Matt Dubiel, Owner and Station Manager of WCKG Radio, one of the few remaining locally owned and operated Chicago media outlets, has pledged $3 million dollars in on-air and online advertising for local Chicago area businesses that have been impacted by the recent wave of vandalism and looting.
The station has allocated up to five minutes per hour for this pro bono project to help rebuild Chicagoland businesses. The free advertising package includes on-air advertisement time on WCKG 1530AM and sister station Q101FM as well as the company’s online and digital outlets, which reach over 1 million people per week. Dubiel’s pledge not only includes on-air time, but WCKG talent will write, voice, and produce the 30-second spots for businesses as well.
Dubiel says, “These businesses were already beaten down by the virus. We need to help now, and I’ve got time and airtime. I’m going to be digging in, writing, voicing, and producing radio commercials for our area businesses free. Then we will broadcast them free on-air and online at no charge”.
To take advantage of Dubiel’s pledge, Chicagoland local businesses who got hit with vandalism, theft, and looting should text “rebuild chicagoland” to (312) 535-8362 when they are ready to open back up.
Dubiel is committed to helping Chicago area businesses impacted by vandalism and looting through December 31, 2020, and hopes other broadcasters will follow his lead.
WCKG broadcasts on AM 1530 and online at WCKG.com. WCKG is licensed to the City of Elmhurst in Chicago. WCKG also simulcasts on a low power FM translator broadcasting from Elmhurst on 102.3 FM. The FCC recently granted WCKG a construction permit to move their 102.3 FM to the top of Trump Tower in downtown Chicago. WCKG also recently received approval to increase power of AM 1530 from 760 watts to 4,000 watts. WCKG can be found on Twitter @WCKGChicago and on Facebook.com/WCKGChicago
