KIIS-FM

For the Antelope Valley re-broadcaster, see KVVS. For the consortium of Kentucky colleges, see Kentucky Institute for International Studies.

KIIS-FM

City of license	Los Angeles, California
Broadcast area	Greater Los Angeles Area
Branding	102.7 KIIS FM (pronounced as "Kiss FM")
Slogan	"LA's #1 Hit Music Station"
Frequency	102.7 MHz (also on HD Radio) 102.7 HD2 for Evolution (Dance) 11 (XM)
First air date	1948
Format	Top 40 (CHR) EDM (HD2)
Power	8,000 Watts
HAAT	902 meters
Class	B
Facility ID	19218
Transmitter coordinates	34°13′36″N 118°03′57″W
Callsign meaning	IIS resembles "115," the station's original AM frequency (1150 AM)
Former callsigns	KKDJ (4/15/71-1975) KRHM (1967-4/15/71) KLAC-FM (1948-1967)
Owner	Clear Channel
Sister stations	KBIG, KFI, KHHT, KLAC, KOST, KTLK, KYSR
Webcast	Listen Live (via iHeartRadio)
Website	www.KIISfm.com

KIIS-FM (102.7 FM "102.7 KIIS FM") is a Los Angeles, California, United States-based radio station with a partial Top 40 (CHR) musical format. It is owned by Clear Channel Communications. KIIS is also simulcast on KVVS in Rosamond, at 105.5 MHz. Known as "102.7 KIIS-FM" and as one of the United States' highest-rated top 40 stations, "KIIS" is pronounced as "kiss" and is the origin of the national KISS-FM brand. KIIS was named the 2007 Station of the Year in the contemporary hit/radio/top 40 category for market size 1 to 25 at the national Radio & Records convention.

102.7 KIIS-FM is licensed for HD Radio operations with is secondary channel known as Evolution @ KIIS-HD2, an outlet strictly for Electronic Dance Music. XM Satellite Radio currently simulcasts the station on Channel 11.

The station is, according to Radio & Records, the nation's top revenue billing radio station with $66.3 million made in 2008.

KIIS-FM was once the home of radio jock Rick Dees (1981–2004), Todd Kelly (2001-2002) and recently, Ryan Seacrest.

KIIS is currently the #1 radio station in Los Angeles, the greater LA Area, and all of the West Coast, averaging 3.6 million listeners.

Its studios are located in Burbank between the Warner Bros. Studios and NBC, and it has a transmitter site on Mount Wilson with most other television and radio stations serving Los Angeles.

History

KKDJ to KIIS FM

On April 15, 1971, KRHM changed call letters to KKDJ (102.7) and became a top 40 station until 1975. Combined Communications then purchased KKDJ and changed the station's format to adult contemporary under the new call letters of KIIS FM, and began simulcasting with KIIS 1150 AM in 1975 with an "on air wedding" during Charlie Tuna's morning show which married KKDJ 102.7 FM to KIIS 1150 AM. The audio of that moment can be found on YouTube. The spelling of "K-I-I-S" instead of KISS, was because it resembled the AM frequency: "1150"="IIS". The new merged station was referred to as, "AM and FM, K-double I-S." Making the transition from KKDJ to KIIS FM in 1975 were popular personalities including the legendary Humble Harve, Charlie Tuna, Jay Stevens, John Peters and Danny Martinez. Later, in 1977, News Director Gary McKenzie who went on to anchor at RKO Radio Networks and CBS was hired by KIIS FM. The AM and FM stations did simulcasts during the day while returning to two separate stations in the evening hours.

