. P. 22. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Elsewhere". The M Street Journal. 1 Apr 1991. P. 6. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Lippencott on the Loose". Radio & Records. 3 May 1991. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Rosen, Craig. "KSHE, KROQ Hoaxes No Joke To FCC." Billboard. 4 May 1991. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Kening, Dan. "Contemporary Hit Radio: B96 & Z95." Radio Chicago: Spring 1991 Edition. 1991. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Feder, Robert. "A broadcast guide to ringing in 1992." Chicago Sun-Times. 31 Dec 1991. HighBeam Research. (February 20, 2016). [External Link Removed for Guests]
Feder, Robert. "How `B-96' drove WYTZ off the air". Chicago Sun-Times. 1 Jan 1992. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Downtown Julie Brown Named Host of Westwood One's 'American Dance Traxx' Series." The Free Library. 1992 PR Newswire Association LLC 27 Dec. 2015 [External Link Removed for Guests]
Kening, Dan. "Top 40's Fall". Chicago Tribune. 10 May 1992. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Kinosian, Mike. "WKQX Concocts Latest Format Cure". Radio & Records. 31 Jul 1992. P. 40. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Sholin, Dave. "Inside Top 40". The Gavin Report. 25 Sep 1992. P. 11. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Denver, Joel. "Keeping Up With The Moving Mainstreams". Radio & Records. 16 Oct 1992. P. 39. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Major Radio Stations Giving Local Music Added Attention". Chicago Tribune. 2 April 1993. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Borillo, Carla. "More & More Stations Talking About Sex". Billboard. P. 84, 87 & 90. 03 Apr 1993. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Gillen, Pat. "Shakedown at B96". Network 40. 07 May 1993. P. 12. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Latin Mix." Billboard 22 May 1993. P. 106. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"New Syndie Mix Show In The House". Network 40. 04 Jun 1993. P. 4. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Beer, Lenny. "Stone Temple Pilots & More". Hits. P. 16. 05 Jul 1993. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Major Market PDs in Motion". Radio & Records 30 Jul 1993. P. 22. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Kaempfer, Paul. "The Rating's Are Out, The Rating's Are Out". Chicago Airways: August 1993 Issue. 1993. P. 12. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Kaempfer, Paul. "Roll Out the Retro". Chicago Airways: August 1993 Issue. 1993. P. 16. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Lai, Annette M. "For Radio, Summer Means James." Gavin. 06 Aug 1993. P. 6. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Kening, Dan. "More Stations, More Choices - But Less Top 40 Variety." Chicago Tribune. 31 Aug 1993. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Profilin'...B96/Chicago's D.M.C. Jeff Andrews". FMQB. 07 Jan 1994. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Denver, Joel. "On The `High -Energy Dance' Tip" Radio & Records. P.31. 28 Jan 1994. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Ortiz, Lou. "Judge Files Libel Suit Against 2 DJs." Chicago Sun-Times. 4 Mar 1994. HighBeam Research. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Rhythm Nation". Network 40. 01 Apr 1994. P. 32. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Bad Raps in Chicago". Network 40. P. 4. 24 Jun 1994. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Nidetz, Steve. "Volkman Says He's Not In Same Corner As `Jobo'." Chicago Tribune. 10 Jul 1994. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Scarpone, Salwa & Michael Futagaki. "1994 New York Music Summit & Radio Seminar Mixer Review". P. 42-45. Hitmakers. 2 Sep 1994. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Ear to the Ground." Hitmakers. P. 52. 04 Nov 1994. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Ward, Dwyane. "Todd Cavanah /Erik Bradley: Keeping B96 Ahead in '95." Network 40. 20 Jan 1995. P. 10-11. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Love, Walt. "Winds Of Change In Chicago Urban Race." Radio & Records. 02 Feb 1995. P. 32. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Shands, Mark. "Put Your Radio on TV!". Hitmakers. 3 Mar 1995. P. 27. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Flick, Larry. "Surveying Chicago's Boisterous, Exciting Scene". Billboard. 22 Apr 1995. P. 23. [External Link Removed for Guests]
