Chicago Radio: WILV PD Barry James Announces Retirement

Barry James

Veteran Chicago radio broadcaster Barry James (or simply "BJ" to those who know him) has announced he will soon be exiting his longtime role as Program Director for WILV-FM.

Chicagoland Radio & Media reports he will step down later next month, allowing time for Hubbard Radio Chicago to find the perfect replacement.  In just a matter of weeks, James will be giving up the frigid winters of northern Illinois to move to the humid summers of central Florida.

Barry James began working in Chicago radio back in May 1993. He was hired by Bonneville International Corporation's General Manager Drew Horowitz (now Hubbard Radio Chicago COO) to become the Program Director of the company's then-struggling station, WTMX-FM.

It was James that developed what is been called as America's first Modern AC format, launching it on WTMX-FM soon after his arrival. James also put together a new morning show hosted by two relatively unknown hosts at that time, Eric Ferguson and Kathy Hart. That morning show has gone on to be the most dominant morning show on Chicago radio in the last two decades.

Under James' leadership, WTMX-FM/101.9 The Mix went on to become one of the most consistent top-rated local radio stations.

In 1996, he helped relaunch the rock format on WLUP-FM and AC format on WNND-FM (now WILV-FM) after Bonneville purchased the stations. James was also part of the team in 2001 that help launch another Chicago radio success story, WDRV-FM/97.1 The Drive.

In 2007, James tackled a new challenge by leaving WTMX-FM and moving over to sister-station WILV-FM, taking over as that station's Vice-President, General Manager, and Program Director. Under James, WILV-FM branded itself as Love-FM and more recently, Rewind 100.3. Ratings have been a bit of a roller coaster for the station over the years, but it has rather consistently beaten its Adult Contemporary competition in its target demo of Women 25-54 and been profitable.

Barry James had previously worked in markets all across the eastern half of the country, including such markets as Evansville, IN, St. Louis, MO (KYKY-FM), Ft Lauderdale, FL (WAXY-FM), Raleigh/Durham, NC, Orlando, FL (WSTF-FM), Denver, CO (KOAQ-FM), and Cincinnati, OH (WYYS-FM/WSKS-FM).

Barry James started his career in Chicago radio on May 17th, 1993. He will be retiring from radio exactly 20 years later, on May 17th, 2013.

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