Unable to draw high ratings with adult contemporary, KIIS-FM continued to change formats from Top 40 in 1976 to 1978, Dance and Disco in 1979 to 1980 and back to Top 40 in 1981. KIIS-AM would keep its soft rock/adult contemporary format until late 1979. Just prior to this, Gannett Company purchased both KIIS-AM/FM and Combined Communications. The format of KIIS-AM was changed to religious talk and the new call letters KPRZ-AM were adopted. The religious format lost money and in early 1981, KPRZ became the Music of Your Life format of big bands and pop standards, with legendary former KMPC personalities such as Gary Owens, Dick Whittinghill, Johnny Magnus, Chuck Southcott and 1976 to 1978 KIIS-FM morning personality "World Famous" Tom Murphy. The format lasted until 1984, when the call letters again became KIIS-AM and began simulcasting KIIS-FM's morning and afternoon jocks, while all other day parts were different disc jockeys including Murphy in the overnight. In late 1985, the stations began a more than decade long complete simulcast.

Rick Dees joined the station for mornings in 1981 after KHJ-AM (930) switched formats to Country and Dees was out. Fill-In personality Dave Sebastian (Williams) working both the AM and FM stations at the time hosted the vacated FM morning show (4–5 months) until the arrival of Rick Dees. With Dees on mornings, KIIS became a CHR powerhouse in Los Angeles. In 1996, in a deal in which Gannett acquired WTSP television in the Tampa, Florida market from Jacor, KIIS-AM/FM was acquired by Jacor/Citicasters, which in 1998 merged into Clear Channel Communications (But the simulcast was broken in 1997 and became all-sports KXTA, simulcasting with XETRA-AM/San Diego until 2005. 1150 AM is now liberal-talk KTLK-AM).

When Power 106 changed formats from top 40 to hip hop around 1994, KIIS became the only Los Angeles top 40 station. That was until 2005 when Power 106 shifted back to a Rhythmic Top 40 format. KIIS itself would lean towards a rhythmic-leaning direction by the Summer of 2004. This strategy would later pay off as KIIS currently enjoys the highest ratings in the Los Angeles Radio Market.

Up until recently, Power 106 had enjoyed one of the longest #1 ratings runs in recent memory. The competition will undoubtedly heat up, as both stations have been jockeying for the top spot for nearly the last 20 years.

As of 2009 KIIS started facing more competition from KAMP, which flipped from Talk to Top 40/CHR as "97.1 AMP Radio."

KIIS simulcasting

In 1998, Jacor Communications (now Clear Channel) acquired KAVS (now KVVS) and KYHT (now KRSX-FM), abandoning the previous format as High Desert Modern Rock 97.7 & 105.3, and taking the simulcast as a repeater for KIIS. Another simulcast, 1220 KIIS AM was added in 1999, as well as 101.9 KFMS in Las Vegas, Nevada. The grouping of 102.7 FM KIIS in Los Angeles, 1220 AM KIIS in Santa Clarita, 97.7 FM KAVS in the Antelope Valley, 105.3 FM KYHT in Barstow/Victor Valley, and 101.9 FM KFMS in Las Vegas created a nearly continuous coverage of KIIS FM between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. However, it was short lived as KYHT broke off in 2001 to simulcast KZXY, then KATJ, before adopting its current format as oldies. Resulting from KYHT's flip from the KIIS FM moniker, KFMS switched to all local programming. KVVS was relocated from 97.7 to 105.5 in December 2007. 1220 KIIS AM became KHTS in 2003. KIIS has also been simulcast on 850 AM in Thousand Oaks, California in the last year before the towers were demolished.

As of June 8, 2011, KIIS FM is now rebroadcasting on XM channel 11. Since the end of 2003, Clear Channel had replaced the KIIS simulcast with an exclusive KISS XM channel. In 2004, all XM music channels went commercial free, and KIIS was replaced with a unique-to-XM KISS-XM channel, retaining the same format. Since then, Clear Channel has regained the right to air commercials on their XM music channels.

