What it is and What it is NOT. 

A year ago, Lamont Watts made Chicago radio history by bringing an Internet Radio format to the mainstream terrestrial airwaves. As reported by Robert Feder,  "Since 2005 Watts has programmed the dance music format (Stepping) at clubstepping.com. This move will be historic because this format (stepping music) has not been done on a 24/7 basis on a terrestrial radio station".  Although the statement related some facts it was unclear about "clubsteppin.com" being an Internet Stream simulcasting to the 95.1 FM frequency. The focus of the article was on the steppers music "format". The confusion is because many terrestrial radio stations operate a dot com along with the terrestrial signal. People don't really know the differences in a terrestrial station and a dot com because both can be heard on a cellular device or smartphone.  The information in the article talks about the format with no specific information about Mr Watts being an owner of a RADIO station with call letters like WGCI, WVON, or WBMX. Mr Watts did not purchase a radio station Mr. Watts does not own a RADIO STATION. Mr Watts owns an Internet Stream "Clubsteppin.com".  To own an FCC licensed radio station call letters that begin with the letter W or  K (if the station location is west of the Mississippi river) are assigned to accompany the  station owners brand name for example possible call letter could have been WCSC (Club Stepping Chicago) 95.1 FM. The were no CALL LETTERS for CLUBSTEPPIN.com just the use of the 95.1 FM frequency.  An actual terrestrial radio station has owners, studios, transmitter and antenna. CLUBSTEPPIN.com is on the Internet which makes it an INTERNET STREAMING station not a terrestrial radio station. Clubsteppin.com is heard on the 95.1 FM frequency because it broadcasts from WLEY 107.9 HD2 and simulcasts the programming to two FM translators on the 95.1 FM frequency (see https://www.fcc.gov/media/radio/fm-translators-and-boosters). Club Steppin 95.1 fm is a simulcast of an internet operation to a terrestrial station. Moreover, the use of  technology to simulcast an internet station to a terrestrial station carries a huge expense.

After years of streaming "CLUBSTEPPIN.COM" on the Internet Lamont Watts sought to localize the format in Chicago and through research of the technologies and the FCC law regarding the use of FM translators Mr. Watts discovered a way which would allow him to enter the airwaves of Chicago through "simulcasting".  Mr. Watts needed to find an owner of a local terrestrial station who would lease their operation to Mr Watts and his Future Vision Entertainment company to "SIMULCAST" Clubsteppin.com. Mr. Watts managed to enter into a LMA agreement with Spanish Broadcasters for the use of WLEY 107.9 HD2 Aurora as his primary station which then enabled him to use FM Translators owned Windy City Broadcasting to simulcast his "ClubSteppin.com" Internet Stream on the frequency 95.1 FM. It was an ingenious undertaking of combining companies and technologies to broadcast the CLUBSTEPPIN.com "steppers dance music" format. The FCC does not allow the simulcasting of Internet Streaming operations directly to FM translators without using a "primary" radio station. Spanish Broadcasters who own WLEY opened the door of opportunity for Clubsteppin.com and Windy City Broadcasting had the translators to make the undertaking complete.  Lamont Watts was on a bold mission to bring "stepping" music to the forefront as a radio format. It was an idea that many in radio doubted and urged Mr. Watts not to undertake however, the doubts seemed to fuel the determination of Mr. Watts who launched 95.1 FM ClubSteppin in August 2018.

Chicago was taken by "storm" when Clubsteppin.com emerged on 95.1 FM with a unique and different format that blanketed the heavily populated areas of music lovers on south and west sides of Chicago. The "steppers dance" format was an instant hit and the response to the station format was immediate. People gravitated to the "eclectic" blend of music. The City was buzzing with the question, Have you heard 95.1 FM? There were many reasons for the buzz and to keep from stating any details on the why, let's just call it an interest in the "the kid" on the block. You don't have to be a "Stepper" to enjoy the music was the refrain heard on the new 95.1 FM and that seemed to catch on.

