Longtime listeners of 95.5 Country Chicago were stunned to see what happened to their cherished station. Where'd the entire country music go?
It's always jarring when a longtime staple of your lifestyles is abruptly modified with out provocation. And whilst the arrival of smartphone era and streaming music stations have shifted listeners clear of traditional radio stations, there are nonetheless a ton of people who are all about that AM/FM existence. Which is almost certainly why tons of individuals are miffed about what happened to 95.5 Country Chicago.
What happened to Chicago's *former* country station, 95.5?
Fans of the station weren't satisfied to listen that the purveyor of country hits within the Chicago area shifted gears and is now a rock music station as a substitute. People had been left scratching their heads after tracks from Journey, Nirvana, Metallica, and other iconic rock bands went on air.
However, there was not more country music to be heard on 95.5, WEBG BIG used to be gone and changed with Rock 95 Five.
iHeartMedia made the switch on Thursday, Sept. 3 and according to Radio Insight, James Howard might be overseeing the station's transition until things are in operating order.
Robert Feder, "a lifelong Chicagoan" who is been reporting on media since 1980, has said that 95.5 determined to transfer on to pumping classic rock music as a result of listeners have proven to display a "fondness for nostalgia during the COVID-19 pandemic."
When you recall to mind Chicago, you most likely don't call to mind numerous nice country music singers and the reality is, there are not a large number of extraordinarily notable ones from the realm. Illinois, on the other hand has a few large names and should you head ever further down south in Missouri, now you're speaking about fairly a few common country crooners whose paintings you may have in all probability heard.
The transfer to rock could also have something to with a loss of classic rock music stations in Chicago, so maybe 95.5 is hoping to hit a niche that is lately now not being served.
That appeared to be 95.5's plan when it opted to play country music five years in the past.
@mrBobbyBones @bobbybonesshow @LisaDentRadio is the Big 95.5 Country Radio station in Chicago converting codecs? It just went screeching exhausting metal lately! @Big955Chicago
— Sharon Ausec (@Iski6) September 3, 2020Illinois has Gretchen Wilson, Brett Eldredge, Alison Krauss, Suzy Bogguss (super final identify), and David Lee Murphy — those country singers all hail from Illinois. The state, like most regions in the U.S., is wildly other relying on which space you frequent, on the other hand. Plus, it's simple to omit just how massive Illinois is — it is kind of the similar size as New York State.
However, New York City most effective takes up a little bit over 302 square miles, and Chicago: 234. Their respective state sizes are a whopping 54,556 and 57,915 square miles respectively. So to define the entire state through these main towns is in point of fact not telling the whole story of these spaces and their demographics.
@LisaDentSpeaks what occur with 95.5 its now not country!
— Pearl A. Saenz (@BrujaPearl) September 3, 2020Numerous folks aren't satisfied that 95.5 Chicago is now a rock station.
There have been some individuals who had been stoked to see that Chicago now had a classic rock option, however there have been numerous country fans who have been unhappy to see their loved station go.
Well, well @iHeartRadio simply flipped Country BIG 95.5 to Rock 95.5! - first tune "Enter Sandman"
— George On The Morning Bull (@glindsey1003) September 3, 2020Uhhh excuse me Chicago. How do you just eliminate the most efficient country station 95.5 WITH NO NOTICE OR ANYTHING? @bobbybonesshow how can we listen to you on the radio in the mornings now? Ugh & I loved @BrookeRadio in the afternoons!
— Gabrielle Lopez (@gbylopez) September 4, 2020People were also actually rubbed the incorrect means when the transfer happened with out warning. Kind of like when you are driving alongside a freeway after which take your normal go out handiest to see that the whole thing's subsidized up because there is large amounts of building occurring. Like, you couldn't put a few indicators alongside the freeway to let other people know so they may be able to check out to take another path?
Longtime listeners of my display will recognize the signifance of nowadays's apparel. Big 95.5 ended their country layout this morning. I say "their" since I'm not with the station. I AM, on the other hand, still with iHeartRadio & continuing my three nightly nationwide presentations. What's next? pic.twitter.com/q6G5H1640s
— Jeffrey T. Mason (@JeffroRadio) September 3, 2020as if 2020 couldn’t worsen, 95.5 COUNTRY station ain’t even country anymore 😭 after 15 years it went dead yesterday 👀
— ♡catieee♡ (@CatieRoss571) September 4, 2020However, the channel nonetheless exists at the HD2 radio station, so if you have got an HD radio service, then you can be in success.
Yes!!! I still were given my Big 95.5 Country Vibes 🤠 https://t.co/WWY6ogy7FW pic.twitter.com/pIpnR4UzDs
— Kenneth Noel Morales (@OkMoralesMagenta) September 4, 202095.5 is now not country?! 😭 literally the only radio station I listened to 😭
— Kayli Weber (@kayli_weber) September 4, 2020Wtf is going down to Chicago’s 95.5 country station 😡@Big955Chicago
— kimberly (@kimberl773) September 3, 2020What do you suppose? Are you a Chicago resident who is unhappy to see the station cross? Did you want more rock at the air? Or do you no longer maintain both?
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