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10 Questions with ... Rob Cressman
April 20, 2021
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. In honor of The Drive’s 20th Anniversary, we rewound to the inaugural broadcast from March 15th, 2001 and mirrored the playlist from that date, song for song. WDRV’s original morning host, Steve Downes, joined The Sherman & Tingle Show to reflect on the past twenty years. Bob Stroud, Seaver & Janda and Chicago’s rock fans shared memories throughout the day. The station’s evolution was uniquely captured and the rich nostalgia of the past two decades was highlighted and celebrated.
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1. What was your first job in radio and who were your early influences and mentors?
I was an intern in the News Department at full-service WFVA-AM/FM in my hometown of Fredericksburg, Virginia. That internship created a path to my first full-time position (hosting middays) with WFVA/WBQB. Vince Genson, Fred Jacobs, Woody Bartlett, Greg Mull and Dave Beasing are among those who, early in my career, offered solid direction and inspiration.
2. What are some of your best radio career highlights before you took over the programming at The Drive?
Gaining an understanding and appreciation for the importance of dynamic teambuilding was a foundational treasure from WAVF in Charleston, SC. Leading an Alternative outlet in the mid 90’s as the format was burgeoning is among my proudest highlights. 96 WAVEFEST drew 70,000 rock fans to the banks of the Ashley River in October of 1994 for one of the largest free listener-appreciation concerts ever produced.
3. How many years have you been at WDRV and how is the station doing in the market as you are starting to celebrate The Drive’s 20th anniversary?
I have worked for Hubbard’s WDRV-Chicago since January of 2016. We are fortunate and honored to have emerged as a consistently dominant competitor in the Adult 25-54 arena.
The Drive remains a market leader, ranking among the top three radio stations in Chicago for the past four years.
4. How long have Sherman & Tingle been doing mornings on The Drive and how did that show come together?
The Sherman & Tingle Show celebrated its fourth anniversary with The Drive on October 31, 2020. Brian (Sherman) and Steve (Tingle) worked together ten years ago with Emmis-Chicago. When Merlin purchased the Emmis properties, Sherman & Tingle separated. In the interim, Tingle worked with stations in Philadelphia, then Atlanta. Sherman hosted mornings at a suburban Chicago outlet. When the opportunity to reunite the pair presented itself, we were thrilled to pursue. Jill Egan joined Sherman & Tingle as Executive Producer in April of 2017 and Associate Producer Rachel Kelso came onboard in September of 2019. Ingenuity and vision are baked into this show, which has become synonymous with mornings in Chicago.
5. Now let’s talk about the 20th Anniversary of WDRV which began last month on March 15th. What did you do on that day to celebrate?
In honor of The Drive’s 20th Anniversary, we rewound to the inaugural broadcast from March 15th, 2001 and mirrored the playlist from that date, song for song. WDRV’s original morning host, Steve Downes, joined The Sherman & Tingle Show to reflect on the past twenty years. Bob Stroud, Seaver & Janda and Chicago’s rock fans shared memories throughout the day. The station’s evolution was uniquely captured and the rich nostalgia of the past two decades was highlighted and celebrated.
6. What ongoing features are you doing this year to celebrate?
The Drive is outfitting thousands of Chicagoans with 20th Anniversary Gifts, including commemorative shirts, customized cookies and other collectibles with daily opportunities to win, all year long. We are excited to honor the WDRV brand and its indelible connection with the Chicagoland Community through an incredible broadcast television marketing campaign which launched this week. These powerful tools and resources continue to positively differentiate Hubbard stations. Here are the links:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HK-dLEw4ShU
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RA2hfpVwny0
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Eun26_vZ_4
7. One of the programming challenges of the Classic Rock format has always been keeping the station sounding fresh and relevant while it’s playing Rock music that’s sometimes 30 or 40 years old. Your thoughts?
Classic Rock’s comparisons to comfort food or a warm blanket have abounded throughout the pandemic. This music sustains its appeal across a wide spectrum of demographics.
Millennials are passionate about Zeppelin and The Stones. The authenticity and ubiquitous nature of this music fuels its staying power.
8. What is the future of the Classic Rock format in the next five to ten years?
Classic Rock’s future is bright. Complimented by talented curators and innovative content, Classic Rock is as fresh and exciting today as it has ever been.
9. WDRV has been very pro-active with its listeners and the Chicagoland area over the last year during the pandemic. What are some of the more recent things the station has done to help listeners cope with this pandemic?
The Drive’s “Small Business Bowl” assisted Chicago’s entrepreneurs, family enterprises and sole proprietors over the past year. Through a daily series of free, live interviews in which business owners could highlight modified business hours, menu enhancements or plans for reopening, The “Small Business Bowl” included a chance for participating businesses to win a substantial WDRV advertising schedule to assist with pandemic emergence.
The Drive pauses to honor our Nation three times each day by airing The National Anthem. This brief salute promotes strength in unity and offers a few moments of reflection amidst the consistent chaos of the past year. In the midst of the crisis, WDRV’s “Friday Night Sing-A-Long” series offered Chicagoans an opportunity to unite safely from their porches, balconies and windows while “Free Form Fridays” gave Chicago’s rock fans additional control of the radio station’s playlist each week.
10. Finally, as the Drive begins to embark on its 21st year rocking Chicago, what are some of the things you have planned to keep the station vibrant and relevant for another 20 years or more?
We look forward to building on the remarkable foundation the past twenty years have provided. The Drive’s relationship with Chicagoland – its personal connection with listeners, advertisers and the community at large – will always be a priority.
Bonus Questions
The Drive was recently presented with one of the 10 NAB Crystal Radio Awards for 2021 for its community service. Congrats on this prestigious award.
The Drive’s responsibility to serve the Chicago Community has always led our mission. Throughout the tumult of 2020, WDRV accelerated that core community focus in order to inform, assist and entertain amidst such unimaginable crises. Receiving The Crystal Award this year is an exceptional honor for which our team could not be more proud.
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