WMKS

Infobox Radio Station
name = WMKS


area = Clemmons, North Carolina
Greensboro, North Carolina
branding = 105.7 KISS-FM
slogan = "The Best R&B And Old School"
airdate = 1947
frequency = 105.7 (MHz)
format = Hot Adult R&B
power = 34,000 watts
class = C1
haat = 443 meters
facility_id = 501
coordinates = coord|36|22|28|N|80|22|31|W|type:landmark
owner = Clear Channel Communications
sister_stations = WGBT, WMAG, WTQR, WVBZ
website = [http://www.1057kissfm.com/ http://www.1057kissfm.com]
callsign_meaning = WM KisS

WMKS, 105.7 Kiss-FM is a Hot Adult R&B outlet serving the Piedmont Triad region. The station is a part of Clear Channel's cluster in the Greensboro/Winston-Salem market and is licensed to Clemmons, North Carolina.

History

Prior to its flip to Adult R&B, WFMX was a well known and popular Country station licensed to Statesville, North Carolina. Their 100,000 watt signal covered the Charlotte, Greensboro-High Point-Winston Salem, and Raleigh-Durham markets and as a result would see their ratings show up in the Arbitrons in each of the three markets, yet remain true to the roots of serving the piedmont of North Carolina.

WFMX was popular for its coverage of NASCAR, dubbing itself as "The Racin' Station". The station started service in May 3rd of 1947 as WSIC-FM. It, along with its sister station WSIC-AM, was the first AM and FM radio station simulcast combo to sign on simultaneously in the nation.

The station is also credited as the first FM radio station in the United States to program the country music format.

While the call letters have no specific meaning, they were purchased by then owner Statesville Broadcasting Company from the American Broadcasting Company in New York in 1958. The station has been owned by Texas based Mercury Broadcasting Inc. and operates in a J.S.A. (Joint Sales Agreement) with Clear Channel Communications. With the move to Greensboro/Winston-Salem, Clear Channel will purchase the facility.

On July 19, 2006, WFMX signed off from its Statesville location after nearly 50 years, and prepared for a move to a community of license of Clemmons, North Carolina.

When the station returned to the air on July 24, 2006, WFMX flipped to a new format (using the KISS-FM moniker/slogan), this time as an Adult R&B, and took on the WMKS calls. This will be the Piedmont Triad region's second Adult R&B outlet, as they take on the more-established WQMG. They are also the second station in the Clear Channel family to adopt the "KISS-FM" brand as an Adult R&B, the other being WKUS out of Norfolk, Virginia.

Articles

* [http://www.wtqr.com/cc-common/mainheadlines2.html?feed=104799&article=585879 WTQR welcoming former WFMX listeners]
* [http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/entertainment/columnists/mark_washburn/13658915.htm Article on WFMX's signal and city of license move]

External links

* [http://www.1057kissfm.com 105.7 KISS-FM Website]
*fmq|WMKS