WRKS-FM

WRKS-FM better known as 98.7 Kiss FM is an Urban Adult Contemporary radio station in New York. Emmis Broadcasting currently owns the station. It is one of the top rated staions in the city.

HISTORY

WXLO-FM had very low ratings in 1980. RKO General who owned the station decided to target WBLS-FM's urban audience by bringing in new program director Barry Mayo. He actually suggested a new format for the station to then-general manager Lee S. Simonson. The station's new urban format was designated in August of 1981 as WRKS (98.7 Kiss FM). WBLS was very worried about the new station since they had no real competition. Kiss-FM played a great deal of R&B and Dance music in the early days. The station was in the top five ratings in the early 1980's. In the fall of 1983 Kiss was the first station to play rap music regularly. By 1984 altough Kiss was not black-owned, they promoted Barry Mayo as the first black general manager in the RKO radio chain. RKO General continued to own the station until 1989 when the Summit Communications Group purchased the station. For years Kiss FM was on the top of the Arbitron ratings due to its hip hop-influenced format. In 1994 WQHT-FM (Hot 97) changed formats from Dance music to strictly rap which put them into a rivalry with Kiss. Emmis Broadcasting which owned Hot 97 agreed to purchase Kiss FM from Summit in December 1994. This formed the market's first FM duopoly. Hot 97 continued with its new format and Kiss was now focusing on an Urban Adult Contemporary format which really tightened the competition with WBLS-FM. 98.7 Kiss FM is a world renowned urban contemporary station. In 1999 Kiss FM switched to more current R&B.

For those of you who want 98.7 Kiss FM's rap format to return go to [1]

Most Notable Disc Jockeys at 98.7 KISS FM

• Jeff Foxx (1987-1995, 2003-present)
• Carol Ford (1987-1995)
• Wendy Williams (1990-1994)
• Ken Webb (1984-1995)
• Mike Love (1987-1990)
• Charile Burger (1981-1985)
• Dahved Levy (1989-1994)
• Yvonne Mobley (1981-1994)
• Ashford & Simpson (1995-1999)
• Roberta Flack (1995-1999)
• Isaac Hayes (1996-2001)
• Michael Baisden (2003-present)
• Tanya Simpson (1997-present)
• Shaila Chateuse (1994-present)
• DJ Red Alert (1983-1994, 2000-2002)
• Frankie Crocker (1998-2000)
• Jerry Young (1987-1990)
• Tony Quartarone (1982-1986)
• Mary Thomas (1981-?)
• B.J. Steele (1990-1991)
• Wanda Ramos (1981-1983)
• Jeff Troy (1981)
• Bob Slade (1981-present)
• Barry Mayo (1981, promoted to Vice President of Kiss FM in 1984)
• Rob Crocker (1986-1989)

[2]

98.7 Kiss FM's current disc jockey lineup

• Monday - Friday 6 AM - 10 AM

Wake Up Club with Jeff Foxx and Shaila

• Monday - Friday 10 AM - 3 PM

Kesha Monk

• Monday - Friday 3 PM - 7 PM

Michael Baisden

• Monday - Friday 7 PM - 2 AM

Monday - Thursday: Kissing After Dark with Lenny Green

• Friday 7 PM - 12 Midnight: Kissing After Dark with Lenny Green
• Saturday 12 Midnight - 3 AM: Midnight Mix with Daryl James
• Tuesday - Saturday 2 AM - 6 AM

Fred "Bugsy" Buggs

• Sunday 12 Midnight - 5 AM

Kiss Club Classics - with Ruben Toro

• Sunday 5 AM - 10 AM
• Kiss Inspirations - with Nicole Brown
• Sunday 10 AM - 12 Noon

Open Line with Bob Slade, Bob Pickett and James Mtume

• Sunday 12 Noon - 4 PM

Rhythm Revue with Felix Hernandez - classic soul and r&b Rhythm Review Home Page classicsoul.com [3]

• Sunday 4 PM - 10 PM

Mike Shannon

• unday 10 PM - 11 PM

Soul Beginnings with Bob Slade

• Sunday 11PM - 12 Midnight

Week in Review with Bob Slade