WYKS

WYKS

Gainesville, Florida
Broadcast area	Gainesville-Ocala, Florida
Frequency	105.3 (MHz)
Branding	Kiss 105.3
Programming
Format	Top 40/CHR
Ownership
Owner	Gillen Broadcasting Corporation
Sister stations	WAJD
History
First air date	1970 (on 105.5 FM)
Former call signs	WGVL (1970–1981)
Former frequencies	105.5 MHz (1970–1995)
Technical information
Facility ID	24208
Class	A
ERP	3,000 watts
HAAT	142 meters (466 ft)
Links
Webcast	Listen Live
Website	kiss1053.com

WYKS (Kiss 105.3) is a commercial radio stations operating in Gainesville, Florida, broadcasting to the Gainesville-Ocala, Florida area on 105.3 FM. The station's format is Contemporary Hit Radio and Top 40 music, and the station has broadcast with this format and call sign since 1981.

History

The station began broadcasting in 1970 on 105.5 FM as WGVL, beginning as a country station but soon switching to album oriented rock. As an AOR station, WGVL was one of the most popular radio stations in Gainesville during the 1970s, often beating AM Top 40 stations WRUF and WGGG in its target male demographics.

After WRUF-FM abruptly switched from beautiful music to AOR as "Rock 104" in 1981, WGVL's management decided to take a new tack. On Christmas Day 1981, WYKS "Kiss 105" was born with a CHR format, signing on with Bob and Doug McKenzie's version of "The Twelve Days of Christmas." Kiss 105.3 has remained one of the most popular radio stations in the market since. The frequency changed from 105.5 to 105.3 in 1995, and although the station's effective radiated power remained at 3,000 watts, there was a slight increase in tower height, which improved the station's coverage area.

Notable Personalities

Douglas J. Gillen - President/Owner
Karl Kaufmann - Original Program Director and morning show host 1981 - 1985 (PD for WGVL '79-'81) Returned as Sales Manager 1992-96 Jeri Banta - Program Director/Morning Show Host - 1984 - 2003
Kevin Quinn - program Director/Operations Manager/ Morning Show Host - 2003 - 2010
Rebecca Kutchko- Business Manager - 2007 - 2018
Mark Page - Sales Manager
Christian Chase - Sales Manager
Joshua Drake - Account Executive
Matt Frey - House Account Manager/On Air Personality
Rondre Adams - Air Personality (Middays)/Production Director
Nick Vance - Air Personality (Afternoons)/ Assistant Program Director
Tom Collins - Air Personality (Nights)
Brett Douglas - Air Personality (Morning Show) (Current)
Ryan Dupree - Air Personality (Middays) and Production Director
JP Kruze (Mo' Bounce) - Air Personality (Nights)
Casey Layne - Air Personality (Morning Show)
Deena Hart - Air Personality (Morning Show)
Tyler Whitney - Air Personality (Morning Show)
Greg West - Air Personality
Todd Steele - Air Personality
Johnny Walker - Air Personality
Dave Fox - Air Personality
Shea Michaels - Air Personality
Mark "Hi-there" Andrews - Air Personality
Harold Minch - Air personality (arrived to WYKS from WRUF-FM)
Jobe Wise - Air Personality
Lou Patrick - Management & Air Personality (1984)
Julie Spencer - Air Personality.
Bob Micheals - Morning Show Air Personality
Steve Russell - Sports / News, and "Rock Reflections"
Jeri Banta - Mornings/ Program Director
Harsha Ramayya - Afternoon Drive
Jeff Phillips - Overnights/7-Midnight/Creator and Host of 'All Request Saturday Night'
Tom Collett - Overnights & Account Executive
Brandon O'Brien -APD/MD Afternoons
Brooke Taylor - Air Personality
Chris Adams - Air Personality (Afternoons)
Hollywood John Harlow - APD/Afternoons
Jennifer Page - Nights
Dean Kenzie - Mornings
Corey Foley - Mornings
Jeff Bachmeier - Mornings
Taylor Mayz - Middays
Andrew Garick (Chris Lewis) - Air Personality
Mike Masters (Michael Ramirez) - Air Personality 1991-1994 (Creator and original host of "The Perimeter" show)
The Toyman - Co-Host and Resident DJ "The Perimeter" 1999-2002
Steven Chadwick - Resident DJ "The Perimeter" / Air Personality 1999-2004
Joey G (Joey Greene) - Resident DJ and co-host of "The After Party" / Air Personality (Saturday Nights)
Casey Kasem/Ryan Seacrest - Weekends (American Top 40) 1987–Present

Frank "McVie" - Air Personality, weekends (afternoon and evenings) 1987-1989

External links

• Official Website
• ‹The template FMQ is being considered for deletion.› WYKS in the FCC FM station database
• WYKS in Nielsen Audio's FM station database
• WGVL/WYKS-FM history
• The Perimeter on Kiss 105.3

29°37′55″N 82°25′08″W / 29.632°N 82.419°W / 29.632; -82.419

This page was last edited on 1 June 2024, at 10:08