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Tim Virgin Is Back! Sort Of...

Posted by ABRockNJock <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=ABRockNJock' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 18, 2025, 12:41 pm

come 3P (CT) this afternoon on 97.1 FM The Drive, a familiar voice to Chicago radio makes his return to afternoons.

Tim Virgin, the grizzled radio veteran whose Windy City resume includes stops at the defunct 97.9 The LOOP, Q101 & 94.7 WLS-FM, adds WDRV to his resume starting this afternoon. Virgin will be heard on The Drive from 3-7P (CT) weekday afternoons on the Hubbard-owned Classic Rock station.

However, Virgin's voice will continue to be heard on KSHE 95, The Drive's Classic Rock sister station in St. Louis. Virgin joined KSHE in March and hosts 2-6P (CT) on the station that's branded as "Real Rock" down there.

To accommodate Virgin's addition to The Drive daily lineup, Bob Stroud will only be on at 10A (CT) to host "Ten @ 10" and Janda Lane shifts from afternoons to middays from 11A-3P (CT) starting today. Lane will also continue to host her "Behind the Song podcast for WDRV.com as well.

The new Drive lineup goes like this:
6-10A "The Sherman & Tingle Show"
10A "Ten @ 10 with Bob Stroud"
11A-3P Janda Lane
3-7P Tim Virgin
7P-Midnight "Alice's Attic with Alice Cooper"

Comments from Virgin himself regarding his return to Chicago on The Drive as well as comments from WDRV Brand/Content Director Keith Hastings can be found here:

https://radioinsight.com/headlines/321032/tim-virgin-returns-to-chicago-as-wdrv-afternoon-host/

Re: Tim Virgin Is Back! Sort Of...

Posted by detectivetom <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=detectivetom' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 19, 2025, 8:14 am, in reply to "Tim Virgin Is Back! Sort Of..."

So he will be on the air in two different cities at the same time. Where will he be doing the shows?

Re: Tim Virgin Is Back! Sort Of...

Posted by WYTZZ95FM <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=WYTZZ95FM' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 19, 2025, 8:43 am, in reply to "Re: Tim Virgin Is Back! Sort Of..."

Detectivetom, I was informed he is based out of St Louis. I can't verify it, but it is plausible. His shift @ the Drive is VT.

Z

Re: Tim Virgin Is Back! Sort Of...

Posted by ABRockNJock <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=ABRockNJock' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 19, 2025, 9:10 am, in reply to "Re: Tim Virgin Is Back! Sort Of..."

Correct. Since March, Tim Virgin has been hosting afternoons at KSHE 95 in St. Louis. The difference between here and his new afternoon shift at 97.1 FM The Drive is one hour. Virgin starts at 2P on KSHE there and now starts at 3P on The Drive here.

Besides the fact both stations are owned by Hubbard, the 2 afternoon shows lead into “Alice’s Attic with Alice Cooper”..

I don’t know how long Tim will originate his shows from KSHE. The power of the ISDN line makes it hard to tell.

Not to get too technical…

Re: Tim Virgin Is Back! Sort Of...

Posted by WYTZZ95FM <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=WYTZZ95FM' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 19, 2025, 8:35 am, in reply to "Tim Virgin Is Back! Sort Of..."

Looks like Hubbard is watering down like every other company. On the bird 7 - 12, 3 - 7 is VT. Bob's hour is pre-recorded.

Z

Re: Tim Virgin Is Back! Sort Of...

Posted by detectivetom <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=detectivetom' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 19, 2025, 9:15 pm, in reply to "Re: Tim Virgin Is Back! Sort Of..."

Okay, I admit it. I am a tad slow. Will it be the same show in two different cities at the same time or will he be doing separate shows?

Those of us old to remember can recall Tom Joyner doing the same thing in Dallas and WGCI here but different shifts. If I recall, he did mornings in Dallas and afternoons here. I also remember, I hope correctly, him actually flying back and forth daily for a very short time. Maybe as a publicity stunt.

Re: Tim Virgin Is Back! Sort Of...