ClubSteppin.com hit the road "running" with many names that were once heard on the airwaves in Chicago. Many former air talents got in line for an opportunity to get back to the airwaves. I thought that was an incredible step forward especially for a new station that did not have advertisers or established revenue. How are you going to pay the talent without revenue? Then I discovered that many of the air talents were doing radio "For the Love of Game" without pay which I thought was a mistake that would come back to haunt him. People will work for free for a minute but not for a long time.  Luckily there was an election coming and those political ads brought in handy some quick advertising revenue. 

It may have been more prudent to run the operation for at least 90 - 120 days with no specific talent and just let the music play as the major talent to establish the operation in the market,  that is how other "major" radio stations start out however, Mr Watts was determined to make an immediate statement. Future Vision Entertainment and 95.1 FM  were coming into the market as "Game Changers"  to take a place in the ratings book as Watts managed a deal to bring Tom Joyner and the TJMS back to Chicago after a year long absence on 95.1 FM. According to Watts "Bringing Tom back to Chicago was just as important as the launch of this historic station. Tom is Chicago. The listeners love him and 95.1 is excited to welcome him home".  The TJMS began airing on 95.1 FM M-F 5 to 9 AM. This was a major move for Watts and his new operation having a Radio Hall of Famer come back to his roots in Chicago. Unfortunately the information neglected to state that the TJMS was being "brokered" in Chicago. Reach Media the owner of the TJMS was in a win/win situation adding 95.1 FM in Chicago to its list of affiliates while at the same time providing Clubsteppin.com with a proven commodity to sell to potential advertisers.

The opportunity to broadcast the TJMS also was a win for ClubSteppin.com too.  However,  after 11 months the operation has went through numerous personnel changes, at least two relocations, an attempt of a hostile takeover and the loss of credibility in the community just to name a few issues. Yet the music is still satisfying to the people. So that has been the best thing thus far, the music. Technically, the programming transitions (going from one song or commercial to another) could be more tighter and smoother.  You can hear ads and promo announcements being cut off near the end because of the automation system starts the next element too soon that is not a sign of professional radio or what happens in a professional radio station. The operation's instability appears to be its only constant.  You can rest assured there will be some drama with personalities or with the ownership. At least 20 people this year and that is a conservative estimate have entered in and left. Also to play out a hostile takeover at a public event was not cool for the image of the operation or seen in media. https://www.facebook.com/BobGormanJr/videos/10214697462136115/

So what's happening NOW? Only God knows. It appears to be some legal troubles. One side states the situation as this https://www.facebook.com/lwatts223/videos/10216926458208086/ and the other side states the situation as that https://www.facebook.com/95.1clubsteppinchicago/videos/354421488578690/.  And neither side has provided any information about what is really going on and to state it plainly. It's a "HOT" mess and not a real radio station.  It's an internet station simulcasting on the 95.1 FM frequency and regardless who gets to own the rights to simulcast on the 95.1 FM frequency the programming, production and operation of the station should be comparable if not the same as a commercial terrestrial radio station. Every aspect of the operation should mirror the production and programming of commercial radio with call letters and more importantly generating revenue from advertisers to make the operation worthwhile. In addition to "serving the public interest".   The new owners/operators simulcasting on the 95.1 FM frequency to be different must have their own terrestrial radio station to simulcast to the fm translators otherwise the new operators on the 95.1 FM frequency will be yet another Internet stream simulcasting to the 95.1 FM frequency. There is no "GAME CHANGING" if you are not doing better than what commercial radio is already doing. And so far playing music on an unregulated Internet stream is not changing the game it looks more folly as opposed to quality broadcasting. Whoever is leasing, owning, running, and programming the simulcasts on 95.1 FM, I wish that the operation stop "playing" radio and execute real radio. It is embarrassing the drama that has been going on.

Just Thinking Out Loud.