WKDD

For information on the Cleveland/Akron area 98.1 MHz FCC-licensed broadcast facility prior to July 3, 2001 (i.e., before carrying the WKDD call letters), see WHK-FM within article WFHM-FM.

For information on the Cleveland/Akron area 96.5 MHz FCC-licensed broadcast facility since July 3, 2001 (i.e., after carrying the WKDD call letters), see article WAKS.

Note: On July 3, 2001 — as part of a complex exchange involving seven Cleveland/Akron area radio stations — Clear Channel Communications changed both the callsign and format at hot AC radio station WKDD (96.5 FM) to WAKS and pop/CHR. At the same time, Clear Channel purchased the broadcast license for religious radio station WHK-FM (98.1 FM) from Salem Communications; Clear Channel then replaced its callsign with the WKDD call letters and changed its format to hot AC. Though technically licensed by the FCC as two separate stations, both the former WKDD (WAKS since July 3, 2001) and the current WKDD (WHK-FM until July 3, 2001) have had the same owner as WKDD (Clear Channel); have served the same market as WKDD (Akron-Canton area); and have aired the same format as WKDD (hot AC). Moreover, the two stations broadcast in immediate succession as WKDD. As such, the current WKDD is generally considered a continuation of the former WKDD. For the sake of continuity, this article treats the two stations — each as WKDD — as a single subject.

WKDD

Munroe Falls, Ohio
Broadcast area	Akron-Canton, Ohio
Frequency	98.1 (MHz) (HD Radio)
Branding	The New 98.1 'KDD
Programming
Format	Analog: Hot AC HD1: Hot AC (analog simulcast) HD2: Club Phusion
Ownership
Owner	Clear Channel Communications (Citicasters Licenses, Inc.)
Sister stations	WARF, WHLO, WHOF, WRQK-FM
History
First air date	1977 (as WKDD) 1950 (as WCUE-FM)
Former call signs	1950-1977: WCUE-FM
Former frequencies	1950-2001: 96.5 (MHz)
Call sign meaning	None (intended to create "punchy, distinctive sound")
Technical information
Facility ID	43863
Class	B
ERP	50,000 watts
HAAT	138 meters
Transmitter coordinates	41°12′0.00″N 81°31′23.00″W
Links
Website	WKDD.com

WKDD (98.1 FM) — branded The New 98.1 'KDD — is a commercial hot adult contemporary (hot AC) radio station licensed to Munroe Falls, Ohio serving the Akron and Canton metro areas. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications. Among WKDD sister stations in the Clear Channel Akron/Canton cluster: WARF, WHLO, WRQK and WHOF.

WCUE-FM

Sometime in 1950, WCUE (1150 AM) of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio launched an FM sister station at 98.1 Megahertz, WCUE-FM. By 1977, WCUE-FM — which up to that time was broadcasting an album oriented rock (AOR) format — switched both its format (to "mellow rock") and call sign (to WKDD). John Gorman, then Program Director at noted Cleveland rock station WMMS, recalls competing with WKDD in the Akron and Canton radio markets: "... the station attempted to create a "Mellow Rock" mascot... "

2001 frequency swap

On July 3, 2001, WKDD was one of seven Cleveland/Akron area radio stations involved in a major frequency swap. WKDD dropped 96.5 in exchange for 98.1 Mhz: 98.1 came from WHK-FM (known since the swap as WFHM), while 96.5 went to WAKS. Meanwhile, the station moved its transmitter to Hartville, Ohio to better serve the Akron market.

Recent years

On October 29, 2008, the station became licensed to the Akron suburb of Munroe Falls, Ohio. WKDD had a construction permit to return to the Akron area broadcast facility once occupied by its 96.5 FM predecessor, in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. On December 18, 2009, 30-year morning host Matt Patrick hosted his last show on WKDD. Longtime co-host Barbara "B.A." Adams returned to join Matt for his last show (Matt is now the morning show host at WTRC AM/FM in South Bend, Indiana). After playing "Home" by Michael Bublé, the new morning show "Keith & Krissy" was announced, hosted by WKDD Programming Operations Director Keith Kennedy, and Patrick's former co-host, Krissy Taylor. The station also changed their on-air branding at this time to "Akron's 98-1 The New WKDD" with the slogan "Akron's Hit Music Station."

On September 7, 2010, WKDD moved its signal back to its Cuyahoga Falls broadcast location, formerly used by the station in their 96.5 days, to improve the quality of its signal in the Akron area, especially northern Summit County. The station also adopted a slightly new format playing music from "the 90's, 2k and Today", however some 1980's songs are also in the playlist.

Since the spring of 2001, the last ratings period when WKDD was located on 96.5, the station has gone from an 8.2 market share and #1 ranking with Akron-area listeners, to a 1.9 market share and #17 ranking in the summer 2009, according to Arbitron. As of summer 2010, the station had regained some audience and was #14 in the Akron market.

Current programming

• Keith & Krissy 5:30-10:00am
• Toni Foxx 10am-3pm (formerly of WQMX), voice-tracked from sister station in Jacksonville, FL
• Jon Marochino 3pm-7pm
• The Billy Bush Show 7pm-11pm
• Bob 11pm-5am

Syndicated programming

WKDD, although being programmed as a Adult Top 40, airs the syndicated American Top 40 with Ryan Seacrest every Sunday morning from 8am-Noon, as well as the Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 every Sunday night from 8pm-Midnight. WKDD also aired American Top 20 with Casey Kasem for several years before airing AT40 with Ryan Seacrest. Since November, 2008, WKDD has carried The Billy Bush Show weeknights from 7:00 to 11:00 PM.

On its HD2 subchannel, WKDD formerly broadcasted programming from Club Phusion, a commercial-free 24/7 Dance channel. After the move of their transmitter to Cuyahoga Falls, the HD2 now simulcasts sister station WHLO-AM 640.

Former airstaff

• Matt Patrick (now with WTRC AM/FM in South Bend, Indiana, WTAM in Cleveland, OH and WLW in Cincinnati, OH)
• Steve French (now with WNIR in Akron/Kent Ohio)
• Barbara Adams
• Angela Bellios
• Dave Phillips
• Sue O'Neil (now with WKSE and WTSS in Buffalo, NY)
• Dave Nichols (now with WCOL in Columbus, OH as "Johnboy Crenshaw")
• Colleen Branigan
• Joe Mama (later with WZJM in Cleveland Heights, OH)
• Doc Reno
• Mark Nolan (now with WKYC-TV in Cleveland, OH)
• Rob Mackenzie (now with WDJQ in Canton, OH)
• Amy Dunn
• Marty Thorn
• Lynn Kelly (now with WQMX in Akron, OH)
• Jack Kelly
• Rick Allen (now with WQAL, WDOK and WNCX in Cleveland, OH)
• Chris James (now with WQMX in Akron, OH as "George McFly")

Have a Heart, Do Your Part Radiothon

Each February since 2000, WKDD teams up with Akron Children's Hospital for the "Have a Heart, Do Your Part Radiothon" to benefit the hospital. Radiothon airs live on WKDD all weekend long. Hosted for many years by Matt Patrick and Barbara Adams, and later by Angela, the event is now hosted by morning hosts Keith Kennedy and Krissy Taylor. Radiothon 2007 took place February 9–11, 2007 and raised $858,376.98. Radiothon 2008 took place February 8–10, 2008 and raised $1,000,726. Radiothon airs 5:30am-9pm Friday and 7am-9pm Saturday and Sunday.

External links

• Official website
• Template:FMQ
• WKDD in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
• Template:FML
• Template:Transmitter