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WAKS
Akron, Ohio; United States;
Broadcast area	Greater Cleveland–Northeast Ohio
Frequency	96.5 MHz (HD Radio)
Branding	96.5 KISS-FM
Programming
Language(s)	English
Format	Contemporary hit radio
Subchannels	HD2: Mainstream urban
Affiliations	Premiere Networks
Ownership
Owner	iHeartMedia; (iHM Licenses, LLC);
Sister stations	WARF; WGAR-FM; WHLK; WMJI; WMMS (HD2); WTAM;
History
First air date	March 12, 1958; (66 years ago)
Former call signs	WCUE-FM (1958–1977); WKDD (1977–2001);
Call sign meaning	"KISS-FM"
Technical information
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	49952
Class	B
ERP	31,000 watts
HAAT	189 meters (620 ft)
Transmitter coordinates	41°16′50.2″N 81°37′21.4″W / 41.280611°N 81.622611°W
Translator(s)	HD2: 106.1 W291BV (Solon)
Links
Public license information	Public file; LMS;
Webcast	Listen live (via iHeartRadio); Listen live (HD2);
Website	kisscleveland.com

WAKS (96.5 FM) is a commercial radio station licensed to Akron, Ohio, known as "96.5 KISS-FM" and featuring a top 40 (CHR) format. Owned by iHeartMedia, WAKS's studios are located at the Six Six Eight Building in downtown Cleveland's Gateway District, and its transmitter resides in Brecksville; because of this, the station is recognized as a Cleveland radio station serving Greater Cleveland and much of surrounding Northeast Ohio.

WAKS is the Cleveland affiliate for Elvis Duran and the Morning Show, On Air with Ryan Seacrest, and American Top 40. In addition to a standard analog transmission, WAKS broadcasts over two HD Radio channels.^[2] WAKS-HD2, which airs a mainstream urban format, is also relayed over a low-power FM translator.

History

WCUE-FM

On March 12, 1958, WCUE (1150 AM) of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, launched an FM sister station at 96.5 Megahertz, WCUE-FM.^[3]

WKDD (96.5 FM)

By 1977, WCUE-FM – which at that time was broadcasting an album oriented rock (AOR) format – switched its format to "mellow rock" and callsign to WKDD. John Gorman, then Program Director at Cleveland rock station WMMS, recalls competing with WKDD in the Akron and Canton radio markets in its earlier days: "... the station attempted to create a 'Mellow Rock' mascot... "^[4] In January 1982, WKDD dropped its "mellow rock" format and flipped to CHR. The station at the time originally broadcast 50,000 watts, providing city-grade coverage to Greater Cleveland (including Cleveland and the surroundings of Lake Huron), Akron, and Canton. In 1989, WKDD unseated WMMS as the highest rated station in the Akron market, including both Summit and Portage counties. The two stations continued to struggle for ratings dominance well into the 1990s. Often, one of the two claimed the number one position in the Birch ratings service, while the other won Arbitron's top spot.^[5]^[6]

Danny Wright and Matt Patrick (Michael Ryan) were among the station's personalities. In 1987, WKDD raised Patrick's salary; his was already the highest in the Akron market, nearly five times the average for all other personalities in the market.^[7] In 1995, Patrick attempted to leave for Cleveland station WLTF (now WHLK). This drew a legal fight from WKDD, which claimed Patrick's contract prevented him from leaving for any station within 40 miles of WKDD.^[8]

2001 "frequency swap"

On July 3, 2001, WKDD was one of seven Northeast Ohio radio stations involved in a complex exchange between three radio companies. Although generally reported as a "frequency swap", in reality these seven radio stations mostly traded callsigns along with their respective formats and staffs – all to facilitate the transfers of ownership of four of the seven stations. As part of this complex exchange, Clear Channel Communications (which would become iHeartMedia on September 16, 2014) changed the WKDD format from hot adult contemporary (hot AC) to contemporary hit radio (CHR); rebranded the station using the KISS-FM brand; reassigned on and off-air personnel; and on July 23, 2001, changed the station callsign to WAKS. In effect, this new WAKS licensed to Akron (96.5 FM) became the successor to the previous WAKS licensed to Lorain (104.9 FM).^[9]

