KISQ
Encyclopedia
KISQ is a radio station licensed
to San Francisco
that features the Urban Oldies format on the 98.1 FM frequency. It is owned by Clear Channel.
The frequency was the former home of KABL-FM ("Cable"), which once programmed a Beautiful Music/Easy Listening format. In the early 1990s, the station had evolved to a soft AC format. By early 1993, the 60s and most 70s songs were dropped from the playlist as the station relaunched as B98. The new format was "Soft Hits of the 80s and 90s", although some 70s songs were still played.
As KBGG
In 1994, the KABL call letters were dropped and so was the AC format and new call letters were issued, KBGG (Big 98.1) which featured "the biggest hits of the 70s all the time." Eventually, the format included some 80s music.
In 1995, Shamrock Broadcasting of Burbank, CA reached a deal to sell KBGG-Big 98, as well as KNEW
and KSAN to Chancellor Media.
As KISQ today
In 1997, Chancellor Media would Flip Big-98 to KISQ and the 70s format gave way to R & B music. Despite the format, KISQ leans heavily on a format similar to a Classic Soul
/Urban Oldies format, with a playlist of more old school R&B music with occasionally few new R&B songs (mostly mainstream with no neo-soul). This may have helped garnish a diverse audience of blacks, Latinos, and whites who listen to R&B and this station in particular. The station's owners may have also formatted the playlist this way to not only protect longtime Urban Contemporary
-sister station KMEL
which plays some old school in addition to Hip Hop/R&B of today, but to differentiate itself from competitor KBLX
which plays new and old R&B. Since September 2006
, KISQ has also been in competition with KMVQ, a Rhythmic Adult
station, but when Clear Channel
decided to gravitate most California
urban AC stations to rhythmic AC stations (including KHHT
in Los Angeles
), KISQ retained the [Mainstream] Urban AC format. Mediabase
began reporting the station's playlist, with newer music of those sourced from rhythmic AC stations. By 2008
, KMVQ-FM took on the Top 40 Pop format at the time the "MOViN'" format branding declined in popularity, allowing KISQ to evolve its format more in a rhythmic adult direction. As of 2010, the station changed direction in its format now as a Gold-based Urban Oldies formatted station.
City of license
A city of license or community of license, in American and Canadian broadcasting, is the community that a radio station or television station is officially licensed to serve by that country's broadcast regulator....
to San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
that features the Urban Oldies format on the 98.1 FM frequency. It is owned by Clear Channel.
History
As KABLThe frequency was the former home of KABL-FM ("Cable"), which once programmed a Beautiful Music/Easy Listening format. In the early 1990s, the station had evolved to a soft AC format. By early 1993, the 60s and most 70s songs were dropped from the playlist as the station relaunched as B98. The new format was "Soft Hits of the 80s and 90s", although some 70s songs were still played.
As KBGG
In 1994, the KABL call letters were dropped and so was the AC format and new call letters were issued, KBGG (Big 98.1) which featured "the biggest hits of the 70s all the time." Eventually, the format included some 80s music.
In 1995, Shamrock Broadcasting of Burbank, CA reached a deal to sell KBGG-Big 98, as well as KNEW
KNEW
KNEW may refer to:* The ICAO code for New Orleans Lakefront Airport, located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States* KNEW , a radio station on 910 kHz, licensed to Oakland, California, United States, and formerly known as KLX and KEWB * KJRB, a radio station on 790 kHz, licensed to...
and KSAN to Chancellor Media.
As KISQ today
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
/Urban Oldies format, with a playlist of more old school R&B music with occasionally few new R&B songs (mostly mainstream with no neo-soul). This may have helped garnish a diverse audience of blacks, Latinos, and whites who listen to R&B and this station in particular. The station's owners may have also formatted the playlist this way to not only protect longtime Urban Contemporary
Urban contemporary
Urban contemporary is a music radio format. The term was coined by the late New York DJ Frankie Crocker in the mid 1970s. Urban contemporary radio stations feature a playlist made up entirely of hip hop/rap, contemporary R&B, pop, electronica such as dubstep and drum and bass and Caribbean music...
-sister station KMEL
KMEL
KMEL is an Urban Contemporary-formatted radio station located in San Francisco, California, and owned by Clear Channel Communications....
which plays some old school in addition to Hip Hop/R&B of today, but to differentiate itself from competitor KBLX
KBLX
KBLX-FM is an Urban Adult Contemporary radio station that broadcasts from San Francisco. The station is licensed to Berkeley, California, and is owned by Inner City Broadcasting Corporation.-About KBLX:...
which plays new and old R&B. Since September 2006
2006 in radio
The year 2006 saw a number of significant events in radio broadcasting.-Events:*January 3 - The BJ Shea Morning Experience switches to KISW in Seattle, Washington, from the former FM Talk station KKWF....
, KISQ has also been in competition with KMVQ, a Rhythmic Adult
Rhythmic Adult Contemporary
Rhythmic adult contemporary is a format used on stations in the United States and Canada. It usually gears toward an older audience, ages 25 to 54. Stations using this format play disco from the 1970s and early 1980s, dance/pop music, adult-friendly hip hop/old school tracks, R&B, dance/freestyle...
station, but when Clear Channel
Clear channel
A clear-channel station is an AM band Radio station in North America that has the highest protection from interference from other stations, particularly concerning night-time skywave propagation. Usually known as class A stations since 1982, they are occasionally still referred to by their former...
decided to gravitate most California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
urban AC stations to rhythmic AC stations (including KHHT
KHHT
KHHT is a radio station licensed to Los Angeles, California, USA with a Rhythmic Oldies musical format. It is owned by Clear Channel Communications.-KFAC:...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
), KISQ retained the [Mainstream] Urban AC format. Mediabase
Mediabase
Mediabase is a music industry service that monitors radio station airplay in 180 US and Canadian markets. Mediabase publishes music charts and data based on the most played songs on terrestrial and satellite radio, and provides in-depth analytical tools for radio and record industry professionals...
began reporting the station's playlist, with newer music of those sourced from rhythmic AC stations. By 2008
2008 in radio
Several events occurred in radio in 2008.- Events :* January 2: WWFT finished Christmas music stunting, rolling out the red carpet for Adult contemporary music branded as "Warm."...
, KMVQ-FM took on the Top 40 Pop format at the time the "MOViN'" format branding declined in popularity, allowing KISQ to evolve its format more in a rhythmic adult direction. As of 2010, the station changed direction in its format now as a Gold-based Urban Oldies formatted station.