Spike O’Dell: WGN Radio “No Longer The Station That Mid-America Knows And Trusts”

The sentiments that so many average citizens and listeners all over the mid-west have been feeling over the past year about WGN radio was made loud and clear by Spike O’Dell, the former morning man for the station.   There is a tidal wave of opposition to the tossing aside of remarkable on-air talent at WGN, such as Steve Cochran, and Kathy and Judy, ‘our girlfriends.”   The fact there has been a landslide of anger about these thoughtless changes from listeners about the current tactics of radio management in their zeal to destroy a station should raise a red flag that these decisions are indeed wrong ones to take.

Any seventh graders could figure this out!

Why the jar-heads in the management wing at WGN Radio can not fathom this is beyond my ability to reason. Bottom line….there is no one  anywhere cheering what is happening to WGN radio.  Instead there is a growing chorus of opposition.

WGN was the station I grew up as a teenager, wanted to work at when I was in broadcasting, and relaxed to hour after hour as an adult.  I am saddened and shocked over what is happening to this beloved institution in Chicago.  The only thing that lifts my spirit over this matter is that I am not alone in the way I feel. 

Which leads me to the latest concerning Spike O’Dell.  I have long applauded his retirement as I wrote in July 2008, “At age 54 he has the money to live as he wishes, and explore the world as he desires.”  I respect those who know when to stop climbing up and live life for every day, as opposed to grabbing for more.

Spike has remained quiet about the affairs at WGN radio….until now.

Former WGN-AM 720 morning man Spike O’Dell, who has been diplomatically quiet concerning changes at his former station, offered his unequivocal support for ousted midday host Steve Cochran via Facebook, saying it is “no longer the station that mid-America knows and trusts.”

O’Dell later explained Saturday that it seems “WGN is becoming ‘just another station’ on the dial with what is going on” and he “blew an ‘emotional gasket’ and blurted out my response” at news of Cochran’s exit.“Well Steve,” O’Dell, who retired from WGN-AM and broadcasting in December 2008, posted on Cochran’s wall, “as long as they are making all these changes, I hope they will change the call letters too. It is certainly no longer the station that mid-America knows and trusts. I don’t know if I am mad or sad. Sorry partner.”Cochran posted. ”At about 245p as I exited the men’s room (seems fitting) I was summoned to a meeting where I was sheepishly told today was my last at WGN.” 

O’Dell’s note Friday was in response to Cochran’s status update hours after learning his Friday show was his last at Chicago Tribune parent Tribune Co.’s radio station.

“So how was your day?”

O’Dell concluded his response by suggesting he and Cochran play some golf. “Not working is not a bad thing at all,” O’Dell wrote.

“A radio station has to evolve all the time,” O’Dell noted. “It just seems that WGN is becoming ‘just another station’ on the dial with what is going on now. It seems to have lost the neighborly or friendly feel to it. I think people want to turn on their radio and enjoy what they listen to — not get mad at it.

“I love that radio station so much,” he continued. “I guess that’s why it breaks my heart when I hear things through the grapevine or in the press. I have stayed pretty quiet the last year and a half. I’m not there any longer and no one cares what I think, and I’m fine that. That’s normal. But when I heard the news about ‘Cocky,’ I guess I blew an ‘emotional gasket’ and blurted out my response to his Facebook post.”