WKIF
Encyclopedia
WKIF is a radio station broadcasting an adult hits
format. The station is licensed to Kankakee, Illinois
, USA. WKIF has also broadcast Chicago White Sox, Chicago Bulls, Notre Dame Football and other sporting events. WKIF is owned by Newsweb Corporation.
In early 1998, Big City Radio Group took over WCBR and WLRT in Kankakee
(also on 92.7), shortly after acquiring WLRT, the call letters were changed to WBRO. The two stations stunted with a simulcast of their Los Angeles sister station "Y 107"
, which had a modern rock
format.
In November 1998, WCBR and WBRO launched their new official format, CHR
as "92.7 KISS FM." with the first song being "Kiss
" by Prince
. This would be Chicago's first true CHR station in many years and proved to be quite successful, even with the two stations' weak signals. In early 1999, the calls were changed to WKIE and WKIF. In summer 1999 Big City purchased a third station, WDEK
92.5 in Dekalb, IL, which had a locally programmed CHR format at the time and began simulcasting it with WKIE and WKIF as a trimulcast
. Not long after, the moniker was adjusted to "92 KISS FM"
On January 12, 2001, Clear Channel
flipped its full-signal WUBT from rhythmic oldies
to CHR as WKSC-FM "Kiss 103.5". At that time, they issued a cease and desist
order to Big City Radio insisting they stop using the "Kiss FM
" moniker. "92 KISS-FM" continued until January 26, 2001 when the three signals became "Energy 92-7&5", with a format consisting entirely of dance music
. The airstaff and voiceover
talent Sean Caldwell remained intact.
Energy gained lots of attention via the internet and gained a relatively devoted following in the Chicago area and worldwide via its webcast
. Considering their niche format and signal limitations, Energy was competitive in the ratings and in revenues.
In late 2002, Big City Radio, which had overextended itself in obtaining radio stations, declared bankruptcy and began liquidating its properties. WKIE, WKIF and WDEK were sold to Spanish Broadcasting System
and WXXY/WYXX (which had a Mexican music format) to the Hispanic Broadcasting Company. On January 5, 2003, Energy became "Onda 92".
Onda 92 was never successful in the ratings, and SBS had their own financial problems, so in June 2004 the company sold WKIE, WKIF and WDEK to Newsweb Corporation. At midnight on November 22, 2004, WKIE and WDEK went to simulcast WRZA
and became Nine FM, while WKIF was broken off the trimulcast and became CNN Headline News for the Kankakee, Illinois
area.
In December 2008, WKIF switched from CNN
Radio to Nine FM
, marking a return of the Nine FM franchise to the far south suburbs of Chicago. The station is currently marketing this return in its positioners, mentioning south suburban towns such as Park Forest and announcing that We Play Anything is back on 92.7.
Adult hits
Adult hits is a radio format, popular in the early 2000s, that does not adhere to a specific music genre, but instead draws from a wider playlist...
format. The station is licensed to Kankakee, Illinois
Kankakee, Illinois
Kankakee is a city in Kankakee County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 25,561, and 26,840 as of a 2009 estimate. It is the county seat of Kankakee County...
, USA. WKIF has also broadcast Chicago White Sox, Chicago Bulls, Notre Dame Football and other sporting events. WKIF is owned by Newsweb Corporation.
History
The station went on the air in January 1986 under the call letters of WMHG with a country format. The callsign was changed to WLRT the same year.In early 1998, Big City Radio Group took over WCBR and WLRT in Kankakee
Kankakee, Illinois
Kankakee is a city in Kankakee County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 25,561, and 26,840 as of a 2009 estimate. It is the county seat of Kankakee County...
(also on 92.7), shortly after acquiring WLRT, the call letters were changed to WBRO. The two stations stunted with a simulcast of their Los Angeles sister station "Y 107"
KSSE
KSSE/KSSD/KSSC is a commercial radio station trimulcast located in Southern California, broadcasting on 107.1 FM. The KSSC callsign was assigned to the current KMOQ in the Joplin, Missouri market until 1985....
, which had a modern rock
Modern rock
Modern rock is a rock format commonly found on commercial radio; the format consists primarily of the alternative rock genre...
format.
In November 1998, WCBR and WBRO launched their new official format, 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...
as "92.7 KISS FM." with the first song being "Kiss
Kiss (song)
In 1988 Art of Noise released a cover of the song, featuring Tom Jones on vocals. The song became the band's biggest hit to that point, reaching number eighteen on the U.S. dance charts and number five on the UK Singles Chart, higher than the original in that country...
