WNKS
Encyclopedia
WNKS, known on the air as KISS 95.1
, is a 100,000 watt radio station in Charlotte, North Carolina
. It broadcasts at 95.1 MHz from a tower in Dallas, North Carolina
, primarily serving the Charlotte metropolitan area
. On air programming consists of mainstream top 40 (CHR)
music. The station is owned by CBS Radio
and formerly served as the flagship for the syndicated Ace & TJ Show
until May 2011
.
stations. SIS radio bought the station in 1972. WIST-FM changed to album-oriented rock
with the new letters WRNA, eventually becoming WROQ "95-Q". Among the WROQ/WAYS
DJs to become major celebrities were Robert Murphy, later the WKQX Chicago
morning host, and actor Jay Thomas
. Larry Sprinkle, a WCNC-TV
morning weather personality, also worked at the stations.
With album-oriented rock
declining in popularity, WROQ became a CHR
station called Q-95 in 1984. Late in the 1980s, WROQ evolved into Rock 40. In 1990, after stunting
with repeated airplay of "Shock The Monkey" by Peter Gabriel
, the station returned to CHR as WZZG Gorilla Radio Z-95.1. Later in the year, WZZG became WGKL-FM "Kool 95.1", an oldies
station emphasizing 50s music more than Magic 96.1. In October 1991, WGKL stunted
with a different format each day, using mostly satellite formats from SMN, and one day even doing all-comedy, before becoming WAQQ "95-Double-Q", a CHR station with an modern rock
emphasis. Pure CHR was one of the "choices" listeners were to vote on, but the eventual choice was "none of the above". In 1994, along with a name change to WEDJ "95.1 The Edge", the station moved even closer to modern rock
. The switch to the current name, letters and format was made in 1996.
("Kiss 108"), a Top-40 station owned by Clear Channel Communications
and based in Boston, Massachusetts. This dates back to when both stations were owned by the Pyramid Broadcasting before WNKS-FM was spun off to American Radio Systems, which became CBS, in the late 90s .
This is actually the second station in Charlotte to use the "Kiss" moniker. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, WCKZ was known as "Kiss 102", using a churban format similar to what is today called rhythmic CHR; it is now the Urban AC-formatted WBAV
("V101.9"), another CBS Radio-owned station. Only this "Kiss 95.1" is a Pop station; the moniker was used before Clear Channel trademarked it for its pop stations years down the line.
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...
, is a 100,000 watt radio station in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
. It broadcasts at 95.1 MHz from a tower in Dallas, North Carolina
Dallas, North Carolina
Dallas is a town in Gaston County, North Carolina and a suburb of both Charlotte and Gastonia. The population was 3,402 at the 2000 census. It was named for George M. Dallas, Vice President of the United States of America under James K. Polk.-Geography:...
, primarily serving the Charlotte metropolitan area
Charlotte metropolitan area
The Charlotte metropolitan area is a metropolitan area/region of North and South Carolina within and surrounding the city of Charlotte...
. On air programming consists of mainstream 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...
music. The station is owned by CBS Radio
CBS Radio
CBS Radio, Inc., formerly known as Infinity Broadcasting Corporation, is one of the largest owners and operators of radio stations in the United States, third behind main rival Clear Channel Communications and Cumulus Media. CBS Radio owns around 130 radio stations across the country...
and formerly served as the flagship for the syndicated Ace & TJ Show
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...
until May 2011
May 2011
May 2011 was the fifth month of the current year. It began on a Sunday and ended after 31 days on a Tuesday.- Portal:Current events :This is an archived version of Wikipedia's Current events Portal from May 2011....
.
History
In the 1960s, WIST-FM was one of the first oldiesOldies
Oldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
stations. SIS radio bought the station in 1972. WIST-FM changed to album-oriented rock
Album-oriented rock
Album-oriented rock is an American FM radio format focusing on album tracks by rock artists.-Music played:Most radio formats are based on a select, tight rotation of hit singles...
with the new letters WRNA, eventually becoming WROQ "95-Q". Among the WROQ/WAYS
WFNZ
WFNZ "610 AM The Fan" is a Sports Talk format radio station in Charlotte, North Carolina.-History:WFNZ signed on in 1941 as WAYS . For much of the 1960s through early 1980s, it was Charlotte's top-rated Top 40 station under the moniker "61 Big Ways." The morning show was aired on both WAYS and...