102.7 KIIS-FM today

KIIS logo used from 2002-2012

KIIS-FM broadcasts a more Contemporary hit radio format. A majority of the music played on 102.7 KIIS-FM tends to be R&B, and pop music, with rock music given lesser priority, as shown by the official live playlist and KIIS-FM censors songs substantially more, and more obviously, than its counterparts, 97.1 Amp Radio, and Power 106. This is almost always done to hip-hop songs, and as much as several seconds can be cut off. This more substantial censorship began in 2004, perhaps as a part of the heightened scrutiny of media content following the "Nipplegate" incident at Super Bowl XXXVIII. KIIS-FM was the only contemporary hit radio in Los Angeles until 2009, when KAMP-FM (97-1 Amp RAdio) replaced talk radio station KLSX.

An example of this censorship can be heard in Rihanna's ballad "Unfaithful", where the lyric "I might as well take a gun and put it to his head" is censored on KIIS-FM as "I might as well take a _____ put it to his head". The previous example of song editing is common for many Clear Channel CHR stations.

In 2004, The decade long General Manager of KIIS FM, Roy Laughlin elected not to renew the contract of legendary DJ Rick Dees and replaced Rick Dees In The Morning with Ryan Seacrest's On Air show and retained Co Host, Ellen K to team with Seacrest. Rick Dees In The Morning later reappeared on KMVN Movin' 93.9. As of the beginning of 2005, KIISFM also discontinued airing the Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 show, which also moved to KMVN. Both Dees' shows had been ended on April 2009 as KMVN changed its format to Spanish AC. As of May 2011, Dees returned to the airwaves through its sister station KHHT Hot 92.3.

In December 2007, KIIS's Antelope Valley simulcast at 97.7 was moved to 105.5, replacing the previous format as 105.5 The Oasis. The country format at 103.1 in Tehachapi, California was moved to 97.7 FM (now operating under 103.1's former call letters KTPI) and is now branded as 97.7 KTPI. 103.1 KSRY in Tehachapi is now a simulcast of 98-7 FM.

In addition, many KIIS FM DJs such as Boy Toy Jesse, Sisanie, JoJo, Dave Styles, along with morning man Ryan Seacrest, can be heard syndicated through many Clear Channel Radio affiliates via voice-tracking.

In 2010, the station was honored by the National Association of Broadcasters with the Marconi award for CHR Station of the Year.

KIIS Top 102

On December 31, KIIS FM counts down the top 102 songs of the year known as "KIIS Top 102". These songs hit #1 on KIIS-FM's Top 102 Songs.

• 2008: "With You" by Chris Brown
• 2009: "Boom Boom Pow" by The Black Eyed Peas
• 2010: "Airplanes" by B.o.B feat. Hayley Williams
• 2011: "Give Me Everything" by Pitbull feat. Ne-Yo, Afrojack and Nayer
• 2012: "Where Have You Been" by Rihanna

Competition

KIIS has ten competing stations in the Southern California area. Mainstream rival KAMP-FM (97.1 AMP Radio), Rhythmic rival KPWR (Power 106), KXOS (Exitos 93.9), and Hispanic Rhythmic KXOL-FM (LA 96.3) compete with KIIS in the Los Angeles area. Rhythmic outlet 99.1 KGGI, KIIS's sister station in the Riverside–San Bernardino area, competes against each other in parts of east L.A. County. Rhythmic rivals 104.7 KCAQ (Q-104.7) and 103.3 KVYB (The Vibe) compete with KIIS in parts of Ventura County and Los Angeles County, in areas near the Los Angeles County–Ventura County border line.

The direct competitor to KIIS is 97.1 AMP Radio on the KAMP-FM 97.1 frequency. After almost two decades of being the only CHR/Top 40 outlet in Los Angeles, CBS Radio decided to convert FM Talk 97.1 to 97.1 AMP Radio, a Top 40-formatted station similar to KIIS.

