WKIE
Encyclopedia
WCPT-FM 92.7 FM is a radio station
licensed to Arlington Heights, Illinois
, and serving the Chicago area. WCPT-FM is part of a trimulcast
with WCPT (AM)
, WCPQ and WCPY. During the daytime, the trimulcast simulcasts WCPT
programming from 5 AM - 9 PM, and operates a Dance Hits format at night known as Dance Factory FM
.
The station is owned by Newsweb Corporation. WCPT-FM transmits on a tower with WPPN
and WVIV in nearby Buffalo Grove
at 1,800 watts.
In 1983, the station made national headlines when the call letters were changed to the provocative WSEX with an adult contemporary format called "Love Songs & More". Later that decade, the station, still WSEX, carried a "Top 10" format only playing songs from the '80s that had made Top 10 according to Billboard Magazine. One DJ was "Doctor-X". He had started his career in the early 1980s on WMTH 88.5 with "The Doctor-X All Request Radio Show", continuing when the station changed frequency to 90.5 FM, then Doctor-X started the low power station WDRX 91.9 FM and eventually went on to commercial radio under another name on WSEX 92.7 FM where he continued when the station became WCBR-FM.
The station became "Chicago's Bear", with the WCBR-FM call letters in 1989. As the 1990s progressed, the station's programming consisted of a mixture of brokered and AAA
programming. One of the most known brokered programs was "Cyber Radio" which featured dance music
on the weekends.
in Kankakee
(also on 92.7). Many of the brokered programs that were on the station were moved to then-automated adult contemporary WJKL in Elgin
. When Big City took control of the two stations, the station stunted with a simulcast of their Los Angeles
sister station "Y 107"
, which had a modern rock
format.
On November 14, 1998, at Noon, WCBR and WBRO launched their new official format, CHR
as "92.7 KISS FM." with the first song being "Kiss
" by Prince
. This would be Chicago's first true CHR station in many years and proved to be quite successful, even with the two stations' weak signals. In early 1999, the calls were changed to WKIE and WKIF. In summer 1999 Big City purchased a third station, WDEK
92.5 in Dekalb, IL, which had a locally programmed CHR format at the time and began simulcasting it with WKIE and WKIF as a trimulcast
. Not long after, the moniker was adjusted to "92 KISS FM".
On January 12, 2001, Clear Channel
flipped its full-signal WUBT from rhythmic oldies
to CHR as WKSC-FM "Kiss 103.5". At that time, they issued a cease and desist
order to Big City Radio insisting they stop using the "Kiss FM
" moniker. "92 KISS-FM" continued until January 26, 2001. 92 KISS-FM signed off with Pearl Jam
's Last Kiss and then the three signals became "Energy 92.7&5", a format consisting entirely of dance music
, launched with DJ Jean
's The Launch. The airstaff and voiceover
talent Sean Caldwell remained intact. The new format was designed by 92 KISS-FM's program director, Chris Shebel, whom has stated that the Dance Hits format is something he had dreamed of doing for a long time.
Energy gained lots of attention via the internet and gained a relatively devoted following in the Chicago area and worldwide via its webcast
, even producing two consecutive CD-song collections, "Energy92.7&5 Dance Hits Volume(s) 1 & 2" . Considering their niche format and signal limitations, Energy was competitive in the ratings and in revenues. Energy's program director, Chris Shebel, consulted the launch of the Energy format in Phoenix, Arizona
on KNRJ
as Energy 92.7 & 101.1.
and WXXY/WYXX (which had a Mexican music format) to the Hispanic Broadcasting Company. On January 5, 2003, at Midnight, Energy became "Onda 92". Energy's program director Chris Shebel and former Energy DJ Joe Vlazny-Smith (a.k.a. Joey V) went on to launch the same format in San Francisco on KBTB, which is now known as KREV 92.7 Rev FM.
Onda 92 was never successful in the ratings, and SBS had their own financial problems, so in June 2004, the company sold WKIE, WKIF and WDEK to Newsweb Corporation. At midnight on November 22, 2004, Onda signed off, and WDEK and WKIE began simulcasting with its new adult hits
sister station WRZA
, aka "Nine FM". WKIF
was switched to a full-time simulcast of CNN Headline News
.
Sky Daniels was the original program director for Nine FM. When he left in 2005, he was replaced by Matt DuBiel. Nine FM's format tightened a bit over time, to attract more casual listeners, eliminating many of the more obscure songs on the station's playlist.
