Product Code Database
WKSC-FM (103.5 MHz) – branded "103.5 Kiss FM" – is a commercial contemporary hit radio station licensed to Chicago, Illinois. Owned by iHeartMedia, its studios are located at the Illinois Center complex on Michigan Avenue in Downtown Chicago, and its transmitter is located at Willis Tower. WKSC is the flagship station of the syndicated morning show The Fred Show.
WKFM aired beautiful music/Light music format.O'Connor, Richard. (2009). A Brief History of Beautiful Music Radio, Percy Faith Pages. Retrieved January 29, 2019." FM Units Double in Two Year Period", Broadcasting. February 20, 1961. p. 82. Retrieved February 16, 2019. The music had appropriate moods through the day, with morning and afternoon drive times more upbeat, and it was considered to have a "highbrow" sound. Programs included Morning Serenade, Musical Bon-Bons, Pleasant Listening, Rendezvous With Rhythm, Dinner Musicale, and Stereo Showcase. The station had five-minute newscasts at the top of each hour and headlines at the half-hour." Stations By Format", Billboard. November 19, 1966. p. 38. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
Though WUSN, the Zenith owned classical music station, was the first station to broadcast in stereo, WKFM was the first to broadcast in stereo 24/7.
In autumn 1973, RKO opened an oldies dance club, the "FYR Station", located at the McCormick Place, where the station held live broadcasts on Friday and Saturday evenings." Chi Oldie FM Nitery", Billboard. November 10, 1973. p. 28. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
In 1974, the station's transmitter was moved to the Sears Tower.
In 1976, WFYR began carrying Dick Biondi's syndicated program Super Gold Rock n' Roll." Dick Biondi Super Gold Rock n' Roll", Billboard. November 13, 1976. p. 31. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
In April 1977, the station adopted a live adult contemporary format.Herbeck, Ray, Jr. " 'New' WFYR-FM Challenges WLS", Billboard. March 11, 1978. pp. 1, 32 & 39. Retrieved January 29, 2019." Stations, everywhere: a listeners' guide to the AM and FM bands", Chicago Tribune Magazine, March 4, 1979. p. 37. Retrieved January 30, 2019. Personalities included Fred Winson," Radio; A Candid Overview of the Way it Was, Is, and Most Likely Will Be", Chicago Tribune Magazine, March 4, 1979. p. 22-27. Retrieved January 30, 2019. Dick Bartley, Dick Bartley Radio Biography, DickBartley.com. Retrieved January 30, 2019.Hall, Doug. " Vox Jox", Billboard. October 7, 1978. pp. 32, 34. Retrieved January 30, 2019. Stu Collins, and Dean Richards.Hall, Doug. " Vox Jox", Billboard. June 3, 1978. p. 46. Retrieved January 30, 2019." Dean Richards", WGN-TV. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
In the 1980s, the station carried Dick Bartley's oldies program Solid Gold Saturday Night, and Bartley's Sunday night oldies program Solid Gold Scrapbook. Chicago Radio Guide. Vol. 1, No. 1. May 1985. p. 54. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
By January 1989, WFYR had transitioned back to an oldies format, with the slogan "Chicago's Hottest Oldies".Ross, Sean. " Vox Jox", Billboard. January 14, 1989. p. 10. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
In 1989, WFYR was sold to Summit Broadcasting for $21 million, as RKO General was slowly wound down due to past FCC violations and investigations ending up with the FCC ruling the company as an unfit licensee.Multiple sources:
On October 30, 1989, WFYR's oldies format was dropped and replaced with an adult contemporary format." WFYR Goes For Soft Hits", Radio & Records. November 3, 1989. pp. 3, 36. Retrieved January 30, 2019.Seigenthaler, Katherine. " New Soft Hits Format Makes a Play For the Contemporary Adult", Chicago Tribune. November 7, 1989. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
The station's initial on-air personalities included Steven Craig in mornings, Steve Seaver in middays, Brian Kelly in afternoons, and Kevin Lewis evenings. Other personalities on The Blaze included Leslie Harris, Scott Childers, and helicopter reporter "Major Tom"." The Best of Rock - 103-5 The Blaze", Chicago Radio Time Capsule. ScottChilders.com. Retrieved January 30, 2019.Kening, Dan. " Major Tom", Chicago Tribune. December 31, 1991. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
WWBZ presented "Blazefest", a rock music memorabilia show and concert at the Odeum Expo Center in Villa Park, which featured performances by bands such as Kiss, I Mother Earth, Saigon Kick, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies, and Warrant.Kening, Dan. " Even After 20 Years Kiss Still Just Making it Up as They Go", Chicago Tribune. April 1, 1994. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
In 1993, the station was sold to Evergreen Media for $28 million.Multiple sources:
Mancow Muller was added to mornings and soon achieved the highest ratings for the station.Multiple sources:
Other airstaff on Rock 103-5 included Terry Gibson,Stark, Phyllis. " Vox Jox", Billboard. February 25, 1995. p. 142. Retrieved January 31, 2019. Eddie Webb,Kirk, Jim. " Labuz to Boost Local Buzz as WBEZ Morning Host", Chicago Tribune. November 18, 1998. Retrieved January 31, 2019. Ned Spindle,Kirk, Jim. " Rise in Ratings Gives Rise to Change", Chicago Tribune. January 26, 1999. Retrieved January 31, 2019. Sludge, Cara Carriveau," 10 Questions with ... Cara Carriveau", All Access Music Group. December 5, 2006. Retrieved January 31, 2019. and Chris Payne. WRCX hosted "Rockstock", which featured performances from Megadeth, Local H, Veruca Salt, Silverchair, Faith No More, Helmet, and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts.Reger, Rick. " Second-Stage Acts Save Rockstock 97", Chicago Tribune. September 9, 1997. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
In February 1996, sister station WKTU in New York City simulcasted WRCX for a day as part of a week-long stunt of simulcasting sister stations nationwide before flipping formats to rhythmic adult contemporary as WKTU.Taylor, Chuck. " Vox Jox", Billboard. February 17, 1996. p. 96. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
In 1997, Evergreen merged with Chancellor Broadcasting.Peers, Martin. " Viacom Radio Signs Off", Variety. February 18, 1997. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
In late June 1998, Mancow left WRCX and joined 101.1 WKQX in late July.Multiple sources:
Bob & Tom replaced Muller in the morning drive slot.
