WKGS
Encyclopedia
WKGS is a Rhythmic Top 40
station licensed to Irondequoit, New York
, and serves the Rochester
area. The Clear Channel Communications
outlet broadcasts at 106.7 MHz with an ERP of 3.5 kW.
in 1990, initially under the calls WQHJ and then WOSB. New calls WMAX-FM were granted on March 5, 1992, and the station signed on shortly thereafter from studios at 412 State Street in Rochester and a transmitter atop the Seneca Towers apartment building on Seth Green Drive in Rochester.
WMAX-FM was the first adult album alternative
station in the market, quickly developing a cult following despite limited signal reach in the outlying suburbs.
In 1996, Auburn Cablevision purchased WLKA (102.3) in Canandaigua, New York
, converting the station to a simulcast of WMAX-FM as "106.7 and 102.3 the Max" and extending the format's reach into the southeastern Rochester suburbs and northern Finger Lakes region. WLKA changed calls to WMHX on February 19, 1996.
In 1997, Auburn Cablevision sold WMAX-FM, WMHX and sister station WRCD to Jacor Communications (which was soon absorbed by Clear Channel Communications), which moved the station to its studios in Rochester's Midtown Plaza.
On February 18, 1998, "The Max" was replaced with an automated soft adult contemporary format known as "Sunny." On March 1, 1998, WMAX-FM changed call letters to WYSY, with WMHX becoming WISY. (The WMAX-FM call letters were moved to the former WRCD on 107.3.)
While "Sunny" continued on 102.3 (known later as WVOR), 106.7 changed format again on May 1, 1999, becoming WKGS and picking up the "Kiss 107" Top 40 (CHR)
format that had been heard on 107.3. While most airshifts were either automated or voicetracked from other Clear Channel stations, WKGS did eventually add a local morning show featuring Erick "E-Man" Andersen, formerly of sister station WNVE which was canceled in May 2009 when Andersen was laid off. Andersen's show has been since replaced with the syndicated Elvis Duran show.
In March 2011 WKGS was placed on Mediabase
's CHR/Rhythmic panel, as the station has phased out most of the non-Rhythmic product to take on Urban contemporary
rival WDKX
. Most pop/rock content moved to sister station WDVI
, which returned to hot adult contemporary from adult album alternative
by June 2011
.
Rhythmic Contemporary
Rhythmic contemporary, also known as rhythmic top 40, rhythmic contemporary hit radio or rhythmic crossover, is a music radio format that includes a mix of EDM, upbeat rhythmic pop, hip-hop and R&B hits. Rhythmic contemporary rarely uses rock music or country music in its airplay, but it may...
station licensed to Irondequoit, New York
Irondequoit, New York
Irondequoit is a town in Monroe County, New York, USA. As of the 2010 census, the coterminous town-CDP had a total population of 51,692...
, and serves the Rochester
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
area. The Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
outlet broadcasts at 106.7 MHz with an ERP of 3.5 kW.
History
The 106.7 frequency was one of the first "Docket 80-90" drop-in FM channels to sign on in the Rochester market. A construction permit for the channel was granted to Auburn Cablevision of Auburn, New YorkAuburn, New York
Auburn is a city in Cayuga County, New York, United States of America. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 27,687...
in 1990, initially under the calls WQHJ and then WOSB. New calls WMAX-FM were granted on March 5, 1992, and the station signed on shortly thereafter from studios at 412 State Street in Rochester and a transmitter atop the Seneca Towers apartment building on Seth Green Drive in Rochester.
WMAX-FM was the first adult album alternative
Adult album alternative
Adult album alternative is a radio format. A spinoff from the album-oriented rock format, its roots trace to the 1960s and 1970s from the earlier freeform and progressive formats....
station in the market, quickly developing a cult following despite limited signal reach in the outlying suburbs.
In 1996, Auburn Cablevision purchased WLKA (102.3) in Canandaigua, New York
Canandaigua (city), New York
Canandaigua is a city in Ontario County, New York, USA, of which it is the county seat. The population was 11,264 at the 2000 census...
, converting the station to a simulcast of WMAX-FM as "106.7 and 102.3 the Max" and extending the format's reach into the southeastern Rochester suburbs and northern Finger Lakes region. WLKA changed calls to WMHX on February 19, 1996.
In 1997, Auburn Cablevision sold WMAX-FM, WMHX and sister station WRCD to Jacor Communications (which was soon absorbed by Clear Channel Communications), which moved the station to its studios in Rochester's Midtown Plaza.
On February 18, 1998, "The Max" was replaced with an automated soft adult contemporary format known as "Sunny." On March 1, 1998, WMAX-FM changed call letters to WYSY, with WMHX becoming WISY. (The WMAX-FM call letters were moved to the former WRCD on 107.3.)
While "Sunny" continued on 102.3 (known later as WVOR), 106.7 changed format again on May 1, 1999, becoming WKGS and picking up the "Kiss 107" Top 40 (CHR)
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
format that had been heard on 107.3. While most airshifts were either automated or voicetracked from other Clear Channel stations, WKGS did eventually add a local morning show featuring Erick "E-Man" Andersen, formerly of sister station WNVE which was canceled in May 2009 when Andersen was laid off. Andersen's show has been since replaced with the syndicated Elvis Duran show.
In March 2011 WKGS was placed on 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...
's CHR/Rhythmic panel, as the station has phased out most of the non-Rhythmic product to take on 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...
rival WDKX
WDKX
WDKX is an urban Contemporary radio station that broadcasts from Rochester, New York on a frequency of 103.9 MHz at 900 watts of effective radiated power.-History:...
. Most pop/rock content moved to sister station WDVI
WDVI
WDVI is a hot adult contemporary station in Rochester, New York, broadcasting on 100.5 FM. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications. 100.5 was previously known as WVOR, a hot adult contemporary music station for many years. The station was owned by the Lincoln Group before being sold to...
, which returned to hot adult contemporary from adult album alternative
Adult album alternative
Adult album alternative is a radio format. A spinoff from the album-oriented rock format, its roots trace to the 1960s and 1970s from the earlier freeform and progressive formats....
by June 2011
2011 in radio
The following events occurred in radio broadcasting in 2011.-Events:*January 1: 2 Knoxville stations change formats as WDLF and WYLV flip to K-LOVE and Air 1 , and a few Pittsburgh station change formats, as ESPN Radio moves from WEAE to WBGG, and Radio Disney moves from WWCS to the renamed WDDZ,...
.