WMKS' Goodbye Kiss
By Darnella Dunham
Updated 11 Hour(s) 55 Minute(s) ago
Urban AC was dropped from Clear Channel-owned WMKS (105.7 Kiss FM)/Greensboro on Friday (May 22), and the station is now a CHR/top 40 outlet known as "105.7 Hit Music Now."
The move pits WMKS squarely against Dick Broadcasting's longtime format dominator, WKZL. VP/Market Manager Kim Pyle explains the reasoning behind the flip: "It has become increasingly clear there isn't a sufficient listener or advertiser base to support a third urban station in the Triad market. We have been proud to serve the community with WMKS, but in today's economic environment, we must strike a gentle balance between meeting the needs of our listeners and advertisers as well as meeting our business responsibilities. The No.1 and No. 2 stations in the market are urban formats with a long history of serving the community; we salute them," Pyle said.
OM Tim Satterfield continued: "The Triad has been demanding a fresh, new Contemporary Hit radio station, so 105-7 is kicking off the summer with 10,000 songs in a row commercial-free! Top 40 fans won't have to settle for the same old songs, on the same old station anymore...and can choose 105-7 to hear Hit Music Now!"
As a result of the format change, WMKS has been removed from the R&R Urban AC monitored panel, which now consists of 63 stations.--Additional reporting by Kevin Carter