On May 19, 2006, Chris Chudzik of TKC Entertainment began leasing air time on Saturday nights for a dance music show called Dance Factory FM
, from 8:00PM to 5:00AM hosted By Kyle Kelly (a former DJ from Energy 92.7&5). Dance Factory FM expanded to Friday nights 9:00PM to 5:00AM starting on August 12, 2006, hosted by Luis 2Live Lopez (also a former DJ from Energy 92.7&5).
A year later, on May 14, 2007 Nine FM and Chudzik expanded Dance Factory to seven nights a week from 9:00PM to 4:30AM. The weekend shows carry a DJ mix style format, while the weekday shows carry a Dance Hits music format with live mixes several times nightly.
from 5 a.m. until 9 p.m. Dance Factory still continues to air overnight, and gained an extra half hour (4:30 AM - 5 AM) in the morning. The last song on Nine FM was intended to be "Kiss This Thing Goodbye" by Del Amitri
, but ended up being "Crush
" by Jennifer Paige
, likely an homage to the "WKIE" call letters' 10 year run with "Crush" being one of the first hit songs on the station.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
licensed to Arlington Heights, Illinois
Arlington Heights, Illinois
Arlington Heights is a village in Cook and Lake counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. A suburb of Chicago, it lies about 25 miles northwest of the city's downtown. The population was 75,101 at the 2010 census....
, and serving the Chicago area. WCPT-FM is part of a trimulcast
Trimulcast
The term "trimulcast" was first used in May 1981 by Multimedia Broadcasting's outlets in Little Rock, Arkansas, KAAY-AM and KLPQ-FM when they teamed-up with Cox Cable locally...
with WCPT (AM)
WCPT (AM)
WCPT is a progressive talk radio station licensed to Willow Springs, Illinois, and serving the Chicago area. The station carries programming from Dial Global. WCPT is owned by Newsweb Corporation....
, WCPQ and WCPY. During the daytime, the trimulcast simulcasts WCPT
WCPT
WCPT could refer to:In the Chicago area:* 820 WCPT at Willow Springs — had the call sign WAIT from 2005 to 2007, and WCSN before that* 850 WAIT at Crystal Lake — had the call sign WCPT from 2005 to 2007, and WAIT before that...
programming from 5 AM - 9 PM, and operates a Dance Hits format at night known as Dance Factory FM
Dance Factory FM
Dance Factory, also known as Dance Factory Radio, is the Chicago area dance music radio program that airs every night on the Newsweb Corporation trimulcast of WCPY-FM , WCPT-FM and WCPQ-FM...
.
The station is owned by Newsweb Corporation. WCPT-FM transmits on a tower with WPPN
WPPN
WPPN is an FM radio station licensed to Des Plaines, Illinois that targets the Chicago metropolitan area. WPPN broadcasts on 106.7 MHz with a Spanish AC format....
and WVIV in nearby Buffalo Grove
Buffalo Grove, Illinois
Buffalo Grove is an affluent village located in the northern suburbs of Chicago, and in Cook and Lake counties in Illinois, United States. The town was named for Buffalo Creek, which was itself named for bison bones found in the area....
at 1,800 watts.
History
The 92.7 FM frequency has a long history of various formats. After signing on the air in the late 1950s as WNWC ("North West Communities"), by 1968 it became the pioneer rock-music outlet in the Chicago area, including top 40 hits, as WEXI ("Stereo Excitement"). But as the format spread to other area stations, WEXI adopted an easy-listening and talk format by 1970 ("Spreading Clean Air over Chicagoland") that same year. WEXI station personalities included Ray Smithers, Lou Rugani, Stan Adams, Pat Cassidy, Jon Morgan, Bud Jeffries, and Jonathan Kingsley (the latter hosting "Love in the Afternoon", a first-name-only call-in show about romantic fantasies and experiences). By the early 1970s the call letters became WWMM and later WTCO, with a country-and western format.In 1983, the station made national headlines when the call letters were changed to the provocative WSEX with an adult contemporary format called "Love Songs & More". Later that decade, the station, still WSEX, carried a "Top 10" format only playing songs from the '80s that had made Top 10 according to Billboard Magazine. One DJ was "Doctor-X". He had started his career in the early 1980s on WMTH 88.5 with "The Doctor-X All Request Radio Show", continuing when the station changed frequency to 90.5 FM, then Doctor-X started the low power station WDRX 91.9 FM and eventually went on to commercial radio under another name on WSEX 92.7 FM where he continued when the station became WCBR-FM.
