WBBM-FM#Summer Bash concerts

The station began experimental broadcasts in November 1941, as W67C, broadcasting on 46.7 MHz. The station's transmitter was located at the American National Bank Building, at 33 N. LaSalle Street. It simulcast co-owned WBBM (780 AM), carrying its CBS Radio Network schedule of dramas, comedies, news, sports, game shows, soap operas and big band broadcasts during the "Golden Age of Radio".

In 1943, the station's call sign was changed to WBBM-FM. In 1946, the station began broadcasting on 99.3 MHz. In 1947, the station's frequency was changed to 97.1 MHz, and in 1953, WBBM-FM moved to its current frequency of 96.3 MHz. In the 1950s, as network programming moved from radio to television, WBBM-AM-FM carried a full service middle of the road format of popular music, news and talk. After 1964, most of the music was eliminated, in favor of talk and news.

In 1966, WBBM-FM split from simulcasting the AM and flipped to "The Young Sound", a format pioneered by John DeWitt for co-owned WCBS-FM in New York City."[http://www.allthatismusic.com/the-young-sound.html What is 'The Young Sound'?]", All That Is Music. Retrieved September 24, 2018."[https://books.google.com/books?id=UQ8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA22 'Young Sound' to Hit New York on Oct. 1]", Billboard. October 1, 1966. p. 22. Retrieved September 24, 2018.[https://books.google.com/books?id=ACkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA26 CBS-FM Offers Service to Aid Small Markets With Separation]", Billboard. December 16, 1966. pp. 26, 32. Retrieved September 24, 2018. Bud Kelly was the announcer for "The Young Sound" on WBBM-FM.

"The Young Sound" aired instrumental cover versions of recent hits, contemporary pop instrumentals from artists like Herb Alpert, and contemporary vocal hits from artists like Petula Clark. Every hour's playlist was designed so that each song would complement the titles that preceded and followed it. Initially, the station had a three to one instrumental to vocal ratio. However, its playlist was skewed towards a young audience, which distinguished it from most easy listening and beautiful music stations of the era.

By the early 1970s, the station was airing a format consisting of top 40, album cuts, and past hits."[https://books.google.com/books?id=tggEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA20 WBBM-FM Cuts Swath With Oldie LP Tracks]", Billboard. July 10, 1971. p. 20. Retrieved September 29, 2018. The station was branded as "Stereo 96 WBBM-FM, Chicago's Favorite Rock!"[http://las-solanas.com/surveys/WBBM/WBBM_1973-05-12_1.jpg WBBM/FM Stereo 96 Chicago's Favorite Rock], WBBM-FM. May 12, 1973. Retrieved September 29, 2018. Bob Johnston served as program director."[https://books.google.com/books?id=MgkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA17 Chicago Retailers, Stations Push Sansui 'Q']", Billboard. January 6, 1973. p. 19. Retrieved March 10, 2019.

In 1971, the station's transmitter was moved to the John Hancock Center.

By 1977, WBBM-FM and several other FM stations owned by CBS had adopted an adult contemporary format defined as the "mellow sound", playing contemporary music but without the harder-edged titles.Tiegel, Eliot. "[https://books.google.com/books?id=DkUEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT31 Marshall Cross-Pollinates Ideas]", Billboard. October 8, 1977. pp. 36, 40. Retrieved March 10, 2019."[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Station-Albums/Chicago-Trib-1979-Mar-About-Chi-Radio.pdf Stations, everywhere: a listeners' guide to the AM and FM bands]", Chicago Tribune Magazine. March 4, 1979. p. 35. Retrieved March 10, 2019.[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1978/C-1-Broadcasting-Yearbook-1978-Full.pdf Broadcasting Yearbook 1978], Broadcasting, 1978. p. C-62. Retrieved September 30, 2018. During this era, the station was branded as "The Mellow Sound of Chicago"Media Decisions, Volume 12, Part 1. N. Glenn Publications. 1977. p. 43. and "Soft Rock 96"."[https://www.wtfda.org/vud80s/1980/11-80%20vud.pdf Northern FM DX]", WTFDA Mailbox. November 1980. p. 17. Retrieved March 10, 2019. Initially, all of CBS's "mellow sound" stations were automated.

