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 and overseas. iHeartMedia, Inc. claims ownership of the KISS-FM brand and operates most KISS-FM formatted stations, though not KISS-FM in San Antonio, Texas & KISS FM America on TuneIn

Origin and history

In the late 1970s, many U.S. radio stations began calling themselves "Kiss". Among these was KIIS-FM in Los Angeles, which adopted that call sign in 1975 when it became a sister station to KIIS (AM)—whose call sign comes not from the word "Kiss" but rather its dial position at 1150, with the letters "I" and "S" being the letters most closely resembling 1 and 5, respectively.[1] Gannett, which owned the station, filed a federal trademark registration for "KIIS" in 1986,[2] which has passed on to subsequent owners of the station. In 1997, Country Club Communications registered the only current federal trademark for "KISS FM" (which has since also been assigned to Clear Channel); the logo registered then included a stylized pair of lips.[3]

Numerous other stations using "Kiss" as (part of) a service mark were acquired over the course of Clear Channel's growth, among them Boston's WXKS-FM and Hartford's WKSS; however, other stations calling themselves "Kiss" which predated the "KISS FM" trademark were not acquired, such as Beasley Broadcast Group's WNKS in Charlotte. Furthermore, not all Clear Channel "Kiss" stations use the national brand: WXKS-FM, the Boston branch, has never used "KISS FM", maintaining its "Kiss 108" identity from 1979. At least one station that used a non-Clear Channel-related "Kiss" branding, WWKS in Pittsburgh, would eventually be acquired by Clear Channel itself, although that station (now WXDX-FM) would flip to its current modern rock format long before being acquired by Clear Channel.

The logo for KISS-FM was initially a blue ball with "KISS-FM" in red lettering, with yellow around the lettering and the radio frequency at the bottom in yellow. As of 2013, there are several Clear Channel stations that no longer use the aforementioned logo, such as WAEV in Savannah, Georgia. There are some stations never owned by Clear Channel that license the KISS-FM branding including the ball logo. In Milwaukee, WXSS 103.7 Kiss FM is a Mainstream Top 40 station using the KISS-FM brand. Most non-Clear Channel "Kiss" stations do not use this logo.

The process of bringing the KISS format to cities beyond Los Angeles was begun by Randy Michaels' Jacor Communications before Clear Channel bought it in 1999.[4] Michaels, later Clear Channel's chief executive officer, and brand manager Todd Shannon likened the KISS model to McDonald's.[4][5] "When you see the KIIS ball logo, there's no mistaking what you're going to get. It's a Top 40 product, but they're all localized inside," Shannon said in 2002.[5]

KISS programming contains voice-tracked segments, music, and commercials that were broadcast nationwide across its stations.[4][5] Despite having many consistencies, the brand's programming differs slightly based on regional demographics.[4][6] Brand manager Diana Laird explained that the KISS station in Santa Barbara, California, for example, plays far more hip hop and dance music than the mainstream pop music that is heard in Boise, Idaho. But KISS listeners in Boise and in Medford, Oregon, have identical playlists because their demographics are similar.[4] Similarly, the top five most-played artists for the week ending October 20, 2002, on Chicago's KISS station included Cam'ron, Eminem, and Justin Timberlake, while the same list at Dallas' KISS station featured Kelly Clarkson, John Mayer, and Creed.[6]

On November 17, 2006, Clear Channel announced that the company intended to be sold to a group of private equity firms.[7] Clear Channel announced on the same day its intent to sell off many radio stations in smaller radio markets, including some KISS-FM formatted stations. Former Clear Channel KISS-FM branded stations that have been sold and retained the KISS brand as of March 2007 include WDKS 106.1 KISS-FM in Evansville, Indiana, and KTRS-FM 104.7 KISS-FM in Casper, Wyoming.

On December 15, 2008, Clear Channel reached an agreement to acquire five CBS Radio stations, one of them being KBKS 106.1 Kiss FM in Seattle. In return, CBS would acquire two Clear Channel stations in Houston as an effort to expand its focus on the larger markets.

