1999 in radio

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Last updated June 27, 2024

The year 1999 in radio involved some significant events.

Events

January 4 - KOZN/Kansas City dropped its modern AC format and began stunting with ocean waves. The following morning, KOZN flips to adult contemporary as "Star 102", and adopted the new call letters "KSRC."
January 5 - About an hour after KOZN debuted its new format, modern rocker KNRX/Kansas City dropped its 5-year-old format and begins stunting with a loop of Prince's "1999." The following afternoon, the station flips to urban oldies as "K107."
January - KHYS/Houston flips from Rhythmic CHR to rhythmic oldies
January - WPYO/Orlando signs on with a dance-leaning Rhythmic CHR format
February 27 - KMGR/Salt Lake City flips from adult standards to Rhythmic CHR as KUUU
March 15 - KRBV/Dallas-Fort Worth flips from Urban AC to Rhythmic CHR
March 26: Billionaire Paul Allen gives Portland, Oregon its first Rhythmic Contemporary station as KXL-FM becomes KXJM ("Jammin' 95.5").
April 5 - KHOT/Phoenix flips from Rhythmic Oldies to Regional Mexican
April 19 - WZJM/Cleveland drops its 14-year-old rhythmic-leaning Top 40/CHR format as "Jammin' 92.3" for rhythmic oldies (as "92.3 The Beat").
May 4 - Clear Channel Communications' official merger with Jacor is consummated.^[1]
May 13 - WXXM/Philadelphia flips from Modern AC "Max" to Rhythmic Oldies as WEJM, "Jammin' Gold"
May 14 - WENZ/Cleveland flips from modern rock to mainstream urban as "Kiss 107.9."^[2]
May 20 - WZLE/Lorain flips from Christian contemporary to Top 40/CHR as "KISS 104.9", targeting Greater Cleveland.^[3] WZLE owner Clear Channel subsequently filed a cease and desist order against WENZ claiming rights to the KISS-FM brand in Ohio;^[4] WENZ ultimately rebranded as "Z-107.9" on September 1.^[5]
May 21 - KVOD/Denver flips from classical to rhythmic oldies as "Jammin' 92.5."
May 22 - KESY/Omaha flips from Soft AC to Top 40/CHR as KQCH, "Channel 97.7."
May 24 - WJJJ/Pittsburgh flips from smooth jazz to rhythmic oldies as "104.7 The Beat."
June 4 - KGUM/Agana signs on with an active rock format, branded as "The Rock 105.1."
June 30 - WPLL/Miami flips from Modern AC to rhythmic oldies as "Mega 103.5."
July - Capstar and Chancellor officially complete their merger, with the newly combined company being renamed AMFM, Inc.
July 2 - WLCE/Buffalo flips from Modern AC to rhythmic oldies as WBUF, "B92.9."
August - KLAL/Little Rock evolves from Modern AC top Top 40/CHR
August 6 - WWXY and WWYX (now WPNA-FM)/Chicago flip to an 80's hits format, branded as "The 80s Channel."
August 28 - WAKS/Tampa flips formats from Top 40/CHR to hot AC as "Mix 100.7";^[6] the station assumes the WMTX calls, while the WAKS calls are transferred to the former WZLE/Lorain.^[5]
September 1 - Corus Entertainment Is Created By Shaw Communications
September - CBS and Viacom announced a $37 billion merger
October 2 - 810 WHB/Kansas City flips to Sports Talk
October 4 - Clear Channel announces a nearly $23.5 billion merger with AMFM, creating America's largest radio group. The deal would close the following year after selling off surplus in multiple markets. This would be the largest broadcast deal in American history, a record that would stand until Clear Channel itself was bought out by private equity in 2007.
November 4 - WYXR (now WRFF)/Philadelphia flips from Hot AC to "Rock Adult Contemporary", branded as "Alice 104.5"
December 1 - WZBA flips from Country music to Rock AC as "100.7 The Bay"
December 17 - KYCW-FM/Seattle flips from Country to All-80s Hits

Debuts

October 23 – The BJ Shea Morning Experience makes its debut on KQBZ in Seattle, Washington.