Posted by PhilJSmith <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=PhilJSmith' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 20, 2025, 12:00 am, in reply to "Re: Tim Virgin Is Back! Sort Of..."

With the song setlist, you can VT an hour’s worth of show in 3 minutes. 5 if you’re compelled to comment on events, weather, and sports to “sound local.”

Re: Tim Virgin Is Back! Sort Of...

Posted by WYTZZ95FM <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=WYTZZ95FM' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 20, 2025, 8:56 am, in reply to "Re: Tim Virgin Is Back! Sort Of..."

Sadly Phil, there are very few jocks that want to sound live and local when tracking. They do not get paid enough, track 10 stations, they are deflated talking into a void, no phoners, etc.

Then there are very few that still make it sound stellar and to most people, they do seem live and local.

Z

Re: Tim Virgin Is Back! Sort Of...

Posted by PhilJSmith <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=PhilJSmith' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 20, 2025, 11:18 am, in reply to "Re: Tim Virgin Is Back! Sort Of..."

Oh... I am definitely not implying you get a quality product by voice-tracking. Listeners know, even if only subconsciously.

Re: Tim Virgin Is Back! Sort Of...

Posted by Hunter <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=Hunter' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 20, 2025, 1:00 pm, in reply to "Re: Tim Virgin Is Back! Sort Of..."

Hi WYTZZ95FM:

This discussion of VT is interesting in the fact interactions with the air talent is virtually nonexistent.

I was in a friend's car recently and she had WKSC-FM/103.5 on. They were giving away tickets for their Jingle Ball concerts. I heard the caller # and the station's contest # to win.

I'll bet callers are likely talking to a production or board operator and not the DJ who is being heard.

As it is, I believe the majority of music stations have a set playlist. The good old days of calling in and hearing your request are long gone.

I know this is 2025. VT and AI will likely continue.

Re: Tim Virgin Is Back! Sort Of...

Posted by WYTZZ95FM <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=WYTZZ95FM' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 20, 2025, 8:52 am, in reply to "Re: Tim Virgin Is Back! Sort Of..."

Will it be the same show in two different cities at the same time or will he be doing separate shows?

Reported he is based out of St Louis. The Drive will be "recorded" (not live). There is no evidence or announcement he will be live in St Louis either. Some people are saying he will be live in St Louis, others say he will be recording that show too.

It is not uncommon for a jock to be doing a live on air shift, while recording their shows for several other stations during the 10 minute commercial breaks during songs.

Detectivetom, if you go online, it is very common to hear the same jock, same name, sometimes different on air name, same or different formats, on 2, 3, 4, 5 or more "stations" at the same time. Called "Tracking" or "Voice Tracking" (VT). The flyjock days for promotion, pay and devotion are long gone when you can record a shift from a basement across the world, 1 year in advance. Technology is great, technology is terrible.

Z

Re: Tim Virgin Is Back! Sort Of...

Posted by ABRockNJock <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=ABRockNJock' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 20, 2025, 9:47 am, in reply to "Re: Tim Virgin Is Back! Sort Of..."

When you mention the name “Fly Jock”, that’s what Tom Joyner did for years.

It’s well documented that Joyner constantly commuted from Dallas to Chicago and back for many years. He did that from 1985-93 and racked up 7 million frequent flyer miles in a Radio Ink interview along the way.

I remember John Williams did something along those lines, too. Williams split his time between WCCO-AM in Minneapolis & 720 AM WGN Radio for many years before leaving the Twin Cities completely & devoting to WGN full time many years ago.

As for Tim Virgin, it sounded live when he was on 97.1 FM The Drive the last couple days, even though he’s still on KSHE 95 in St. Louis as well. I think in due time, Virgin will likely have to decide how long he’ll host afternoons on the 2 Hubbard-owned Classic Rock stations.

I think the difference besides the 1 hour time difference & the 2 companies under the same ownership is that Virgin doesn’t have to constantly commute like Joyner did.

Re: Tim Virgin Is Back! Sort Of...

