WYKS
Encyclopedia
WYKS is a commercial radio station
s operating in Gainesville, Florida
, broadcasting to the Gainesville
-Ocala, Florida
area on 105.3 FM
. The station's format is Contemporary Hit Radio
and Top 40 music, and the station has broadcast with this format and call sign since 1981.
station but soon switching to album oriented rock. As an AOR station, WGVL was one of the most popular radio stations in Gainesville during the 1970s, often beating AM Top 40 stations WRUF and WGGG in its target male demographics.
After WRUF-FM
abruptly switched from beautiful music
to AOR as "Rock 104" in 1981, WGVL's management decided to take a new tack. On Christmas Day 1981, WYKS "Kiss 105" was born with a CHR format, signing on with Bob and Doug McKenzie's version of "The Twelve Days of Christmas." Kiss 105.3 has remained one of the most popular radio stations in the market since. The frequency changed from 105.5 to 105.3 in 1995, and although the station's power remained 3,000 watts, there was a slight increase in tower height, which improved the station's coverage area.
Jeri Banta - Program Director/Morning Show Host - 1981 - 2003
Kevin Quinn - program Director/Operations Manager/ Morning Show Host - 2003 - 2010
Mark Page - Sales Manager
Christian Chase - Sales Manager
Rondre Adams - Air Personality (Midday's)/Production Director
Nick Vance - Air Personality (Afternoons)/ Assistant Program Director
Tom Collins - Air Personality (Nights)
Brett Douglas - Air Personality (Morning Show)
Ryan Dupree - Air Personality (Midday's) and Production Director
JP Kruze (Mo' Bounce) - Air Personality (Nights)
Casey Layne - Air Personality (Morning Show)
Deena Hart - Air Personality (Morning Show)
Tyler Whitney - Air Personality (Morning Show)
Greg West - Air Personality
Todd Steele - Air Personality
Johnny Walker - Air Personality
Dave Fox - Air Personality
Shea Michaels - Air Personality
Brooke Taylor - Air Personality
Chris Adams - Air Personality (Afternoons)
From Drum & Bass to House, Breakbeats to Hip-Hop, the show is an anomaly, finding its home on Gainesville's biggest Pop/Top 40 station. But it is a testament to the staying power of cutting edge Electronica in all of its forms. With perennial favorites Dave Fox (The Voice) at the helm, and resident deejay Comic running logistics, the show is on course to increase its audience in the upcoming months.
With an alumni list that reads like the 'Who's Who' of the Southeast EDM scene, and new up-and-comers crawling out of the woodwork almost daily, the show is never at a loss for quality talent and mind-altering music! As of June 2007, guest DJ's are DJ Mo, Flaco, Ghost, Stylist, Fawda Bass, and many others.
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...
s operating in Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
, broadcasting to the Gainesville
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
-Ocala, Florida
Ocala, Florida
Ocala is a city in Marion County, Florida. As of 2007, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 53,491. It is the county seat of Marion County, and the principal city of the Ocala, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated 2007 population of 324,857.-History:Ocala...
area on 105.3 FM
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
. The station's format is Contemporary Hit Radio
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...
and Top 40 music, and the station has broadcast with this format and call sign since 1981.
History
The station began broadcasting in 1970 on 105.5 FM as WGVL, beginning as a countryCountry music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
station but soon switching to album oriented rock. As an AOR station, WGVL was one of the most popular radio stations in Gainesville during the 1970s, often beating AM Top 40 stations WRUF and WGGG in its target male demographics.
After WRUF-FM
WRUF-FM
WRUF-FM is a radio station broadcasting a country music format. Licensed to Gainesville, Florida, USA, the station serves the Gainesville/Ocala area. The station is currently owned by the University of Florida...
abruptly switched from beautiful music
Beautiful music
Beautiful music is a mostly instrumental music format that was prominent in American radio from the 1960s through the 1980s...
to AOR as "Rock 104" in 1981, WGVL's management decided to take a new tack. On Christmas Day 1981, WYKS "Kiss 105" was born with a CHR format, signing on with Bob and Doug McKenzie's version of "The Twelve Days of Christmas." Kiss 105.3 has remained one of the most popular radio stations in the market since. The frequency changed from 105.5 to 105.3 in 1995, and although the station's power remained 3,000 watts, there was a slight increase in tower height, which improved the station's coverage area.
Notable Personalities
Douglas J. Gillen - President/OwnerJeri Banta - Program Director/Morning Show Host - 1981 - 2003
Kevin Quinn - program Director/Operations Manager/ Morning Show Host - 2003 - 2010
Mark Page - Sales Manager
Christian Chase - Sales Manager
Rondre Adams - Air Personality (Midday's)/Production Director
Nick Vance - Air Personality (Afternoons)/ Assistant Program Director
Tom Collins - Air Personality (Nights)
Brett Douglas - Air Personality (Morning Show)
Ryan Dupree - Air Personality (Midday's) and Production Director
JP Kruze (Mo' Bounce) - Air Personality (Nights)
Casey Layne - Air Personality (Morning Show)
Deena Hart - Air Personality (Morning Show)
Tyler Whitney - Air Personality (Morning Show)
Greg West - Air Personality
Todd Steele - Air Personality
Johnny Walker - Air Personality
Dave Fox - Air Personality
Shea Michaels - Air Personality
Brooke Taylor - Air Personality
Chris Adams - Air Personality (Afternoons)
The Perimeter
"From The Outside Looking In" - The Perimeter on Kiss 105.3 is a Gainesville, Florida ritual, bringing the best of the Underground to the airwaves and the internet each and every Sunday night at 8pm EST. A veritable overnight success, The Perimeter has remained the top rated weekend radio broadcast in the region since its inception.From Drum & Bass to House, Breakbeats to Hip-Hop, the show is an anomaly, finding its home on Gainesville's biggest Pop/Top 40 station. But it is a testament to the staying power of cutting edge Electronica in all of its forms. With perennial favorites Dave Fox (The Voice) at the helm, and resident deejay Comic running logistics, the show is on course to increase its audience in the upcoming months.
With an alumni list that reads like the 'Who's Who' of the Southeast EDM scene, and new up-and-comers crawling out of the woodwork almost daily, the show is never at a loss for quality talent and mind-altering music! As of June 2007, guest DJ's are DJ Mo, Flaco, Ghost, Stylist, Fawda Bass, and many others.