Jump to content

KIIS-FM

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Mister twa (talk | contribs) at 05:01, 14 May 2008. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

For the Antelope Valley re-broadcaster, see KVVS.
KIIS-FM
File:KIIS-FM.png
Broadcast areaGreater Los Angeles Area
Frequency102.7 MHz (HD Radio)
Branding102.7 KIIS-FM
Programming
FormatTop 40 (CHR) Commercial
Ownership
OwnerClear Channel
KBIG, KFI, KHHT, KLAC, KOST, KTLK, KYSR
History
First air date
1948
Former call signs
KKDJ (4/15/71-1975)
KRHM (1967-4/15/71)
KLAC-FM (1948-1967)
Call sign meaning
pronounced as kiss; also the 'IIS' in KIIS is supposed to resemble the number 115, the AM station (AM 1150) they originally aired KIIS on[1].
Technical information
Facility ID19218
ClassB
Power8,000 Watts
ERP8 kW
HAAT902 meters
Links
WebcastListen Live
Websitewww.kiisfm.com

KIIS-FM is a Los Angeles, California, USA-based radio station with a rhythmic-leaning top 40 musical format. It is owned by Clear Channel Communications. KIIS is also simulcasted on KVVS in Rosamond, at 105.5 MHz. Known as "102.7 KIIS-FM" and as one of the United States' highest-rated (and most-copied) top 40 stations, "KIIS" is pronounced as "kiss". KIIS was named the 2007 Station of the Year in the contemporary hit/radio/top 40 category for market size 1 to 25 at the national Radio & Records convention.[1]

102.7 KIIS-FM is licensed for HD Radio operations with is secondary channel known as 102.75 KIIS-FM En Español broadcasting a Spanish Top 40 format.

History

KLAC-FM/KRHM to Top 40 KKDJ

KLAC-FM 102.7 and KRHM-FM 94.7 traded frequencies in 1967. On April 15, 1971, KRHM changed call letters to KKDJ and became a top 40 station until 1975. Combined Communications then purchased KKDJ and changed the station's format to adult contemporary under the new call letters of KIIS. Unable to draw high ratings, KIIS continued to change formats until flipping back to its current top 40 format in 1981. Shortly thereafter, Gannett purchased both the station and Combined Communications. Rick Dees joined the station for mornings in 1981 after KHJ-AM (930) switched formats to Country and Dees was out. With Dees on mornings, KIIS became a CHR powerhouse in Los Angeles . In 1996, in a deal in which Gannett acquired WTSP-TV in the Tampa, Florida market from Jacor, KIIS-FM was acquired by Jacor/Citicasters, which in 1998 merged into Clear Channel Communications.

When Power 106 changed formats from top 40 to hip hop around 1994, KIIS became the only Los Angeles top 40 station. That was until 2005 when Power 106 shifted back to a Rhythmic Top 40 format. KIIS itself would lean towards a rhythmic-leaning direction by the Summer of 2004. This strategy would later pay off as KIIS currently enjoys the highest ratings in the Los Angeles Radio Market. Up until recently, Power 106 had enjoyed one of the longest #1 ratings runs in recent memory. The competition will undoubtedly heat up, as both stations have been jockeying for the top spot for nearly the last 20 years.

KIIS Simulcasting

In 1998, Jacor Communications (now Clear Channel) acquired KAVS (now KVVS) and KYHT (now KRSX), abandoning the previous format as High Desert Modern Rock 97.7 & 105.3, and taking the simulcast as a repeater for KIIS. Another simulcast, 1220 KIISAM was added in 1999, as well as 101.9 KFMS in Las Vegas, Nevada. The grouping of 102.7 FM KIIS in Los Angeles, 1220 AM KIIS in Santa Clarita, 97.7 FM KAVS in the Antelope Valley, 105.3 FM KYHT in Barstow/Victor Valley, and 101.9 FM KFMS in Las Vegas created a nearly continuous coverage of KIISFM between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. However, it was short lived as KYHT broke off in 2001 to simulcast KZXY, then KATJ, before adopting its current format as oldies. Resulting from KYHT's flip from the KIISFM moniker, KFMS switched to all local programming. KVVS was relocated from 97.7 to 105.5 in December 2007. 1220 KIISAM became KHTS (AM) in 2003. KIIS has also been simulcast on 850 AM in Thousand Oaks, California in the last year before the towers were demolished.

KIIS also used to broadcast nationwide on XM Satellite Radio Channel 21 from 2001 to the end of 2003. In 2004, all XM music channels went commercial free, and KIIS was replaced with a unique-to-XM KISS-XM channel, retaining the same format. Since then, Clear Channel has regained the right to air commercials on their XM music channels. KISS-XM now carries commercials, but is still exclusive to XM.