Posted by JS81 <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=JS81' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 20, 2025, 11:48 am, in reply to "Re: Tim Virgin Is Back! Sort Of..."

" I think in due time, Virgin will likely have to decide how long he’ll host afternoons on the 2 Hubbard-owned Classic Rock stations."

Why? That's not how things work in radio in the year 2025. Voicetracking stations in multiple markets is basically a requirement of the job now for many positions. This isn't any different.

Re: Tim Virgin Is Back! Sort Of...

Posted by detectivetom <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=detectivetom' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 20, 2025, 3:26 pm, in reply to "Re: Tim Virgin Is Back! Sort Of..."

It is sad fewer big stations don't have live djs all.the time.
I have another question here.
On my car radio, like everyone else, for most stations it scrolls the name and artist.
Stations like WEFM (95.9FM):do not. What is the reason?

Re: Tim Virgin Is Back! Sort Of...

Posted by ABRockNJock <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=ABRockNJock' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 20, 2025, 3:52 pm, in reply to "Re: Tim Virgin Is Back! Sort Of..."

Thanks to the 2020 pandemic and declining ad revenue, not even Hubbard Radio was spared from corporate cutbacks at its radio stations.

After being fully staffed with jocks around the clock when 97.1 FM The Drive signed on the air in 2001, budget cuts claimed evening host Phil Manicki & overnight host Greg Easterling at "Chicago's Classic Rock" 5 years ago.

Like so many FM stations up & down the dial, that also explains why The Drive is jockless overnights.

Re: Tim Virgin Is Back! Sort Of...

Posted by WYTZZ95FM <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=WYTZZ95FM' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 21, 2025, 7:39 am, in reply to "Re: Tim Virgin Is Back! Sort Of..."

Hello detectivetom,

It is sad fewer big stations don't have live djs all.the time.

The goal is to have just a few DJ's "nation casting" across the whole country on a few formats. The mentality is, if KLOVE can do it, why can't everyone else? Nothing better than digging your own grave.

On my car radio, like everyone else, for most stations it scrolls the name and artist. Stations like WEFM (95.9FM):do not. What is the reason?

That is called RDS. Radio Data System. It is used on Analog stations. RBDS in the US because we have to be different. (DRM and DAB anyone? We see how well IBOC and HD Radio went in the US, ignoring the rest of the world). On HD it is PSD. Link below.

Interesting option is AF aka Alternative Frequency. This would be beneficial for KLOVE stations, or the old Big City Radio Multicasts turn of the decade. It will track the same station on more than one frequency and shift to it if the one you are on gets weak or unreliable/unlistenable. I have never heard it in practice.

Why doesn't WEFM use it? Probably cost. Or they think it is not worth the cost or returned benefits for their listeners. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Z

Link: Radio Data System

Re: Tim Virgin Is Back! Sort Of... — RDS/RBDS AF feature

Posted by PhilJSmith <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=PhilJSmith' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 23, 2025, 12:29 am, in reply to "Re: Tim Virgin Is Back! Sort Of..."

Back around 2002, I saw AF in action on 91.5 WBEZ Chicago and 89.5 WBEW Chesterton. My Blaupunkt Alaska after-market receiver would automatically shift between 89.5 and 91.5 seamlessly, anytime the signal dropped below some threshold for a period of time. The only other place I saw it work was in east central Pennsylvania, on what I recall was a trio multicast (something like “96X”?) — that would have been useful for that Nine-FM trio of stations on 92.5, 92.7 and 99.9 way back then.

The WBEZ <=> WBEW configuration of AF was apparently cleared when WBEW broke away from 100% simulcast. I think it switched to Vocalo.

Re: Tim Virgin Is Back! Sort Of... — RDS/RBDS AF feature

Posted by WYTZZ95FM <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=WYTZZ95FM' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 24, 2025, 3:12 pm, in reply to "Re: Tim Virgin Is Back! Sort Of... — RDS/RBDS AF feature "

Phil, at least someone was able to take advantage of it. 99.9% of the US population has never heard of it and geeks like me have been deprived! LOL.

PS - Check your PM on here. Thanks.

Z

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