"Here's my Card!"

Cards, cards, cards.  They're everywhere.  Credit cards, ATM cards, food store cards, and yes... radio station cards.  Cards define identity, show membership, and generate a sort of pride.  All the things that stations hope for from their listeners.  Bumper stickers are fine, but they go on the car, and you can't really put a big stcker in your wallet or billfold.  So some marketing genius came up with the listener card.  Here are a few examples that were carried around Chicago in our back pockets.

This card for the older set  was probably sandwiched between an American Express card and a Medicare card.  The back of the AM 1160-WJJD Club card exclaimed (in extra big letters) "More music.. less talk and NO rock."   This is circa 1992.

One of a few suburban versions of loyal listener cards.  This one for WJTW-FM in Joliet, circa 1990.  Listeners were able to redeem discounts at local businesses and the serial number served as a tracking device and registation for on-air contests.   The fine print said that the station "..assumes no responsibility for merchant's action in the WJTW Gold Card Program."  Hopefully they weren't referring to shoplifting! 

After the oldies format took off at WJMK in early 1984, the station launched it's MagiCard a couple years later.  It also underwrote a more powerful card as well (below).

B96 also offered a card with discounts at Poplar Creek Music Theatre,
Great America, Musicland and M&R Drive-Ins.

Even the all-news station got into the act as well.  They also wanted YOU to help THEM!

In addtion to discounts, stations want to make you feel important.  Such is the case with this Hot 102.3 VIP Card from WXLC-FM in Waukegan. 
Why it was positioned sideways remains a mystery though.  Circa 1993.

Probably the most famous card to be issued by a Chicago station.   Thousands of  Fantastic Plastic Cards surfaced throughout the area, as evidenced by the high serial number. 
Many of which WLS distributed at ChicagoFest in 1981 and 1982.