The Loop 97.9 signs off with Highway to Hell straight into Christian Music

[@DavidLopez-pc7yg]

This is the proper way to go out. Never forget the loop. Never.

[@scottbailey1560]

Oh I agree 100% with you David. "The Loop" is on WKQX 101.1, HD-2 and "The Loop" branding is streaming on the iHeart app and The Loop's own website and app. Have you listened David? It's horrible! Whoever is in charge doesn't update the playlist, same old 100 songs over and over. They added the "Bob and Tom" morning show, to "The Loop", and I think Cumulus Media owns that show, as well as Cumulus owns the rights to "The Loop" branding and format. I'm in Tennessee, and I've been displeased with The Loop since they let go the 97.9 signal in Chicago. As we all know, Cumulus didn't own the 97.9 allocation/license in Chicago. It was a LMA deal with Merlin Media did. Merlin Media was the Owner/Licensee of the 97.9 Frequency in Chicago Randy Michaels wanted to sell it, in my opinion. And that's how Educational Media Foundation a.k.a. K-Love, with it's headquarters moving or now moved to Nashville, Tennessee, owns it 100%. We'll, I would rather have Jesus Take the Wheel than AOC, and her "Socialist Squad", who want to silence our "Freedom Of Speech" Rights and Rep. Ilhan Omar telling us "Loop Fans and Mancow Fans", We now make the Rules in Congress and You will follow them! Omar is on The Highway To Hell, in my Opinion! Where was Sean Hannity the day we needed him to save "97.9 The Loop" in Chicago? Sean Hannity could have had his Radio Talk Show on The Loop, as long as the rest of the time, Sean Hannity would let us keep playin' that Good Ole Rock-n-Roll, I could live with that.

[@robertpreston2220]

The Loop had Jocks and music geared toward really old people and once the listeners all died so did the ratings

[@Lerxstification]

@@robertpreston2220let’s play a game: Stupid or troll? Which one are you?

[@robertpreston2220]

@@Lerxstification How old are you hon? Does your mommy know you troll the internet talking childish to people for no reason?

[@fiendpoet]

That last 3 three songs were the best way to sign off for them!

[@ILLIANAMUSIC]

If they would of played music like that they would still be around. Never heard Maiden before, well at least not Number of the Beast.

[@NightWarriorAlive]

Blame the radio industry; everything has to be in certain formats that it doesn't allow for creativity.

[@ILLIANAMUSIC]

Thats why I have sirius and an ipod! The Loop was great once, but not for over a decade!

[@scottbailey1560]

Somebody at You Tube keeps letting the videos of the last 3 Song or last song played on 97.9 The Loop, removed! There is much more Satanic things on You Tube than this, Gee.

[@scottbailey1560]

@@NightWarriorAlive And I know a certain man to blame for all of this! I'll ask you, can you say, Merlin Broadcasting?

[@theatomicpunkkid]

You took the words right out of my mouth. Right in the middle of the song it flipped it didn't even wait making noises music, or even silence until the top of the hour. We will never forget the loop. Rip

[@robertpreston2220]

The Loop had Jocks and music geared toward really old people and once the listeners all died so did the ratings

[@theatomicpunkkid]

@@robertpreston2220 what?

[@DjJtown]

I remember when The Mighty Met (95.5 WMET) switched. There wasn't even an announcement til the morning show of that day. I was at a record store in Downers when it happened. At Noon there was a record scratch on the radio and the announcement said "The noise is gone" and they started playing smooth jazz. We all stood around in disbelief. Within 6 hours of the announcement, they were gone.

[@ILLIANAMUSIC]

I do, WMET played not only rock but bands like Ratt, The Scorps, Priest, Motley. They would have a song play and a stop the music promo would come on. Brutal!

[@Lerxstification]

@@ILLIANAMUSIC Weren't there a bunch of little 'teaser' ads running about the switch over a month or so in advance? Ratt would be playing, then fade to static, then an announcement about the change, then static again, then back to Ratt. Is that correct?

[@Dead_loser_1313]

I recorded the last hour on cassette.

[@ElfHostage]

essary gaming and music plz upload. But cut out the audio of the music to avoid the copyright shit.

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

God I remember that day! I cried 😢I grew up listening to the loop!

[@xxfreddyxx69]

me too rock on chicago the loop

[@Dogger1230]

I’m a saved Christian but am definitely a rocker. For my entire life I remember listening to the loop. Grew up in Chicago and now live in California. Just found out about this. What a shame...

