WKSI-FM
Encyclopedia
WKSI-FM is a Contemporary Hit Radio
formatted broadcast
radio station
licensed to Stephens City, Virginia
, serving the Northern Shenandoah Valley
and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia
. WKSI-FM is owned and operated by Clear Channel Communications
.
Though WKSI-FM is licensed to Stephens City, Virginia
, it's studios are in neighboring Winchester, Virginia
.
) on August 28, 1966. At first the station simply rebroadcast what was their sister station WXVA-AM 1550. In the 70's, "FM 98" would play country music, but not in stereo. The calls would switch to WXVA on November 11, 1982 and they went the "AM/FM route" as other stations had months earlier. "The Natural Sound" was their slogan to their new "Music of Your Life"-esque format. WXVA would later pick up Westwood One's "Format 41" by in the mid-80s as WXVA became more modern, adding more lite rock and less music by Doris Day
and Sammy Davis, Jr.
. In June 1993, WXVA went oldies as "Greatest Hits XVA," a programming change brought about by Martinsburg
DJ, Tom Tucker, who came over from WRNR (AM)
. He stayed until the Spring of 1994.
When Tucker left to do sales at WEPM
, back in Martinsburg
, the station switched to a light adult contemporary format. In November, 1995, WXVA switched formats again, this time to country, first as "X-Country" then later as "Xtra Country 98." It was during the switch to country that the station dropped its full-time news staff. It also ceased partnering with WRNR to produce and air Shepherd University
(then Shepherd College) football and basketball games.
Clear Channel Communications
would buy WXVA and sister WXVA-AM in 2000 and move their studio out of Jefferson County
and move them to the same building as Winchester's
WUSQ-FM.
In November 2003, WXVA would switch to All Christmas music as "Christmas 98-3". On December 24, 2003, the calls switched to WKSI and the format to Contemporary Hit Radio as "98-3 Kiss FM". In the summer of 2004, WKSI completely left Charles Town
as WKSI changed their "community of license" from Charles Town
to Stephens City
. The transmitter for WKSI would remain in Charles Town until 2005, when it was moved to the WUSQ tower on Back Mountain Road in rural western Frederick County
. Even with the move, WKSI still advertises in the Panhandle of West Virginia
and their signal can be heard there as well.
On April 9, 2007, WKSI shuffled their on air lineup. Syndicated Ace & TJ
now airs from 6am to 10am, former morning host "J.B. Wilde" moved to middays from 10am to 2pm. Afternoon host "JoJo" remained in his timeslot from 2pm to 6pm.
On September 4, 2007, Program Director and Afternoon DJ "J.B. Wilde" left for similar duties at WLKT
in Lexington, KY. Clear Channel Winchester Program Director David Miller retakes the WKSI PD duties. On October 1, 2007, Hunter Quinn was hired on as the Program Director, replacing "J.B. Wilde". Quinn was previously the Assistant Program Director and Afternoon DJ for Youngstown, Ohio
radio station WHOT
.
In October 2008, WKSI and sister station WUSQ-FM
became the Winchester area's first stations to broadcasting in HD Radio
.
In June 2010, WKSI brought in Derrick Cole, aka: "DC", who most recently held Afternoons and Asst. Programming duties at sister station WPKF
in Poughkeepsie, NY.
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...
formatted broadcast
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
licensed to Stephens City, Virginia
Stephens City, Virginia
Stephens City is an incorporated town in the southern part of Frederick County, Virginia, United States, with a population of 1,829 at the time of the 2010 Census....
, serving the Northern Shenandoah Valley
Shenandoah Valley
The Shenandoah Valley is both a geographic valley and cultural region of western Virginia and West Virginia in the United States. The valley is bounded to the east by the Blue Ridge Mountains, to the west by the eastern front of the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians , to the north by the Potomac River...
and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia
Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia
The Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia is a narrow stretch of territory in the northeast of the state, bordering Maryland and Virginia, United States. The Eastern Panhandle Board of Realtors and other local civic organizations consider only the three Easternmost counties, Jefferson, Berkeley and...
