 | |
| Broadcast area | Savannah metropolitan area -Hilton Head |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 97.3MHz |
| Branding | 97.3 Kiss FM |
| Programming | |
| Format | Top 40 (CHR) |
| Affiliations | Premiere Networks Westwood One |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WLVH,WQBT,WSOK,WTKS,WYKZ | |
| History | |
First air date | February 4, 1969; 56 years ago (1969-02-04) |
Former call signs | WXLM (1969-1980) |
Call sign meaning | Corruption ofwave (previous branding) |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 50403 |
| Class | C0 |
| ERP | 100,000watts |
| HAAT | 396 meters (1,299 ft) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | 973kissfm.iheart.com |
WAEV (97.3FM, "97.3Kiss FM") is acommercialradio station inSavannah, Georgia. Owned byiHeartMedia, it broadcasts aTop 40 - CHRformat. It carries twonationally syndicated programs on weekdays:The Kidd Kraddick Morning Show in AMdrive time andOn Air with Ryan Seacrest in middays. The studios and offices are on Alfred Street inGarden City, using a Savannah address.
WAEV is aClass C0 FM station. It has aneffective radiated power (ERP) of 100,000watts, the maximum for most FM stations. Thetransmitter is amid othertowers for local FM and TV stations, along Fort Argyle Road (Georgia State Route 204) nearBloomingdale, Georgia.[2]
The stationsigned on the air on February 4, 1969; 56 years ago (1969-02-04).[3] The originalcall sign was WXLM. It played aneasy listening format, a mix of instrumentalcover versions of popular hits along with soft vocals. It was largelyautomated. WXLM was a rare stand-alone FM station, with no co-ownership with an AM station, television station or newspaper.
In September 1977, the station flipped toAlbum Rock in response to rival station WTOC starting a highly successful overnight album rock program in 1976. Before this, Savannah had been without a rock station sinceWEAS-FM flipped in the early 1970s. WXLM 97.3 went by the name "97 Rock." The station played long sets of rock music, includingThe Beatles,The Rolling Stones,Creedence Clearwater Revival andThe Who.
In 1980, the station flipped toadult contemporary music, calling itself "Wave 97". It took new call letters, WAEV. When "WXLM 97 Rock" left the air, Savannah did not have a rock station untilWIXV picked up the format in 1986. WAEV picked up the tempo and evolved into ahot adult contemporary station as "Mix 97.3" in 1993.
After several years of falling ratings and revenue in the early 2000s, the station rebranded to a Top 40—Contemporary Hits sound. It began using theKISS-FM branding in December 2001, common on otherClear Channel Communications FM stations such asKIIS-FMLos Angeles andKHKSDallas. It picked upThe Kidd Kraddick Morning Show from KHKS for its wake up program. After several months of further format "tweaking", the station moved into a mainstream mix of Top 40 hits.
32°02′46″N81°20′26″W / 32.046028°N 81.340667°W /32.046028; -81.340667