“Todd Cavanah & Erik Bradley: PD & MD, B96, Chicago”. Hitmakers. 5 May 1995. P. 22. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Ross, Sean. "Top 40/Crossover Format In Crossroads?" Billboard Top 40 Airplay Monitor. 14 Jul 1995. P. 1,4. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Amusement Business." Billboard. 15 Jul 1995. P. 15. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Flick, Larry. " Club- Rooted Hi -NRG Sound Finds Transatlantic Success." Billboard. 12 Aug 1995. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Carter, Kevin. "PD Cavanah Sees Success By Broadening B96's List" Billboard 23 Sep 1995. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Feder, Robert. "AIDS Series Earns Local Emmy Award." Chicago Sun-Times. Sun-Times News Group. 1995. Retrieved March 07, 2017 from HighBeam Research: [External Link Removed for Guests]
Wonsiewicz, Steve. "Rhythmic CHRs Embrace Martin With `Loving Arms'." Radio & Records. 10 May 1996. [External Link Removed for Guests]
“Killer B' Attacks Chicago (Again).” ‘’Radio & Records.’’. 30 Aug 1996. P. 21. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Williams, Jean A. "`Bash' a hip-hop good time." Chicago Sun-Times. Sun-Times News Group. 1996. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Smoron, Paige. "B-96 Bash haunts Horizon with hits." Chicago Sun-Times. 2 Nov 1996. HighBeam Research. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Hoffman, Wayne. "The Audience is Listening". The Advocate. 21 Jan 1997. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Eng, Monica, "B-96 Not The Same Old Grunge Gring." Chicago Tribune. 01 Jul 1997. [External Link Removed for Guests]
DeRogatis, Jim. "B-96 Halloween Bash." Chicago Sun-Times. Sun-Times News Group. 31 Oct 1997. HighBeam Research. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Novia, Tony. "B96 ... Still Consistent After All These Years." Radio & Records. P. 34. 14 Nov 1997. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Novia, Tony. "Mixing It Up In The Windy City." Radio & Records. P. 38. 21 Nov 1997. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Hot Tickets: Boyz II Men Headline 'Bash'." Post-Tribune (IN). Sun-Times News Group. 19 Jun 1998. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Eng, Monica. "Hot Stars Throw Off Sparks at B-96 Bash". Chicago Tribune. 30 Jun 1998. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Bash Was Blast" Chicago Tribune. 29 Jun 1999. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"October 27 - B96 Halloween Bash concert in Chicago". XRay: The Largest Britney Spears Image Gallery. 27 Oct 1999. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Taubeneck, Anne. "A Marathon Bash." Chicago Tribune. 19 Jun 2000. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"B96 Halloween Bash 2001" Crazy for Vi3. 2001. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Carlozo, Paul. "The Rap on R. Kelly". Chicago Tribune. 19 Apr 2002. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Schiffman, Marc. "B96 From Hot Hits To Hot In Herre." Billboard Top 40 Airplay Monitor. P. 7,10,15. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"TKA/K7/GL". clubfreestyle.com. 05 Dec 2002. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Programming: The New (Old) B96.3". Billboard Airplay Monitor. 17 Jan 2003. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Radio Concert Monitor". Billboard Airplay Monitor. 07 Feb 2003. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Klub Kiss". 103.5 Kiss-FM.. 21 Apr 2003. [External Link Removed for Guests] <br?
Klein, Joshua. "B96 Bash a crash-and-burn affair." Chicago Tribune 24 Jun 2003. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"B96 Summer Bash with Lil' Kim, Ginuwine, Da Brat, Sarai..." Chicago Tribune. 23 Jul 2003. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Neyfakh, Leon. "Getting Juicy" The Harvard Crimson 30 Sep 2004. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Heine, Paul. "Todd Cavanah PD, WBBM Chicago VP of Rhythmic Top 40, Infinity." Billboard Airplay Monitor. 11 Mar 2005. P. 10. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Moody, Nekesa Mumbi. "Natalie enjoying her 'Crazy' summer tour." Chicago Sun-Times. Sun-Times News Group. 10 Jun 2005. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"B96 Summer Bash 2005". Radio Discussions. 24 Aug 2005. [External Link Removed for Guests]
“Street Talk”. P. 23. Radio & Records. 11 Nov 2005. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"B96 Slow Jam." Radio Discussions 14 Feb 2006. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Bontoya, Phil. "Let the Party Begin: B96 Summer Bash '06". Concert Livewire. 24 Jun 2006. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"B-96 Changes." Radio Discussions 24 Jul 2006. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Radio Mix Show DJs Who Did it Best." Radio Discussions. 22 Nov 2006. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Kaempfer, Rick. "Karen Hand." Chicago Radio Spotlight. 26 Jan 2008. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Dunham, Darnella. "First-Timers And Familiar Faces." Radio & Records. 03 Oct 2008. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Eddie & JoBo Exit B96". ‘'All Access. 21 Nov 2008. [External Link Removed for Guests]
jeremy1069fm. "WKSC-FM Chicago 10-19-01". YouTube. 7 Jun 2009.
