WMKS
 | |
| |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Piedmont Triad |
| Frequency | 100.3MHz(HD Radio) |
| Branding | Hits 100.3 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Top 40 (CHR) |
| Affiliations | Premiere Networks |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WPTI,WMAG,WVBZ,WTQR | |
| History | |
First air date | June 1953(as WNOS-FM) |
Former call signs |
|
Call signmeaning | "Kiss" (previous branding) |
| Technical information[2] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 74204 |
| Class | C |
| ERP | 100,000watts |
| HAAT | 316 meters (1,037 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 35°58′9.4″N79°49′28.1″W/ 35.969278°N 79.824472°W |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | hitscarolina.iheart |
WMKS(100.3FM,"Hits 100.3" ), is atop 40 (CHR)radio stationlicensed toHigh Point, North Carolina,that serves thePiedmont Triadregion, includingGreensboroandWinston-Salem.TheiHeartMedia, Inc.outlet broadcasts with an ERP of 100 kW. It has studio facilities and offices located on Pai Park in Greensboro, and a transmitter site is located south of Greensboro in unincorporatedGuilford County.
History
[edit]Early years
[edit]This station signed on the air in June 1953 as WNOS-FM.[3]In October 1975, Bernie Mann boughtWNOSand WNOS-FM. He changed the FM station's letters to WGLD and the format tobeautiful music,also increasing the power to 100,000 watts and building a new 400-foot tower.[4]
In 1985, the WGLD letters and format moved to1320 AMand the station became WOJY "Joy 100", a satelliteMORstation.[citation needed]In 1989, WOJY changed tosoft adult contemporarywith the new name WWWB "B-100".[3]For a year starting in 1994, the station was WFXF "100.3 the Fox", a hit-orientedclassic rockstation[5]focusing on the 70s and listeners 35 to 45, with some songs no one else was playing.[6]Then the station became WHSL "Whistle 100", playingcountry music.[7]In 1999, WHSL became one of the firstcountry musicstations to airJohn Boy and Billy,which had previously been designed forclassic rockstations.[8]AroundNew Year's Day2001, the station took over the rock format previously heard onWXRA,calling itself WVBZ "100.3 the Buzzard", keepingJohn Boy and Billy.This arrangement lasted until early 2009, when it changed its moniker to "The Buzz" and shifted its music towardsactive rock.
100.3 KISS-FM
[edit]
The Buzz moved to 105.7 FM on January 1, 2014, at 5p.m., taking the spot of sister station WMKS.WVBZadopted the Top 40 format of its predecessor, and later rebranded as "100.3KISS-FM."[9][10]On January 3, 2014, the call letters switched to WMKS.[1]
Prior to 2018, WMKS aired Fred & Angi fromWKSC-FMinChicagoin the morning. The station had no morning DJs until addingAce and TJMay 28, 2019.[11]
Hits 100.3
[edit]On October 29, 2020, WMKS dropped the "Kiss-FM" branding and began promoting "The New Sound of 100.3" coming on November 2, at Noon. At said time, after playing "This Is What You Came For"byCalvin Harris,WMKS rebranded as "Hits 100.3", promising to be commercial free on weekends. The first song on "Hits" was "What's Poppin"byJack Harlow.The new format leansrhythmic,and the new station claimed that listeners ofhip hop-formatted102 Jamzlike only one in four songs played on that station, and that Mainstream CHR-formattedWKZLhas too many commercials.[12]
References
[edit]- ^ab"Call Sign History".RetrievedJanuary 7,2014.
- ^"Facility Technical Data for WMKS".Licensing and Management System.Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ab"Raleigh-Durham FM Dial".Archived fromthe originalon February 1, 2003.RetrievedMay 5,2010.
- ^Sid Bost, "New Radio Voice Coming Into Triad,"Twin City Sentinel,February 14, 1976.
- ^Mark Folk, "WWWB Enters Classic-Rock Market",Greensboro News & Record,September 20, 1994.
- ^Catherine, Sprouse (September 22, 1994). "Rock 'n a hard place".Triad Business News.p. 1.
- ^Leigh Pressley, "Four's a Crowd? Station Goes Country",Greensboro News & Record,September 26, 1995.
- ^Bill Keveney, "'Big Show': Today Country Stations, Tomorrow the Whole Country?",The Charlotte Observer,April 7, 1999.
- ^"What's Up At Clear Channel/Greensboro?".allaccess. December 20, 2013.RetrievedJanuary 7,2014.
- ^Venta, Lance (January 1, 2014)."Greensboro's Buzz & Now Trade Places And More".radioinsight.RetrievedJanuary 7,2014.
- ^Venta, Lance (May 28, 2019)."WMKS Greensboro Adds Ace & TJ For Mornings".radionisight.RetrievedMay 28,2019.
- ^Venta, Lance."WMKS Greensboro Relaunches As Hits 100.3".radioinsight.RetrievedNovember 10,2020.
External links
[edit]- WMKS official website
- Facility details for Facility ID 74204 (WMKS)in theFCCLicensing and Management System
- WMKSinNielsen Audio's FM station database