WAKS

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For other uses, see Waks (disambiguation).

WAKS
Broadcast areaGreater Cleveland – Northeast Ohio
Frequency96.5 MHz (HD Radio)
Branding96.5 KISS-FM
Programming
FormatTop 40 (CHR)
SubchannelsHD2: Urban Contemporary
AffiliationsPremiere Networks
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
March 12, 1958
(67 years ago) (1958-03-12)
Former call signs
  • WCUE-FM (1958–1977)
  • WKDD (1977–2001)
Call sign meaning
"KISS-FM"
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID49952
ClassB
ERP31,000 watts
HAAT189 meters (620 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
41°16′50.2″N 81°37′21.4″W / 41.280611°N 81.622611°W / 41.280611; -81.622611
TranslatorHD2: 106.1 W291BV (Solon)
Links
Public license information
Webcast
Websitekisscleveland.com

WAKS (96.5 FM) is a commercial radio station licensed to Akron, Ohio, and serving Greater Cleveland and Northeast Ohio. It is owned by iHeartMedia and it broadcasts a Top 40 (CHR) radio format known as "96.5 KISS-FM." Studios are in the Six Six Eight Building in downtown Cleveland's Gateway District. 96.5 KISS-FM carries several nationally syndicated programs: Elvis Duran and the Morning Show, On Air with Ryan Seacrest and American Top 40.

WAKS has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 31,000 watts. The transmitter is off Snowville Road in Brecksville, slightly closer to Cleveland than to Akron.[2] For this reason, 96.5 KISS-FM is regarded as part of the Cleveland radio market. WAKS broadcasts using HD Radio technology.[3] WAKS-HD2 airs an urban contemporary format known as "Real 106.1." That feeds 200-watt FM translator W291BV at 106.1 MHz.[4]

History

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WCUE-FM

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Not to be confused with Akron market radio station WCUE (AM).

On March 12, 1958, WCUE (1150 AM) of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, launched an FM sister station at 96.5 Megahertz in Akron. The call sign was WCUE-FM.[5] At first, both stations would simulcast their programming.

Because WCUE was a daytimer station required to go off the air at night, WCUE-FM was able to continue broadcasting into the evening. The stations were network affiliates of the Mutual Broadcasting System and had their studios at 41 South Main Street in Akron.[6]

WKDD

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Not to be confused with Akron market radio station WKDD.
Logo as WKDD

In the early 1970s, WCUE-FM separated its programming from WCUE 1150 and was broadcasting an album oriented rock (AOR) format. In 1977, it adjusted its format to mellow rock and changed its call letters to WKDD. John Gorman, then Program Director at Cleveland rock station 100.7 WMMS, recalls competing with WKDD in the Akron and Canton radio markets in its earlier days: "... the station attempted to create a 'Mellow Rock' mascot... "[7]

In January 1982, WKDD dropped its mellow rock format and flipped to Top 40 (CHR). At the time, it was broadcasting at 50,000 watts, providing city-grade coverage to Cleveland, Akron and Canton. In 1989, the station briefly leaned towards rock hits, minimizing dance and pop. With that short move, WKDD unseated WMMS as the highest rated station in the Akron market, including both Summit and Portage counties, that same year. The station returned to its mainstream Top 40 format the following year. The two stations continued to struggle for ratings dominance well into the 1990s. Often, one of the two claimed the number one position in the Birch ratings service, while the other won Arbitron's top spot.[8][9]

Danny Wright and Matt Patrick (Michael Ryan) were among the station's personalities. In 1987, WKDD raised Patrick's salary. He reportedly made nearly five times the average for all other personalities in the market.[10] In 1995, Patrick attempted to leave WKDD for Cleveland station 106.5 WLTF (now WHLK). This drew a legal fight from WKDD, which claimed Patrick's contract prevented him from leaving for any station within 40 miles of WKDD.[11]

2001 frequency swap

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For more information on the July 3, 2001, exchange involving seven Northeast Ohio radio stations, see 2001 in radio.

On July 3, 2001, WKDD was one of seven Northeast Ohio stations involved in a complex exchange between three radio companies. Although generally reported as a "frequency swap", in reality these seven radio stations mostly traded call signs, formats and staffs – all to facilitate the transfers of ownership of four of the seven stations.