[@robertpreston2220]

The Loop had Jocks and music geared toward really old people and once the listeners all died so did the ratings

[@tripgreat]

The final nail in the cross for a great, legendary station. From 1979 on, there was Jonathan Brandmeier, Steve and Garry, Kevin Matthews, Bruce Wulf, Ed Till, and Danny Bonaduce on THE SAME Station. The greatest talk radio talent of comedy and realness with Rock, and the finest interviews with Rock Stars like Joe Walsh, Roger McGuinn and all that spun off from there, Johnny B and The Liesure Suits, The Dalphins, Kevheads,, and Danny is still going strong in Seattle with a 30 year career carrying on the tradition of regular callers, listener involvement and funny on KZOK and iHeart Radio.

[@kevinsors2326]

I hope the loop comes back like 101wkqx

[@aLabs666]

A piece of Chicago history destroyed

[@GACOMO7660007]

"The Loop, where Chicago rocked!" I remember the early days. I was only 18, ChicagoFest at Navy Pier and lots and lots of good looking girls, of course that was 1978. Today, it's almost necessary to put blinders on not to look at what's out there. Sorry girls, but what the hell happened to you? (most of you). Don't you realize that KFC, MCD's and all that unhealthy junk "food" (made from waste/leftovers) is destroying humanity?

[@gtarbmx]

Gabe Kopca women used to have to appeal to men. With the advent of social programs that ended. You don't have to look pretty for the welfare office

[@DjJtown]

The iconic thing about The Loop is that we single handedly ended DISCO! That's a fact stated in numerous articles at the time and even Rolling Stone Mag said "...that will go down in history as the end of the fiasco called Disco...". I was there for Disco Demolition and was on the field to add to the pile to be blown up. I'm Damn Proud I had a hand in that.

[@TinyTurboVW]

@@DjJtown y'know I'm kinda sad the game didn't finish but it was a great event

[@HDgamingxbox360HD]

I grew up with that radio station, I visited Chicago a couple weeks ago and I was so confused on why there was Christian music playing. It's a damn shame.

[@SnakeEyesSOG]

This is really sad😢 nice choice of music tho. Them last 3 songs were 🔥🔥🔥😍

[@ILLIANAMUSIC]

I agree!

[@Pathfinder906]

Thanks for the memories

[@lovejones72]

Missing The Loop and local Chicago radio & TV in general. This was a sad day.

[@devinmelendez7394]

I remember listening to 97.9 all the time with my dad in his shitty 2001 Ford Escape. I’m only 18 so the songs that we listened to on that station were obviously 20-30 years old for me and I love rap but classic rock has always been one of my favorite genres of music but I have so many songs on my Spotify playlist of all the old songs that used to be played on this station

[@altfactor]

Sticking it to K-Love before they take over the Loop!

[@CLOWNAIDS]

THE LOOP TOUGHT ME SO MUCH GREAT MUSIC. I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED. GREATEST LAST SONGS TO PLAY BEFORE THE NEW FORMAT. R.I.P TO AN ERA. WOW IS DEFINITELY WHAT I WAS THINKING.

[@toddstewart9070]

I really hate it when that happens. I haven't lived in Chicago since the early-mid 80s and I was just a kid, but I even remember WLUP. it'll probably comeback eventually. Ive seen it time and time again in a number of cities. They tried to do that 97.1 KEGL in Dallas, turned it into an easy listening station, then shortly after that a Spanish station, then after about a year the rock station (97.1 The Eagle) came back like it never left. Itll probably come back, once the christian format fails.

[@owenbelanger2971]

it won t fail

[@P00katube]

It is failing

[@TrustySteeringWheelTray]

Chicago definitely needs a new classic rock station. One classic rock station (WDRV) is not enough for such a large market. As much as I love the Drive, they just don't play the same type of rock music the Loop did. Bring back AC/DC, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, ALL OF IT TO CHICAGO AGAIN!!! I know it can be popular and no, rock isn't "dying out". Just look at the success MeTV FM has had. They're one of the top stations in all of Chicago. The key is variety, and unfortunately for the last few years of WLUP's existence, they lacked exactly that. Give Chicago what it deserves; another classic rock station, and one with GOOD VARIETY!!!

[@danacarter9147]

MidnightClub x96 I hope K-Love #&%£s up miserably.

[@TrustySteeringWheelTray]

@@danacarter9147 The thing is I think they're too big to fail. They're popular all over the country and they surely have a following among the blacks, whites, and hispanics.

[@P00katube]

K-LOVE SUCKS!!!!! BRING BACK THE LOOP!!!!!

[@mayavenuemisfit814]

0:43 the moment rock n' roll died in Chicago. 😔

[@mamabear6403]

The greatest station ever

[@Lerxstification]

At least they took over from the computer playlist for the last 3 songs. It was WILD to hear the dead air after AC/DC..."bwahahahaha this is Satan, there shall be no Christian music!!!!" then...the ultimate in lameness: A format change after 41 years going into.....wait for it.....a song already in progress obviously on a auto playlist! LAME...at least they could have had an on air 'exorcism' where AC/DC was chased off of the air and then went into a proper Jesus approved song.

