WKSC-FM
Broadcast areaChicago metropolitan area
Frequency103.5 MHz (HD Radio)
Branding103.5 Kiss FM
Programming
Language(s)English
FormatTop 40 (CHR)
SubchannelsHD2: Pride Radio
AffiliationsPremiere Networks
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
November 1957 (1957-11)[1]
Former call signs
  • WKFM (1957–73)[2]
  • WFYR (1973-83)[2]
  • WFYR-FM (1983–91)[3]
  • WWBZ (1991–94)[3]
  • WRCX (1994–98)[3]
  • WUBT (1998–2001)[3]
Call sign meaning
KISS-FM Chicago
Technical information[4]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID74178
ClassB
ERP4,300 watts
HAAT472 meters (1,549 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
41°52′44″N 87°38′10″W / 41.879°N 87.636°W / 41.879; -87.636
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live (via iHeartRadio)
Website1035kissfm.iheart.com

WKSC-FM (103.5 MHz) – branded "103.5 Kiss FM" – is a commercial top 40 (CHR) 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 it broadcasts from a 4.3 kW transmitter atop Willis Tower. WKSC is the flagship station of the syndicated morning show The Fred Show.

History

WKFM

The station began broadcasting in November 1957 under the call sign WKFM.[1] WKFM was owned by Frank Kovas, Jr.[2] The station's transmitter was located atop the Randolph Tower at 188 West Randolph, and had an ERP of 50,000 watts.[2] On February 2, 1970, its antenna fell off the building during high winds, but no one was injured.[5]

WKFM aired beautiful music/light classical format.[6][7] 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.[6] Programs included Morning Serenade, Musical Bon-Bons, Pleasant Listening, Rendezvous With Rhythm, Dinner Musicale, and Stereo Showcase.[6] The station had five minute newscasts at the top of each hour and headlines at the half hour.[8]

Though WEFM, the Zenith owned classical station, was the first station to broadcast in stereo, WKFM was the first to broadcast in stereo 24/7.[6]

WFYR

In 1973, the station was sold to RKO General for $2.4 million.[9][2] The new owner changed the call letters to WFYR in March 1973.[2] The letters FYR, standing for "Fire", was a reference to the infamous Great Chicago Fire.[10][11] The station adopted an automated oldies format, using Drake-Chenault's Classic Gold package.[12][13][14][15]

In autumn 1973, RKO opened an oldies dance club, the "FYR Station", located at the McCormick Inn, where the station held live broadcasts on Friday and Saturday evenings.[16][14]

In 1974, the station's transmitter was moved to the Sears Tower.[2]

In 1976, WFYR began carrying Dick Biondi's syndicated program Super Gold Rock n' Roll.[17]

In April 1977, the station adopted a live adult contemporary format.[15][18][19] Personalities included Fred Winson,[19][20] Dick Bartley,[21][22] Stu Collins,[22] and Dean Richards.[23][24]

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.[25][21]

By January 1989, WFYR had transitioned back to an oldies format, with the slogan "Chicago's Hottest Oldies".[26][11][27]

In 1989, WFYR was sold to Summit Broadcasting for $21 million as a consequence of an FCC sanction forcing RKO General to end their broadcasting operations due to their dishonest business practices.[28] On October 30, 1989, WFYR's oldies format was dropped and replaced with an adult contemporary format.[29][27]

The Blaze

In 1991, the station was sold to Major Broadcasting for $19 million.[30] On March 29, 1991, at 6 p.m., the station signed off the air.[31] At 4 p.m. the following day, it returned to the air with a 44-hour stunt of Rock Rock ('Til You Drop) by Def Leppard.[31] At Noon on April 1, the station debuted a hard rock format as "The Blaze".[31][32][33] Shortly thereafter, the station's call sign was changed to WWBZ.[3] "The Blaze" featured acts such as AC/DC, Cinderella, Def Leppard, Great White, Guns N' Roses, Kiss, Led Zeppelin, Mötley Crüe, Slaughter, and Warrant.[31][34]

The station's initial on-air personalities included Steven Craig in mornings, Steve Seaver in middays, Brian Kelly in afternoons, and Kevin Lewis evenings.[31] Other personalities on The Blaze included Leslie Harris, Scott Childers, and helicopter reporter "Major Tom".[35][36][37]

WWBZ presented "Blazefest", a rock 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.[36][38]

In 1993, the station was sold to Evergreen Media for $28 million.[39]