The station became "Chicago's Bear", with the WCBR-FM call letters in 1989. As the 1990s progressed, the station's programming consisted of a mixture of brokered and AAA
Adult album alternative
Adult album alternative is a radio format. A spinoff from the album-oriented rock format, its roots trace to the 1960s and 1970s from the earlier freeform and progressive formats....
programming. One of the most known brokered programs was "Cyber Radio" which featured dance music
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
on the weekends.
Big City Radio, trimulcast, "Kiss FM" and "Energy"
In early 1998, Big City Radio Group took over WCBR and WBROWKIF
WKIF is a radio station broadcasting an adult hits format. The station is licensed to Kankakee, Illinois, USA. WKIF has also broadcast Chicago White Sox, Chicago Bulls, Notre Dame Football and other sporting events. WKIF is owned by Newsweb Corporation.-History:The station went on the air in...
in Kankakee
Kankakee, Illinois
Kankakee is a city in Kankakee County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 25,561, and 26,840 as of a 2009 estimate. It is the county seat of Kankakee County...
(also on 92.7). Many of the brokered programs that were on the station were moved to then-automated adult contemporary WJKL in Elgin
Elgin, Illinois
Elgin is a city in northern Illinois located roughly northwest of Chicago on the Fox River. Most of Elgin lies within Kane County, Illinois, with a portion in Cook County, Illinois...
. When Big City took control of the two stations, the station stunted with a simulcast of their Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
sister station "Y 107"
KSSE
KSSE/KSSD/KSSC is a commercial radio station trimulcast located in Southern California, broadcasting on 107.1 FM. The KSSC callsign was assigned to the current KMOQ in the Joplin, Missouri market until 1985....
, which had a modern rock
Modern rock
Modern rock is a rock format commonly found on commercial radio; the format consists primarily of the alternative rock genre...
format.
On November 14, 1998, at Noon, WCBR and WBRO launched their new official format, 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...
as "92.7 KISS FM." with the first song being "Kiss
Kiss (song)
In 1988 Art of Noise released a cover of the song, featuring Tom Jones on vocals. The song became the band's biggest hit to that point, reaching number eighteen on the U.S. dance charts and number five on the UK Singles Chart, higher than the original in that country...
" by Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
. This would be Chicago's first true CHR station in many years and proved to be quite successful, even with the two stations' weak signals. In early 1999, the calls were changed to WKIE and WKIF. In summer 1999 Big City purchased a third station, WDEK
WDEK
WCPY 92.5 FM is a radio station located in DeKalb, Illinois, west of Chicago. WCPY is part of a trimulcast with WCPT , WCPT-FM and WCPQ. During the daytime, the trimulcast simulcasts WCPT programming from 5 AM - 9 PM, and operates a Dance Hits format at night known as Dance Factory FM...
92.5 in Dekalb, IL, which had a locally programmed CHR format at the time and began simulcasting it with WKIE and WKIF as a trimulcast
Trimulcast
The term "trimulcast" was first used in May 1981 by Multimedia Broadcasting's outlets in Little Rock, Arkansas, KAAY-AM and KLPQ-FM when they teamed-up with Cox Cable locally...
. Not long after, the moniker was adjusted to "92 KISS FM".
On January 12, 2001, Clear Channel
Clear channel
A clear-channel station is an AM band Radio station in North America that has the highest protection from interference from other stations, particularly concerning night-time skywave propagation. Usually known as class A stations since 1982, they are occasionally still referred to by their former...
flipped its full-signal WUBT from rhythmic oldies
Rhythmic oldies
Rhythmic Oldies is a radio format that concentrates on the rhythmic, disco or dance genres of music. Playlists may span from the 1970s through the early 1990s...
to CHR as WKSC-FM "Kiss 103.5". At that time, they issued a cease and desist
Cease and desist
A cease and desist is an order or request to halt an activity and not to take it up again later or else face legal action. The recipient of the cease-and-desist may be an individual or an organization....
order to Big City Radio insisting they stop using the "Kiss FM
KISS-FM (brand)
KISS-FM is the brand name of a Top 40 music format heard on FM radio stations in many cities in the United States . Clear Channel Communications claims ownership of the KISS-FM brand and operates most KISS-FM formatted stations, though not KISS-FM in San Antonio, Texas itself .-Origin and...
" moniker. "92 KISS-FM" continued until January 26, 2001. 92 KISS-FM signed off with Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder , Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready...