Dick Bartley, who later became a popular syndicated radio personality, spent time at WBBM-FM as program director and morning disc jockey in the late 1970s.Ghrist, John R. (1996). Valley Voices: A Radio History. Crossroads Communications. p. 44."[https://books.google.com/books?id=6iMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT31 Billboard Arbitron DJ Rating Performance]", Billboard. September 30, 1978. p. 32. Retrieved September 30, 2018. WBBM-FM briefly carried American Top 40 with Casey Kasem during the soft rock years.Hall, Doug. "[https://books.google.com/books?id=fiQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT17 Vox Jox]", Billboard. August 11, 1979. p. 18. Retrieved September 30, 2018.

In May 1982, WBBM-FM began airing a Top 40/CHR format known as "Hot Hits", which was created by consultant Mike Joseph.Penchansky, Alan. "[https://books.google.com/books?id=4CMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT24 WBBM-FM to Shift to 'Hot Hits' Format]", Billboard. April 24, 1982. pp. 25, 36. Retrieved September 30, 2018. Concurrent with the format change was the phase-out of all automation. Hot Hits was a high-energy format, playing only current hits, and featured numerous jingles to reinforce the station's identity. The station was branded B96 the following year.Bornstein, Rollye. "[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/80s/1983/BB-1983-06-18.pdf Vox Jox]", Billboard. June 18, 1983. p. 24. Retrieved February 11, 2019.

During the latter half of 1986, B96's format began to tweak slowly towards a rhythmic top 40 direction, and a couple of years later during the late 1980s, began to embrace dance product. Despite those moves at the time, the station retained a selection of mainstream titles.Hoffman, Wayne. "[https://books.google.com/books?id=TGQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA82 After years of indifference, radio stations are actively courting gay men—some more openly than others]", The Advocate. January 21, 1997. p. 81-82. Retrieved February 11, 2019.Ross, Sean. "[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1990/BB-1990-05-19.pdf PD of the week]", Billboard. May 19, 1990. pp. 19, 22. Retrieved February 11, 2019. In May 1990, the station became known as "The Killer Bee: B96". In 1995, the station began to add more R&B and hip hop as the dance scene diminished.Carter, Kevin. "[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1995/BB-1995-09-23.pdf PD Cavanah Sees Success By Broadening B96's List]", Billboard. September 23, 1995. p. 100. Retrieved February 11, 2019.

In October 2008, the station's slogan was changed from "Chicago's Hits and Hip-Hop" to "Chicago's #1 Hit Music Station", as its format shifted back to mainstream Top 40.{{cite web|url=http://www.b96.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081024192924/http://www.b96.com:80/|title=Chicago's Hits and Hip-Hop|publisher=WBBM-FM|access-date=February 11, 2019|archive-date=October 24, 2008|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.b96hits.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081031192938/http://www.b96hits.com/|title=Chicago's #1 Hit Music Station|publisher=WBBM-FM|access-date=February 11, 2019|archive-date=October 31, 2008|url-status=dead}}

On April 21, 2023, WBBM-FM shifted to a "gold"-based rhythmic top 40 format featuring some current top 40/CHR songs, along with a broader playlist of songs from the 1990s to the present day. This follows the trend of other struggling Top 40/CHRs flipping to the format, such as WFLC in Miami and KLIF-FM in Dallas-Fort Worth, to attract a wider listener base. The station also reverted to its heritage logo used throughout the 2000s and 2010s.{{cite news |last1=Venta |first1=Lance |title=B96 Moves Back To Its Roots |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/251315/b96-moves-back-to-its-roots/ |access-date=April 21, 2023 |work=RadioInsight |date=April 21, 2023}}

Since 1992, the station has presented the B96 SummerBash concert."[https://chicago.cbslocal.com/top-lists/2011-b96-pepsi-summerbash-guide/ 2011 B96 Pepsi SummerBash Guide]", CBS 2 Chicago. June 9, 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2019.