" by Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
. This would be Chicago's first true CHR station in many years and proved to be quite successful, even with the two stations' weak signals. In early 1999, the calls were changed to WKIE and WKIF. In summer 1999 Big City purchased a third station, WDEK
WDEK
WCPY 92.5 FM is a radio station located in DeKalb, Illinois, west of Chicago. WCPY is part of a trimulcast with WCPT , WCPT-FM and WCPQ. During the daytime, the trimulcast simulcasts WCPT programming from 5 AM - 9 PM, and operates a Dance Hits format at night known as Dance Factory FM...
92.5 in Dekalb, IL, which had a locally programmed CHR format at the time and began simulcasting it with WKIE and WKIF as a trimulcast
Trimulcast
The term "trimulcast" was first used in May 1981 by Multimedia Broadcasting's outlets in Little Rock, Arkansas, KAAY-AM and KLPQ-FM when they teamed-up with Cox Cable locally...
. Not long after, the moniker was adjusted to "92 KISS FM"
On January 12, 2001, 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...
flipped its full-signal WUBT from rhythmic oldies
Rhythmic oldies
Rhythmic Oldies is a radio format that concentrates on the rhythmic, disco or dance genres of music. Playlists may span from the 1970s through the early 1990s...
to CHR as WKSC-FM "Kiss 103.5". At that time, they issued a cease and desist
Cease and desist
A cease and desist is an order or request to halt an activity and not to take it up again later or else face legal action. The recipient of the cease-and-desist may be an individual or an organization....
order to Big City Radio insisting they stop using the "Kiss FM
KISS-FM (brand)
KISS-FM is the brand name of a Top 40 music format heard on FM radio stations in many cities in the United States . Clear Channel Communications claims ownership of the KISS-FM brand and operates most KISS-FM formatted stations, though not KISS-FM in San Antonio, Texas itself .-Origin and...
" moniker. "92 KISS-FM" continued until January 26, 2001 when the three signals became "Energy 92-7&5", with a format consisting entirely of dance music
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
. The airstaff and voiceover
VoiceOver
VoiceOver is a screen reader built into Apple Inc.'s Mac OS X, iOS and iPod operating systems. By using VoiceOver, the user can access their Macintosh or iOS device based on spoken descriptions and, in the case of the Mac, the keyboard. The feature is designed to increase accessibility for blind...
talent Sean Caldwell remained intact.
Energy gained lots of attention via the internet and gained a relatively devoted following in the Chicago area and worldwide via its webcast
Webcast
A webcast is a media presentation distributed over the Internet using streaming media technology to distribute a single content source to many simultaneous listeners/viewers. A webcast may either be distributed live or on demand...
. Considering their niche format and signal limitations, Energy was competitive in the ratings and in revenues.
In late 2002, Big City Radio, which had overextended itself in obtaining radio stations, declared bankruptcy and began liquidating its properties. WKIE, WKIF and WDEK were sold to Spanish Broadcasting System
Spanish Broadcasting System
Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc. is one of the largest owners and operators of radio stations in the United States. SBS is also invested in television and internet properties, deriving the majority of its income from advertising through its media products.SBS owns the internet portal LaMusica.com...
and WXXY/WYXX (which had a Mexican music format) to the Hispanic Broadcasting Company. On January 5, 2003, Energy became "Onda 92".
Onda 92 was never successful in the ratings, and SBS had their own financial problems, so in June 2004 the company sold WKIE, WKIF and WDEK to Newsweb Corporation. At midnight on November 22, 2004, WKIE and WDEK went to simulcast WRZA
WRZA
WCPQ 99.9 FM is a radio station located in Park Forest, Illinois, south of Chicago. WCPQ is part of a trimulcast with WCPT , WCPT-FM and WCPY. During the daytime, the trimulcast simulcasts WCPT programming from 5 AM - 9 PM, and operates a Dance Hits format at night known as Dance Factory FM...
and became Nine FM, while WKIF was broken off the trimulcast and became CNN Headline News for the Kankakee, Illinois
Kankakee, Illinois
Kankakee is a city in Kankakee County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 25,561, and 26,840 as of a 2009 estimate. It is the county seat of Kankakee County...
area.
In December 2008, WKIF switched from CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
Radio to Nine FM
Nine FM
Nine FM is a radio station broadcasting on WKIF , located in Kankakee, Illinois with an adult hits format. The signal reaches the far southern suburbs of the Chicago area....
, marking a return of the Nine FM franchise to the far south suburbs of Chicago. The station is currently marketing this return in its positioners, mentioning south suburban towns such as Park Forest and announcing that We Play Anything is back on 92.7.