Battistini, Pete. "American Top 40 Reflections: Al Mitchell AT40 Guest Hosts". American Top 40. 2010. P. 24-25. [External Link Removed for Guests]
John H. "B96 Chicago". B96 Chicago blog. 9 May 2010. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Feder, Robert. "Randy Michaels' first disaster in Chicago? It was 'hell'". WBEZ 91. 5 Chicago. 24 Oct 2010. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Lazare, Lewis. "Instinct Pays Off at B96". Chicago Sun-Times. 24 Dec 2010. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"PowerTools Mix Show (10-24-1992)". Simfonik. Jun 2011. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"A History of the B96 Summer Bash". B96 9 Jun 2011. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Ross, Sean. “It’s Over, Everyone Listens To Techno”. ‘’Radio-Info’’. 27 Sep 2011. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"WBBM-FM's 'B96 Jingle Bash 2011' Coming December 17th." Chicagoland Radio & Media. 13 Oct 2011. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Wbbm-Fm B96 Station Overview." StudyMode. 13 Dec 2011. [External Link Removed for Guests]
The Museum of Classic Chicago Television ([External Link Removed for Guests]). "WBBM-FM 96 - "The Mellow Sound Of Chicago" (Commercial, 1978)". YouTube. 22 Feb 2012.
Gomez, Luis. "Past and present B96 personalities share Summer Bash memories". Chicago Tribune. 12 Jun 2012. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Feaster, Ellis. "WBBM-FM B96 Chicago - Bubba The Love Sponge - 1990." YouTube. 3 Jan 2013.
Phil Swift. "B96 Chicago Mixer Search The Final 6 DJ Battle At the China Club 1993 Phil K Swift". YouTube. 12 Mar 2013.
UpperMidwestAircheck, "WBBM-FM Chicago October 1992 Alan Kabel." YouTube. 9 May 2013.
West, Steve & Robyn Watts. "Chicago CHR Wars – WBBM-FM (B-96) vs. WYTZ (Z-95) | March, 1991". Airchexx. 19 May 2013. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"WCBR (Cyber Radio 92-7) – Arlington Heights/Chicago, IL – 6/7/97 – Magic Juan." FM Airchecks. 22 Jun 2013. [External Link Removed for Guests]
West, Steve & Robyn Watts. "Chicago CHR Wars 2 – “B96” WBBM-FM, “Z95” WYTZ & “Q101” WKQX | 1991." Airchexx. 24 Jun 2013. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"WBBM-FM (B96) – Chicago – 12/31/95 – George McFly & Frankie Hollywood Rodriguez (Top 96 of ’95)" FM Airchecks 31 Dec 2013. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Zerwekh, Robert. "WBBM-FM 96.3 Chicago, IL - 31 December 1982." YouTube. 21 May 2015.
