WKDD
Encyclopedia
WKDD — branded The New 98.1 'KDD — is a commercial hot adult contemporary
(hot AC) radio station licensed to Munroe Falls, Ohio
serving the Akron
and Canton
metro areas. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications
. Among WKDD sister stations in the Clear Channel Akron/Canton cluster: WARF
, WHLO
, WRQK-FM
and WHOF
.
(1150 AM) of Akron, Ohio
launched an FM sister station at 96.5 Megahertz
, WCUE-FM. By 1977, WCUE-FM — which up to that time was broadcasting an album oriented rock (AOR) format — switched both its format (to "mellow rock") and call sign
(to WKDD). John Gorman
, then Program Director at noted Cleveland rock station WMMS
, recalls competing with WKDD in the Akron
and Canton
radio markets: "... the station attempted to create a "Mellow Rock" mascot... "
. Meanwhile, the station moved its transmitter to Hartville, Ohio
to better serve the Akron market.
. WKDD had a construction permit to return to the Akron area broadcast facility once occupied by its 96.5 FM predecessor, in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
. On December 18, 2009, 30-year morning host Matt Patrick hosted his last show on WKDD. Longtime co-host Barbara "B.A." Adams returned to join Matt for his last show (Matt later became the morning show host at WTRC
AM/FM in South Bend, Indiana
and now has like duties for KTRH in Houston, Texas
). After playing "Home" by Michael Bublé
, the new morning show "Keith & Krissy" was announced, hosted by WKDD Programming Operations Director Keith Kennedy, and Patrick's former co-host, Krissy Taylor. The station also changed their on-air branding at this time to "Akron's 98-1 The New WKDD" with the slogan "Akron's Hit Music Station."
On September 7, 2010, WKDD moved its signal back to its Cuyahoga Falls broadcast location, formerly used by the station in their 96.5 days, to improve the quality of its signal in the Akron area, especially northern Summit County. The station also adopted a slightly new format playing music from "the 90's, 2k and Today", however some 1980's songs are also in the playlist.
with Ryan Seacrest
every Sunday morning from 8am-Noon, (The Hot AC version). WKDD also aired American Top 20 with Casey Kasem
for several years before airing AT40 with Ryan Seacrest. Beginning in November, 2008, WKDD carried The Billy Bush Show weeknights from 7:00 to 11:00 PM. They announced on September 15, 2011 that they would be dropping the show.
On its HD2 subchannel, WKDD formerly broadcasted programming from Club Phusion
, a commercial-free 24/7 Dance
channel. After the move of their transmitter to Cuyahoga Falls, the HD2 now simulcasts sister station WHLO-AM 640.
Adult contemporary music
Adult contemporary music is a broad style of popular music that ranges from lush 1950s and 1960s vocal music to predominantly ballad-heavy music with varying degrees of rock influence, as well as a radio format that plays such music....
(hot AC) radio station licensed to Munroe Falls, Ohio
Munroe Falls, Ohio
Munroe Falls is a city located in the east-central portion of Summit County, Ohio, United States, between Stow and Tallmadge. It is a suburb of Akron and is part of the Akron Metropolitan Statistical Area...
serving the Akron
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
and Canton
Canton, Ohio
Canton is the county seat of Stark County in northeastern Ohio, approximately south of Akron and south of Cleveland.The City of Caton is the largest incorporated area within the Canton-Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area...
metro areas. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
. Among WKDD sister stations in the Clear Channel Akron/Canton cluster: WARF
Warf
Warf or WARF may refer to:* WARF, a radio station in Akron, Ohio, USA* Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, technology transfer office of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, USA* Warf, an artificial dwelling hill...
, WHLO
WHLO
WHLO is an AM radio station in Akron, Ohio, USA, operating on 640 kHz, and owned by Clear Channel Communications.The station has a news/talk format with Jim Quinn's program from WPGB in Pittsburgh, and a schedule of syndicated talkers during the day, headed by Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, with a...
, WRQK-FM
WRQK-FM
WRQK-FM — branded Rock 106.9 — is an American commercial radio station licensed to Canton, Ohio, and broadcasting a mainstream rock format. The station is operated by Clear Channel Communications, with sister stations WHLO, WARF, WKDD and WHOF, at the Clear Channel Akron/Canton complex in Jackson...
and WHOF
WHOF
WHOF — branded My 101.7 — is a commercial FM radio station serving Akron/Canton, Ohio, licensed to the suburb of North Canton. It is part of the Clear Channel Akron/Canton cluster, along with WARF, WHLO, WKDD, and WRQK-FM....
.
WCUE-FM
On March 12, 1958, WCUEWCUE
WCUE is an AM radio station licensed to Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, USA operating on 1150 kHz. It operates as a noncommercial educational station and serves the Akron, Ohio market. The station broadcasts the religious programming of Family Radio.-History:...
(1150 AM) of Akron, Ohio
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
launched an FM sister station at 96.5 Megahertz
Hertz
The hertz is the SI unit of frequency defined as the number of cycles per second of a periodic phenomenon. One of its most common uses is the description of the sine wave, particularly those used in radio and audio applications....
, WCUE-FM. By 1977, WCUE-FM — which up to that time was broadcasting an album oriented rock (AOR) format — switched both its format (to "mellow rock") and call sign
Call sign
In broadcasting and radio communications, a call sign is a unique designation for a transmitting station. In North America they are used as names for broadcasting stations...
(to WKDD). John Gorman
John Gorman (radio)
John Gorman is a radio personality and author from Cleveland, Ohio. He has a long history in media, but most notable is his 13 years at WMMS in Cleveland. In the 1970s, his innovative marketing of WMMS turned a nearly defunct station into one of the most popular in the United States. The station...
