WKKF

WKKF

Ballston Spa, New York
Broadcast area	Albany, New York
Frequency	102.3MHz(HD Radio)
Branding	Kiss 102-3
Programming
Format	Top 40 (CHR)
Subchannels	HD2:2010s hits"iHeart2010s Radio"
Affiliations	Premiere Networks
Ownership
Owner	iHeartMedia (iHM Licenses, LLC)
Sister stations	WGY,WGY-FM,WRVE,WPYX,WTRY-FM,WOFX
History
First air date	1968(as WKAJ-FM Saratoga Springs)
Former call signs	WKAJ-FM (1968–1979) WASM (1979–1987) WQQY (1987–1991) WZRQ (1991–1996) WXCR (1997–2000)
Call signmeaning	Kapitol[sic] Kiss FM
Technical information
Facility ID	17030
Class	A
ERP	4,100watts
HAAT	118 meters (387 ft)
Transmitter coordinates	42.879°N 73.863°W/42.879; -73.863
Links
Webcast	Listen Live Listen Live (HD2)
Website	kiss1023.iheart

WKKF(102.3FM) - branded asKiss 102-3- is atop 40 (CHR)stationlicensed toBallston Spa, New Yorkand serving theCapital DistrictandAdirondacks.The station is owned byiHeartMediaand broadcasts at 4,100 wattsERPfrom a transmitter inClifton Park, New Yorkon a tower shared withWMHHandWTMM-FM.

Programming

WKKF currently programs aPremium Choicerhythmic CHRformat, includinghip-hop,R&B,anddance music,however, the station has been through several iterations of CHR formats since 2000, includingadult CHRandMainstream CHR.Its primary competitors include Mainstream CHRWFLYand Urban/Rhythmic CHRWAJZ.

Programming currently featured on WKKF is primarily under iHeartMedia'sPremium Choicebanner, and includesElvis Duran and the Morning Show,and local jocks Terry O'Donnel, and D. Scott. Additionally, WKKF featuresAmerican Top 40hosted byRyan Seacrest.

History

Saratoga Springs history

The 102.3 frequency originally began inSaratoga Springs, New Yorkin 1968 as WKAJ-FM, sister toWKAJrunning aneasy listeningformat. In 1979, WKAJ-FM changed its calls to WASM keeping the easy listening format though by the mid-1980s the station evolved to anAdult contemporaryapproach. In June 1987, WASM flipped to Top 40 WQQY(102 Double Q)and began to make a minor wave in the Albany ratings by giving WFLY andWGFMa run for its money inSaratoga County.Among the air talent at WQQY was Rob Dawes early in his career before moving back to the frequency.

Move to Ballston Spa

With the decline of Top 40 in the early 1990s, its limited 3000 watt signal, WQQY began to look to the south for a better alternative. Having a construction permit to move the station down to the Albany area, WQQY moved its transmitter 12 miles south to Clifton Park (licensed to nearby Ballston Spa), upgraded to 6000 watts, and relaunched in September 1991 as WZRQ, becoming Albany's affiliate of ABC'sZ-Rocksatellitehard rockformat. WZRQ remained as an affiliate of Z-Rock until the network's end in late 1996. Needing a new format, then-owner Radio Enterprises (a joint venture of Clear Channel Communications (nowiHeartMedia) and local investors) decided to go after heritage rock station WPYX with a Classic Rock format asClassic Rock 102.3 FMwith the WXCR calls. Though former WPYX morning team "Mason and Sheehan" were hired several months later, they were fired a year later, in 1998.

102.3 KISS FM

Kiss FM 102.3 logo

former logo

After Clear Channel acquired WPYX in 2000, 102.3 returned to Top 40 (CHR) as Clear Channel's trademarkedKISS FMbrand was adopted on May 26, 2000 after a day of stunting, with the WKKF calls following soon after. WXCR personality Steve Scott was the only one to make the transition from classic rock to CHR as Jeff Mrozek adopted the afternoon drive spot at former sister stationWQBK-FMearlier that year. Since its launch, WKKF has been a largely successful station going after heritage CHRWFLYwith a more rhythmic, younger-leaning format. This approach has allowed it to hold its own against WFLY, a station which had not seen competition for a decade prior to WKKF's launch, andWAJZ,a Rhythmic (since2005) who happens to be WFLY's sister station.

Much of WKKF's early airstaff were transplants from other stations in the market: former Program Director/midday jock Rob Dawes previously held the same position at WFLY, former midday jock Ally Reid handled middays at WFLY as well as sister stationWFLZinTampa, Florida,and former WFLY jock "Joey Kidd" (formerly in morning drive, also known as Joe Rosati onWDTW-FMinDetroit, Michigan). Mike Corts, former WFLY jock began board operating Mornings until Valentine in the Morning was syndicated. Corts was hired to host nights on Kiss and also hosted the popular and #1 rated Saturday night "Remix". Afternoon drive jock DJ Thomas, the last original staff member from WKKF's launch, former night jock Mick Lee now Program Director atWLIT,Chicago,as well as former evening jock Corey Kincaid, left WKKF in 2009. In addition, the syndicatedElvis Duran and the Morning Show(originating atWHTZinNew York City) was added in morning drive on the station that year.

After the demise of sister alternative rock stationWHRLin September 2010, WKKF added more pop rock and alternative artists to its playlist that it would not play as much before, includingThe Script,Lady Antebellum,andParamore;in addition, the station added more 1990s and early 2000s gold to its playlist. After the start of 2012, the station has reverted to aRhythmic Contemporarydirection, although still reporting as aMainstream Top 40by Mediabase and Nielsen BDS. Regarding WKKF's direction shift, they continue to be a mainstream top 40 because of most markets having twoTop 40 (CHR)stations.

KISS 102.3

By early 2013, the station has made a slight change in branding toKiss 102.3and reverted to a more mainstream CHR approach including more pop-rock artists.

HD Radio operations

In 2005, WKKF upgraded toIBOCdigital radioalongside the rest of Clear Channel's Albany stations. On August 17, 2006, WKKF began airing an HD2 channel with apopand new music-heavy CHR format known as theHot Spot(later rebranded as theVerizonNew Music Channel) which is heard on several other Kiss stations across the United States. The HD2 channel flipped formats in 2011 to a 1980s and 1990ship hopandR&Bchannel; a few years later, the format was dropped in favor ofNickRadio,eventually On Air with Ryan Seacrest Replay Channel and nowiHeart2010s.

External links

• Facility details for Facility ID 17030 (WKKF)in theFCCLicensing and Management System
• WKKFinNielsen Audio's FM station database