Conflict and controversy

Clear Channel has pursued legal claims against some station owners using branding similar to KISS-FM. Some stations have dropped KISS branding as a result. Examples:

List of "KISS-FM" stations

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

iHeartMedia, Inc./Clear Channel or Former Clear Channel Owned "KISS FM" branded Stations
Station Frequency Region
KKMY-FM 104.5 Orange, Texas
KBKS-FM 106.1 Seattle, Washington
KTRS-FM 104.7 Casper, Wyoming
WPKF (Rhythmic Contemporary) 96.1 Poughkeepsie, New York
KHFI-FM 96.7 Austin, Texas
KHKS-FM 106.1 Dallas–Fort Worth, Texas
KHKZ (Adult-leaning Top 40) 106.3 McAllen, Texas
KIIS-FM 102.7 Los Angeles
KISS-XM XM21 United States (XM; replaced with simulcast of KIIS-FM)
WMKS 100.3 High Point, North Carolina
KUUL 101.3 Davenport, Iowa / Quad Cities
KKDM 107.5 Des Moines, Iowa
KSFT-FM 107.1 Sioux City, Iowa
KSME 96.1 Fort Collins, Colorado
KSSX (Rhythmic Contemporary) 95.7 San Diego
KZZP 104.7 Phoenix, Arizona
KWNW 101.9 Memphis, Tennessee
WAKS 96.5 Cleveland, Ohio
WBKS 93.9 Lima, Ohio
WHKF-FM 99.3 Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
WKFS 107.1 Cincinnati, Ohio
WKGS (Rhythmic Contemporary) 106.7 Rochester, New York
WKKF-FM 102.3 Ballston Spa, New York
WKSB-FM (Hot A/C) 102.7 Williamsport, Pennsylvania
WKSC-FM 103.5 Chicago, Illinois
WKSF (Country) 99.9 Asheville, North Carolina
WKSI-FM 98.3 Winchester, Virginia
WKSQ 94.5 Ellsworth, Maine
WKST-FM 96.1 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
WKXJ 103.7 Chattanooga, Tennessee
WAKZ (Rhythmic Contemporary) 95.9 Youngstown, Ohio
WAEV 97.3 Savannah, Georgia
WKSL 97.9 Jacksonville, Florida
WVKF 95.7 Wheeling, West Virginia/Steubenville, Ohio
WVKS-FM 92.5 Toledo, Ohio
WXKS-FM 107.9 Boston, Massachusetts
WKSS 95.7 Hartford, Connecticut
KVVS-FM 105.5 Lancaster/Antelope Valley, California
WFKS 95.1 Melbourne, Florida
KISO (FM) 96.1 Omaha, Nebraska
iHeartMedia, Inc./Clear Channel Urban "KISS FM" branded Stations
Station Frequency Region
KISQ 98.1 San Francisco
WKSP 96.3 Augusta, Georgia
WMRZ 98.1 Albany, Georgia

