Rewind moves forward with ‘great fit’ for evenings

Lisa Allen

It’s one down and one to go on Chicago radio’s night shift.

While Clear Channel still has not named a replacement for syndicated host Delilah Rene at adult contemporary WLIT-FM (93.9), Hubbard Radio moved quickly to fill its evening vacancy at adult hits WILV-FM (100.3).

On Monday, Hubbard announced the hiring of Lisa Allen as 7pm to midnight host on Rewind 100.3, effective April 9. She’ll fill the slot created March 23 in the staff shuffle that followed the departure of Robert Murphy as morning personality. Brian Middleton, who had been hosting evenings, returned to afternoons.

Allen currently hosts afternoons at northwest suburban WZSR-FM (105.5), where she doubles as Star 105.5 music director and assistant program director. She’s already well known to her colleagues at her new job, having served as producer for John Symons’ former Love Notes show on WILV — the same shift she’s now taking over — and more recently working weekends on hot adult-contemporary sister station WTMX-FM (101.9).

In announcing Allen’s hiring to the Rewind 100.3 staff, program director Barry James said he and Greg Solk, Hubbard’s senior vice president of programming, “feel incredibly fortunate to have someone here in the building that we feel is a great fit,” adding: “She grew up here, and loves the life and excitement of the city. When Lisa’s not on the air, you’ll find her pressing the flesh with her listeners at her many appearances or in the crowd, feeding her passion for live music.”

Meanwhile, Lite FM is moving more slowly in filling its 7pm to midnight opening, which was created when the station canceled Delilah’s syndicated show last month for the second time in five years. No reason was cited for the move, but it appeared to be tied to ratings, which showed evenings significantly underperforming the station overall.

Tony Coles, vice president of programming and operations, remains some time away from hiring a replacement. “I’m just now starting the interview process,” he said.