Which factors made WBBM-FM B96 important to rhythmic radio in Chicago?

Count the ad dollars. Rhythmic radio in Chicago needed a station that could consistently deliver the young, diverse audience that advertisers craved, and B96 nailed that demographic mix with a tight playlist blending hip-hop, R&B, and dance. Its signal strength and heritage as a heritage FM gave it a market-wide reach that smaller rhythmic competitors couldn't match, which meant better cost-per-point for clients and a reliable cash cow for us.