, then Program Director at noted Cleveland rock station WMMS
WMMS
WMMS — branded 100.7 WMMS: The Buzzard — is a commercial radio station licensed to Cleveland, Ohio, widely recognized as one of the most influential rock stations in America throughout much of the history of FM broadcasting...
, recalls competing with WKDD in the Akron
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
and Canton
Canton, Ohio
Canton is the county seat of Stark County in northeastern Ohio, approximately south of Akron and south of Cleveland.The City of Caton is the largest incorporated area within the Canton-Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area...
radio markets: "... the station attempted to create a "Mellow Rock" mascot... "
2001 frequency swap
On July 3, 2001, WKDD was one of seven Cleveland/Akron area radio stations involved in a major frequency swap. WKDD dropped 96.5 in exchange for 98.1 Mhz: 98.1 came from WHK-FM (known since the swap as WFHM), while 96.5 went to WAKSWAKS
WAKS — branded 96.5 KISS-FM — is a commercial radio station licensed to Akron, Ohio broadcasting a pop/contemporary hit radio format. The station serves Cleveland, Akron and much of surrounding Northeast Ohio....
. Meanwhile, the station moved its transmitter to Hartville, Ohio
Hartville, Ohio
Hartville is a village in Stark County, Ohio, United States. The population was 2,174 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Canton–Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area....
to better serve the Akron market.
Recent years
On October 29, 2008, the station became licensed to the Akron suburb of Munroe Falls, OhioMunroe Falls, Ohio
Munroe Falls is a city located in the east-central portion of Summit County, Ohio, United States, between Stow and Tallmadge. It is a suburb of Akron and is part of the Akron Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. WKDD had a construction permit to return to the Akron area broadcast facility once occupied by its 96.5 FM predecessor, in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 49,374 people, 21,655 households, and 13,317 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,932.9 people per square mile . There were 22,727 housing units at an average density of 889.7 per square mile...
. On December 18, 2009, 30-year morning host Matt Patrick hosted his last show on WKDD. Longtime co-host Barbara "B.A." Adams returned to join Matt for his last show (Matt later became the morning show host at WTRC
WTRC
WTRC AM and FM are radio stations broadcasting a News Talk format. Commonly branded as "News Talk 95.3 MNC," WTRC broadcasts on 95.3 FM in Niles, Michigan and on 1340 AM in Elkhart, Indiana. WTRC is currently owned by Federated Media. WTRC carries a live-and-local morning show hosted by Matt...
AM/FM in South Bend, Indiana
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
and now has like duties for KTRH in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
). After playing "Home" by Michael Bublé
Michael Bublé
Michael Steven Bublé is a Canadian singer. He has won several awards, including three Grammy Awards and multiple Juno Awards. His first album reached the top ten in Canada and the UK. He found worldwide commercial success with his 2005 album It's Time, and his 2007 album Call Me Irresponsible was...
, the new morning show "Keith & Krissy" was announced, hosted by WKDD Programming Operations Director Keith Kennedy, and Patrick's former co-host, Krissy Taylor. The station also changed their on-air branding at this time to "Akron's 98-1 The New WKDD" with the slogan "Akron's Hit Music Station."
On September 7, 2010, WKDD moved its signal back to its Cuyahoga Falls broadcast location, formerly used by the station in their 96.5 days, to improve the quality of its signal in the Akron area, especially northern Summit County. The station also adopted a slightly new format playing music from "the 90's, 2k and Today", however some 1980's songs are also in the playlist.
Syndicated programming
WKDD, although being programmed as a Adult Top 40, airs the syndicated American Top 40American Top 40
American Top 40 is an internationally syndicated, independent radio program created by Casey Kasem, Don Bustany, Tom Rounds and Ron Jacobs. Originally a production of Watermark Inc...
with Ryan Seacrest
Ryan Seacrest
Ryan John Seacrest is an American radio personality, television host, network producer and voice actor. He is the host of On Air with Ryan Seacrest, a nationally syndicated Top 40 radio show that airs on KIIS-FM in Los Angeles and throughout the United States and Canada on Premiere Radio Networks,...
every Sunday morning from 8am-Noon, (The Hot AC version). WKDD also aired American Top 20 with Casey Kasem
Casey Kasem
Kemal Amin "Casey" Kasem is an American radio personality and voice actor who is best known for being the host of the nationally syndicated Top 40 countdown show American Top 40, and for voicing Shaggy in the popular Saturday morning cartoon franchise Scooby-Doo.Kasem, along with Don Bustany and...
for several years before airing AT40 with Ryan Seacrest. Beginning in November, 2008, WKDD carried The Billy Bush Show weeknights from 7:00 to 11:00 PM. They announced on September 15, 2011 that they would be dropping the show.
On its HD2 subchannel, WKDD formerly broadcasted programming from Club Phusion
Club Phusion
Club Phusion is a HD2 Dance Top 40 station, one of three Dance-formatted HD2 stations programmed by Clear Channel Communications through their Format Lab, a new division set up to expand music formats over their HD2 subcarriers...
, a commercial-free 24/7 Dance
Dance radio
Dance radio is a format that consists of current and recent dance/electronic music.While the format is popular in Europe and Asia, it has yet to make an impact in North America, although there are several Top 40 and Rhythmic radio stations which include current Dance product in their playlists...
channel. After the move of their transmitter to Cuyahoga Falls, the HD2 now simulcasts sister station WHLO-AM 640.