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_Kiss_95.1_logo.png){kind=logo} | |
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|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Metrolina |
| Frequency | 95.1MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | Kiss 95.1 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Contemporary hit radio |
| Subchannels |
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| Ownership | |
| Owner |
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| WBAV-FM,WKQC,WPEG,WSOC-FM | |
| History | |
First air date | July 29, 1962; 62 years ago (July 29, 1962) (as WIST-FM) |
Former call signs |
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Call sign meaning | "North Carolina's Kiss" |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 53975 |
| Class | C |
| ERP | 100,000watts (analog) 3,980 watts (digital)[2] |
| HAAT | 470 meters (1,540 ft) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | |
| Website | |
WNKS (95.1FM, "Kiss 95.1") is a commercialradio station licensed to serveCharlotte, North Carolina. The station is owned byBeasley Broadcast Group through licensee Beasley Media Group, LLC and broadcasts acontemporary hit radio format. Studios are located on South Boulevard in Charlotte'sSouth End and the station's broadcast tower is located nearDallas, North Carolina, at (35°21′44.5″N81°9′18.3″W / 35.362361°N 81.155083°W /35.362361; -81.155083).[3]
The station signed on July 29, 1962, as WIST-FM with abeautiful music format, and was co-owned withWIST (1240 AM).[4] In just a few years, WIST-FM flipped tooldies, one of the first FM stations to ever try the format.[5] In the summer of 1967, WIST-FM wentsilent. In January 1968, the station, now under the ownership of Belk Broadcasting, returned to the air and changed to aprogressive rock format with the new letters WRNA.[6][7] Calvin Walker was "the torchbearer for progressive rock and album cuts on WRNA-FM", according to Charlie Hanna ofThe Charlotte Observer.[8]
In January 1973, SIS Broadcasting, owners of61 Big WAYS (610 AM), bought WRNA-FM. The following month, the station, which was number 10 in the market, was switched to WROQ with a format of "adult rock".[9][10] People complained that WROQ did not play "harder" rock like WRNA, instead playing a mix of Top 40 and "more esoteric numbers".[11] Among those who apparently did not like the change was operations manager Walker, who left forWRPL in April 1973.[12] However, WROQ went to number five "on a cumulative basis" in the metro ratings after four months.[11] Progressive rock on WROQ was limited to simulcasts ofIn Concert onABC on some Friday nights and a Saturday program.[12] The "adult rock" format included somejazz, and WROQ was one of only two area stations playingclassical music in 1975, with four hours on Sunday morning.[13]
WROQ went by the moniker"95Q". Among the WROQ/WAYS DJs to become major celebrities were Robert Murphy (who went to greater fame inChicago), and actorJay Thomas, who went toKPWR inLos Angeles as the host ofThe Power 106 Morning Zoo. Larry Sprinkle, aWCNC-TV morning weather personality, also worked at the stations.[14] The stations would simulcast in morning drive, while running separate programming the rest of the day. The progressive rock format would evolve intoalbum-oriented rock in the early 1980s.
With album rock declining in popularity, WROQ became aCHR station called "Q95" in August 1984.[15][16] By January 1989, WROQ evolved into a rock-leaning Top 40 format,[17] better known as "Rock 40". Its AM sister station would simulcast WROQ during morning and afternoon drive-times during this time period, though it would flip to oldies in 1986. Also in 1986, SIS Radio would sell the two stations to CRB Broadcasting, who would then sell the stations again, first to Adams Radio in 1988, then to Tenore Broadcasting the following year.[18][19][20]
On January 19, 1990, at 3 p.m., afterstunting with a 19-hour loop of "Shock the Monkey" byPeter Gabriel (which even prompted a call to local police services, thinking the station was being taken hostage), the station returned to CHR as WZZG, "Gorilla Radio, The New Z95.1 FM", which was partially inspired by the success of "Pirate Radio" inLos Angeles.[21][22] By the end of the station's run, the station had a dayparted format of Top 40 during the day and moreheavy metal in the evenings. In addition, the station would drop the "Gorilla Radio" portion of the moniker to just be named "Z95.1".
The return to CHR did not last long; Adams Radio would buy the station back in late 1990. On December 21 of that year, after playing "Free Bird" byLynyrd Skynyrd, WZZG became WGKL-FM, "Kool 95.1", anoldies format emphasizing 1950s music more thanMagic 96.1, utilizingSatellite Music Network's "Pure Gold" format.[23][24] The flip occurred because of a company-wide initiative where most of Adams' stations flipped to the format. This format, however, would last just a short time. After a few months, the station added a local airstaff, but by the station's end, the entire staff was let go and the station went completely automated again.[25] The flip to oldies would also bankrupt the entire company, resulting in their stations being placed in receivership and being sold off one by one.