Closings

April 17 – The Mutual Broadcasting System name was retired by owner Westwood One, with remaining affiliates switching to CNN Radio in a deal with Turner Broadcasting. On that same day, "NBC Radio"-branded newscasts (by this point, "Mutual" and "NBC" newscasts were produced and anchored by CBS Radio personnel) were also limited only to 5 a.m. – 10 a.m. on weekday mornings, with CNN Radio newscasts airing at all other times.

Deaths

January 11 – Frank Parker, 95, American singer and television personality^[7]
January 30 – Ed Herlihy, 89, American radio and television announcer for NBC ^[7]
April 16 – Regis Cordic, 72, American radio personality and actor
May 9 – Shirley Dinsdale, 72, American ventriloquist and television and radio personality of the 1940s and early 1950s
December 15 – George Elrick, 95 Scottish bandleader and DJ
Ted Mallie, 74, American radio and television announcer

Related Research Articles

WRXS is a commercial radio station licensed to Brookfield, Wisconsin, and serving the Milwaukee metropolitan area. The station is owned by Saga Communications, and operates as part of its Milwaukee Radio Group. It broadcasts an oldies radio format, known as "Pure Oldies," concentrating on 1950s, 60s and 70s hits. It switches to Christmas music during the holiday season.

WIHT is a Top 40 (CHR) formatted radio station that serves the greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Located on the fourth floor of 1801 Rockville Pike in Rockville, Maryland, the station broadcasts 24 hours a day and is licensed to, and owned by, iHeartMedia. The transmitter is located on River Road in Bethesda, Maryland.

WKSC-FM – branded "103.5 Kiss FM" – is a commercial Top 40/CHR radio station licensed to Chicago, Illinois. Owned by iHeartMedia, its studios are located at the Illinois Center complex on Michigan Avenue in Downtown Chicago, and its transmitter is located at Willis Tower. WKSC is the flagship station of the syndicated morning show The Fred Show.

WENZ is a commercial mainstream urban radio station licensed to Cleveland, Ohio, serving Greater Cleveland and much of surrounding Northeast Ohio. The station is owned by Urban One since 1999, its studios are located on Oak Tree Blvd in the former iHeartMedia facility and studios in Independence, Ohio, while the station transmitter resides in Russell Township in Geauga County. Besides a standard analog transmission, WENZ broadcasts over two HD Radio channels, and is available online. WENZ was the official first Hip-Hop urban contemporary radio station in the market in the city Cleveland, Ohio.

WXZX is a commercial radio station that is licensed to serve Hilliard, Ohio and serves the Columbus metropolitan area. Owned by iHeartMedia, the station broadcasts an alternative rock format. Both the WXZX studios and the station transmitter are located in Downtown Columbus. The station is the Columbus affiliate of the Cincinnati Bengals Radio Network.

WCPN is a non-commercial educational radio station licensed to Lorain, Ohio, featuring a public radio format as a repeater of Kent–licensed WKSU. Owned by Ideastream Public Media, the station serves the western portion of Greater Cleveland and parts of surrounding Northeast Ohio. By virtue of WKSU, studios are located at Playhouse Square in Downtown Cleveland, while WCPN's transmitter resides in the Cleveland suburb of Avon. In addition to a standard analog transmission, WCPN broadcasts over four HD Radio channels and streams online.

KISS-FM is the brand name of a Top 40 music format heard on FM radio stations in many cities in the United States and overseas. iHeartMedia claims ownership of the KISS-FM brand in the United States and operates most KISS-FM formatted stations there, though not KISS-FM in San Antonio, Texas, or KISS-FM America on TuneIn.

KXJM is a commercial radio station licensed to Banks, Oregon and serving the Portland metropolitan area. KXJM's studios and offices are in Tigard and the transmitter is located in Portland's West Hills. The station is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc., and airs a Rhythmic CHR format.

WCHD is a commercial radio station licensed to Kettering, Ohio, and serving the Dayton metropolitan area. The station is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. and airs a top 40 (CHR) radio format. Its studios are located just outside downtown Dayton and its transmitter is off Sandridge Drive near Interstate 75 in Moraine, Ohio.

