WUKS
Encyclopedia
WUKS is a radio station
broadcasting an urban adult hits format. Licensed to St. Pauls, North Carolina
, USA, the station serves the Fayetteville area. The station is currently owned by Beasley Broadcast Group
and features programing from ABC Radio.
Regional Development Association, owner of gospel
station WYRU in Red Springs
, added a 6,500-watt FM station called WLRD. With 100,000-watt WZFX
the only urban contemporary
station in the Fayetteville
market since 1990, "The Flava" would play the hottest new artists mixed with old school
.
By Spring 1997, WLRD ranked third, behind WZFX and WKML
, in the Arbitron
ratings. Later that year, Beasley Broadcasting purchased WYRU and WLRD from Lumbee Regional Development Association for about $1.2 million. The company had also purchased WZFX, and briefly aired that station's programming on WLRD.
On August 11, 1997 WLRD became Kiss 107.7, playing a more adult version of urban contemporary known as "The Touch
," with artists such as Al Green
, Whitney Houston
, Patti Labelle
, and Earth, Wind and Fire. The station changed its call letters to WUKS, increased its power to 25,000 watts, and added Tom Joyner
in the mornings. Later, Kiss added live DJs and, for a while, moved more in an adult contemporary direction with George Michael
, Dave Koz
, The Temptations
, Bobby Womack
, The Chi-Lites
, Babyface, and Kenny G
.
In the spring 2008, midday host Omega Jones, and afternoon host Jae McKrae, and Calvin P in the evening held their positions respectively. In Fall 2008, WUKS was ranked #2 overall in the market with 8.5 percent of listeners. That was the first time since 1986 a station other than Foxy 99 or WKML hit the number 2 mark. That successful trio lasted about a year February 2009. The station slipped to fourth with 7.6 the next year. The March 2009 debut of similarly formatted WMGU likely played a role in the station's continuous decline to eighth, at 4.3, in Spring 2010; WMGU was fourth.
By early 2010, Taylor Morgan and Calvin P were holding down midday and afternoon drive.
At 10:00 am on September 8, 2010, an announcement was made (from afternoon announcer Calvin Pee) in a variation of this: "As always we thank you, our loyal listeners, for listening to WUKS-FM, St. Pauls, Fayettville over the years. But as you know, things must change. Now, we must kiss and say goodbye." The final song on 107.7 Kiss FM was The Manhattans
' "Kiss and Say Goodbye
". Following the Manhattans track, another announcement was made stating the switch from Kiss FM to 107.7 Jackson FM. The station began playing music from the Jackson family, with the first song being "Thriller
" by Michael Jackson
.
The Jackson format was a stunt
. On Friday, September 10, WUKS resumed under what reports called an "urban variety" format, using the name "107.7 Jamz... Everything that jamz." Beasley said the new sound "targets men and women, ages 25 to 54, with a blend of rhythm-and-blues, funk and early hip-hop from the 1970s to today's hits." Beasley market manager Mac Edwards said listeners indicated they wanted more energy and more of the songs they danced to when younger.
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...
broadcasting an urban adult hits format. Licensed to St. Pauls, North Carolina
St. Pauls, North Carolina
St. Pauls is a town in Robeson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 2,137 at the 2000 census.-History:The town of St. Pauls was built up around St. Pauls Presbyterian Church which was built on land donated in 1799 by William Davis. St. Pauls grew slowly from a town of just the...
, USA, the station serves the Fayetteville area. The station is currently owned by Beasley Broadcast Group
Beasley Broadcast Group
Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc. , based in Naples, Florida, is an owner/operator of radio stations in the United States. As of January 2011, the company owned 17 AM stations and 28 FM stations. -History:...
and features programing from ABC Radio.
History
On October 14, 1994, LumbeeLumbee
The Lumbee belong to a state recognized Native American tribe in North Carolina. The Lumbee are concentrated in Robeson County and named for the primary waterway traversing the county...
Regional Development Association, owner of gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
station WYRU in Red Springs
Red Springs, North Carolina
Red Springs is a town in Robeson and Hoke counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The population was 3,493 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Red Springs is located at ....
, added a 6,500-watt FM station called WLRD. With 100,000-watt WZFX
WZFX
WZFX is a Mainstream Urban formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Whiteville, North Carolina and located in Fayetteville, North Carolina. WZFX broadcasts under the branding "Foxy 99" and carries the nationally syndicated Russ Parr Morning Show....
the only 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...
station in the Fayetteville
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Fayetteville is a city located in Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States. It is the county seat of Cumberland County, and is best known as the home of Fort Bragg, a U.S. Army post located northwest of the city....
market since 1990, "The Flava" would play the hottest new artists mixed with old school
Old school
In slang, old school can refer to anything that is from an earlier era. Old school refers to something that is fairly old and not very recent. Depending on the context and intent, the term can imply a high regard or respect, or be a pejorative...
.
By Spring 1997, WLRD ranked third, behind WZFX and WKML
WKML
WKML is a radio station broadcasting a country music format. Licensed to Lumberton, North Carolina, USA, it serves the Fayetteville area. The station is currently owned by Beasley Broadcast Group.-External links:*...