's Last Kiss and then the three signals became "Energy 92.7&5", a format consisting entirely of dance music
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
, launched with DJ Jean
DJ Jean
DJ Jean is a Dutch disc jockey most popular for his space countdown themed single "The Launch". He has been an influential figure in the electronic music scene since the early 1990s. He is prolific, and releases three or more compilation compact discs per year...
's The Launch. The airstaff and voiceover
VoiceOver
VoiceOver is a screen reader built into Apple Inc.'s Mac OS X, iOS and iPod operating systems. By using VoiceOver, the user can access their Macintosh or iOS device based on spoken descriptions and, in the case of the Mac, the keyboard. The feature is designed to increase accessibility for blind...
talent Sean Caldwell remained intact. The new format was designed by 92 KISS-FM's program director, Chris Shebel, whom has stated that the Dance Hits format is something he had dreamed of doing for a long time.
Energy gained lots of attention via the internet and gained a relatively devoted following in the Chicago area and worldwide via its webcast
Webcast
A webcast is a media presentation distributed over the Internet using streaming media technology to distribute a single content source to many simultaneous listeners/viewers. A webcast may either be distributed live or on demand...
, even producing two consecutive CD-song collections, "Energy92.7&5 Dance Hits Volume(s) 1 & 2" . Considering their niche format and signal limitations, Energy was competitive in the ratings and in revenues. Energy's program director, Chris Shebel, consulted the launch of the Energy format in Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
on KNRJ
KNRJ
KNRJ 101.1 FM, K224CJ 92.7 FM, K257CD 99.3 FM, and K228XO 93.5 FM are a quadrocast station serving the Phoenix area. KNRJ is licensed to Payson, Arizona, which is 57 miles north of Phoenix, while K224CJ is a 10-watt translator from South Mountain's antenna farm to provide a better signal to the...
as Energy 92.7 & 101.1.
Stations sold, switch to Spanish, "Nine FM"
In late 2002, Big City Radio, which had overextended itself in obtaining radio stations, declared bankruptcy and began liquidating its properties. WKIE, WKIF and WDEK were sold to Spanish Broadcasting SystemSpanish Broadcasting System
Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc. is one of the largest owners and operators of radio stations in the United States. SBS is also invested in television and internet properties, deriving the majority of its income from advertising through its media products.SBS owns the internet portal LaMusica.com...
and WXXY/WYXX (which had a Mexican music format) to the Hispanic Broadcasting Company. On January 5, 2003, at Midnight, Energy became "Onda 92". Energy's program director Chris Shebel and former Energy DJ Joe Vlazny-Smith (a.k.a. Joey V) went on to launch the same format in San Francisco on KBTB, which is now known as KREV 92.7 Rev FM.
Onda 92 was never successful in the ratings, and SBS had their own financial problems, so in June 2004, the company sold WKIE, WKIF and WDEK to Newsweb Corporation. At midnight on November 22, 2004, Onda signed off, and WDEK and WKIE began simulcasting with its new adult hits
Adult hits
Adult hits is a radio format, popular in the early 2000s, that does not adhere to a specific music genre, but instead draws from a wider playlist...
sister station WRZA
WRZA
WCPQ 99.9 FM is a radio station located in Park Forest, Illinois, south of Chicago. WCPQ is part of a trimulcast with WCPT , WCPT-FM and WCPY. During the daytime, the trimulcast simulcasts WCPT programming from 5 AM - 9 PM, and operates a Dance Hits format at night known as Dance Factory FM...
, aka "Nine FM". WKIF
WKIF
WKIF is a radio station broadcasting an adult hits format. The station is licensed to Kankakee, Illinois, USA. WKIF has also broadcast Chicago White Sox, Chicago Bulls, Notre Dame Football and other sporting events. WKIF is owned by Newsweb Corporation.-History:The station went on the air in...
was switched to a full-time simulcast of CNN Headline News
CNN Headline News
HLN, formerly known as CNN Headline News and CNN2, is a cable television news channel based in the United States and a spinoff of the cable news television channel, CNN. Initially airing tightly-formatted 30-minute newscasts around the clock, since 2005, the channel has increasingly aired long-form...
.
Sky Daniels was the original program director for Nine FM. When he left in 2005, he was replaced by Matt DuBiel. Nine FM's format tightened a bit over time, to attract more casual listeners, eliminating many of the more obscure songs on the station's playlist.