Rock 103.5

Over the July 4, 1994 weekend, the station stunted, playing music from a variety of music genres, promoting a feedback phone number for listeners to call, and taking potshots at B96, WCKG, Q101, and US99.[40][41] At 6 a.m. on July 5, the station was relaunched as "Rock 103-5", airing an active rock format.[42][41][43][44] On July 28, the station's call sign was changed to WRCX.[3]

Mancow Muller was added to mornings and soon achieved the highest ratings for the station.[45] Other airstaff on Rock 103-5 included Terry Gibson,[46] Eddie Webb,[47] Ned Spindle,[48] Sludge,[48] Cara Carriveau,[49] and Chris Payne.[47] WRCX hosted "Rockstock", which featured performances from Megadeth, Local H, Veruca Salt, Silverchair, Faith No More, Helmet, and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts.[50]

In February 1996, sister station WYNY in New York 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.[51]

In 1997, Evergreen merged with Chancellor Broadcasting.[52]

In late June 1998, Mancow left WRCX and joined 101.1 WKQX in late July.[53] Bob & Tom replaced Muller in the morning drive slot.[44]

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.[44][54][55] On October 29, 1998, Chancellor announced that WRCX would change formats.[56] 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.[56][57][58]

The Beat

The station continued its rock format (albeit jockless) until 5:30 p.m. on November 2, when, after playing "Sad but True" by Metallica, the station flipped to a rhythmic oldies format as "Chicago's Jammin' Oldies", branded first as "The New 103-5", then (after a "name the station" contest) as "The Beat".[44][59][60][61][62] The first song on "The New 103-5" was "Get Ready" by The Temptations.[62] Doug James was morning host on The Beat.[63] On December 21, the station's call sign was changed to WUBT.[3] In 2000, Larry Lujack was hired to host a program on Saturdays, which was repeated on Sundays.[64]

Chancellor merged with Capstar and restructured as AMFM, Inc. in 1999, and in 2000, merged with Clear Channel Communications.[65]

Top 40 era

On January 12, 2001, the station adopted a Top 40/CHR format as "Kiss 103.5".[66] The final song on "The Beat" was "Last Dance" by Donna Summer and the first song on "Kiss" was "Get Ready for This" by 2 Unlimited.[67] The station's call letters became the current WKSC-FM on February 13.[3] At the time of the flip, Big City Radio's WKIE, WKIF, and WDEK had collectively been known as "92 Kiss FM" (also with a CHR format) since 1998.[68][69] Clear Channel filed suit against Big City for the use of the "Kiss" name because Clear Channel owned the rights to it in most markets (and continues to do so as iHeartMedia).[68][69]

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).[70] As of 2019, American Top 40 continues to air on the station.[71] 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.[72] In 2002, the station adjusted its moniker from "KISS 103.5" to "103.5 KISS FM".[73]

DreX was morning host on WKSC-FM from 2003 until 2010.[74]

Nina Chantele joined WKSC-FM as midday host in 2006, remaining with the station until 2014.[75]

From August 2007 until September 2009, Silly Jilly hosted nights on WKSC.[76] Silly Jilly was replaced by Special K, who remained with the station until 2013.[77]

In December 2010, it was announced that Charlotte's "Brotha Fred" would take over the morning show on KISS FM.[78] Angi Taylor and David L. joined Brotha Fred as co-hosts of the new morning show known as Brotha Fred's Neighborhood.[78][79] David L. left the show in February 2012.[79] The show was later renamed Fred and Angi in the Morning.[80] 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.[81] In June 2015, Brady assumed afternoon and APD duties.[82]

In October 2016, Erik Zachary was named as the new full-time evening personality [83] and served in that position until August 2019 when he exited to pursue other opportunities.[84]

103.5 HD2

From June 2006 to early 2013, WKSC-HD2 aired programming from "Pride Radio", a Top 40/Dance format targeting the LGBTQ community.[85] This would change to iHeart's Dance/EDM network "Evolution". In November 2013, WKSC-HD2 changed to a Smooth Jazz format along with airport information as "Air Chicago Radio".[86][87] In late 2018, WKSC's HD2 subchannel began broadcasting soft adult contemporary music as "The Breeze".[87] This overlapped with its Soft AC sister station WLIT (93.9 Lite FM). On June 26, 2019, WKSC-HD2 returned to "Pride Radio".[88]

