WKST-FM
Encyclopedia
WKST-FM is a Rhythmic Contemporary
outlet based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
. Owned by Clear Channel Communications
, the station broadcasts at 96.1 MHz, with an ERP
of 44 kW. Its transmitter is located in Baldwin.
,
and had a MOR format until 1976
, when it simulcast
WTAE (AM) during the day and played disco
at night, known as "Disco 96." As disco began to wane in popularity, the station flipped to a rock-leaning top 40 format as WXKX (96KX or "96 Kicks"). 96KX thrived for the next five years and has been the frequency's most highly-rated format to date. On March 25, 1983, faced with new competition from WBZZ (B-94), the station changed format and call letters, and became WHTX, better known as "Hit Radio 96". This station evolved, in the latter part of the decade, into a gold-based adult contemporary format under the name of "Gold 96".
On June 26, 1991
, it switched calls to WVTY ("Variety 96") and format to an adult top 40 approach, which in turn would lead to a modern hits format ("The River") the day before Thanksgiving Day, 1997. New call letters WDRV would follow on February 27, 1998. After it was sold in February 1999
, WDRV returned to adult top 40, this time as WPHH ("Mix 96.1"). On September 30, 2000
, they switched to the current format and became the current WKST-FM, "96.1 Kiss". During its first four years, WKST waged a battle with WBZZ from 2000 to 2004 by countering WBZZ's conventional Top 40/CHR approach with WKST's Rhythmic flavor. In 2007, the rivalry resumed again when CBS revived "B94" and used the same conventional direction by going after the same 18-34 audience that WKST has managed to cater. However, B94 still could not compete with WKST-FM and later switched to an all sports talk format in 2010.
and Kings of Leon
to stay within the Mainstream realm. With B94 changing formats after Valentine's Day 2010
, WKST-FM became the only top 40 station in Pittsburgh, and with competition coming from Adult Top 40 WBZZ
(whose direction leans towards Top 40/CHR) and a new version of R&B/Hip-Hop WAMO (via a FM translator, as the AM is a daytimer), WKST has continued to add more Rhythmic hits to distinguish itself from the two stations.
In addition, as with other Clear Channel Top 40s, WKST also airs a pair of Ryan Seacrest
programs, On Air
during middays and American Top 40
on Sundays.
in Detroit, Michigan
. This show was followed by another one at Q102
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. These two show were originally hosted by Tic Tak with Mikey and Big Bob as his co-hosts. When the offer came in for the morning show at current station 96.1 KISS-FM, Tic Tak did not choose to stay with the show. The Morning Freak Show caters to a young adult crowd.
"Star 100.7" and Mainstream Urban
format WPYT
"Wamo 100", includes Hot AC format WLTJ
"Q 92.9", AC
format WSHH
"Wish 99.7", and, in some places south of Pittsburgh, Top 40 WVAQ
" 101.9 WVAQ".
format.
Rhythmic Contemporary
Rhythmic contemporary, also known as rhythmic top 40, rhythmic contemporary hit radio or rhythmic crossover, is a music radio format that includes a mix of EDM, upbeat rhythmic pop, hip-hop and R&B hits. Rhythmic contemporary rarely uses rock music or country music in its airplay, but it may...
outlet based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. 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...
, the station broadcasts at 96.1 MHz, with an ERP
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...
of 44 kW. Its transmitter is located in Baldwin.
History
The station originally signed on as WCAE-FM, co-owned with WCAE (AM) and WTAE-TVWTAE-TV
WTAE-TV is the ABC affiliated television station for Western Pennsylvania that is licensed to Pittsburgh, broadcasting on UHF channel 51 and identifying via PSIP as channel 4 . It also serves as an ABC affiliate for the Wheeling/Steubenville and Clarksburg/Weston, West Virginia market areas...
,
and had a MOR format until 1976
1976 in radio
The year 1976 saw a number of significant events in radio broadcasting.-Events:*September - Fairchild Industries sells WYOO-FM and AM in Minneapolis, Minnesota...
, when it simulcast
Simulcast
Simulcast, shorthand for "simultaneous broadcast", refers to programs or events broadcast across more than one medium, or more than one service on the same medium, at the same time. For example, Absolute Radio is simulcast on both AM and on satellite radio, and the BBC's Prom concerts are often...
WTAE (AM) during the day and played disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
at night, known as "Disco 96." As disco began to wane in popularity, the station flipped to a rock-leaning top 40 format as WXKX (96KX or "96 Kicks"). 96KX thrived for the next five years and has been the frequency's most highly-rated format to date. On March 25, 1983, faced with new competition from WBZZ (B-94), the station changed format and call letters, and became WHTX, better known as "Hit Radio 96". This station evolved, in the latter part of the decade, into a gold-based adult contemporary format under the name of "Gold 96".
On June 26, 1991
1991 in radio
The year 1991 in radio involved some significant events.-Events:* January 18 - Brian Beirne became one of the few celebrities from radio to get a "star" on the Hollywood Walk of Fame....
, it switched calls to WVTY ("Variety 96") and format to an adult top 40 approach, which in turn would lead to a modern hits format ("The River") the day before Thanksgiving Day, 1997. New call letters WDRV would follow on February 27, 1998. After it was sold in February 1999
1999 in radio
The year 1999 in radio involved some significant events.-Events:*January 1 - 102.1 The Zone stopped played at 6AM and 102.1 FM played a stunt of waves and announcement voice over of our newest radio station....
, WDRV returned to adult top 40, this time as WPHH ("Mix 96.1"). On September 30, 2000
2000 in radio
The year 2000 in radio involved some significant events.-Events:*The Real Radio & Century Radio networks become active on - air, through the United Kingdom....
