Is Johnny B. making Sirius plans for his future?
It doesn’t take much for fans of Jonathon Brandmeier to start buzzing about what’s next for the longtime Chicago radio star.
Jonathon Brandmeier
Ever since he was released as morning personality at Emmis Communications classic rock WLUP-FM (97.9) last November, the mere sighting of Johnny B. at a radio station has been enough to send the rumor mill into overdrive — and bloggers into a frenzy.
So when Howard Stern mentioned on his SiriusXM Satellite Radio show Thursday that Brandmeier had recently come by Stern’s New York studios (and commented on a note from Brandmeier about an appearance they’d made together on “Donahue” in the 1980s), a new round of speculation began. Adding credence to the rumors was the fact that Tim Sabean, who worked with Johnny B. as program director of the Loop in the early ’90s, now is senior vice president of the Howard Stern Channels at SiriusXM Radio.
For now, however, there seems to be nothing more to it. Sabean, who still maintains many Chicago contacts, downplayed the significance of the visit, saying only that Brandmeier had been in New York on business and “just stopped by” to say hello.
Earlier in the week, Brandmeier told me that he was “just exploring everything from TV to Internet to CB radio [and] meeting everyone I can to hear it all,” with nothing to share publicly yet. “Until then,” he added, “the search for a good time continues.”
Although Brandmeier has been gone from the Loop for six months, there appears to be lingering bitterness on both sides. Brandmeier’s website still prominently features “Johnny B.: The Unemployed Radio Mo Fo,” the music video screed he unleashed against his former employers for firing him. Unlike his phenomenal first run at the Loop — from 1983 to 1997 — Brandmeier wasn’t able to replicate his ratings success under Arbitron’s new Portable People Meter system the second time around.
When PPM ratings this week showed an increase in the Loop’s morning share among listeners between 25 and 54 since Brandmeier left, Emmis Chicago market manager Marv Nyren couldn’t resist sticking it to him one more time, telling the Sun-Times’ Lewis Lazare: “I think we’ve given people not as many reasons to leave the station.”
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Where there is smoke there is fire. The talent hunt is on at Howard 100 & 101.
Cowhead just happened to be in N.Y. and at the Sirius studios. Don’t let Sabean fool you with all his middle management drivel, the help wanted sign is in the window.
I can’t believe Pete McMurray is doing mornings and Johnny B isn’t. I like Johnny, hope he lands somewhere or just starts a podcast.
I always liked Brandmeier. But his same old schtick got old in the 90′s. He’s obviously talented and seems like a genuinely good guy. Hope he finds a place to land.
I like Buzz Killman.
To me, Buzz was a big part of Brandy’s show. Kent was OK, but Johnny really needed to bring Buzz back and get the magic back. Hopefully he lands on regular radio somewhere where I can listen to him. I won’t be shelling out any $$ for satellite radio, that’s for sure.
Hey Rob,
Do you read your past comments? Under your “Related Posts” sub-title is a blog about how the Loop will parish without the mighty Johnny B. Yet, here you mention that their ratings are up without him and his outrageous salary.
Guess you missed on that one…again.
I’m still intrigued by satellite radio – it has never take off like they thought it would (I guess the masses weren’t yearning to hear profanity after all – who knew?). I would love to know the stats comparing listenership of satellite radio vs. free radio. My kitchen research suggests that only those who are in their car most of the day are satellite listeners. Maybe I’m wrong, but is Stern’s audience way bigger than the heyday stats of syndicated Mark & Brian, Rick Dees or even Mancow? Again, I’m talking percentage of total radio listenership not flat numbers. I just think satellite radio is dying a veerrrryyyyyy slow death.
I like Johnny B because he is live and local. I can’t stand to listen to the thoughts of people who were not born and raised in Chicago.
Johnny B rocks. PPM is a bunch of crap.
You mean Howard Stern and his garbage is still on the radio?
Who’da thunk! I miss Spike!
I like Garry Meier. He is live and local ! GM on the GN.
I wonder how much his schtick would change if he were on Sirius…
It’s great to see that the changes at WGN are starting to payoff in the ratings.
JB’s “schtick” will never change. He’d have more flexibility, and he could play his Unemployed Mo Fo song as much as he wants on satellite, but I can’t see him doing radio porn like Mr. Stern. I think JB could be appreciated by existing satellite radio listeners outside of Chicago, and I’m sure some of his fans who don’t have XM-Sirius would subscribe. But how much $ does that bring. And, even though his bits extended well past Chicago (damn I miss the SPAM game!) I can’t imagine him not being based in Chicago. XM-Sirius needs a Chicago based person OTHER THAN OPRAH! I’ll be listening wherever and whenever Brandmeier ends up- he’s one of a kind.
