WXSS

Infobox Radio Station


name = WXSS
airdate = 1960s
frequency = 103.7 (MHz)
area = Milwaukee, Wisconsin
format = CHR (Top 40)
owner = Entercom
erp = 19,500 watts
branding = "103.7 Kiss-FM"
slogan = "The #1 Hit Music Station!"
class = B
webcast = [http://wmc1.liquidcompass.cc/WXSS Listen Live]
website = [http://www.1037kissfm.com/ www.1037kissfm.com]
callsign_meaning = "KISS"

WXSS (103.7 FM) is a CHR (Top 40) radio station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is licensed to Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. They are known as "103.7 Kiss FM" and are owned by Entercom, along with WMYX-FM and WSSP. Its main competitors are WKKV and WKTI. Kiss FM has taken 3rd place for the past 4 quarters in the Arbitron Ratings for people 12 and over. They are also known for having free concerts. In 2007, they sponsored the Jonas Brothers and Ashley Tisdale free concerts in Milwaukee. At 8:00 each night, they play the "Top 8 at 8" which they play the top 8 most requested songs that day.

History

The original call sign was WTOS, a reference to its city of license, when it signed on in the 1960s. For a long time, 103.7 was WEZW, which featured a beautiful music format. As the format withered away on radio dials across the country during the 1980s and 1990s, 103.7 tweaked the format by adding adult contemporary music with vocals, changing it's calls to WAMG in 1995 and slogan to "Magic 103.7". Unable to compete with WLTQ, they later flipped to a Rhythmic Adult Contemporary format. On June 19, 1998, the station adopted its current CHR format and "103.7 Kiss FM" was born. At first, the station was branded as "The All-New, All Hit, 103.7 KISS FM", but now is branded currently as "The #1 Hit Music Station".

History of the Various Shows on Kiss FM

Mornings

The Joe Show with Joe Caruso, Van "The Man" McNeal, and Ginger Jordan was the first morning show when the station signed on. The show later was helmed for a short time by Van and Ginger, after the departure of Caruso. Former KDWB afternoon jock Michael Knight then joined to form Knight In The Morning. Later, Van moved to nights on Kiss and Michael and Ginger welcomed former KDWB production director Rahny Taylor as the third host and exective producer. Later, when Rahny and Michael were moved to clustermate Hot A/C WMYX and Ginger departed the station, kiss mornings were handled agian by Van McNeal, this time with Kiss part timer Tony Zamboni as co-host. Just months later, Van moved to afternoon drive on kiss and Rahny Taylor returned to Kiss Fm, along with former Kiss night and afternoon host Wes McKane, to form the "Wes & Rahny In The Morning". Later, former WIFC FM night jock Alley Faith joing Wes and Rahny, to form the current moring show on the station, "Wes, Rahny, and Alley".

Middays

Kiss Fm has had only two midday personalities in its 10 years, with JoJo Martinez (also the station's music director) holding the job for about nine of those years. During JoJo's short time away from the station, former Atlanta radio personality and current XM jock PJ held the job.

Afternoons

The station signed on with former Jacksonville and Denver radio personality Greg Tanner in afternoons. Following his exit, former Kiss night jock and current morning host Wes McKane helmed PM drive. After Wes left to do nights at KDWB in the Twin Cities, Mat Mitchell, formerly nights at Mix93.3 in Kansas City, held down afternoons. When Mat left to do mornings at Channel 963 in Wichita, then night host Van McNeal did afternoons. Van later left to do the same shift on sister station WMYX, which opened the door for Kraig Karson, the station's first night host, to do afternoons. Kraig currently hosts afternoons from 2-7pm each weekday.

Nights

When Kiss signed on, current afternoon jock Kraig Karson served as the first night show host. When Kraig left for afternoons at the now debunked 103.5 The Beat in Chicago, current morning show host Wes McKane became the station's second night jock, coming from a similar role at 95.5 WIFC FM in central Wisconsin. After Wes moved to afternoons, former KDWB jock Zanny K. enter for a very short stint as the night time host. Zanny was followed by Van McNeal, who shifted into nights from mornings. Van's move back to mornings made way for B-Dub, who was inbound from HOT 104 in Mobile, AL. After about one year, B-Dub left for afternoon drive at Q102 in Philly and was replaced by Kracker, a.k.a. Pat Clark, who moved from a similar job at U92 in Salt Lake City. Upon Kracker's departure for mornings in Seattle, WA, former Kiss Fm part timer Brett Andrews returned for the night slot, coming from HOT 97 in Las Vegas, where he hosted afternoons. Brett Andrews is the current host, from 7pm-12mid.

Kiss FM's Present Schedule

Weekdays

*6-10 AM: Wes, Rahny, and Alley
*10-2 PM: JoJo"Noon: JoJo's Party Jam (Old Skool Music) until 1 PM"
*2-7 PM Kraig Karson"5 PM: Kiss FM Traffic Jam: Dance Music is played during the rush hour.

"6 PM: Kiss Music Minute: Music Gossip Talk"
*7-12 AM: The Brett Andrews Radio Show"8 PM: The Top 8 at 8"

"9 PM: KISS KOMBAT (Two new songs are played, and the listeners vote for the best one.)"
*12-6 AM: Joel Sheridan

Weekends

Weekend jocks are Will Calder, Alley Faith, Rahny Taylor, Kraig Karson, Joel Sheridan, Eric Paulsen, and Matt Cooper.

Klub Kiss

Klub Kiss is where Kiss FM plays dance music for 4 hours each Friday and Saturday night from 10-2 AM. It has been so popular, that it spawned the Kiss FM Traffic Jam during the weekdays at 5 PM with Kraig Karson.

tation Timeline

*Until 1993-1994: WEZW; Easy 104 (Beautiful Music)
*1994-1995: WEZW; Easy 104 (Soft Adult Contemporary)
*1995-1996: WAMG, Magic 103.7 (Soft Adult Contemporary)
*1996-1998: WAMG; Magic 103.7 (Rhythmic Adult Contemporary)
*1998-present: WXSS; 103.7 KISS-FM (CHR)

WXSS HD2

WXSS's HD-2 channel carries programming from the All Comedy Network.

Competitors

WXSS's main competitors in Milwaukee are WKKV (Urban Contemporary) and WKTI (Adult Top 40).

External links

* [http://www.1037kissfm.com/ 103.7 Kiss-FM]
* [http://www.onmilwaukee.com/buzz/articles/milwradio.html Milwaukee radio: a retrospective]
*fmq|WXSS
*fml|WXSS