96.5 KISS-FM

Since November 2001, WAKS has been an affiliate of the syndicated program American Top 40.^[10]

Current programming

Weekday programming includes Elvis Duran and the Morning Show in morning drive and On Air with Ryan Seacrest middays, both via Premiere Networks. Local WAKS personalities Krystle Elyse and Jeremiah Widmer are heard in late mornings and afternoon drive respectively. ^[11]

All other music shifts are either voice-tracked out-of-market specifically for WAKS or programmed via Premium Choice. Weekend programming includes American Top 40.^[12]^[13]^[14]^[15]

WAKS-HD2

Urban contemporary accounts for all regular programming on the HD2 digital subchannel. Branded "Real 106.1", WAKS-HD2 also simulcasts over Solon translator W291BV (106.1 FM), which itself is owned by Educational Media Foundation but operated by iHeartMedia. All regular content, including station imaging, voice-over audio, music and on-air talent, either comes from the iHeartMedia mainstream urban national format via the Premium Choice network, or is voice-tracked out-of-market specifically for Real 106.1.

References

^ "Facility Technical Data for WAKS". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
^ "HD Radio Akron, OH". hdradio.com. Archived from the original on September 15, 2016.
^ "Directory of AM and FM Radio Stations in the U.S.". 1961-1962 Broadcasting Yearbook (PDF). Washington, DC: Broadcasting Publications, Inc. 1961. p. B-126. Retrieved January 7, 2011.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ Gorman, John; Feran, Tom (2007). The Buzzard: Inside the Glory Days of WMMS and Cleveland Rock Radio — A Memoir. Cleveland, Ohio: Gray & Co. pp. 155–156. ISBN 978-1-886228-47-4.
^ Dyer, Bob (October 4, 1987). "WMMS Buzzard Fights for WKDD's Area Roost". Akron Beacon Journal. Beacon Journal Publishing Co. p. F2 - Entertainment.
^ Dyer, Bob (July 16, 1991). "WKDD Again No. 1 in Ratings Book After a Disastrous Four-Song-in-a-Row Promotion; Station Decides to Go Back to Its Rock 'N' Roll Roots". Akron Beacon Journal. Beacon Journal Publishing Co. p. B1 - Entertainment.
^ Dyer, Bob (April 5, 1987). "WKDD's Big Matt Looking Just Like a Fat Cat". Akron Beacon Journal. Beacon Journal Publishing Co. p. D2 - Entertainment.
^ Dennis, Debra (May 19, 1995). "DJ Settles Dispute; Will Stay With WKDD". The Plain Dealer. Plain Dealer Publishing Co. p. 1B - Metro.
^ Quinn, Jim (June 29, 2001). "It's Time to Reset Your Radio Dial: Seven Stations Will Get New Frequencies Tuesday, You'll Need a Score Card to Keep Track of Formats". Akron Beacon Journal. Beacon Journal Publishing Co. p. B1 - Entertainment.
^ "On-Air Schedule". Kiss Cleveland.com. WAKS. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
^ Venta, Lance (May 20, 2022). "Jeremiah Widmer Joins 96.5 Kiss-FM Cleveland As Afternoon Host". RadioInsight. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
^
Washington, Julie E. (May 16, 2009). "Broadcast blues: Clear Channel does some clear-cutting of on-air radio talent". The Plain Dealer. Plain Dealer Publishing Co. p. E1 - Arts & Life. Clear Channel... is rolling out Premium Choice, a menu of national formats chosen by headquarters. There is no local programming on Premium Choice stations except for commercials...
- "Corrections and Clarifications". The Plain Dealer. Plain Dealer Publishing Co. August 1, 2009. The Cleveland Clear Channel stations using the Premium Choice programming package are WAKS, WGAR, WMJI and WMMS. Each station uses it overnight on weekdays, and for selected hours on weekends.
^ "AT40 with Ryan Seacrest - All The Hits - Cleveland, OH". Kisscleveland.com. Retrieved April 10, 2013.
^ "TheHopeLine Community Radio Stations". Thehopeline.com. Retrieved April 10, 2013.
^ "Station Guide: Cleveland, OH". HDRadio.com. HD Radio. 2011. Retrieved January 15, 2011.^{[permanent dead link‍]}