Non-iHeartMedia, Inc./Clear Channel Affiliated "KISS-FM" Stations
Station Frequency Owner Region
KEKS 103.1 MyTown Media Olpe, Kansas
KKSW 105.9 Great Plains Media Lawrence, Kansas
KSAS 103.5 Peak Broadcasting Caldwell, Idaho
KSKS 93.7 Peak Broadcasting Fresno, California
KIFS 107.5 Bicoastal Media Medford, Oregon
KTRS 104.7 Townsquare Media Casper, Wyoming
WKSZ 95.9 Woodward Communications, Inc. Green Bay, Wisconsin
KCRS-FM 103.3 ICA Broadcasting Odessa/Midland, Texas
KSII-FM 93.1 Townsquare Media El Paso, Texas
KZII-FM 102.5 Townsquare Media Lubbock, Texas
KKSS-FM 97.3 Univision Santa Fe, New Mexico
KXNC 104.7 MyTown Media Ness City, Kansas
KXSS-FM 96.9 Townsquare Media Amarillo, Texas
KISS-FM 99.5 Cox Radio San Antonio, Texas
KISN 96.7 Townsquare Media Bozeman, Montana
KSSM-FM 103.1 Cumulus Media Copperas Cove, Texas
KXSS-FM 96.9 Townsquare Media Amarillo, Texas
KYIS-FM 98.9 Cumulus Media* Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
WALR-FM 104.1 Cox Radio Atlanta, Georgia
WDKS 106.1 Townsquare Media Evansville, Indiana
WBHK-FM 98.7 Cox Radio Warrior/Birmingham, Alabama
WDMK 105.9 Radio One Detroit, Michigan
WKIS-FM 99.9 CBS Radio Miami, Florida
WKJS/WKJM 99.3/105.7 Radio One Richmond/Petersburg, Virginia
WKSE 98.5 Entercom Buffalo, New York
WKSZ 100.3 Dan Lerner Media, Pennsylvania
WKYS-FM 93.9 Radio One Washington, D.C.
WKQR 92.7 Virginia Holding Company, LLC Mullens, West Virginia
WLXC 98.5 Cumulus Media* Columbia, South Carolina
WNKS-FM 95.1 Beasley Broadcast Group Charlotte, North Carolina
WPIA 98.5 Independence Media Peoria, Illinois
WKSY 106.1 Punk Media, Inc. Syracuse, New York
WXSS-FM 103.7 Entercom Milwaukee, Wisconsin
WWFA 102.7 George S. Flinn, Jr. Florence-Muscle Shoals, Alabama
WKSO-FM 97.3 First Natchez Broadcasting Natchez, Mississippi
WKQB 102.9 Virginia Holding Company, LLC Pocahontas, Virginia
WUVA 92.7 WUVA, Inc. Charlottesville, Virginia
WCKS 102.7 Graddick Communications Carrollton, Georgia
WKZA 106.9 Cross Country Communications Jamestown, New York
WXAJ 99.7 Neuhoff Media Springfield, Illinois
WXXS 102.3 Radio New England Broadcasting, LLC Lancaster, New Hampshire

* These stations were owned by Citadel Broadcasting prior to September 16, 2011.

Kiss FM in Europe

The Kiss FM name has been widely used both by licensed and pirate stations in several European countries including Ireland, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Poland, Ukraine, Romania, Moldova, Iceland, Greece, Spain, Sweden and Berlin (Germany).

In the United Kingdom, Kiss, formerly known as Kiss FM, has become one of the biggest radio brands/networks. It started as an illegal station in 1985 but relaunched legally in 1990.

Kiss FM in Brazil

There is a Kiss FM in São Paulo, Brazil, that plays classic rock. It can be heard at 102.1 MHz.

Kiss FM in Canada

In Canada, Rogers Broadcasting owns almost all the "Kiss"-branded stations except CKIZ-FM in Vernon, British Columbia where Rogers allowed it to keep brand as "Kiss FM" when it was sold to Jim Pattison Broadcasting Group in 2010.

CKIS-FM has historically been Toronto's KISS FM station; however, for several years in the first decade of the millennium, the station instead followed the famous Jack FM adult hits format. The Jack format was dropped in the middle of 2009, and KISS FM has since returned to the station, which carries a Top 40 CHR format.

The other Canadian station in a prominent market is CISS-FM in Ottawa. It is better known as "105.3 KiSS FM" and has a hot adult contemporary format. The call sign, CISS, was once used by CKIS-FM before it made the switch to Jack FM in June 2003.

On August 29, 2013, all four "EZ Rock"-branded Hot AC stations owned and operated by Rogers, CJMX-FM Sudbury, CKGB-FM Timmins, CHUR-FM North Bay, and CHAS-FM Sault Ste. Marie, rebranded to Rogers' own "KiSS" branding, discarding the "EZ Rock" branding that is currently owned by competing broadcaster Bell Media.[10]

On September 12, 2013, Rogers switched WLYK, a radio station targeting Kingston, Ontario, from Adult Contemporary into a Top 40 station and rebranded it from "102.7 The Lake" to "KiSS 102.7".

On December 26, 2013, Rogers flip CHFM, a radio station in Calgary, from Adult Contemporary into a Top 40 station and rebranded it from "Lite 95.9" to "KiSS 95.9".