{{See also|Eddie & JoBo}}

B96's longtime morning program was the "Eddie & JoBo" morning zoo show. Joe Colborn (air name "Bohannon") first signed on at B96 in 1984 hosting evenings as "JoBo In Chicago".[https://www.rbr.com/chicagos-wjmk-fm-flipping-to-khits/ Chicago's WJMK-FM flipping to KHITS]", Radio & Television Business Report. March 10, 2011. Retrieved February 11, 2019. Ed Volkman started at B96 in 1986 hosting morning drive along with Karen Hand and Mike Elston.Freeman, Kim. "[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/80s/1986/BB-1986-08-09.pdf Vox Jox]", Billboard. August 9, 1986. p. 14. Retrieved February 11, 2019. When Elston left B96 in 1988, Bohannon was moved to mornings along with Volkman and Hand, launching the "Eddie & JoBo" show.Ross, Sean. "[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/80s/1988/BB-1988-11-05.pdf Vox Jox]", Billboard. November 5, 1988. p. 15. Retrieved February 11, 2019. Outside of a three-year period between 1994 and 1997, morning show ran for two decades but was canceled on November 21, 2008.Rosenthal, Phil. "[https://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/towerticker/2008/11/eddie-and-jobo.html Eddie and Jobo out at WBBM-FM]", Chicago Tribune. November 21, 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2019.

On January 5, 2009, Julian Nieh and Jamar "J. Niice" McNeil started a new morning show, "J. Niice & Julian on the Radio". The two were previously together at iHeartMedia's WIHT in Washington, D.C. Nieh stayed with the show until December 2012."[http://chicagoradioandmedia.com/news/2958-julian-nieh-exits-b96 Julian Nieh Exits B96]", Chicagoland Radio and Media. November 28, 2012. Retrieved February 11, 2019. The show continued as "The J Show", with J. Niice as the host alongside Showbiz Shelly and Gabe.Feder, Robert. "[http://www.timeoutchicago.com/arts-culture/chicago-media-blog/15907796/b96-reboots-morning-show-after-julian-jumps B96 reboots morning show after Julian jumps]", Time Out Chicago. November 28, 2012. Retrieved February 11, 2019.{{cite web|url=http://b96.cbslocal.com/show/the-j-show/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130620082916/http://b96.cbslocal.com/show/the-j-show/|title=The J. Show with Showbiz Shelly|publisher=WBBM-FM|access-date=February 11, 2019|archive-date=June 20, 2013|url-status=dead}}

J. Niice left in March 2018 and in April, B96 debuted "DreX & Nina" with Gabe Ramirez still being kept on.Goldsborough, Bob. "[https://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/realestate/elitestreet/ct-re-elite-street-j-niice-20180821-story.html J Niice, former WBBM-FM morning host, sells Near South Side condo for $370,500]", Chicago Tribune. August 24, 2018. Retrieved February 11, 2019."[https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/175305/changes-at-wbbm-f-b96-chicago-as-j-niice-and-showb Changes At WBBM-F (B96)/Chicago As J Niice And Showbiz Shelly Exit Mornings; 'DreX' Rumored To Return]", All Access Music Group. March 29, 2018. Retrieved February 11, 2019."[http://www.insideradio.com/free/drex-out-at-chicago-s-b-after-less-than-a/article_b7e1c63c-2be8-11e9-b13a-d3d242741bbe.html DreX Out At Chicago's 'B96' After Less Than A Year]", Inside Radio. February 8, 2019. Retrieved March 10, 2019. DreX left B96 in February 2019 and the show became "Gabe and Nina in the Morning", hosted by Gabe Ramirez and Nina Hajian. In September 2021, Hajian left the station, with Ramirez continuing to host the show, which was renamed "B96 Mornings"."[https://b96.radio.com/shows/gabe-nina Gabe & Nina]", Chicago's B96. Retrieved March 10, 2019.

