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. Kiss FM's broadcast transmitter is on top of the Empire State Building. State nickname: Empire State Other U.S. States Capital Albany Largest city New York Governor George Pataki Official languages None Area 141,205 km² (27th)  - Land 122,409 km²  - Water 18,795 km² (13. ... The Empire State Building lit up for Christmas (More images of the building) The Empire State Building The Empire State Building, a 102-story Art Deco building in New York City, was designed by Shreve, Lamb & Harmon Associates and built in 1930. ...

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. Around mid-1983 DJ Red Alert started his mix show that included underground rap music. In the fall of 1983 Kiss was the first station to play rap music regularly. WBLS responded to the rivalry by hiring Mr. Magic to conduct a weekend rap show which took the station to number three that same year and beat out Kiss FM. By 1984 altough Kiss was not black-owned, they promoted Barry Mayo as the first black general manager in the RKO radio chain. During that same year the station's format evolved into a hip hop sound. RKO General continued to own Kiss until June 26, 1989 when the station was sold to the Summit Communications Group of Atlanta. Several radio stations began to use the moniker "Kiss FM" name as well as the format. For years Kiss FM was on the top of the Arbitron ratings due to its hip hop-influenced format. It was also the home of the famous Wake-Up Club and Wendy Williams morning show Wendy & Company (http://www.wendywilliamswords.com/). 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. This is the mother station for hip hop and R&B. 107. ... The individual who decides what will be aired on a television or radio station. ... The general manager in the sense contemplated in this article is the executive of a professional sports team responsible primarily for acquiring the rights to player personnel, negotiation of their contracts and reassignment or dismissal of players no longer desired on the team. ... WBLS FM (107. ... Rhythm and blues (or R & B) is a musical marketing term introduced in the United States in the late 1940s by Billboard magazine. ... Dance music is music composed, played, or both, specifically for social dancing. ... 1983 is an integer and composite number that represents a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The word rap has these meanings:- verb: to knock with something, e. ... 1983 is an integer and composite number that represents a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The word rap has these meanings:- verb: to knock with something, e. ... WBLS FM (107. ... Mr. ... 1984 is a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The classic logo of RKO Radio Pictures. ... Hip hop is a cultural movement that began amongst urban African American youth in New York and has since spread around the world. ... June 26 is the 177th day of the year (178th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 188 days remaining. ... 1989 is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the state capital of Georgia. ... Kiss 100 is a radio station broadcasting to London on 100. ... Arbitron is a radio audience research company in the United States. ... Hip hop is a cultural movement that began amongst urban African American youth in New York and has since spread around the world. ... Dance music is music composed, played, or both, specifically for social dancing. ... The word rap has these meanings:- verb: to knock with something, e. ... WQHT also known as Hot 97 is a New York based radio station. ... 1994 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... The term urban contemporary was coined by the late New York DJ Frankie Crocker in the early 1980s. ... Rhythm and blues (or R & B) is a musical marketing term introduced in the United States in the late 1940s by Billboard magazine. ... Hip hop is a cultural movement that began amongst urban African American youth in New York and has since spread around the world. ... Rhythm and blues (or R & B) is a musical marketing term introduced in the United States in the late 1940s by Billboard magazine. ...

For those of you who want 98.7 Kiss FM's rap format to return go to emmis.com (http://www.emmis.com/)

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)

Wendy Williams is an African-American radio host and television personality. ... Nickolas Ashford (born May 4, 1942, in Fairfield, South Carolina) and Valerie Simpson (born August 26, 1946 in The Bronx, New York) are a successful songwriting/ production team, as well as being recording artists in their own right. ... Roberta Flack (born February 10, 1939) is an American singer, and considered by many a musical genius in the areas of jazz, soul, and folk, best known for singles like Killing Me Softly with His Song and Where Is the Love, many of which were duets with Donny Hathaway. ... This article is about the musician, for the Arctic explorer see Isaac Israel Hayes. ...

98.7 Kiss FM's 25th Birthday Party in 2006

Next year in August 2006 will mark Kiss FM's 25th birthday! Anyone interested in the historic birthday party including past pictures and logos as well as their greatest hits from 1981 to present should contact Vice President Barry Mayo at (212) 242-9870. An overwhelming response will persuade him to conduct the party. August is the eighth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... 2006 is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

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 Revue Official Website (http://classicsoul.com/)

• Sunday 4 PM - 10 PM

Mike Shannon

• Sunday 10 PM - 11 PM

Soul Beginnings with Bob Slade

• Sunday 11PM - 12 Midnight

Week in Review with Bob Slade

Management

• General Manager - Barry Mayo
• Operations Manager - John Mullen
• Program Director - Toya Beasley
• Music Director - Julie Gustines
• General Sales Manager - Keith Crystal

References and Links

• 98.7 Kiss Fm's Official Website (http://www.987kissfm.com/)
• New York Radio Guide (http://www.nyradioguide.com/cgi-bin/info.cgi/WRKS-FM/)
• Hip Hop Music Site (http://www.hiphopmusic.com/)
• Emmis Communications Official Website (http://www.emmis.com/)
• History of Urban Contemporary (http://www.udel.edu/nero/Radio/readings/urban.html/)