Amato, Sal & Lee Michaels. “U-Dance With B96.” WBMX.com. 29 Sep 2015. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Mediabase Makes Panel Changes". All Access. 9 Mar 2016. [External Link Removed for Guests]
dth1971. "An AT40 history on the Chicago 94.7 FM frequency". American Top 40 Fun & Games Site. 27 May 2016. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Buczak, Lizzy, "The B96 Pepsi Summer Bash Recap – This Is What You Came For!". B96. 27 Jun 2016. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Smokin’ Joe Dawson on B-96 WBBM-FM Chicago | September 2, 1986". Airchexx. 25 Aug 2016. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Paul H. "WBBM 96.3 FM CHICAGO, ILLINOIS Week: 10/09/82". ARSA. 31 Aug 2016. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"B96 Announces Jingle Bash 2016 Lineup." Chicagoland Radio & Media. 21 Sep 2016. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"WBMX brings back the city’s most listened to dance music party in its history". WBMX.com. 1 Jun 2017. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"WBBM (B96)/Chicago Announces Lineup For Pepsi Jingle Bash". All Access. 6 Oct 2017. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Venta, Lance. "104.3 WJMK Chicago Flips To Classic Hip-Hop". Radio Insight. 17 Nov 2017. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"104.3 JAMS Chicago Flips Call Letters to WBMX-FM". Radio Online. 8 Dec 2017. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Andrews, Jeremy. "BMX new mixshow". Chicago Media Chat. 29 Dec 2017. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"The 2018 B96 Pepsi Summer Bash". B96. 4 Apr 2018. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Venta, Lance. "Showbiz Shelley Joins 103.5 Kiss-FM Chicago." Radioinsight. 19 Apr 2018. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Feder, Robert. "Chicago radio ratings: ‘Eric in the Morning’ reigns supreme". Robert Feder. 12 Jun 2018. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"B96 Cancels Flipside at 5". Chicago Media Chat. 31 Aug 2018. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"The 2018 B96 Pepsi Jingle Bash." B96. 17 Sep 2018. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"B-96 Street Mix/WKQX Electric Playground." Chicago Media Chat. 27 Sep 2018. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Feder, Robert. "B96 rejects DreX as morning host". Robert Feder. 08 Apr 2019. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Greg, “What Happened To B96 Mix Show?”. Chicago Media Chat. 15 Aug 2020. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"B96 Mornings About To Get Messy" R.A.M.P. (Radio And Music Pros). 16 Mar 2022. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Jones, Pete. "Veteran Chicago Mixer Julian 'Jumpin' Perez Posts Radio Exit". All Access. 08 Jul 2022. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"After 33 Years, Todd Cavanah Departs Audacy Chicago." RadioInsight. 4 Apr 2023. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Venta, Lance. "Molly Crus Moves To B96 As Brand Manager." RadioInsight. 5 Apr 2023. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Venta, Lance. "B96 Moves Back To Its Roots". RadioInsight. 21 Apr 2023. [External Link Removed for Guests]'
Venta, Lance. "WSCR Finally Scores FM Upgrade". RadioInsight. 14 Jan 2026. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Venta, Lance. "104.3 Jams Says Farewell With B96 Simulcast." RadioInsight. 30 Jan 2026. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Childers, Scott. "A Quick History of Chicago’s 94.7 FM." WLS history. 1999-2015. [External Link Removed for Guests]
Romanowski, Jeff. "Sounds of the NY Underground". Jeff Romanowski. 2017. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Chicago, IL Airchecks." Mostly Upper Midwest Airchecks. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Bobby D's Biography". Last.fm. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Mix Connection Multimedia." Discogs. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"Chip E." Discogs. [External Link Removed for Guests].
"100.3 WPNT becomes “Windy 100” WNND". Format Change. [External Link Removed for Guests]
“103.5 The Beat” flips from Rhythmic Oldies to CHR “Kiss-FM”. Format Change. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"The Young Sound". All That Is Music. 2019. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"WBBM/FM Stereo 96 Chicago's Favorite Rock, WBBM-FM. April 21, 1973." ARSA (Airheads Radio Survey Archive). Retrieved October 11, 2019. [External Link Removed for Guests]
"B96 Pepsi Jingle Bash" Radio.com. 2019. [External Link Removed for Guests]
[External Link Removed for Guests]
Last edited by Disman00911 on Mon Apr 13, 2026 8:26 pm, edited 2 times in total.
-
Disman00911
- Posts: 587
- Joined: Mon Apr 04, 2022 11:09 pm
Re: History of B96 (Revised Version)
Added some additional info recently and fixed some spelling/grammar errors.
Also, The *B96 96.3FM Chicago Radio History Summarized*" link/thread in the "Announcements" section is outdated and should be replaced with this thread as this has more updated info.
Also, The *B96 96.3FM Chicago Radio History Summarized*" link/thread in the "Announcements" section is outdated and should be replaced with this thread as this has more updated info.