Let’s be honest: radio can feel like a deserted island sometimes. You’re trapped in a car, and the DJ is playing the same five songs and laughing at a joke that died in 1995. Then a certain question bubbles up from your memory like a forgotten earworm: Is Jonathon Brandmeier still on the radio? If you’re a Midwesterner of a certain age, that name hits you like a very loud, very caffeinated nostalgia bomb. Did he retire to a beach somewhere, or is he still yelling into a microphone at three in the afternoon?
Spoiler alert: Yes, he is. The man they call “Johnny B” is still out there, spinning records and making jokes that would probably get him yelled at on Twitter today. He’s been a ghost in the machine for years, popping up on different stations like a radio whack-a-mole. But to understand where he is now, you have to understand the legend.
The Man Who Invented Morning Radio (Sort Of)
Before Howard Stern became a satellite potty-mouth, there was Brandmeier. In the 80s and 90s, he was a demigod of Chicago radio on WLUP (The Loop). His show was a beautiful disaster—a mix of man-on-the-street pranks, celebrity gossip, and sound effects that sounded like a cartoon explosion. He didn’t just play music; he threw a party every morning that made you late for work.
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He once called a listener and pretended to be a panda bear. Really. It was the kind of absurdity that made you choke on your cornflakes. And his ratings? They were so high that rival stations started polishing their resumes. So when you ask “Is he still on?”, you’re really asking: “Did the panda bear finally retire?”
The answer is complicated, like a diner menu. He left The Loop in the early 2000s, bounced around, and then…silence. For a while, he was a ghost. You’d hear rumors: “He’s doing a podcast!” or “He’s living in a van down by the river!” (That last one isn’t true, but it sounds good).
The WLS-AM Comeback (Or, The Plot Thickens)
Around 2018, he crept back onto the airwaves like a ninja with a boom box. He landed at WLS-AM 890 in Chicago, doing a midday show. It was like finding out your weird uncle still knows how to dance. The voice was the same—that raspy, manic energy that makes you feel like you’re in a comedy club during a tornado warning. He’s still there, though the times have shifted.
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Check your local listings, because he’s currently on WLS-AM or streaming online. But here’s the twist: his show now is simpler. Less screaming, more talking. He’s moved from “crashing a car through a wall” energy to “cruising in a convertible with a martini.” But make no mistake: the soul is still there.
He’s also embraced the digital world. You can stream his podcast, “The Johnny B Show,” which is basically his radio show without the FCC censors. It’s like a director’s cut of a movie, but with more fart jokes. So yes, he is on the radio, and he’s also in your pocket.
Why Should You Care? (The Surprising Part)
Okay, so an old guy is still yelling into a microphone. Big deal. But here’s the surprising fact: Brandmeier is part of a dying breed. He’s one of the last true “personalities” who doesn’t just read Twitter feeds for content. He actually creates moments. In 2020, during the pandemic, he did a remote show from his home that was so raw and funny, it made people forget they were trapped in their house.
Also, did you know he wrote the theme song for The Oprah Winfrey Show? Yep. The same guy who once burped into a microphone on purpose also penned the music for the Queen of Daytime. It’s like finding out a clown is secretly a brain surgeon. He owns a massive music library and has a producer’s ear that most DJs only dream of.
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So if you’re wondering if Jonathon Brandmeier is still on the radio, the answer is a resounding yes, but with asterisks. He’s not dominating the morning drive like a colossus anymore, but he’s still there, like a comfy old chair that squeaks. Turn on WLS-AM one day. You might hear him ranting about the price of pickles. And you’ll laugh, because some things never change.
How to Find Him (Before He Vanish Again)
Don’t scroll TikTok. Don’t search for a new album. Just tune into WLS-AM 890 in Chicago during weekday afternoons, or search for “Jonathon Brandmeier” on your podcast app. If you’re outside Chicago, stream it through their website. He’s like a radio cryptid—you have to chase the signal a bit.
And if you miss him? Well, you can always listen to a clip of him calling a listener to ask if they’ve seen his pet ferret. Yes, he did that. Yes, it’s hilarious. No, you’re not too young to appreciate a legend.
So, is he still on the radio? Yes. Is he still insane? Also yes. And thank goodness for that. Just don’t ask him to be your panda bear. That gig is taken.