The History of Alternative: Q101 Chicago’s Alternative // Formerly on 101.1 FM
From our first days on the air in 1992, (the first song ever played was The Cure’s “Friday I’m In Love”), Q101 has grown with Chicago and continues to deliver the best new and established Alternative music for all of Chicagoland and planet Earth.
Q101 works every day to respond to your requests and suggestions. Feel free to reach out with your input, and feedback, tell us on how Q101 can improve on being your radio station!
Q101 has made national headlines over the years as an Alternative Rock juggernaut, fan favorite and once home of morning man Mancow Muller. Mancow is a long time Fox News contributor and local Chicago favorite. The Mancow Show (Mancow’s Morning Madhouse, Mancow Experience) is still syndicated nationally out of Chicago. Mancow has dabbled in local TV.
Mancow is not the only Q101 alum success story.
Countless bands have been discovered on Q101’s “Local 101” local music showcase. While Q101 Chicago was a regular stop for celebrities 
traveling through Chicago and the midwest, The Alternative was a celebrity creator in it’s own right. MTV’a love affair with radio talent has spanned years. Most recently, MTV plucked Q101’s Kevin Manno from the radio airwaves of Chicago to host a Television show on MTV from the Big Apple. Ryan Manno (pictured above) is a North Central College Alum and one time Mancow contributor. Both Manno Brothers have capitalized on their lack of a “face for radio” and transitioned into TV without totally eschewing their radio roots. Ryan hosts segments on JBTV out of Chicago and is an integral part of the Abe Kanan Show heard on Howard Stern’s Sirius/XM Channel.
Q101 has had a revolving door of radio programmers.
Some brilliant minds have contributed to this great Alternative Rock outlet, while others have just contributed confusion and misdirection. This is arguably one of the major reasons for Q101’s demise as a “radio station”.
No matter though. The most beautiful flowers, strongest trees bloom from the fertile soil found under the ashes and destruction of an erupted volcano.
The Q101 brand is akin to the Bat Signal.
When it is shown in Chicago, everyone recognizes it. Q101 is a warm blanket, a plate of comfort food, or a phone call with a close friend.
In an era of over connections, too many social networks, lots of hype, and lots more sizzle than steak…Q101 has managed to mean something to millions of Gen X, Gen Y, and Millennials who don’t believe in much, and even more who want to believe in something.
Cookie cutter radio stations all but killed the sort of movement that is Q101.
Throughout the various trends and fads, Q101 survived and remains relevant to a core audience over three decades. Kiss, Star, Edge, Jack, Buzz, Rock…and now Pandora are all time fillers with nothing that sticks and no longer term connection.
They’re great for entertainment in the moment mind you, but no one waits on hold for hours in hopes of winning a Pandora T-Shirt. Pandora like many cookie cutter radio stations is a faceless jukebox void of personal connection. Advertisers who want to sell more products need more than exposures to build businesses and brands. Advertisers want audiences who are connected. Spotify, Pandora, and all the other services are fashion.
Q101 is the steward of a generation.
Q101 became Chicago’s New Rock Alternative July 14, 1992, completing the station’s transition to alternative (modern) rock.
From our first days on the air in 1992, (the first song ever played was The Cure’s “Friday I’m In Love”), Q101 has grown with Chicago and continues to deliver the best new and established Alternative music for all of Chicagoland and planet Earth.
No matter though. The most beautiful flowers and strongest trees bloom from the fertile soil found under the ashes and destruction of an erupted volcano.
The Q101 brand is akin to the Bat Signal. When it is shown in Chicago, everyone recognizes it. Q101 is a warm blanket, a plate of comfort food, or a phone call with a close friend.
In an era of over connections, too many social networks, lots of hype, and lots more sizzle than steak…Q101 has managed to mean something to millions of Gen X, Gen Y, and Millennials who don’t believe in much, and even more who want to believe in something.
Cookie cutter radio stations all but killed the sort of movement that is Q101.
Throughout the various trends and fads, Q101 survived and stayed relevant to it’s core audience over two decades. Kiss, Star, Edge, Jack, Buzz, Rock…and now Pandora are all time fillers with nothing that sticks and no longer term connection.
They’re great for entertainment in the moment mind you, but no one waits on hold for hours in hopes of winning a Pandora T-Shirt. Pandora like many cookie cutter radio stations is a faceless jukebox void of personal connection. Advertisers who want to sell more products need more than exposures to build businesses and brands. Advertisers want audiences who are connected. Spotify, Pandora, and all the other services are fashion.
