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Daring
The parent company of seven Chicago radio stations – including WBBM 780-AM / WCFS 105.9-FM, a top-rated news channel – officially changed its name Tuesday from Entercom to “Audacy.”
“It’s all part of the audio, the daring and the odyssey,” David Field, president of the Philadelphia-based company, told news anchor Steve Scott on WCBS New York. “
Whether it’s to resonate with listeners and advertisers or join the corporate ash heap with ‘trunk’ and other famous flops, the rebranding marks the last effort of a legacy media company to stay relevant. . The new name is intended to encompass broadcast, podcasting, digital, network, live experiences, musical sports and news.
Saying that the old company name “no longer matches,” Field told his hometown Philadelphia Inquirer: “Entercom was only reflecting radio. We have passed it. It’s wider than that, and it didn’t match our aspirations either.
“We have evolved into a fundamentally different and vastly improved organization. It is therefore time to adopt a new name and a new brand identity. ”
With 230 radio stations in 47 markets, Audacy is the second largest commercial broadcaster in the country behind iHeart Media (which changed its name from Clear Channel Communications in 2014).
The name change marks the third company name in less than four years for the Chicago station group, which was owned by CBS Radio until Entercom took over in 2017.
In addition to the WBBM Newsradio combo, the company’s stations here include sports / talk WSCR 670-AM; Top 40 WBBM 96.3-FM; alternative adult album WXRT 93.1-FM; country WUSN 99.5-FM and classic hip hop WBMX 104.3-FM.
“It’s more than a name change,” Rachel Williamson, senior vice president and head of the Chicago market, wrote to advertisers. “Our new brand reflects our company’s transformation into a large-scale, multiplatform audio powerhouse with a leadership position in virtually every segment of the dynamic and growing audio market.
“Through our recent acquisitions, investments and improvements, we have significantly increased our ability to serve our listeners and advertisers better than ever.”
Commentary for Tuesday: Wynne Delacoma: I have no doubt that Hannah Edgar will do a terrific job covering classical music for the Tribune. But the idea that a newspaper like the Trib is unable – or unwilling – to pay out of its own coffers for a full-time classic critic in office is appalling. Chicago is home to internationally renowned institutions like the Chicago Symphony and the Chicago Lyric Opera. The Tribune should be ashamed of itself.
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