KITS

KITS is an FM radio station in San Francisco, California broadcasting at 105.3 MHz. The station, better known as Live 105, is a modern rock station with the slogan "Fighting to keep alternative music alive in the Bay Area." The station also broadcasts on High Definition channel L2 and locally on Comcast cable channel 986.

History

The KITS call letters came about in 1983 when the station adopted a CHR/pop format. They were known as "Hot Hits KITS". Initially, they had a very short playlist with heavy repetition and fast-talking air personalities. It was a success and was even talked about on competing stations. The station eventually evolved into a traditional CHR station and picked up morning host Alex Bennett, who had previously held the same shift at KMEL and KQAK, along with Lori Thompson. KITS's playlist evolved, as they added more alternative rock and New Wave music. Soon, the station went became a full-time modern rocker and adopted the name Live 105.

Afterwards, Live 105 played alternative rock and indie rock until the early 2000's, where it went through a rap metal, hardcore punk, and punk rock phase, with bands like Linkin Park getting the majority of airtime. Recently, Live 105 has gone back to its roots and has been playing mostly indie rock and alternative rock, with hardcore and metal bands geting very little airplay.

The station changed hands when Infinity Broadcasting (now CBS Radio) obtained KITS from Entercom in a station swap. In 1998, Infinity combined the two stations, and the Howard Stern Show, Loveline, and some DJs including Ally Storm and the DJ with No Name moved from KOME in San Jose, California replacing some of the personnel including then-morning host and comedian Johnny Steele on Live 105. The Morning Music Co-Op debut on January 3, 2006 replacing the Howard Stern timeslot as he moves to Sirius Satellite Radio.

Shows

• The Morning Music Co-Op on weekdays at 5:30 to 10 A.M. Music intensive morning show hosted by Woody, Tony, and Ravey with Greg Gory producing the show and doing the traffic and weather. On Mondays, Party Ben introduces mash-up track of the week.
• Loveline, 10 P.M. Sundays through Thursdays
• Exposed with Ally Storm, weekdays at noon. This program spotlights music from a certain year in the 1980s and 1990s or a theme.
• Untitled, Friday nights 8 P.M.-midnight.
• College DJ of the week, 8 A.M.-noon. Hosted by a DJ from one of the bay area's many college radio stations.
• Soundcheck, Sunday nights at 7-10 P.M. Hosted by music director Aaron Axelsen, the program showcases new music- local bands, imports, and indie/unsigned bands.

Concerts

Live 105 hosts two major concerts every year. BFD, (Big Friggin' Day) usually takes place on the second Friday of June at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California. This festival-style concert runs all day with up and coming bands performing on the festival stage during the day, and the more popular bands on the main stage at night. The first BFD concert took place in June of 1994, and since then has had numerous bands from Green Day, Foo Fighters, The Bravery, Violent Femmes, and The Beastie Boys play. The other major concert is Not So Silent Night, which plays at in early December at the Bill Graham Civic in downtown San Francisco, which has featured bands like Muse, Blink 182, Franz Ferdinand, The White Stripes, The Killers, Modest Mouse, Green Day, and Death Cab for Cutie.

External link

• Official Live 105 website