When a popular hot mix dj (NOT a HOT MIX Five DJ) was asked how he felt about being famous and on the radio, he said: “To hell with fame; pay me!”
To J.B.: How much money is in the smoke? I have long been interested in what media personalities actually earn–particularly in the niche markets.
There is no doubt that Johnny B is a legendary radio personality, but what is SiriusXM able to pay, given that they are allegedly on life support?
db brings up some great points. Satellite radio’s business model is interesting, but their need for proprietary gear is hobbles them as Internet radio stations (such as Live 365) eat them alive.
Everyone’s a “broadcaster” these days.
Karen Casey – I don’t like Garry Meier. He is dead and looney! Should not be on the air…
I think it’s a huge stretch to say that Marv Nyren was “sticking it” to Brandmeier. He was simply reiterating what Emmis has said from the beginning: a lot of the rock fans weren’t interested in listening to Johnny B, and a lot of Johnny B fans weren’t staying for the rest of the broadcast day, and that with him gone people are keeping their dial on The Loop more consistantly. I don’t necessarily agree with that justification (and I was a regular listener to Johnny B’s show), but I certainally didn’t read it as anything personal.
And really, the video is probably still there because the site hasn’t been touched since it was posted. We all know Johnny isn’t much of a web guy. Really, what sensationalism. I used to have a lot more respect for you back in the Sun Times days, Rob.
I miss Johnny B. I miss Wally Phillips. I miss Howard Miller. I miss Greg Jarrett. I miss vaudeville. I miss the Arbitron diary system when I could write that I had listened to Johnny for four hours even though I’d listened for only four minutes. They were a great four minutes. It’s interesting to read above that the LOOP has turned into a parish. Is this a way of getting tax-exempt status because it’s a church? Smart move, Marv Nyren. I read above that Johnny was live and local and, I must reasonably infer from the comment, also born and raised in Chicago. Yes, he was born in Fond du Lac, just north of Howard Street, and was raised in Malibu, just west of Austin Blvd. I thought Johnny would last forever. It makes you wonder: Will the Bears be around forever? I don’t really think we’ll make it to Super Bowl MCMLXXXIII. But why should a football game numbered by the Romans last longer than the Roman empire did?
Nyren and Emmis did little to promote Johnny and now they gloat that the “rock” is doing better. What a bunch of nonsense. The PPM must be off becuse Johnny had a great following and offered a unique local persepctive to each day when he was on the air. Radio in the morning will be dead until he is back- hopefully in Chicago!
Why doesn’t Brandmeier just do his own podcast?Great to have Garry Meier back in the air.For those who don’t like him you can still join Judy&Kathy’s fan club somewhere on the internet and get a t-shirt and stuff and then there’s the syndicated Ryan Seacrest radio show that might put a bee in your bonnet.
Could it be possible that Brandmeier’s time has came and went, that he’s realistically washed up as a radio “personality” in this town, and that he should be glad for he millions and millions of dollars he’s siphoned from radio corporations in the 80′s and 90′s? Could it be possible that his manic, hyper, ADHD, make-a-fool-of-your-own-mother for a laugh, style of entertainment aimed at a drunk college age audience doesn’t work anymore? Could it be possible that now in his 50′s, everybody here is tired of his schtick and we don’t care anymore? I think it clearly is…
Interesting to hear that folks think Satellite radio is dying. It’s actually terrestrial radio doing the slow death. Although lately, they mostly seem to mimmick satellite radio with all of those syndicated shows. But if you look at the amount of commercials we endure just to listen to our local favorites (the only advantage still left to listen to terrestrial), it’s tough to stick with it. Johnny B would be a great addition to Satellite if given a shot. Heck, while were at it, get Steve Dahl over there too. Their “old schtick” would be new to most of the country.
As long as it is live an local!! Who cares what the topic is as long as the host is from Chicago. Anyone who has ever had sucess was this market was born in Chicago!
Even though Brandmeier’s schtick is all burned out in Chicago (just like Kevin Matthews) there are still other markets that may find this old school stuff a breath of fresh air. Say someone in Sioux City or Yuma.
We’re all crazy on a homogenized satellite channel!
Make him bring the local Jay Leno: Garry Meier.
The Loop sucks cant stand it the only reason i listened at all was Jhonny B WLUP classic rock my A** its the classic loop same song over and over and over all the diffrent artists all the mucic they have put out the loop seems to pick one or two songs from each and play them all the time. you want a good rock station i recomend WILL rock! 95.1 wlup raitings up only reason is, in chicago theres no good stations from rock to countrey all top 40
I miss the days of Johnny B. on the radio – a true radio legend. I hope that he joins Sirius/XM with a show on one of Howard’s channels. It would rock!