KISS-FM (brand)
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- For other uses of "Kiss FM", especially outside of the United States, see Kiss FM (disambiguation).
KISS-FM is a brand name used for a variety of radio stations in numerous broadcast markets in the United States, most of which are owned by Clear Channel Communications. Most Clear Channel KISS-FM's play a CHR/Pop (Mainstream Top 40) format, and are represented by what is called the "Kiss-ball," a blue ball with KISS-FM in red lettering with yellow around the lettering, the channel frequency is often represented at the bottom of the "kiss-ball" in yellow. The branding originated from the highly influential KIIS-FM station in Los Angeles, California, which has been broadcasting in a top-40 format under the "KIIS-FM" brand name since 1986. KIIS-FM (also pronounced "kiss") remains among the most highly rated top 40 radio stations in the United States and is home to Ryan Seacrest's morning drive-time radio show.
However, in 2006, it was announced that Clear Channel is being sold to a private firm, therefore downsizing and getting rid of several stations in smaller markets and some in the large markets. Several of the markets announced were the markets where Clear Channel has a KISS-FM branded CHR station. So with that said, several KISS-FM branded CHR stations will no longer be exclusive to Clear Channel. It is believed that the transactions of the KISS brand will be exactly as they were in Evansville, Indiana and Dallas/Forth Worth, Texas where Clear Channel radio had a KISS-FM branded CHR stations in both markets. Clear Channel owned WDKS 106.1 KISS-FM in Evansville, Indiana and KHKS 106.1 Kiss-FM in Dallas/Forth Worth, Texas. Both stations have kept the KISS-FM brand and the traditional KISS-ball logo.
Conflict and controversy
Clear Channel currently holds the trademark to the KISS-FM brand name based on individual markets. There are other "Kiss FM" stations (in cities such as Atlanta and Miami) owned by other companies, using different formats, but Clear Channel holds the ability to sue the brand name out of a competitor's hands in a market where it legally owns the trademark. For example, Clear Channel has attempted to sue Entercom, the owners of WXSS-FM in Milwaukee, and successfully sued Cumulus Media, owners of an Urban AC formatted Kiss FM in Savannah, Georgia. To avoid being sued, stations that did use KISS in the branding dropped it altogether, for example: Mainstream Urban station WKYS in Washington, DC (owned by Radio One) used it off an on. However, Clear Channel's main competitor, CBS Radio, does own two "Kiss FM" stations that are also formatted as Top-40: WNKS in Charlotte, North Carolina, and KBKS in Seattle, Washington (neither station uses the traditional KISS ball logo).
Another example of Clear Channel succeeding in using this tactic was in Bakersfield, California, where in 2001 it went to federal court to force American General Media (AMG) to give up the "Kiss" slogan that was used as the on-air moniker for Rhythmic Top 40 KISV. Clear Channel wanted to use the slogan for its then-recent acquisition KKXX in 2000. However AGM arugued that they had the rights to the "Kiss" slogan three years before Clear Channel came to Bakersfield; Clear Channel said otherwise and claimed AGM used it without permission.
But others in the market and the broadcasting industry in general believed that Clear Channel did this to heat up the markets' nasty Rhythmic war as KKXX was in a battle with KISV at the time. Although AGM won the first court round in 2001, Clear Channel would emerge as the official victor in 2002 when the court ruled in their favor, resulting in KISV giving up the slogan for now-current "Hot 94.1". [citation needed]
As for Bakerfield's "96.5 Kiss-FM", it would be a blessing and a curse. Although they did well in the ratings, the damage was already done. By August 2004 KKXX would flip to Country and change its call to KBKO-FM; KISV however have moved on from using the "Kiss" moniker, opting to stick with the "Hot" slogan.[citation needed]
In Chicago, Clear Channel sent a Cease And Desist letter to former CHR-Dance WKIE. The cease and desist informed WKIE to drop the use of the KISS-FM moniker under penalty of law. Clear Channel sued WKIE and successfully won the case, causing WKIE to drop the KISS name and rebrand itself as Energy 92.7. Clear Channel then flipped their Rhythmic Oldies 103.5 The Beat to CHR-Pop as 103.5 KISS-FM with call letters WKSC respectfully meaning KSC (KISS Chicago).
What is interesting about the KISS-FM brand is CHR/Pop WDKS KISS-FM in Evansville, IN. This station is a former Clear Channel "Kiss" station and is now owned by Regent Communications but is still using the same "kiss-ball" logo that is trademark of Clear Channel's CHR KISS brand. The station is still on the air, representing the same kiss-ball logo and is still known as WDKS 106.1 KISS-FM.
Speaking of the "kiss-ball," another interesting move in Peoria, Illionois where WPIA 98.5 and it's simulcast WRIA 96.5, both contemporary christian owned by Regents Broadcasting was sold to Independence Media and flipped to the CHR format branded KISS-FM! WPIA and WRIA 98.5/96.5 Kiss-FM even have the same "kiss-ball" logo of a KissFM branded Clear Channel station! WPIA and WDKS make two Kiss stations using the Kiss brand logo but not affiliated with Clear Channel radio.
In 2006, it was announced that yet another Clear Channel KISS-FM branded station in a large market transferring ownerships. Clear Channel has transferred KHKS 106.1 KISS-FM in Dallas/Forth Worth, Texas to Triple Crown. The station is expected to keep the KISS-FM brand.
See also
- Froggy, is also a brand of country music radio stations, which are also independently owned and operated, mostly at one time owned by Forever Broadcasting, but use the same or similar logo.
- The Fox, is also a brand of mainly classic rock radio stations, where unless they were under Clear Channel Communications, each individual station is independently operated.is owned by Clear Channel by a market by market basis.
- Jack FM and Bob FM, are both a brand of radio stations that play a large variety of music from the 70's, 80's, and 90's.
- ESPN Radio, is also a brand of radio stations, where they are generally tied to the same set of broadcast programs, but are not all necessarily owned by the same operator. Most local broadcasts of these stations have nothing to do with the national network.
- Lite FM, is also a brand of adult contemporary radio stations that play a wide variety of soft rock hits.
List of "KISS-FM" stations
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