, in the Arbitron
Arbitron
Arbitron is a consumer research company in the United States that collects listener data on radio audiences. It was founded as American Research Bureau by Jim Seiler in 1949 and became national by merging with L.A. based Coffin, Cooper and Clay in the early 1950s...
ratings. Later that year, Beasley Broadcasting purchased WYRU and WLRD from Lumbee Regional Development Association for about $1.2 million. The company had also purchased WZFX, and briefly aired that station's programming on WLRD.
The Touch (radio network)
The Touch is a 24-hour music format produced by Cumulus Media Networks . It draws an adult audience between the ages of 25-49 with an Urban Adult Contemporary format since its inception by Satellite Music Network in 1972.In January 2010, Citadel Broadcasting has rebranded this network as...
," with artists such as Al Green
Al Green
Albert Greene , better known as Al Green, is an American gospel and soul music singer. He reached the peak of his popularity in the 1970s, with hit singles such as "You Oughta Be With Me", "I'm Still In Love With You", "Love and Happiness", and "Let's Stay Together"...
, Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among...
, Patti Labelle
Patti LaBelle
Patricia Louise Holte-Edwards , better known under the stage name, Patti LaBelle, is a Grammy Award winning American singer, author and actress who has spent over 50 years in the music industry...
, and Earth, Wind and Fire. The station changed its call letters to WUKS, increased its power to 25,000 watts, and added 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 mornings. Later, Kiss added live DJs and, for a while, moved more in an adult contemporary direction with George Michael
George Michael
George Michael is a British musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who rose to fame in the 1980s when he formed the pop duo Wham! with his school friend, Andrew Ridgeley...
, Dave Koz
Dave Koz
Dave Koz is an American smooth jazz saxophonist.- Life and career :Dave Koz was born on March 27, 1963 in Encino, California....
, The Temptations
The Temptations
The Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,...
, Bobby Womack
Bobby Womack
Robert Dwayne "Bobby" Womack is an American singer-songwriter and musician. An active recording artist since the early 1960s where he started his career as the lead singer of his family musical group The Valentinos and as Sam Cooke's backing guitarist, Womack's career has spanned more than 40...
, The Chi-Lites
The Chi-Lites
The Chi-Lites are a Chicago-based smooth soul vocal quartet from the early 1970s, one of the few from the period not to come from Memphis or Philadelphia...
, Babyface, and Kenny G
Kenny G
Kenneth Bruce Gorelick , better known by his stage name Kenny G, is an American, adult contemporary and smooth jazz saxophonist. His fourth album, Duotones, brought him breakthrough success in 1986...
.
In the spring 2008, midday host Omega Jones, and afternoon host Jae McKrae, and Calvin P in the evening held their positions respectively. In Fall 2008, WUKS was ranked #2 overall in the market with 8.5 percent of listeners. That was the first time since 1986 a station other than Foxy 99 or WKML hit the number 2 mark. That successful trio lasted about a year February 2009. The station slipped to fourth with 7.6 the next year. The March 2009 debut of similarly formatted WMGU likely played a role in the station's continuous decline to eighth, at 4.3, in Spring 2010; WMGU was fourth.
By early 2010, Taylor Morgan and Calvin P were holding down midday and afternoon drive.
At 10:00 am on September 8, 2010, an announcement was made (from afternoon announcer Calvin Pee) in a variation of this: "As always we thank you, our loyal listeners, for listening to WUKS-FM, St. Pauls, Fayettville over the years. But as you know, things must change. Now, we must kiss and say goodbye." The final song on 107.7 Kiss FM was The Manhattans
The Manhattans
The Manhattans are an American popular R&B vocal group, with a string of hit records spanning four decades. Their best known million-selling songs being "Kiss and Say Goodbye" and 'Shining Star' in 1980...
' "Kiss and Say Goodbye
Kiss and Say Goodbye
"Kiss and Say Goodbye" is a song recorded by the American R&B vocal group The Manhattans. The song was written by Manhattans member Winfred "Blue" Lovett...
". Following the Manhattans track, another announcement was made stating the switch from Kiss FM to 107.7 Jackson FM. The station began playing music from the Jackson family, with the first song being "Thriller
Thriller (song)
"Thriller" is a song recorded by American recording artist Michael Jackson, composed by Rod Temperton, and produced by Quincy Jones. It is the seventh and final single from his sixth studio album Thriller. It was released on January 23, 1984 by Epic Records...
" by Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
.
The Jackson format was a stunt
Stunting (broadcasting)
In radio broadcasting, stunting occurs when a station abruptly airs programming that is seemingly uncharacteristic compared to what they normally play...
. On Friday, September 10, WUKS resumed under what reports called an "urban variety" format, using the name "107.7 Jamz... Everything that jamz." Beasley said the new sound "targets men and women, ages 25 to 54, with a blend of rhythm-and-blues, funk and early hip-hop from the 1970s to today's hits." Beasley market manager Mac Edwards said listeners indicated they wanted more energy and more of the songs they danced to when younger.