WKSI-FM

Infobox Radio station
name = WKSI


city = Stephens City, Virginia
area = Winchester, Virginia
Martinsburg, West Virginia
branding = "98-3 Kiss FM"
slogan = "All The Hits"
airdate = August 28, 1966
frequency = 98.3 MHz
format = Contemporary Hit Radio
erp = 1,750 Watts
class = A
callsign_meaning = W KSI -play on the word "Kiss"
former_callsigns = WZFM-FM (1966-1982)
WXVA-FM (1982-2003)
WKSI-FM (2003-Present)
owner = Clear Channel
BT Triple Crown Merger Co., Inc.
sister_stations = WFQX, WMRE, WTFX, WUSQ
webcast = [http://www.983kissfm.com/cc-common/streaming_new/index.html WKSI Webstream]
website = [http://www.983kissfm.com WKSI Online]
affiliations = Ace & TJ
AT40 w/ Ryan Seacrest
Open House Party

WKSI is a Contemporary Hit Radio formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Stephens City, Virginia, with studios on the southeast side of Winchester, Virginia, next to the Winchester Regional Airport. WKSI was originally licensed to Charles Town, West Virginia.

History

WKSI started as WZFM (while in Charles Town) on August 28, 1966. At first the station simply rebroadcast what was their sister station WXVA-AM 1550. In the 70's, "FM 98" would play country music, but not in stereo. The calls would switch to WXVA on November 11, 1982 and they went the "AM/FM route" as other stations had months earlier. "The Natural Sound" was their slogan to their new "Music of Your Life"-esque format. WXVA would later pick up Westwood One's "Format 41" by in the mid-80s as WXVA became more modern, adding more lite rock and less music by Doris Day and Sammy Davis, Jr. In June, 1993, WXVA went oldies as "Greatest Hits XVA," a programming change brought about by Martinsburg DJ, Tom Tucker, who came over from WRNR (AM). He stayed until the Spring of 1994.

When Tucker left to do sales at WEPM, back in Martinsburg, the station switched to a light adult contemporary format. In November, 1995, WXVA switched formats again, this time to country, first as "X-Country" then later as "Xtra Country 98." It was during the switch to country that the station dropped its full-time news staff. It also ceased partnering with WRNR to produce and air Shepherd University (then Shepherd College) football and basketball games.
Clear Channel would buy WXVA and sister WXVA-AM in 2000 and move their studio out of Jefferson County and move them to the same building as Winchester's WUSQ-FM.

In November 2003, WXVA would switch to All Christmas music as "Christmas 98-3". A month later, the calls switched to WKSI and the format to Contemporary Hit Radio as "98-3 Kiss FM". In the summer of 2004, WKSI completely left Charles Town as WKSI changed their "community of license" from Charles Town to Stephens City. The transmitter for WKSI would remain in Charles Town until 2005, when it was moved to the WUSQ tower on Back Mountain Road in rural western Frederick County. Even with the move, WKSI still advertises in the Panhandle of West Virginia and their signal can be heard there as well.

On April 9, 2007, WKSI shuffled their on air lineup. Syndicated Ace & TJ now airs from 6am to 10am, former morning host "J.B. Wilde" moved to middays from 10am to 2pm. Afternoon host "JoJo" remained in his timeslot from 2pm to 6pm.

On September 4, 2007, Program Director and Afternoon DJ "J.B. Wilde" left for similar duties at WLKT in Lexington, KY. Clear Channel Winchester Program Director David Miller retakes the WKSI PD duties. On October 1st, 2007, Hunter Quinn was hired on as the Program Director, replacing "J.B. Wilde". Quinn was previously the Assistant Program Director and Afternoon DJ for Youngstown, Ohio radio station WHOT.

External links

* [http://www.983kissfm.com Official Website of 98-3 Kiss FM]
* [http://www.myspace.com/983kissfm Official MySpace Page of 98-3 Kiss FM]
*FMQ|WKSI
*FML|WKSI
*FMARB|WKSI