On May 19, 2006, Chris Chudzik of TKC Entertainment began leasing air time on Saturday nights for a dance music show called Dance Factory FM
Dance Factory FM
Dance Factory, also known as Dance Factory Radio, is the Chicago area dance music radio program that airs every night on the Newsweb Corporation trimulcast of WCPY-FM , WCPT-FM and WCPQ-FM...
, from 8:00PM to 5:00AM hosted By Kyle Kelly (a former DJ from Energy 92.7&5). Dance Factory FM expanded to Friday nights 9:00PM to 5:00AM starting on August 12, 2006, hosted by Luis 2Live Lopez (also a former DJ from Energy 92.7&5).
A year later, on May 14, 2007 Nine FM and Chudzik expanded Dance Factory to seven nights a week from 9:00PM to 4:30AM. The weekend shows carry a DJ mix style format, while the weekday shows carry a Dance Hits music format with live mixes several times nightly.
"Chicago's Progressive Talk"
Newsweb Corporation dropped the Nine FM programming on all three signals Monday, October 20, 2008, and replaced it with a simulcast of sister station WCPTWCPT
WCPT could refer to:In the Chicago area:* 820 WCPT at Willow Springs — had the call sign WAIT from 2005 to 2007, and WCSN before that* 850 WAIT at Crystal Lake — had the call sign WCPT from 2005 to 2007, and WAIT before that...
from 5 a.m. until 9 p.m. Dance Factory still continues to air overnight, and gained an extra half hour (4:30 AM - 5 AM) in the morning. The last song on Nine FM was intended to be "Kiss This Thing Goodbye" by Del Amitri
Del Amitri
Del Amitri were a Scottish pop-rock guitar band, formed in Glasgow, Scotland in 1983. The band grew out of Justin Currie's Jordanhill College School band and came together after teenager Currie placed an advertisement in the window of a music store asking for people who could play to contact him...
, but ended up being "Crush
Crush (Jennifer Paige song)
"Crush" is a pop song recorded by American singer Jennifer Paige. The song was written by Andy Goldmark, Mark Muller, Berny Cosgrove and Kevin Clark. It was released as the first single from her debut album, Jennifer Paige . "Crush" reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and remains Paige's...
" by Jennifer Paige
Jennifer Paige
Jennifer Paige is an American singer-songwriter who achieved success with the 1998 pop hit "Crush". She is considered to be one of the 1990s' biggest one-hit wonders.-Biography:...
, likely an homage to the "WKIE" call letters' 10 year run with "Crush" being one of the first hit songs on the station.
Weekdays
- 5 AM - 8 AM: The Bill Press Show
- 8 AM - 11 AM: The Stephanie Miller Show
- 11 AM - 2 PM: The Ed Schultz Show
- 2 PM - 5 PM: The Thom Hartmann Program
- 5 PM - 8 PM: The Norman Goldman Show
- 8 PM - 9 PM: The Leslie Marshall Show
- 9 PM - 1 AM: Dance Factory Radio
- 1 AM - 5 AM: Dance Factory Radio
Saturdays
- 9 PM (Fri) - 5 AM: Dance Factory Radio
- 5 AM - 7 AM: Best of Bill Press
- 7 AM - 9 AM: Mighty House
- 9 AM - 11 AM: Stephanie Miller Show
- 11 AM - 1 PM: Hal Sparks
- 1 PM - 4 PM: Dick Kay - Back On The Beat
- 4 PM - 7 PM: Ring of Fire
- 7 PM - 8 PM: Stephanie Miller Show
- 8 PM - 12 AM: Dance Factory Radio
Sundays
- 12 AM - 5 AM: Dance Factory Radio
- 5 AM - 7 AM: Best of Bill Press
- 7 AM - 8 AM: Viewpoints/Radio Health Journal
- 8 AM - 9 AM: Our Town
- 9 AM - 11 AM: The Mike Nowak Show
- 11 AM - 12 PM: Meet The Press
- 12 PM - 1 PM: Both Sides Now
- 1 PM - 2 PM: Alan Colmes Weekend
- 2 PM - 4 PM: Michael Feldman's Whad'Ya Know?
- 4 PM - 5 PM: The Beacon
- 5 PM - 6 PM: State Of Belief
- 6 PM - 9 PM: Ring Of Fire
- 9 PM - 5 AM (Mon): Dance Factory Radio
Mix Show DJs
- Bobby D
- DJ Markski
- To Kool Chris
- Erik K
- DJ Caffeine
- Danny V
- Alex Andros
- DJ Jonny D
- Zita Zee
- Kevin Phoenix
- DJ MIXX