On October 3, 1991, WGKL beganstunting with a different format each day,[26] using other formats fromSatellite Music Networks (includingReal Country,Stardust,Z-Rock, andStarstation), a simulcast ofWCNT, all comedy, andHot AC, with listeners being allowed to vote on the new format. However, at noon on October 14, the announced result was "None of the above". The station then returned to CHR as WAQQ, "95 Double Q", which started with a "25,000 Songs in a Row, Commercial Free" promotion, beginning with "Groovy Train" byThe Farm.[27][28] The "Double Q" moniker was meant to remind listeners of WROQ (whose call letters were transferred toWCKN inAnderson, South Carolina). The "Double Q" format was more of a mix of Top 40 andalternative rock music, which was starting to become popular during this time. In March 1993,AT&T would acquire the stations temporarily due to Adams' bankruptcy while a permanent owner was being sought. Pyramid Broadcasting, then-owners ofWRFX, would buy the stations in September.[29]
On January 15, 1994, after a one-day stunt with a 10kHz tone, the station rebranded as "95.1 The Edge", with new callsign WEDJ implemented on February 14.[30][31] The station was initially a broad-based mainstream Top 40, which shifted towards amodern rock lean by the Summer of 1995. However, this backfired, as competition fromWEND (which aired a straightforward modern rock format) forced WEDJ to shift back to a mainstream direction by January 1996. In July 1995, Pyramid would merge with Evergreen Media (its AM sister station, by thenWAQS, would be sold to SFX Broadcasting).
On May 31, 1996, after a brief stunt, WEDJ relaunched as "Kiss 95.1", becoming the second station in Charlotte to use the "Kiss" moniker, the first beingWCKZ, which is now current sister WBAV. The first song on the relaunched "Kiss" was "I Go Blind" byHootie & the Blowfish.[32][33] The following day, WEDJ changed call letters to the current WNKS to match the "Kiss" moniker.[34] In December 1996, WNKS (as well as Evergreen's 4 other Charlotte stations) was traded toEZ Communications (owners ofWSOC-FM andWSSS; WRFX-FM would go toSFX Broadcasting), with Evergreen receiving EZ Communications'Philadelphia stationsWIOQ andWUSL in return EZ would then be bought byAmerican Radio Systems in July, which would reunite WNKS with its long-time AM sister station (by this pointWRFX, now WFNZ; WFNZ would be sold toEntercom in November 2016).[35][36] ARS would be bought out byInfinity Broadcasting on September 19, 1997, with Infinity changing its name toCBS Radio in December 2005 as part of the spin-off of CBS' motion picture and cable television assets under a relaunchedViacom.
WNKS formerly served as the flagship for the syndicatedAce & TJ Show, which ran on the station from its debut on April 6, 1998, until May 20, 2011, when the duo left for WHQC due to a contract dispute.[37][38] They were replaced by afternoon host Otis in August.[39] In March 2012, Otis moved back to afternoons, and Drex & Maney, formerly ofWHBQ-FM inMemphis, officially took over morning drive.[40] Cassiday Proctor would join a month later fromKAMX inAustin.[41] On January 5, 2015, Drex and Cassiday announced they would be leaving the station for a morning show position atWSTR inAtlanta.[42][43] Maney remained at WNKS, and was joined by new co-hosts LauRen (formerly ofWZGV) and Roy (formerly ofWXLK) the following month.[44]
On October 2, 2014,CBS Radio announced that it would trade all of theirTampa and Charlotte stations (including WNKS), as well asWIP inPhiladelphia to theBeasley Broadcast Group in exchange for 5 stations located inMiami and Philadelphia.[45] The swap was completed on December 1, 2014.[46]
On July 13, 2022, it was reported thatThe Ace & TJ Show, would return to WNKS on July 18.[47] Current morning hosts Maney and LauRen lost an hour as a result of the move.[48] In May 2024, it was announced the show would move toWKQC, with program director Cameron Moore's midday show moving from 12-3 p.m. to 10 a.m.-3 p.m.. The Maney and LauRen Morning Show also expanded by adding another hour, moving back to their previous 6-10 a.m. time slot.[49]
WNKS uses the same logo asWXKS-FM ("Kiss 108"), a Top-40 station owned byiHeartMedia and based inBoston, Massachusetts. This dates back to when both stations were owned by Pyramid Broadcasting, and later Evergreen Media.
Kiss 95.1 entered national spotlight when the morning show hosts Maney, Roy & LauRen became recurring cast members of TLC's My Big Fat Fabulous Life.[50]
35°21′43″N81°09′18″W / 35.362°N 81.155°W /35.362; -81.155
