Chicago Radio: WGCI Grabs Two From Power In HipHop Battle

Tone Kapone

iHeartMedia continues to overhaul its on-air line-up at HipHop/R&B WGCI 107.5 FM as the company raids crosstown rival WPWX Power 92.3 FM.  iHR has poached middayer Frankie Robinson and PM Drive Tone Kapone from the Crawford Broadcasting station.

To make room for the new hires, WGCI has parted company with middaye Lori Swain and PM Drive personality U.B. Rodriquez. There shifts are currently be filled with weekenders and no start date has been given for Robinson and Kapone (real name Anthony May).  Both have non-compete clauses with Crawbord.

“Loni Swain and U.B. Rodriguez are no longer with the company,” an iHeartMedia spokeswoman said in a statement. “It’s our policy not to discuss employee matters for privacy reasons.”

Frankie Robinson

Both are believed to be bound by standard noncompete agreements that are typically in effect for three to six months.

In January the station launched a new morning show with Kyle Santillian, Kendra Gilliams and Leon Rogers.

ChicagolandRadio& Media called Swain a rising star in Chicago media since her arrival in July 2009. Just two weekends ago, she premiered "The Loni Swain Show" on CLTV, which airs Sunday nights at midnight, making her a multi-media talent. Not only is she a talent on the radio and television airwaves, but also in the kitchen. She is the owner of Loni Loo's Homemade Candies, creating gourmet chocolate treats for customers.

While in Chicago, she hosted a show on SiriusXM for over two years, in addition to her WGCI-FM show.

Prior to her coming to Chicago, Swain worked in radio in Tampa, St. Louis, Baltimore, and New Orleans.

UB Rodriquez

U.B. Rodriquez has been with WGCI-FM since April 2008, taking over afternoons in March 2014. Prior to coming to Chicago, Rodriquez has worked in radio in Miami, San Antonio, West Palm Beach, Dallas, San Francisco, and Hollywood (FL). Via his connection with iHeatMedia, he has also voice-tracked shows in other markets, including Houston.

No word yet on new replacements for Robinson and Kapone at Power 92.

Robinson has been hosting middays since August 2011, after joining the station a few years earlier as a weekend and Friday night host. Tone was one half of the late night and weekend mixers known as The Hot Boyz, along with Shag Nice. In June 2011, The Hot Boyz were split up, with Tone taking the afternoon shift and Shag taking the nighttime shift. Tone has also been seen nationally on the syndicated television show "Dish Nation."

Lori Swain

WPWX-FM consultant Tony Gray, of the Chicago-based Gray Consultants, confirms to CRM that iHM Chicago approached both talents and made them a much higher offer then the smaller Crawford Broadcasting could match.

Power Program Director Jay Alan and sees this as an excellent opportunity to bring aboard a pair of fresh new talents to the Chicago market that will appeal to the station's younger-leaning demographic.

Chicago Media writer Robert Feder notes that in the latest Nielsen Audio survey, WGCI tied for 11th overall with a 3.1 percent share and cumulative weekly audience of 1,468,800, while WPWX tied for 23rd with a 1.8 share and 974,600 cume. Among listeners between 18 and 34, WGCI was fifth with a 6.0 share and 579,800 cume, while WPWX was ninth with a 3.7 share and 405,200 cume.