The station is currently known for playing modern rock and indie music, featuring artists like Weezer, The Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana, Radiohead, and Nine Inch Nails. Although in the 1990s it was the leading alternative radio station in Chicago.

Q101 hosts various events, including PIQNIQ 2025, Twisted Xmas, and Lollapalooza coverage. It also features popular shows like Brian & Kenzie’s ‘Get To The Point’ and The Lounge performances. You can listen to Q101 live on their official website or through online radio platforms

Q101 WKQX has a fascinating history! The station first launched on October 13, 1948, as WMAQ-FM, owned by NBC Radio. Over the years, it went through several call sign changes, including WJOI, WNIS-FM, and WKQX, before settling on its well-known Q101 branding in the early 1980s. WKQX began to be branded “Q-101”. By the mid-1980s, the station had evolved into a hot AC format. During this period, the station carried Sexually Speaking with Dr. Ruth Westheimer.

From 1983 to 1993, Robert Murphy was the morning drive host on Q101. Tommy Edwards joined the station as program director in 1986. Starting in 1987, NBC began a two-year-long divestiture of its radio properties. In 1988, Emmis Communications purchased WKQX, along with four other NBC radio stations, for $121.5 million.

In the mid to late 1980s, WKQX aired an adult top 40 format, with the slogan “Today’s Music”.

Q101 continued to evolve. Switching formats again in 1992, Q101 became the leading alternative radio station in Chicago, known as “Chicago’s New Rock Alternative” until 2011, when the station was sold to Merlin Media, which briefly changed its format to all-news radio under the call sign WWWN, then later switched to adult contemporary as WIQI. Then the “Q101 Chicago” brand name was sold to an internet radio website.

Finally, in May 2022, Cumulus re-acquired the Q101 trademarks, officially bringing back the beloved Q101 branding. Today, Q101 continues to be a major force in Chicago’s alternative rock scene, broadcasting from the NBC Tower and transmitting from the John Hancock Center.

Notable current radio personalities:

• Lauren O’Neil – A longtime Q101 personality.
• Brian & Kenzie – Hosts of the morning show Get To The Point.
• John Doe & Joey Domenick – Hosts of Alt_Backspace.
• Brian & Lou – Known for their engaging discussions.

Original 1992-2011 era radio personalities:

• Mark Goodman – previously a VJ on MTV
• James VanOsdol
• Tim Vergen
• The Wendy & Bill Show
• Loveline with Drew and Adam
• Steve Fischer
• Tim Virgin
• Lance and Stoley
• Chuck Wren
• Zoltar! – The Brother from Another Planet
• Brian The Whipping Boy
• Alan Cox
• Sherman & Tingle
• Chris Payne
• Mancow Muller hosted the Mancow’s Morning Madhouse show, which was a popular (hated by many) and often controversial morning program during the 1990s and early 2000s. He introduced new bands at times. His show featured edgy humor, celebrity interviews, and prank calls, making him one of the most recognizable voices in Chicago radio. The show featured sidemen The Turd, The Freak, Cowboy Ray, Angie, Marissa, Jim Jesus, DJ Lov Cheese, and other misfits.

Q101’s Twisted and Block Party annual concerts featured bands including Korn, Boxcar Racer, Sugar Cult, Jimmy Eat World, Disturbed, and 3 Doors Down, Local H, Public Enemy, Jane’s Addiction, 311, White Zombie, Interpol, and Queens of the Stone Age, to name a few.