On-air staff

Weekdays

Notable weekday programming includes On Air with Ryan Seacrest with Ryan Seacrest & Ellen K. and Manny Streetz on mornings, Sisanie Reategui on mid-days, afternoon drive with BoyToy Jesse Lozano, and the #1 Night show: JoJo On the Radio with JoJo Wright, Karli from the Block, and TJ The Stuntman. On Weekday nights the iHeart Radio Top 9 @ 9 is counted down with Jo Jo. Overnights are hosted by Dave Styles.

The Friday Night Party with DJ Alex Dreamz and hosted by Chuey Martinez airs Fridays at 10 PM with Chris Martinez and Natalia Perez hitting the streets

Weekends

Notable weekend hosts include Dave Styles, Franky V, Chuey Martinez, and Nessa. KIIS FM on-air mixers include DJ Drew, Alex Dreamz, & Triple XL

American Top 40 with Ryan Seacrest airs on Saturday and Sunday mornings. The KIIS FM Community Council and Fox All-Access hosted by former KIIS DJ Chris Leary, air on Sunday mornings.

Club DV8 Mix with DJ Drew and hosted by Chuey Martinez airs Saturdays night.

Starting in November 2008, DJ Skee has hosted a music show called "The New Music Show" airing Sunday nights.

Former on-air staff

The following notable individuals have been featured by KIIS-FM as on-air staff:

• Humble Harve 1975-1977 (one of the originals, with KKDJ from 1974)
• Jay Stevens 1975-1977 (one of the originals, with KKDJ from 1973)
• Gary McKenzie, News Director 1977-80
• Larry Hayes, Original Mornings (First Morning show, 1971)
• Ed Shane, Program Director (one of the originals, with KKDJ 1971)
• Frank Jolley, 7 to Midnight (one of the originals, KKDJ 1971) <<see KKDJ.net>>
• Jeff Salgo, overnights(one of the originals, KKDJ 1971-1975)
• Billy Pearl, overnights shared (one of the originals, KKDJ1971-1975)
• Magic Matt Alan 1989-1991, 1996
• Joe Cipriano
• Rick Dees, 1981–2004
• Allison Macofsky (as Little Ally), 2002–2005
• Sean "Hollywood" Hamilton, currently on WKTU afternoons
• Casey Kasem (American Top 40 prior to mid-1983, and for a brief time on KIIS FM in 2003)
• Fabrice Morvan 1998-2000
• Jeff Serr 1982-1983, 1985–1986
• Shadoe Stevens (American Top 40 on KIIS FM around 1989 to 1991/1992)
• Charlie Tuna 1973-1977 (his 1st two years, it was still KKDJ; Tuna was the 1st jock when the call letters switched)
• Suzy Tavarez, 2004–2007
• Paul Freeman 1976-1989
• Bruce Vidal 1981-1996
• Tim Kelly 1982-1987
• Ed Mann 1983-1987
• Brother Bill 1979-1993
• "Big" Ron O'Brian 1982-1987 1992
• Raechel Donahue 1984-1987
• M. G. Kelly 1987-1988
• Whitney Allen 1991-1994
• Sean McNeill
• Liz Fulton
• "The Coach" Charleye Wright
• Banana Joe (The Joe Montione hosted Banana Joe Flashback Show played on KIIS from 1991 to 1996, playing the 70s and 80s)
• Dave Sebastian (Williams)
• Sean "Valentine" Evening and Afternoon Host 1996-2007. Currently Mornings 104.3 My-fm
• Larry Morgan

Concerts

• Wango Tango
• Jingle Ball
• Jojo Jam

KIIS-FM HD2

On KIIS-FM's HD2 subchannel, it airs "Evolution", an all-dance music format.

External links

• Official Website
• Ryan's Official Page
• 102.7 KIIS-FM on Myspace
• 102.7 KIIS-FM on Facebook
• 102.7 KIIS-FM on Twitter
• Query the FCC's FM station database for KIIS
• Radio-Locator information on KIIS
• Query Arbitron's FM station database for KIIS
• List of "grandfathered" FM radio stations in the U.S.
• Kiss FM (kiss fm live)