The Clear Channel company saw how successful the KISS-FM format was so they made several stations in the country with the KISS-FM brand name with different call letters.

102.7 KIIS-FM Today

A majority of the music played on 102.7 Kiss-fm tends to be R&B, and pop music, with rock music given lesser priority, as shown by the official live playlist and yes.com top 100 pages. Therefore, the title of "hit music station" by KIIS as it advertises itself can be questionable, as their playlist does not necessarily reflect the Billboard pop charts. Supporters of the station claim that the playlist simply reflects the musical tastes of those listeners in the Los Angeles area. Others point out that KIIS tends to be very late on / not play some of the rock titles on the Billboard chart in order to protect the interests of sister station Star 98.7 (KYSR).

KIIS-FM censors songs substantially more, and more obviously, than its counterpart, Power 106. This is almost always done to hip-hop songs, and as much as several seconds can be cut off. This more substantial censorship began in 2004, perhaps as a part of the heightened scrutiny of media content following the "Nipplegate" incident at Super Bowl XXXVIII.

An example of this censorship can be heard in Rihanna's ballad "Unfaithful", where the lyric "I might as well take a gun and put it to his head" is censored on KIIS-FM as "I might as well take a _____ put it to his head". The previous example of song editing is common for many Clear Channel CHR stations.

In 2004, KIISFM elected not to renew the contract of legendary DJ Rick Dees and replaced Rick Dees In The Morning with Ryan Seacrest's On Air show. Rick Dees In The Morning later reappeared on KMVN Movin' 93.9. As of the beginning of 2005, KIISFM also discontinued airing the Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 show, which also moved to KMVN.

In December 2007, KIIS's Antelope Valley simulcast at 97.7 was moved to 105.5, replacing the previous format as 105.5 The Oasis. The country format at 103.1 in Tehachapi, California was moved to 97.7 FM (now operating under 103.1's former call letters KTPI) and is now branded as 97.7 KTPI. 103.1 KSRY in Tehachapi is now a simulcast of Star 98.7.

Competition

KIIS has 10 competing stations in the Southern California area. Rhythmic rivals Power 106 and 93.5 KDAY, and Hispanic Rhythmic 96.3 KXOL(aka Latino 96.3) compete with KIIS in the L.A. area. Rhythmic outlets 99.1 KGGI (KIIS' sister station), and KWIE (the simulcast of KDAY, also at 93.5) is their competitor in the IE and parts of east L.A. County. Rhythmic rivals 104.7 KCAQ(aka Q-1047) and 103.3 KVYB(aka The Vibe) compete with KIIS in parts of Ventura County and L.A. County, in areas near the L.A. County-Ventura County border line. KIIS also gets some competition in Orange and San Diego from another Clear Channel O&O, sister station 93.3 KHTS (aka Channel 93.3) from San Diego, and Rhythmic rivals 90.3 XHITZ and 98.9 XHMORE from Tijuana,Mexico.

Airstaff

The current lineup is as follows

Former Personalities

The following notable individuals have been featured by KIIS-FM as on-air personalities:

  • Magic Matt Alan
  • Whitney Allen
  • Jim Carson, now at K-Earth 101
  • Joe Cipriano
  • Rick Dees, 1982-2004, now is the morning show host at Movin' 93.9
  • Dave Diamond
  • Domino
  • Paul Freeman
  • Liz Fulton
  • Humble Harve
  • Sean "Hollywood" Hamilton, currently the host of the widely popular syndicated show "The Weekend Top 30 Countdown" as well as the afternoon host at 103.5 KTU in New York
  • Banana Joe
  • Paul Johnson, Now does morning traffic on KNBC's "Today In LA"
  • Tim Kelly
  • M.G. Kelly
  • Kevin "Kozman" Koske, now doing afternoons at WTMX/The Mix in Chicago
  • DJ Jimmy Kim
  • Chris "Lear Jet" Leary
  • Lorna Love
  • Nasty Man
  • Ed Mann
  • J.J. McKay
  • Larry McKay, currently a part-time air personality on K-EARTH 101.
  • Sonny Melendrez
  • Larry Morgan
  • Fabrice Morvan
  • Big Ron O'Brien
  • Stoney Richards
  • Dave Sebastian
  • Jeff Serr
  • Dave Smiley The Smiley Morning Show
  • Charlie Tuna
  • Suzy Tavarez, 2004-2007
  • Sean Valentine 1996-2007, now is the morning show host at 104.3 My FM.
  • Bruce Vidal
  • Wendy
  • "The Coach" Charlie Wright
  • Jeff Wyatt

Concerts


Wango tango
Jingle Ball
Homecoming

References

  1. ^ Other stations applaud WIXX in national radio judging; Warren Gerds; November 19 2007 Green Bay Press-Gazette; Retrieved November 19 2007


Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=KIIS-FM&oldid=212285605"