. WKSI-FM is owned and operated by 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...
.
Though WKSI-FM is licensed to Stephens City, Virginia
Stephens City, Virginia
Stephens City is an incorporated town in the southern part of Frederick County, Virginia, United States, with a population of 1,829 at the time of the 2010 Census....
, it's studios are in neighboring Winchester, Virginia
Winchester, Virginia
Winchester is an independent city located in the northwestern portion of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the USA. The city's population was 26,203 according to the 2010 Census...
.
History
WKSI started as WZFM (while in Charles TownCharles Town, West Virginia
Charles Town is a city in and the county seat of Jefferson County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,907 at the 2000 census. Due to its similar name, travelers have sometimes confused this city with the state's capital, Charleston.-History:...
) on August 28, 1966. At first the station simply rebroadcast what was their sister station WXVA-AM 1550. In the 70's, "FM 98" would play country music, but not in stereo. The calls would switch to WXVA on November 11, 1982 and they went the "AM/FM route" as other stations had months earlier. "The Natural Sound" was their slogan to their new "Music of Your Life"-esque format. WXVA would later pick up Westwood One's "Format 41" by in the mid-80s as WXVA became more modern, adding more lite rock and less music by Doris Day
Doris Day
Doris Day is an American actress, singer and, since her retirement from show business, an animal rights activist. With an entertainment career that spanned through almost 50 years, Day started her career as a big band singer in 1939, but only began to be noticed after her first hit recording,...
and Sammy Davis, Jr.
Sammy Davis, Jr.
Samuel George "Sammy" Davis Jr. was an American entertainer and was also known for his impersonations of actors and other celebrities....
. In June 1993, WXVA went oldies as "Greatest Hits XVA," a programming change brought about by Martinsburg
Martinsburg, West Virginia
Martinsburg is a city in the Eastern Panhandle region of West Virginia, United States. The city's population was 14,972 at the 2000 census; according to a 2009 Census Bureau estimate, Martinsburg's population was 17,117, making it the largest city in the Eastern Panhandle and the eighth largest...
DJ, Tom Tucker, who came over from WRNR (AM)
WRNR (AM)
WRNR is a News/Talk/Sports formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Martinsburg, West Virginia, serving Martinsburg and Berkeley County, West Virginia. WRNR is owned and operated by Shenandoah Communications, Inc.-External links:*...
. He stayed until the Spring of 1994.
When Tucker left to do sales at WEPM
WEPM
WEPM is a News/Talk/Sports formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Martinsburg, West Virginia, serving Martinsburg and Berkeley County, West Virginia...
, back in Martinsburg
Martinsburg, West Virginia
Martinsburg is a city in the Eastern Panhandle region of West Virginia, United States. The city's population was 14,972 at the 2000 census; according to a 2009 Census Bureau estimate, Martinsburg's population was 17,117, making it the largest city in the Eastern Panhandle and the eighth largest...
, the station switched to a light adult contemporary format. In November, 1995, WXVA switched formats again, this time to country, first as "X-Country" then later as "Xtra Country 98." It was during the switch to country that the station dropped its full-time news staff. It also ceased partnering with WRNR to produce and air Shepherd University
Shepherd University
Shepherd University, formerly Shepherd College, is a state-funded university in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, United States. The University currently serves more than 4,200 students.- Accreditation :...
(then Shepherd College) football and basketball games.
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...
would buy WXVA and sister WXVA-AM in 2000 and move their studio out of Jefferson County
Jefferson County, West Virginia
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 53,498. Its county seat is Charles Town...
and move them to the same building as Winchester's
Winchester, Virginia
Winchester is an independent city located in the northwestern portion of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the USA. The city's population was 26,203 according to the 2010 Census...
WUSQ-FM.