, they switched to the current format and became the current WKST-FM, "96.1 Kiss". During its first four years, WKST waged a battle with WBZZ from 2000 to 2004 by countering WBZZ's conventional Top 40/CHR approach with WKST's Rhythmic flavor. In 2007, the rivalry resumed again when CBS revived "B94" and used the same conventional direction by going after the same 18-34 audience that WKST has managed to cater. However, B94 still could not compete with WKST-FM and later switched to an all sports talk format in 2010.
Programming
As mentioned above, WKST's musical direction had always favored Rhythmic and/or Dance hits since its 2000 debut, although at times it will add artists like ParamoreParamore
Paramore is an American rock band from Franklin, Tennessee, formed in 2004. The band consists of lead vocalist Hayley Williams, bassist Jeremy Davis, and guitarist Taylor York...
and Kings of Leon
Kings of Leon
Kings of Leon is an American rock band that originated in Albion, Oklahoma but formed in Nashville, Tennessee in 1999. The band is composed of brothers Anthony Caleb Followill , Ivan Nathan Followill and Michael Jared Followill Kings of Leon is an American rock band that originated in Albion,...
to stay within the Mainstream realm. With B94 changing formats after Valentine's Day 2010
2010 in radio
The following events occurred in radio in 2010.-Events:*Date Unknown: CHOI/Quebec City flips from Alternative Rock to News/Talk.*January 4: KJCS/Lufkin, Texas goes silent....
, WKST-FM became the only top 40 station in Pittsburgh, and with competition coming from Adult Top 40 WBZZ
WBZZ
WBZZ may refer to:*WBZZ, a radio station licensed to serve New Kensington, Pennsylvania, United States*WQSH, a radio station in Malta, New York, United States licensed as WBZZ from 2006 to 2011...
(whose direction leans towards Top 40/CHR) and a new version of R&B/Hip-Hop WAMO (via a FM translator, as the AM is a daytimer), WKST has continued to add more Rhythmic hits to distinguish itself from the two stations.
In addition, as with other Clear Channel Top 40s, WKST also airs a pair of 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,...
programs, On Air
On Air with Ryan Seacrest (radio)
On Air with Ryan Seacrest is the name of an American syndicated radio program hosted by Ryan Seacrest. As of 2010, the daily morning radio show airs on Los Angeles top 40 station KIIS-FM and was launched at the same time as the television show with the same name, although Seacrest had hosted a...
during middays and American Top 40
American 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...
on Sundays.
The Morning Freak Show
The Morning Freak Show with Mikey and Big Bob is KISS-FM's morning show. Mikey and Big Bob were involved with two other shows sharing The Freak Show name, the first one on WDRQ 93.1WDRQ
WDRQ is an FM radio station in Detroit, Michigan. The station is branded as 93.1 Doug FM. Doug FM broadcasts from the Fisher Building just north of downtown Detroit and transmits its signal from an antenna 669 feet in length located at the intersection of Ten Mile and Greenfield Roads in suburban...
in Detroit, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. This show was followed by another one at Q102
WIOQ
WIOQ, known as "Q102", is a CHR/Pop radio station which is broadcast in the Philadelphia area. The station appeals to a generally young demographic. WIOQ is owned by Clear Channel Communications. Its transmitter is located in the Roxborough section of Philadelphia.-WFIL-FM/Popular 102:The...
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. These two show were originally hosted by Tic Tak with Mikey and Big Bob as his co-hosts. When the offer came in for the morning show at current station 96.1 KISS-FM, Tic Tak did not choose to stay with the show. The Morning Freak Show caters to a young adult crowd.
Airstaff
Besides The Freak Show (6a-10a) and Seacreast (1p-4p), WKST's airstaff also includes Tall Cathy in mid-mornings (10a-1p), Flick (4p-9p), and Scottro (9p-1a).Competition
Kiss's biggest competition, in addition to WBZZWBZZ
WBZZ may refer to:*WBZZ, a radio station licensed to serve New Kensington, Pennsylvania, United States*WQSH, a radio station in Malta, New York, United States licensed as WBZZ from 2006 to 2011...
"Star 100.7" and Mainstream Urban
Mainstream Urban
Mainstream Urban is a term used to describe a radio format similar to an Urban Contemporary format. The format differentiates itself due to two factors: playlist composition and target demographic...
format WPYT
WPYT
WAMO is a radio station serving the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania market. The station, which is was purchased by Martz Communications Group from Langer Broadcasting in December 2010, broadcasts on 660 kHz on the AM dial with a power of 1,400 watts, daytime only ,...
"Wamo 100", includes Hot AC format WLTJ
WLTJ
WLTJ , is an Hot Adult Contemporary music format radio station based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The station, which is owned by Steel City Media, broadcasts with an ERP of 43 kW. Its transmitter is located in Pittsburgh.- History :...
"Q 92.9", AC
AC
AC or Ac may refer to:* Air conditioning, the mechanical process of cooling air in enclosed spaces* Air conditioner, a machine that produces cool air* Anarcho-capitalism, a form of free-market anarchism...
format WSHH
WSHH
WSHH is an adult contemporary radio station based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The station, which is owned by Renda Broadcasting, operates at 99.7 MHz with an ERP of 15.5 kW...
"Wish 99.7", and, in some places south of Pittsburgh, Top 40 WVAQ
WVAQ
WVAQ is a Contemporary Hit Radio formatted radio station licensed to Morgantown, West Virginia, broadcasting to the North-Central West Virginia area. WVAQ is owned and operated by West Virginia Radio Corporation....
" 101.9 WVAQ".
WKST HD2
On April 25, 2006, Clear Channel announced that WKST's HD2 subchannel will carry a format focusing on Dance hits. The HD2 signed on July 17, 2006, broadcasting the Club PhusionClub 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...
format.