WDAI
Encyclopedia
WDAI "98.5 Kiss FM" is an urban contemporary
radio station licensed to Pawleys Island, South Carolina
and serves the Grand Strand
area. The Cumulus Media
outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) to broadcast at 98.5 MHz with an effective radiated power
(ERP) of 6 kW.
FM after a couple of years. By 1996, WDAI was the number one station in the market. WDAI dropped to third in Fall 1998 but regained its position in Spring 1999, losing the top spot to WJYR
in Fall 1999. The drop in ratings came after a move toward more adult music, with 34-year-old women the target audience, after program director Ernie D. moved to WCMG
and Chris Clay replaced him. More rap was added in the 2000s. WDAI leaned more adult after the 2009 debut of Power 100.3
, a hip-hop music station also owned by Cumulus Media.
The station aired the Tom Joyner
Morning Show for many years. The station went by the name 98.5 Kiss FM and the format was Urban Adult Contemporary
with the slogan "Today's Smooth R&B and Soul Music"
In January 2010, Cumulus Media hired a market veteran, Craig Russ, as its new Operations Manager. Personalities on the station included Monique from 10am to 3pm. Michael Baisden
aired from 3pm to 7pm. Doug Davis was heard weekends on the station.
In July 2010, WDAI changed from Urban Adult Contemporary
to Urban contemporary
,
replacing a similar format Cumulus had aired on WSEA for a year before switching that station to CHR
. WDAI also took the syndicated morning show from WSEA; Rickey Smiley
which replaced Tom Joyner
In The Morning.
Urban contemporary
Urban contemporary is a music radio format. The term was coined by the late New York DJ Frankie Crocker in the mid 1970s. Urban contemporary radio stations feature a playlist made up entirely of hip hop/rap, contemporary R&B, pop, electronica such as dubstep and drum and bass and Caribbean music...
radio station licensed to Pawleys Island, South Carolina
Pawleys Island, South Carolina
Pawleys Island is a town in Georgetown County, South Carolina, United States, and the Atlantic coast barrier island on which the town sits. The population was 138 at the 2000 census...
and serves the Grand Strand
Grand Strand
The Grand Strand refers to a large stretch of beaches on the East Coast of the United States extending from Little River to Georgetown in the U.S. State of South Carolina. It consists of 60+ miles along an essentially uninterrupted arc of beach land, beginning around the Little River and...
area. The Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media, Inc. is the second largest Owner and Operator of AM and FM radio stations in the United States, behind Clear Channel Communications, operating 570 stations in 150 markets as of September 16, 2011. The company also owns Cumulus Media Networks...
outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC) to broadcast at 98.5 MHz with an effective radiated power
Effective radiated power
In radio telecommunications, effective radiated power or equivalent radiated power is a standardized theoretical measurement of radio frequency energy using the SI unit watts, and is determined by subtracting system losses and adding system gains...
(ERP) of 6 kW.
History
98.5 signed on in the early 1990s with an adult contemporary and sports talk format. It became the market's first urban contemporaryUrban contemporary
Urban contemporary is a music radio format. The term was coined by the late New York DJ Frankie Crocker in the mid 1970s. Urban contemporary radio stations feature a playlist made up entirely of hip hop/rap, contemporary R&B, pop, electronica such as dubstep and drum and bass and Caribbean music...
FM after a couple of years. By 1996, WDAI was the number one station in the market. WDAI dropped to third in Fall 1998 but regained its position in Spring 1999, losing the top spot to WJYR
WMYB
WMYB is a Hot adult contemporary radio station licensed to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It serves the Florence and Myrtle Beach areas. The NextMedia outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 92.1 MHz with an effective radiated power of 94 kW...
in Fall 1999. The drop in ratings came after a move toward more adult music, with 34-year-old women the target audience, after program director Ernie D. moved to WCMG
WCMG
WCMG is a radio station broadcasting an active rock format. Licensed to Latta, South Carolina, USA. The station is currently owned by Cumulus Media.-History:...
and Chris Clay replaced him. More rap was added in the 2000s. WDAI leaned more adult after the 2009 debut of Power 100.3
WSEA
WSEA is a Contemporary hit radio station licensed to Atlantic Beach, South Carolina and serves the Grand Strand area. The Cumulus Media outlet is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to broadcast at 100.3 MHz with an ERP of 12 kW...
, a hip-hop music station also owned by Cumulus Media.
The station aired the Tom Joyner
Tom Joyner
Thomas "Tom" Joyner is an American radio host, host of the nationally syndicated The Tom Joyner Morning Show, and also founder of REACH Media Inc., the Tom Joyner Foundation, and BlackAmericaWeb.com.-Early life:...
Morning Show for many years. The station went by the name 98.5 Kiss FM and the format was Urban Adult Contemporary
Urban Adult Contemporary
Urban adult contemporary is the name for a format of radio music, similar to an urban contemporary format. Radio stations using this format usually would not have rap music on their playlists. The format was designed by Barry Mayo when he, Lee S. Simonson and Bill Pearson organized Broadcast...
with the slogan "Today's Smooth R&B and Soul Music"
In January 2010, Cumulus Media hired a market veteran, Craig Russ, as its new Operations Manager. Personalities on the station included Monique from 10am to 3pm. Michael Baisden
Michael Baisden
Michael Baisden is an American author, motivational speaker, host of the TV One talk show Baisden After Dark, and host of his own nationally-syndicated radio show.-Career:...
aired from 3pm to 7pm. Doug Davis was heard weekends on the station.
In July 2010, WDAI changed from Urban Adult Contemporary
Urban Adult Contemporary
Urban adult contemporary is the name for a format of radio music, similar to an urban contemporary format. Radio stations using this format usually would not have rap music on their playlists. The format was designed by Barry Mayo when he, Lee S. Simonson and Bill Pearson organized Broadcast...
to Urban contemporary
Urban contemporary
Urban contemporary is a music radio format. The term was coined by the late New York DJ Frankie Crocker in the mid 1970s. Urban contemporary radio stations feature a playlist made up entirely of hip hop/rap, contemporary R&B, pop, electronica such as dubstep and drum and bass and Caribbean music...
,
replacing a similar format Cumulus had aired on WSEA for a year before switching that station to CHR
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...
. WDAI also took the syndicated morning show from WSEA; Rickey Smiley
Rickey Smiley
Rickey Smiley is a standup comedian, television host, actor, and radio personality best known for his prank phone calls. The calls feature Smiley disguising his voice and carrying on a conversation with the recipient of the call....
which replaced Tom Joyner
Tom Joyner
Thomas "Tom" Joyner is an American radio host, host of the nationally syndicated The Tom Joyner Morning Show, and also founder of REACH Media Inc., the Tom Joyner Foundation, and BlackAmericaWeb.com.-Early life:...
In The Morning.