References

  1. 1 2 1971 Broadcasting Yearbook, Broadcasting, 1971. p. B-62. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 History Cards for WKSC-FM, fcc.gov. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Call Sign History, fcc.gov. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
  4. ↑ "Facility Technical Data for WKSC-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  5. ↑ "Pylon plummets during Chicago rush hour", Broadcasting, February 9, 1970. p. 65. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
  6. 1 2 3 4 O'Connor, Richard. (2009). A Brief History of Beautiful Music Radio, Percy Faith Pages. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  7. ↑ "FM Units Double in Two Year Period", Broadcasting. February 20, 1961. p. 82. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Stations By Format", Billboard. November 19, 1966. p. 38. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  9. ↑ "RKO gets to add an FM", Broadcasting, January 29, 1973. p. 29. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  10. ↑ Deitz, Corey (2004). The Cash Cage. Lessons from Camp. p. 104. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  11. 1 2 Chicagoland Radio Waves, MediaTies. Summer 1988/Spring-Summer 1989. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  12. ↑ "Gold in California", Broadcasting, May 14, 1973. p. 57. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  13. ↑ Duston, Anne. "Defect Coffin, Co-Ops Help Indie Dealer", Billboard. August 4, 1973. p. 31. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  14. 1 2 "Chicago WFYR-FM", Billboard. November 29, 1975. pp. RKO-10, RKO-14. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  15. 1 2 "RKO Shifts Chicago Old FM Automation", Billboard. March 26, 1977. p. 20. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  16. ↑ "Chi Oldie FM Nitery", Billboard. November 10, 1973. p. 28. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  17. ↑ "Dick Biondi Super Gold Rock n' Roll", Billboard. November 13, 1976. p. 31. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  18. ↑ Herbeck, Ray, Jr. "'New' WFYR-FM Challenges WLS", Billboard. March 11, 1978. pp. 1, 32 & 39. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  19. 1 2 "Stations, everywhere: a listeners' guide to the AM and FM bands", Chicago Tribune Magazine, March 4, 1979. p. 37. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  20. ↑ "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.
  21. 1 2 Dick Bartley Radio Biography, DickBartley.com. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  22. 1 2 Hall, Doug. "Vox Jox", Billboard. October 7, 1978. pp. 32, 34. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  23. ↑ Hall, Doug. "Vox Jox", Billboard. June 3, 1978. p. 46. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  24. ↑ "Dean Richards", WGN-TV. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  25. ↑ Chicago Radio Guide. Vol. 1, No. 1. May 1985. p. 54. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  26. ↑ Ross, Sean. "Vox Jox", Billboard. January 14, 1989. p. 10. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  27. 1 2 Seigenthaler, Katherine. "New Soft Hits Format Makes a Play For the Contemporary Adult", Chicago Tribune. November 7, 1989. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  28. ↑ Multiple sources:
  29. ↑ "WFYR Goes For Soft Hits", Radio & Records. November 3, 1989. pp. 3, 36. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  30. ↑ Multiple sources:
  31. 1 2 3 4 5 Feder, Robert. "Hard-rocking 'Blaze' snuffs soft-pop 'FYR", Chicago Sun-Times. April 2, 1991. p. 33. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  32. ↑ Ross, Sean; Rosen, Craig; Stark, Phyllis. "Vox Jox", Billboard. April 13, 1991. p. 12. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  33. ↑ "WFYR Switches To AOR As WWBZ", Radio & Records. April 5, 1991. p. 3. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  34. ↑ "PD of the week", Billboard. July 13, 1991. p. 17. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  35. ↑ "Leslie Harris". 95.9 The River. Archived from the original on January 26, 2011. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  36. 1 2 "The Best of Rock - 103-5 The Blaze", Chicago Radio Time Capsule. ScottChilders.com. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  37. ↑ Kening, Dan. "Major Tom", Chicago Tribune. December 31, 1991. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  38. ↑ Kening, Dan. "Even After 20 Years Kiss Still Just Making it Up as They Go", Chicago Tribune. April 1, 1994. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
  39. ↑ Multiple sources:
  40. ↑ "'The Blaze' Flips To 'Rock 103.5' - 07/05/94", Chicagoland Radio and Media. July 5, 2016. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
  41. 1 2 "Chicago's Blaze Going Up In Smoke!", Radio & Records. July 1, 1994. p. 14. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  42. ↑ Feder, Robert (June 30, 1994). "New 'Rock 103.5' Putting Out Blaze". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on May 5, 2016. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  43. ↑ "Blaze Extinguished", Radio & Records. July 8, 1994. p. 1. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  44. 1 2 3 4 Kirk, Jim. "WRCX Turns to Oldies, Disco to Lift Ratings", Chicago Tribune. October 30, 1998. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  45. ↑ Multiple sources:
  46. ↑ Stark, Phyllis. "Vox Jox", Billboard. February 25, 1995. p. 142. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  47. 1 2 Kirk, Jim. "Labuz to Boost Local Buzz as WBEZ Morning Host", Chicago Tribune. November 18, 1998. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  48. 1 2 Kirk, Jim. "Rise in Ratings Gives Rise to Change", Chicago Tribune. January 26, 1999. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  49. ↑ "10 Questions with ... Cara Carriveau", All Access Music Group. December 5, 2006. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  50. ↑ Reger, Rick. "Second-Stage Acts Save Rockstock 97", Chicago Tribune. September 9, 1997. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  51. ↑ Taylor, Chuck. "Vox Jox", Billboard. February 17, 1996. p. 96. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  52. ↑ Peers, Martin. "Viacom Radio Signs Off", Variety. February 18, 1997. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  53. ↑ Multiple sources:
  54. ↑ "#3 Chicago", Radio & Records Ratings Directory. Vol 1. 1998. p. 32. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
  55. ↑ #3 Chicago", Radio & Records Ratings Directory. Vol 1. 1999. p. 40. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
  56. 1 2 Rock 103.5 Chicago Final Broadcast 1/3
  57. ↑ Rock 103.5 Chicago Final Broadcast 2/3
  58. ↑ Rock 103.5 Chicago Final Broadcast 3/3
  59. ↑ Jacobson, Adam. "WRCX/Chicago Flips to 'Jammin' Oldies'", Radio & Records. November 6, 1998. pp. 1, 23. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  60. ↑ Feder, Robert (October 30, 1998). "WRCX-FM firing up new oldies format". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on May 5, 2016. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  61. ↑ "103.5 The Beat". The Beat. Archived from the original on November 5, 1999. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  62. 1 2 "Rock 103.5 Goes Jammin Oldies", Format Change Archive. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  63. ↑ "Meet The Beat Airstaff". The Beat. Archived from the original on November 5, 1999. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  64. ↑ Multiple sources:
  65. ↑ Multiple sources:
  66. ↑ "WUBT/Chicago Goes CHR/Pop", Radio & Records. January 19, 2001. pp. 3, 22. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  67. ↑ "'103.5 The Beat' flips from Rhythmic Oldies to CHR 'Kiss-FM'", Format Change Archive. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  68. 1 2 "M Street Bazaar... People, Products, and Programming", The M Street Journal. Vol. 18, No. 03. January 17, 2001. p. 8. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  69. 1 2 Ross, Sean "Shebel Energizes WKIE With Dance", Billboard. February 17, 2001. p. 63-64. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  70. ↑ Multiple sources:
  71. ↑ "AT40", 103.5 KISS-FM. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  72. ↑ Multiple sources:
  73. ↑ Multiple sources:
  74. ↑ Rosenthal, Phil. "DreX out as Kiss FM morning host; CNN's Larry King exiting too", Chicago Tribune. December 15, 2010. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  75. ↑ "iHeartMedia Annual December Firings Begin; WGCI and WKSC Staffers Gone", Chicagoland Radio and Media. December 1, 2014. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  76. ↑ "10 Questions with ... Silly Jilly", All Access Music Group. September 8, 2009. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  77. ↑ "Special K Exits As WKSC-FM Night DJ/Music Director", Chicagoland Radio and Media. July 25, 2013. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  78. 1 2 Washburn, Mark (December 17, 2010). "Brotha Fred hitting the road for Chicago". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  79. 1 2 "WKSC-FM Releases David L From 'Brotha Fred's Neighborhood'", Chicagoland Radio and Media. February 1, 2013. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  80. ↑ "On again, off again: Not meant to be?", RedEye. July 14, 2016. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  81. ↑ "Brady Joins WKSC For MD/Nights Duties", All Access Music Group. October 30, 2013. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  82. ↑ "Brady Named APD/Afternoon Drive Host For WKSC (103.5 Kiss-FM)/Chicago", All Access Music Group. June 8, 2015. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  83. ↑ "", Robert Feder. October 13, 2016. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  84. ↑ "", All Access Music Group. August 30, 2019. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  85. ↑ "Pride Radio Comes to Chicago!". ClearChannel. June 16, 2006. Archived from the original on August 25, 2006. Retrieved June 27, 2019. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  86. ↑ "AIR Chicago Radio Station for ORD and MDW Hits Airwaves", Chicago Department of Aviation. November 25, 2013. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  87. 1 2 Feder, Robert. "Robservations: Nexstar to acquire WGN in Tribune Media deal", RobertFeder.com. December 3, 2018. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  88. ↑ "iHeartMedia Expands Pride Radio to 12 Additional Markets", RadioInsight. June 26, 2019. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
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