On February 13, 2015, Rogers re-branded 102.3 Clear FM in Winnipeg, Manitoba as "KiSS 102.3", without any change in format or personnel. The re-branding aligns CKY with other KiSS-branded hot AC stations operated by Rogers.

On February 23, 2015, Rogers re-branded SONiC Nation in Chilliwack, British Columbia/Abbotsford, British Columbia/Vancouver, British Columbia as "KiSS RADiO", without any change in format or personnel. The re-branding aligns CFUN-FM with other KiSS-branded hot AC stations operated by Rogers.

On February 25, 2015, Rogers re-branded 103.1 Jack FM in Victoria, British Columbia as "KiSS 103.1" from Jack FM Brand, "playing what we want" format into a Top 40. The re-branding aligns CHTT with other KiSS-branded hot AC stations operated by Rogers.

Kiss FM in Australia

The Australian Radio Network (ARN) launched the KIIS brand in Australia in January 2014, after rebranded their flailing Sydney station Mix 106.5.[11] ARN, partially owned by Clear Channel at the time, poached top rating breakfast duo Kyle & Jackie O from rival 2DayFM, and launched the new positioning and music format on January 20, 2014. In the first survey following the switch, Kyle & Jackie O added 6 percentage points to the timeslot to become equal first FM breakfast with sister-station WSFM 101.7.[12]

In November 2014, ARN announced it was rebranding it's Melbourne Mix FM station to KIIS 101.1.[13] At the same time, the station announced a new national drive show featuring former NOVA FM breakfast team Dave "Hughesy" Hughes and Kate Langbroek. ARN also rebranded the rest of the Mix Network as the KIIS Network, retaining each station's existing name, but changing the logo to the distinctive KIIS lips.

Kiss FM Australia is a Melbourne-based narrowcast radio station for the dance music community that was established in 2005. It broadcasts on 87.6, 87.8, 87.9 and 88.0 FM to Melbourne, broader Victoria state and Queensland via Orbit FM. It is considered part of the FM 876 Network. When ARN launched the KIIS brand in Australia, they faced a legal challenge from the management of Kiss FM.[14] By February 2015, both parties had reached an agreement to co-exist.[15]

References

  1. Garrett Wollman (July 15, 2006). "Historic Los Angeles Hilltops". Retrieved January 14, 2008.
  2. "Trademark registration 1540895". U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
  3. "Trademark registration 2156452". U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Wilde Mathews, Anna (February 25, 2002). "Clear Channel Uses High-Tech Gear to Perfect the Art of Sounding Local". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved August 12, 2013. (subscription required (help)).
  5. 1 2 3 Leeds, Jeff (March 3, 2002). "Clear Channel Empire Spans AM, FM Dials". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  6. 1 2 Schiffman, Marc; Mitchell, Gail (November 16, 2002). "Amid Changes, Local PDs Still Call Shots on Music". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc.) 114 (48): 119. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  7. Ahrens, Frank (November 17, 2006). "Clear Channel Sale to End Era". The Washington Post.
  8. Feran, Tom (May 26, 1999). "One station may have to kiss name goodbye". The Plain Dealer (The Plain Dealer Publishing Co.). p. 1E – Entertainment.
  9. Feran, Tom (September 25, 1999). "Swoboda backs to news as anchor on TV-5 at 11". The Plain Dealer (The Plain Dealer Publishing Co.). p. 6E – Entertainment.
  10. "Rogers Preparing To Rebrand Four Ontario EZRock’s," from Radio Insight, 7/8/2013
  11. http://mumbrella.com.au/arn-confirms-change-from-mix-106-5-to-kiis-1065-194939
  12. http://www.radiotoday.com.au/surveys/2012-02-09-06-18-11/sydney.html
  13. http://mumbrella.com.au/mix-melbourne-rebranded-kiis-hughesy-kate-returning-radio-replacing-rosso-drive-261491
  14. http://mumbrella.com.au/kiis-1065-faces-legal-threat-melbournes-kiss-fm-197567
  15. http://mumbrella.com.au/kiis-fm-reaches-confidential-agreement-melbourne-music-station-kiss-210197

External links

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