WYKS
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| Broadcast area | Gainesville-Ocala |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 105.3 (MHz) |
| Branding | Kiss 105.3 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Top 40-CHR |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Gillen Broadcasting Corporation |
| WAJD | |
| History | |
First air date | May 4, 1970 (as 105.5 WGVL) |
Former call signs | WGVL (1970–1981) |
Former frequencies | 105.5 MHz (1970–1995) |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 24208 |
| Class | A |
| ERP | 3,000 watts |
| HAAT | 142 meters (466 ft) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | kiss1053.com |
WYKS (105.3 MHz "Kiss 105.3") is a commercial radio station in Gainesville, Florida, broadcasting to the Gainesville-Ocala radio market. It is owned by the Gillen Broadcasting Corporation and airs a Top 40-CHR radio format.
WYKS is a Class A FM station. It has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 3,000 watts. The studios and transmitter tower are on SW 24th Avenue in Gainesville, near the Galen College of Nursing.[2]
History
[edit]The station signed on the air on May 4, 1970.[3] It broadcast on 105.5 FM as WGVL. It began with an automated country music format but soon switching to album oriented rock. As an AOR outlet, WGVL was one of the most popular FM stations in Gainesville during the 1970s, often beating AM Top 40 stations WRUF 850 and WGGG 1230 in its target young male demographics.
After 103.7 WRUF-FM abruptly switched from beautiful music to AOR as "Rock 104" in 1981, WGVL decided to take a new tack. WRUF-FM is powered at 100,000 watts vs. 3,000 for WGVL and WGVL's management realized it would be hard for it to compete with WRUF-FM for rock fans. On December 25, 1981, "Kiss 105" was born with a Top 40/CHR format. The call sign switched to WYKS, the last two letters standing for "KISS-FM." Since it was Christmas Day, Kiss 105 debuted with Bob and Doug McKenzie's version of "The Twelve Days of Christmas." Now known as "Kiss 105.3", adding the decimal point, WYKS has remained one of the most popular radio stations in the market since.
The frequency changed from 105.5 to 105.3 in 1995. Although the station's effective radiated power (ERP) remained at 3,000 watts, there was a slight increase in tower height, which improved the station's coverage area.
Notable Personalities
[edit]Douglas J. Gillen - President/Owner
Karl Kaufmann - Original Program Director and morning show host 1981 - 1985 (PD for WGVL '79-'81) Returned as Sales Manager 1992-96
Jeri Banta - Program Director/Morning Show Host - 1984 - 2003
Kevin Quinn - program Director/Operations Manager/ Morning Show Host - 2003 - 2010
Rebecca Kutchko- Business Manager - 2007 - 2018
Mark Page - Sales Manager
Christian Chase - Sales Manager
Joshua Drake - Account Executive
Matt Frey - House Account Manager/On Air Personality
Rondre Adams - Air Personality (Middays)/Production Director
Nick Vance - Air Personality (Afternoons)/ Assistant Program Director
Tom Collins - Air Personality (Nights)
Brett Douglas - Air Personality (Morning Show) (2004-Current)
Ryan Dupree - Air Personality (Middays) and Production Director
JP Kruze (Mo' Bounce) - Air Personality (Nights)
Casey Layne - Air Personality (Morning Show)
Deena Hart - Air Personality (Morning Show)
Tyler Whitney - Air Personality (Morning Show)
Greg West - Air Personality
Todd Steele - Air Personality
Johnny Walker - Air Personality
Dave Fox - Air Personality
Shea Michaels - Air Personality
Mark "Hi-there" Andrews - Air Personality
Harold Minch - Air personality (arrived to WYKS from WRUF-FM)
Jobe Wise - Air Personality
Lou Patrick - Management & Air Personality (1984)
Julie Spencer - Air Personality.
Bob Micheals - Morning Show Air Personality
Steve Russell - Sports / News, and "Rock Reflections"
Jeri Banta - Mornings/ Program Director
Harsha Ramayya - Afternoon Drive
Jeff Phillips - Overnights/7-Midnight/Creator and Host of 'All Request Saturday Night'
Tom Collett - Overnights & Account Executive
Brandon O'Brien -APD/MD Afternoons
Brooke Taylor - Air Personality
Chris Adams - Air Personality (Afternoons)
Hollywood John Harlow - APD/Afternoons
Jennifer Page - Nights
Dean Kenzie - Mornings
Corey Foley - Mornings
Jeff Bachmeier - Mornings
Taylor Mayz - Middays
Andrew Garick (Chris Lewis) - Air Personality
Mike Masters (Michael Ramirez) - Air Personality 1991-1994 (Creator and original host of "The Perimeter" show)
The Toyman - Co-Host and Resident DJ "The Perimeter" 1999-2002
Steven Chadwick - Resident DJ "The Perimeter" / Air Personality 1999-2004
Joey G (Joey Greene) - Resident DJ and co-host of "The After Party" / Air Personality (Saturday Nights)
Casey Kasem/Ryan Seacrest - Weekends (American Top 40) 1987–Present
John Gillen - Account Executive
Robbie Sparks - - Air Personality
Frank "McVie" - Air Personality, weekends (afternoon and evenings) 1987-1989
References
[edit]- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WYKS". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ Radio-Locator.com/WYKS
- ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1977 page C-42. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
External links
[edit]- Official Website
- Facility details for Facility ID 24208 (WYKS) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- WYKS in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
- WGVL/WYKS-FM history
- The Perimeter on Kiss 105.3