In November 2003, WXVA would switch to All Christmas music as "Christmas 98-3". On December 24, 2003, the calls switched to WKSI and the format to Contemporary Hit Radio as "98-3 Kiss FM". In the summer of 2004, WKSI completely left Charles Town
Charles Town, West Virginia
Charles Town is a city in and the county seat of Jefferson County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,907 at the 2000 census. Due to its similar name, travelers have sometimes confused this city with the state's capital, Charleston.-History:...
as WKSI changed their "community of license" from Charles Town
Charles Town, West Virginia
Charles Town is a city in and the county seat of Jefferson County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,907 at the 2000 census. Due to its similar name, travelers have sometimes confused this city with the state's capital, Charleston.-History:...
to Stephens City
Stephens City, Virginia
Stephens City is an incorporated town in the southern part of Frederick County, Virginia, United States, with a population of 1,829 at the time of the 2010 Census....
. The transmitter for WKSI would remain in Charles Town until 2005, when it was moved to the WUSQ tower on Back Mountain Road in rural western Frederick County
Frederick County, Virginia
Frederick County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is included in the Winchester, Virginia-West Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area. It was formed in 1743 by the splitting of Orange County. For ten years it was the home of George Washington. As of 2010, the population was...
. Even with the move, WKSI still advertises in the Panhandle of West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
and their signal can be heard there as well.
On April 9, 2007, WKSI shuffled their on air lineup. Syndicated Ace & TJ
Ace & TJ Show
The Ace & TJ Show is a syndicated morning radio show, previously on KISS 95.1 out of Charlotte, NC. The Ace & TJ Show debuted on KISS 95.1 on April 6, 1998. Their last day on Kiss 95.1 was Friday, May 20, 2011. Contract discussions with CBS Radio were not successful...
now airs from 6am to 10am, former morning host "J.B. Wilde" moved to middays from 10am to 2pm. Afternoon host "JoJo" remained in his timeslot from 2pm to 6pm.
On September 4, 2007, Program Director and Afternoon DJ "J.B. Wilde" left for similar duties at WLKT
WLKT
WLKT, also known as 104.5 The Cat, is a Mainstream Top 40 station broadcasting in Lexington, Kentucky. It is owned by Clear Channel Communications. It specializes in Pop music, some Rock and some Hip Hop product...
in Lexington, KY. Clear Channel Winchester Program Director David Miller retakes the WKSI PD duties. On October 1, 2007, Hunter Quinn was hired on as the Program Director, replacing "J.B. Wilde". Quinn was previously the Assistant Program Director and Afternoon DJ for Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Mahoning County; it also extends into Trumbull County. The municipality is situated on the Mahoning River, approximately southeast of Cleveland and northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
radio station WHOT
WHOT-FM
WHOT-FM is a commercial radio station in Youngstown, Ohio, USA, broadcasting at 101.1 MHz with a Top 40 format. It is one of seven radio stations in the Youngstown market owned by Cumulus Broadcasting. Its transmitter is located in Youngstown...
.
In October 2008, WKSI and sister station WUSQ-FM
WUSQ-FM
WUSQ-FM is a Country formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Winchester, Virginia, serving the Northern Shenandoah Valley. WUSQ is owned and operated by Clear Channel Communications.-History:...
became the Winchester area's first stations to broadcasting in HD Radio
HD Radio
HD Radio, which originally stood for "Hybrid Digital", is the trademark for iBiquity's in-band on-channel digital radio technology used by AM and FM radio stations to transmit audio and data via a digital signal in conjunction with their analog signals...
.
In June 2010, WKSI brought in Derrick Cole, aka: "DC", who most recently held Afternoons and Asst. Programming duties at sister station WPKF
WPKF
WPKF is a Rhythmic Top 40 radio station licensed to Poughkeepsie, New York and serving the Mid-Hudson Valley of New York state. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications and broadcasts at 6 kilowatts ERP from a tower mounted on the roof of the Ross Pavilion at the Hudson River...
in Poughkeepsie, NY.