WKZY
WKZY (92.9 FM) is an American radio station, licensed to Chilton, Wisconsin, and transmitting from the Lake Winnebago community of Stockbridge to provide a city-grade signal to both Oshkosh and the Fox Cities. The station is owned and operated by Woodward Communications, and has simulcasted the Top 40/CHR format of sister station WKSZ since February 15, 2016. WKZY's studios are located on College Avenue in Appleton.
City | Chilton, Wisconsin |
---|---|
Broadcast area | Appleton-Oshkosh and the Southern Fox River Valley of Wisconsin |
Frequency | 92.9 MHz |
Branding | 95-9 & 92-9 Kiss FM |
Slogan | Green Bay and The Valley's Hottest Hits |
Programming | |
Format | Top 40/CHR (simulcast of WKSZ) |
Ownership | |
Owner | Woodward Communications, Inc. |
Sister stations | WAPL, WKZG, WHBY, WKSZ, WSCO, WZOR |
History | |
First air date | September 3, 2011 (as WXMM) |
Former call signs | WLWB (2010-2011, prior to launch) WXMM (2011-2013) |
Call sign meaning | The KZ branding + Fox ValleY (former simulcast partner) |
Technical information | |
Facility ID | 81813 |
Class | A |
ERP | 6,000 watts |
HAAT | 94.5 meters (310 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 44°04′20″N 88°15′27″W |
Links | |
Webcast | Listen Live! |
Website | 959kissfm.com |
Station history
In 1996, Metro North Communications, Inc., applied to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for a construction permit for a new broadcast radio station to serve New Holstein, Wisconsin. This application was renewed in 2010 and the FCC granted the requested permit on July 6, 2010, with a scheduled expiration date of July 6, 2013.[1] The new station was assigned call sign "WLWB" on July 14, 2010.[2]
In November 2010, the Metro North applied to change the station's community of license to Chilton, Wisconsin, in preparation for a planned sale.[3][4] In December 2010, Metro North Communications applied to transfer the station's construction permit to Woodward Communications, Inc., for reported sale price of $1.2 million.[4][5] The FCC approved the transfer on February 9, 2011, and the transaction was formally consummated on April 4, 2011.[6] The Commission granted the requested change in community of license on July 22, 2011.[3] This followed a requested change to the under-construction station's call sign to "WXMM" on July 19, 2011.[2] (The calls have since been re-used by Metro North's new acquisition, a station on 1530 from New Holstein.)
Woodward Communications had originally anticipated for WXMM to begin broadcasting in "mid-to-late August 2011."[7] However, technical difficulties delayed the launch, and the station began airing on September 3, 2011, when the station debuted as "92.9 Country." As a country station, WXMM featured a contemporary presentation to the format, emphasizing on younger country acts and with an on-air style similar to Top 40-formatted stations. "92.9 Country" was home to the syndicated Bobby Bones Show in morning drive time.[8]
On September 16, 2013, WXMM dropped country and, under the new call sign of WKZY, began a simulcast of its Seymour-licensed sister station WKZG, which as "KZ104.3" airs an adult hits format emphasizing songs and artists from the 1980s and 1990s.[8] The move gave "KZ104.3" coverage of the Southern Fox Valley, an area where WKZG's 104.3 FM signal may be hard to reach. "KZ104.3's" schedule includes the husband-and-wife local team of Doug Erickson and Mary Love in morning drive and the nationally syndicated Mario Lopez in evenings. The "KZ 104.3" name lasted just over 4 months, as WKZG and WKZY changed their name to "KZ Radio" in early 2014 to better show the simulcast.[9]
On February 12, 2016, Woodward announced that WKZY will switch to a simulcast of sister WKSZ on February 15. In addition, morning hosts Doug and Mary will move back to WKSZ.[10]
References
- "Application Search Details (BPH-19960507MW)". FCC Media Bureau. July 6, 2010. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
- "Call Sign History". FCC Media Bureau. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
- "Application Search Details (BMPH-20101122ACG)". FCC Media Bureau. July 22, 2011. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
- "News Archive: January 2011". Upper Midwest Broadcasting. NorthPine.com. January 9, 2011. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
- "Acquisition of Wisconsin FM could be a taxing proposition for buyer". Radio Business Report. December 28, 2010. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
- "Application Search Details (BAPH-20101223AAE)". FCC Media Bureau. April 4, 2011. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
- "Woodward Radio Group Adds Seventh Station to Appleton-Green Bay Cluster" (Press release). Woodward Communications, Inc. April 7, 2011. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
- "KZ 104.3 Expands to Appleton," from RadioInsight, 9/16/2013
- "KZ104.3 Debuts In Green Bay," from Radio Insight (original report 11/1/2012, updated 12/26/2012
- WKSZ Green Bay Adding Simulcast; Doug Mary to Return
External links
- Woodward Communications Radio Group
- WKZY in the FCC's FM station database
- WKZY on Radio-Locator
- WKZY in Nielsen Audio's FM station database