DJs to become major celebrities were Robert Murphy, later the WKQX Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
morning host, and actor Jay Thomas
Jay Thomas
Jay Thomas is an American actor, comedian and radio talk show host.-Personal life:Thomas was born in Kermit, Texas. He was raised in his Italian American mother's Roman Catholic faith, although his father was Protestant....
. Larry Sprinkle, a WCNC-TV
WCNC-TV
WCNC-TV is the NBC affiliate in Charlotte, North Carolina. It broadcasts its digital signal on UHF channel 22 and is carried on cable channel 6 on most area cable systems. It is owned by the Belo Corporation...
morning weather personality, also worked at the stations.
With album-oriented rock
Album-oriented rock
Album-oriented rock is an American FM radio format focusing on album tracks by rock artists.-Music played:Most radio formats are based on a select, tight rotation of hit singles...
declining in popularity, WROQ became a 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...
station called Q-95 in 1984. Late in the 1980s, WROQ evolved into Rock 40. In 1990, after stunting
Stunting (broadcasting)
In radio broadcasting, stunting occurs when a station abruptly airs programming that is seemingly uncharacteristic compared to what they normally play...
with repeated airplay of "Shock The Monkey" by Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
, the station returned to CHR as WZZG Gorilla Radio Z-95.1. Later in the year, WZZG became WGKL-FM "Kool 95.1", an oldies
Oldies
Oldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
station emphasizing 50s music more than Magic 96.1. In October 1991, WGKL stunted
Stunting (broadcasting)
In radio broadcasting, stunting occurs when a station abruptly airs programming that is seemingly uncharacteristic compared to what they normally play...
with a different format each day, using mostly satellite formats from SMN, and one day even doing all-comedy, before becoming WAQQ "95-Double-Q", a CHR station with an modern rock
Modern rock
Modern rock is a rock format commonly found on commercial radio; the format consists primarily of the alternative rock genre...
emphasis. Pure CHR was one of the "choices" listeners were to vote on, but the eventual choice was "none of the above". In 1994, along with a name change to WEDJ "95.1 The Edge", the station moved even closer to modern rock
Modern rock
Modern rock is a rock format commonly found on commercial radio; the format consists primarily of the alternative rock genre...
. The switch to the current name, letters and format was made in 1996.
The Kiss Logo
Kiss 95.1 uses the same logo as WXKS-FMWXKS-FM
WXKS-FM, better known as Kiss 108, is a radio station in Boston, Massachusetts, licensed to nearby Medford broadcasting a Top 40 format...
("Kiss 108"), a Top-40 station owned 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...
and based in Boston, Massachusetts. This dates back to when both stations were owned by the Pyramid Broadcasting before WNKS-FM was spun off to American Radio Systems, which became CBS, in the late 90s .
This is actually the second station in Charlotte to use the "Kiss" moniker. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, WCKZ was known as "Kiss 102", using a churban format similar to what is today called rhythmic CHR; it is now the Urban AC-formatted WBAV
WBAV
WBAV-FM is an Urban Adult Contemporary radio station licensed to Gastonia, North Carolina and serving the Charlotte market on 101.9FM. Syndicated programs include Steve Harvey in mornings, and Michael Baisden in afternoons...
("V101.9"), another CBS Radio-owned station. Only this "Kiss 95.1" is a Pop station; the moniker was used before Clear Channel trademarked it for its pop stations years down the line.
On-air Schedule
- Kelly Meyers (6:00 AM to 10:00 AM)
- Croghan (10:00 AM to 3:00 PM)
- The 'O' Show with Otis (3:00 PM to 7:00 PM)
- Crash at Night (7:00 PM to 2:00 AM)
- Crash at Night (2:00 AM to 6:00 AM)