Rhythmic oldies is a radio format that concentrates on the rhythmic, R&B, disco, or dance genres of music. Playlists can span from the 1960s through the 2000s and, depending on market conditions, may be designed for African-American or Hispanic audiences. It is also referred to as "Jammin' Oldies" or "Music From Back in the Day" by various radio stations. Since the late 2000s, much of the library in the "rhythmic oldies" format has been adopted by the classic hits format. A variation on the format is urban oldies.

WNBL is a commercial FM radio station licensed to South Bristol, New York, and serving the Rochester metropolitan area. It is owned by iHeartMedia and airs an 80's hits radio format, known as Big 107.3. WNBL is a Class A station, operating at 650 watts. WNBL's transmitter is in South Bristol, New York, near the Bristol Mountain Ski Resort. The studios and offices are on Chestnut Street in Rochester, at Five Star Bank Plaza.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KTJM</span> Radio station in Port Arthur, Texas

KTJM is a commercial FM radio station licensed to Port Arthur, Texas. It is owned by Estrella Media and airs a Regional Mexican radio format. The studios and offices are located at 3000 Bering Drive in Southwest Houston. Programming is simulcast with sister station 101.7 KNTE Bay City, Texas.

KAJM is a commercial rhythmic oldies-formatted radio station in Camp Verde, Arizona, broadcasting to Phoenix, Arizona. Owned by locally based Sierra H Broadcasting, its studios are located on Indian School Road in Phoenix, and its transmitter is in Crown King.

WKRK-FM is a commercial radio station licensed to Cleveland Heights, Ohio, known as "Sports Radio 92.3 The Fan" and carrying a sports format. Owned by Audacy, Inc., WKRK-FM serves Greater Cleveland and surrounding Northeast Ohio as a co-flagship for the Cleveland Browns Radio Network and an affiliate of Infinity Sports Network.

KSRC is a commercial radio station licensed to Watkins, Colorado, and serving the Denver metropolitan area. It is owned by Pillar of Fire and airs a Christian adult contemporary format branded as "Star 101.5". Its studios are located on Parker Road in Aurora.

The year 2001 in radio involved some significant events.

The year 2000 in radio involved some significant events.

The year 1998 in radio involved some significant events.

The year 1993 in radio involved some significant events.

WNNF is a commercial radio station in Cincinnati, Ohio. The station broadcasts a country music radio format and is owned by Cumulus Media. Its studios and offices are on Montgomery Road in Norwood, Ohio, with a Cincinnati address.

References

↑ Yorke, Jeffrey (May 7, 1999). "Clear Channel Closes on its $6.5-Billion Jacor Purchase" (PDF). R&R. pp. 4 & 9.
↑ Feran, Tom (May 19, 1999). "WJMO gives up soul for gospel" . The Plain Dealer . Cleveland, Ohio. p. 2E. Archived from the original on March 29, 2022. Retrieved March 27, 2022– via NewsBank.
↑ O'Connor, Clint (May 22, 1999). "Different tunes found on familiar radio dials" . The Plain Dealer . Cleveland, Ohio. p. 5B. Archived from the original on March 29, 2022. Retrieved March 27, 2022– via NewsBank.
↑ Feran, Tom (May 26, 1999). "One station may have to kiss name goodbye" . The Plain Dealer . Cleveland, Ohio. p. 1E. Archived from the original on March 29, 2022. Retrieved March 27, 2022– via NewsBank.
1 2 Feran, Tom (September 25, 1999). "Swoboda backs to news as anchor on TV-5 at 11" . The Plain Dealer . Cleveland, Ohio. p. 6E. Archived from the original on March 29, 2022. Retrieved March 27, 2022– via NewsBank.
↑ Scire, Dawn E. (September 12, 1999). "Jazz station cuts morning team, extra talk" . Sarasota Herald-Tribune CLICK. Sarasota, Florida. p. 13. Archived from the original on March 29, 2022. Retrieved March 27, 2022– via NewsBank.
1 2 Cox, Jim (2008). This Day in Network Radio: A Daily Calendar of Births, Debuts, Cancellations and Other Events in Broadcasting History. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-3848-8.