[@owenbelanger2971]

no say sin

[@whited586]

Good! Christian music is the best music around!

[@kbjohan]

I'm still pissed that WDAI went disco.

[@MPM.Mikus.P.]

The Loop simply had a relapse to repent and sell out for Christian Rock like so many people do having a breakdown.#@The Loop sold out for Christian Rock, like a GEEZER!

[@melodycjefferson1323]

Wow. SMH🙁I had no idea.

[@SkinnyLegendVersace]

All we have left is 101.1

[@DjJtown]

WRXQ 100.7 FM Q-Rock out of Joliet Il. Freak is on air from 10a-2p everyday mostly broadcasting live from his bar; The Top Fuel Saloon in Braidwood.

[@KaskoBroadcasting]

Highway to Hell straight into Christian music? Lol

[@MadMatt-bs3xv]

Yes it was a Chicago icon, but honestly who the hell cares? Between my satellite radio, Pandora, Spotify, and iTunes I have every Loop song ever played. And not only that I have it COMMERCIAL FREE!!!!! It's 2018 people, it's time to move on. All long running FM radio stations will most likely go under in the next decade. People are getting really fed up with the constant bombardment of commercials and they simply don't want it anymore. Welcome to 2018.

[@DavidLopez-pc7yg]

I care. This made me into the metal head I am. The loop should have lived. I'm thankful it went out the way it did.

[@MadMatt-bs3xv]

Outlaw Opinion Great.

[@joejonas3684]

As a radio major, I don’t agree. Personally I like the local aspect FM radio brings

[@kalebgruber7237]

Yeah but radio always has that feel never knowing what will come next . Even more than shuffel

[@TrustySteeringWheelTray]

While I agree music apps are taking over, I don't think FM radio, or even AM radio is doomed. I think it will just sort of linger on, just won't be as popular. At some point I think the listenership will plateau and will just sort of find its niche. It already sort of has IMO, as these music apps have been big for years now, yet people still listen to the radio while driving or working in the garage. Plus for stations like 93.1 XRT and 87.7 MeTV fm, they play a good variety of music most people have never heard before. Radio is still somewhat popular.

[@RayChiTown]

I like 87.7, 93.1, and 94.7. But I'm not too crazy about 93.9.

[@joejonas3684]

RayChiTown I do like their jingle though lol 93.9! 93.9! W-L-I-T!!!

[@TrustySteeringWheelTray]

@@joejonas3684 They haven't had that jingle in years. But I agree that was a neat jingle

[@DjJtown]

There are a few that are left worth listening to. 89.1 WONC, and I still listen to 93.1 WXRT on occasion but the format change last year added too much Top 40. 95.9 WERV "The River" is pretty good; especially the morning show. Since The Loop went off the air, 97.1 WDRV has added more uptempo and 80's rock to their rotation and isn't as sleepy as before. Then the cherry on top is 100.7FM WRXQ in Joliet Il. Great Rock & Metal all day with the good 80's thrown in like Priest, Maiden, Megadeth, Slayer, Crue etc...

[@johnhorvath3219]

This is why Howard Stern went to Sirus, terrestrial radio is dead.

[@ILLIANAMUSIC]

Exactly.

[@LegacyDigitalMediaGroup]

What a shame.

[@mandalorian_guy]

On one hand this is sad, on the other this was Mancow's station and he was a stain on society.

[@sompka1]

Nah, don't lie. This was probably just their normal 3 songs they play every day on loop. I get it, nobody wants to listen to worship music. But who the fuck wants to listen to HIGHWAY TO HELL ballad every single morning between home and work? That 80's hair metal satanshit is just junk food for your brain and their starting to call that "classic rock".

[@qwertyiuwg4uwtwthn]

hahaha the view count for me is 16,666 views ;)

[@DCtheGod]

:(

[@Catsrock-u7y]

Positively disgusting K-Love..

[@P00katube]

K-LOVE SUCKS!!!!! BRING BACK THE LOOP!!!!!

[@deadaccountguys]

It's dissapointing to see these changing into Christian radios

[@danacarter9147]

SiberianMicrophone 19 Infuriating is more like it. }:-(

[@owenbelanger2971]

its not I love it

[@paulaw4]

thats fucked up, , very fitting end to bash the jebus station

[@owenbelanger2971]

sin

[@indystormjay]

Eh.. Rock is dead.

[@TinyTurboVW]

Fuck off

[@P00katube]

K-LOVE SUCKS!!!!! BRING BACK THE LOOP!!!!!

[@Joker058]

The music of the Loop is still available online at www.wlup.com streaming 24 hours and on HD FM on 101.1 FM HD2. The Christian group that bought the frequency and station did not but the call letters or the station name so without DJ's the loop lives on with less commercials.