In April 2022, 'The Morning Mess', hosted by Joey 'Nachoo' Rodriguez, Aneesh, Jeana and Karla, moved from Phoenix sister station KALV-FM to host mornings on WBBM-FM.[https://radioinsight.com/headlines/221369/live-101-5-phoenixs-morning-mess-to-move-to-b96-chicago/ Live 101.5 Phoenix's Morning Mess to Move to B96 Chicago] In February 2024, 'The Morning Mess' would come to an end, as Rodriguez would return to KALV-FM, Jeana moved to middays, and Aneesh left the station; Karla remained in mornings.[https://radioinsight.com/headlines/257654/joey-boy-returns-to-live-101-5-as-morning-mess-fractures-in-half/ Joey Boy Returns to Live 101.5 as Morning Mess Fractures in Half][https://radioinsight.com/headlines/264572/the-morning-mess-comes-to-an-end-at-b96/ The Morning Mess Comes to an End at B96] Later that month, John Moug, formerly of KPLZ Seattle, would join the station for mornings.[https://radioinsight.com/headlines/265376/b96-launches-moug-karla-in-mornings/ B96 Launches Moug & Karla in Mornings]

CBS had owned WBBM-FM since its beginnings. In 1995, CBS was acquired by Westinghouse."[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-02-06-fi-25879-story.html Westinghouse to Change Name to CBS After Spinoff]", Bloomberg News. Los Angeles Times. February 6, 1997. Retrieved March 10, 2019. Infinity Broadcasting Corporation was acquired in December 1996, and shortly thereafter Westinghouse's name was changed to CBS Corp. Through its CBS Radio division, the CBS Corporation owned WBBM-FM for 76 years.

On February 2, 2017, CBS Radio announced it would merge with Entercom and would no longer be part of the CBS Corporation.Venta, Lance. "[https://radioinsight.com/headlines/116299/cbs-radio-to-merge-with-entercom/ CBS Radio to Merge with Entercom]", RadioInsight. February 2, 2017. Retrieved February 11, 2019. The merger was approved on November 9, 2017, and was consummated on November 17.{{cite web|url=http://www.entercom.com/entercom-receives-fcc-approval-for-merger-with-cbs-radio|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171111164038/http://www.entercom.com/entercom-receives-fcc-approval-for-merger-with-cbs-radio|title=Entercom Receives FCC Approval For Merger With CBS Radio|publisher=Entercom|date=November 2, 2017|access-date=February 11, 2019|archive-date=November 11, 2017|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|last=Venta|first=Lance|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/121072/entercom-completes-cbs-radio-merger/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171118222152/https://radioinsight.com/headlines/121072/entercom-completes-cbs-radio-merger/|title=Entercom Completes CBS Radio Merger|work=Radio Insight|date=November 17, 2017|access-date=February 11, 2019|archive-date=November 18, 2017}}

WBBM-FM broadcasts in the HD Radio format. The HD2 subchannel carries "Channel Q", Audacy's national LGBTQ-oriented talk and EDM network."[https://radioinsight.com/headlines/174791/channel-q-expands-to-six-more-markets/ Channel Q Expands To Six More Markets]" RadioInsight. February 26, 2019. Retrieved February 26, 2019.

In January 2006, the station officially launched its HD2 FM subcarrier, airing a Dance Top 40 format as "B96 Dance"."[https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/5104/major-radio-groups-announce-hd2-formats Major Radio Groups Announce HD2 Formats]", All Access Music Group. January 19, 2006. Retrieved February 11, 2019. That format moved to a subchannel on co-owned 105.9 WCFS-FM in February 2019 and rebranded as "Energy". WBBM-FM's HD2 subchannel then switched to an Entercom format known as "Channel Q", a talk and EDM format, aimed at the LGBTQ community and heard in many radio markets served by Entercom FM stations.[http://www.insideradio.com/free/entercom-s-channel-q-expands-to-six-new-markets-via/article_564cc27a-3a64-11e9-ae8a-f741d3258b26.html Entercom's 'Channel Q' Expands To Six New Markets Via HD Side Channels], Inside Radio. February 27, 2019. Retrieved March 10, 2019.

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://www.audacy.com/b96}}
• {{FM station data|9613|WBBM}}
• [https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=80081 History Cards for WBBM-FM]

{{Chicago Radio}}

{{Rhythmic Contemporary Radio Stations in Illinois}}

{{Entercom}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1941 establishments in Illinois

Category:Audacy, Inc. radio stations

Category:Contemporary hit radio stations in the United States

Category:Radio stations established in 1941

BBM-FM

Category:Rhythmic contemporary radio stations in the United States

Category:Hot adult contemporary radio stations in the United States