WRCX's ratings plummeted after Muller's departure; in the Spring 1998 ratings period, the station was ranked 12th in the market with a 3.2 share (though the station did well in its primary target demographics of Men 18-34 and 25-54), but in the Summer of that year, the station fell to 19th place with a 2.0 share." #3 Chicago", Radio & Records Ratings Directory. Vol 1. 1998. p. 32. Retrieved April 20, 2019. #3 Chicago", Radio & Records Ratings Directory. Vol 1. 1999. p. 40. Retrieved April 20, 2019. On October 29, 1998, Chancellor announced that WRCX would change formats. A farewell show aired October 30, with the current and former DJs re-airing station memories (which included phone-calls from Lars Ulrich and Mancow), and a final goodbye from the station's departing staff. Rock 103.5 Chicago Final Broadcast 3/3
Chancellor merged with Capstar and restructured as AMFM, Inc. in 1999, and in 2000, merged with Clear Channel Communications.Multiple sources:
The station carried the syndicated program Rick Dees Weekly Top 40, as well as American Top 40 (first with Casey Kasem and later with Ryan Seacrest).Multiple sources:
As of 2019, American Top 40 continues to air on the station." AT40", 103.5 KISS-FM. Retrieved February 1, 2019. Java Joel was the evening host of The Rubber Room on the station from 2001 until January 2005 when he was fired for comments that were deemed racist.Multiple sources:
DreX was morning host on WKSC-FM from 2003 until 2010.Phil Rosenthal. " DreX out as Kiss FM morning host; CNN's Larry King exiting too", Chicago Tribune. December 15, 2010. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
Nina Chantele joined WKSC-FM as midday host in 2006, remaining with the station until 2014." iHeartMedia Annual December Firings Begin; WGCI and WKSC Staffers Gone", Chicagoland Radio and Media. December 1, 2014. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
From August 2007 until September 2009, Silly Jilly hosted nights on WKSC." 10 Questions with ... Silly Jilly", All Access Music Group. September 8, 2009. Retrieved February 1, 2019. Silly Jilly was replaced by Special K, who remained with the station until 2013." Special K Exits As WKSC-FM Night DJ/Music Director", Chicagoland Radio and Media. July 25, 2013. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
In December 2010, it was announced that Charlotte's "Brotha Fred" would take over the morning show on KISS FM. Angi Taylor and David L. joined Brotha Fred as co-hosts of the new morning show known as Brotha Fred's Neighborhood." WKSC-FM Releases David L From 'Brotha Fred's Neighborhood'", Chicagoland Radio and Media. February 1, 2013. Retrieved February 1, 2019. David L. left the show in February 2012. The show was later renamed Fred and Angi in the Morning." On again, off again: Not meant to be?", RedEye. July 14, 2016. Retrieved February 1, 2019. In mid-September 2020, Taylor announced that she would be leaving the station to host mornings on sister station WCHI-FM. Fred still hosts WKSC's morning show, now known as "The Fred Show".
In November 2013, Brady joined the station as the night host and music director." Brady Joins WKSC For MD/Nights Duties", All Access Music Group. October 30, 2013. Retrieved February 1, 2019. In June 2015, Brady assumed afternoon and APD duties." Brady Named APD/Afternoon Drive Host For WKSC (103.5 Kiss-FM)/Chicago", All Access Music Group. June 8, 2015. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
In October 2016, Erik Zachary was named as the new full-time evening personality"[70]", Robert Feder. October 13, 2016. Retrieved February 28, 2020. and served in that position until August 2019 when he exited to pursue other opportunities."[71]", All Access Music Group. August 30, 2019. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
target="_blank" rel="nofollow"
/a>
|
|
