KKSS
MHz | |
Branding | KISS 97.3 |
---|---|
Programming | |
Format | Rhythmic contemporary |
Affiliations | Compass Media Networks |
Ownership | |
Owner |
|
KABG, KJFA-FM, KIOT, KKRG-FM, KLVO | |
History | |
First air date | 1969 (as KAFE-FM) |
Former call signs | KAFE-FM (1969–1985) |
Call sign meaning | KISS (the second K substitutes for the I) |
Technical information | |
Facility ID | 63928 |
Class | C |
ERP | 100,000 watts |
HAAT | 572 meters (1,877 ft) |
Links | |
Webcast | Listen Live |
Website | mykiss973.com |
KKSS (97.3
KKSS has an
History
The station first
On September 16, 1985, after upgrading the signal and acquiring new broadcasting equipment, KAFE-FM switched its call letters to KKSS.[2] The format was initially described as being "a popular, contemporary music format which will be between the hard rock music of Q106-FM and the soft contemporary music of KOB-FM". The station was owned by New Mexico Broadcasting Inc. In 1986, KKSS and AM sister station KAFE were sold to SunGroup Broadcasting for $2.2 million.[3]
Following SunGroup's purchase of the station, the company had surveyed the market and found that there was a demand for urban music. In March 1987, the company appointed Bill Thomas as operations manager and program director. While the format had leaned toward urban music from the start, it still featured some
In 1998, SunGroup had planned to sell KKSS for $6 million to Trumper Communications, which owned the 94.1, 100.3, 104.1 and 107.9 signals in the market. However, Trumper later withdrew from the deal; instead, KKSS was sold to the
In 2001, KKSS again shifted toward mainstream Top 40. In late 2002, after
On April 4, 2014, three KKSS air staffers, including program director and midday host DJ Lopez, Johnny V, and MQ, had left the station to join KAGM. (The three were later let go in December 2015 when KAGM revamped its direction.) Former KJFA personality Julian Robles also left, moving to
On June 14, 2017, Univision announced that it would sell KKSS (as well as sister stations KIOT and KKRG-FM) to American General Media, which had attempted repeatedly to challenge KKSS over the years.[9] AGM paid $5 million for the Univision cluster that its predecessor paid $22.5 million for in 2002 (which also included KQTM), showing a significant drop in value over 15 years.[10] The sale was approved by the FCC on August 23, 2017, and was consummated on September 1, 2017.
Current staff
- Gina Lee Fuentez and Ando (6am-10am mornings)
- The Dana Cortez Show (10am-2pm syndicated in afternoon)
- DJ Animal "The Street King of the 505!!!" (2-7pm Afternoons)
- Robert “Buck D” Gipson (7pm-11pm Nights)
- Club Kiss (Friday Night 9pm-1am)
Weekends:
- Comedian Robert "Buck D" Gipson (Saturday at 10am-4pm and Sunday at 12-5pm)
- Kyzer Sozay
- Kiss Mix (Saturday Night)
- Slowjams (Sunday Night)
Former staff
Mornings: Cadillac Jack, Chaz Malibu (now at KABG), Brandon Scott
Middays/Mornings: Brandon Scott
Middays: Randy Savage
Middays: DJ Lopez (until April 2014)
Afternoons: Johnny V (until April 2014)
Afternoons: JJ Morgan
Afternoons: Kumbia Show (Until March 2016)
Nights: The 'Bad Boys' Carlos D (now at KOBQ), Big Moon & DJ Trauma
Nights: Joe Mama
Nights: MQ's Neighborhood (until April 2014)
Weeknights: Boy Loco
Overnights: Kandi O
References
- ^ Radio-Locator.com/KKSS
- ^ "The Santa Fe New Mexican from Santa Fe, New Mexico on September 16, 1985 · 7".
- ^ https://mirror.thelifeofkenneth.com/sites/www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1986/BC-1986-03-17.pdf page 97
- ^ https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1980s/1987/RR-1987-10-02.pdf Page 51 "Urban Heats Up In Southwest"
- ^ https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Duncan-American-Radio/Duncan-1988-Fall.pdf page 58
- ^ https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Duncan-American-Radio/Duncan-1990-Spring.pdf Page 35
- ^ https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Radio-Business-Report/Radio-Business-Report/1998/RBR-1998-11-30.pdf page 12
- ^ "Albuquerque Staffers Cross the Street en Masse".
- ^ "American General Media Acquires Univision Albuquerque; Spins Four" from Radio Insight (June 14, 2017)
- ^ "Hispanic Broadcasting buys N.M. radio stations - Albuquerque Business First".
External links
- KISS 97.3 FM official website
- Facility details for Facility ID 63928 (KKSS) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- KKSS in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
- KKSS MySpace page