As part of this complex exchange, Clear Channel Communications (now iHeartMedia) changed the WKDD format from hot adult contemporary (hot AC) to Top 40 (CHR). It also relaunched the station using the KISS-FM brand. It reassigned on and off-air personnel. And on July 23, 2001, changed the station call letters to WAKS. In effect, this new WAKS licensed to Akron (96.5 FM) became the successor to the previous WAKS licensed to Lorain (104.9 FM).[12]

Current programming

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Weekday programming includes Elvis Duran and the Morning Show in morning drive and On Air with Ryan Seacrest middays, both via Premiere Networks. Local WAKS personalities LeeAnn Summers and Alan Colon are heard in late mornings and afternoon drive respectively.[13]

All other music shifts are either voice-tracked out-of-market specifically for WAKS or programmed via Premium Choice.[14][15][16][17]

On weekends, 96.5 KISS-FM airs several weekly syndicated programs: Since November 2001, WAKS carries American Top 40 on Sundays.[18]

On Saturday evenings, two syndicated programs are heard: On The Move with Enrique Santos and Most Requested Live with Romeo.[19]

WAKS-HD2

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Main article: WAKS-HD2

WAKS broadcasts using HD Radio technology. Its HD2 digital subchannel carries an urban contemporary format. Branded as "Real 106.1", WAKS-HD2 feeds FM translator W291BV (106.1 FM) in Solon, which itself is owned by Educational Media Foundation but operated by iHeartMedia. All regular content, including station imaging, voice-over audio, music and on-air talent, either comes from the iHeartMedia mainstream urban national format via the Premium Choice network, or is voice-tracked by out-of-market DJs specifically for Real 106.1.

References

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  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WAKS". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ Radio-Locator.com/WAKS
  3. ^ "HD Radio Akron, OH". hdradio.com. Archived from the original on September 15, 2016.
  4. ^ Radio-Locator.com/W291BV
  5. ^ "Directory of AM and FM Radio Stations in the U.S.". 1961-1962 Broadcasting Yearbook (PDF). Washington, DC: Broadcasting Publications, Inc. 1961. p. B-126. Retrieved January 7, 2011.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1961-1962 page B-126. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  7. ^ Gorman, John; Feran, Tom (2007). The Buzzard: Inside the Glory Days of WMMS and Cleveland Rock Radio — A Memoir. Cleveland, Ohio: Gray & Co. pp. 155–156. ISBN 978-1-886228-47-4.
  8. ^ Dyer, Bob (October 4, 1987). "WMMS Buzzard Fights for WKDD's Area Roost". Akron Beacon Journal. Beacon Journal Publishing Co. p. F2 - Entertainment.
  9. ^ Dyer, Bob (July 16, 1991). "WKDD Again No. 1 in Ratings Book After a Disastrous Four-Song-in-a-Row Promotion; Station Decides to Go Back to Its Rock 'N' Roll Roots". Akron Beacon Journal. Beacon Journal Publishing Co. p. B1 - Entertainment.
  10. ^ Dyer, Bob (April 5, 1987). "WKDD's Big Matt Looking Just Like a Fat Cat". Akron Beacon Journal. Beacon Journal Publishing Co. p. D2 - Entertainment.
  11. ^ Dennis, Debra (May 19, 1995). "DJ Settles Dispute; Will Stay With WKDD". The Plain Dealer. Plain Dealer Publishing Co. p. 1B - Metro.
  12. ^ Quinn, Jim (June 29, 2001). "It's Time to Reset Your Radio Dial: Seven Stations Will Get New Frequencies Tuesday, You'll Need a Score Card to Keep Track of Formats". Akron Beacon Journal. Beacon Journal Publishing Co. p. B1 - Entertainment.
  13. ^ Venta, Lance (May 20, 2022). "Jeremiah Widmer Joins 96.5 Kiss-FM Cleveland As Afternoon Host". RadioInsight. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  14. ^ Washington, Julie E. (May 16, 2009). "Broadcast blues: Clear Channel does some clear-cutting of on-air radio talent". The Plain Dealer. Plain Dealer Publishing Co. p. E1 - Arts & Life. Clear Channel... is rolling out Premium Choice, a menu of national formats chosen by headquarters. There is no local programming on Premium Choice stations except for commercials...
    • "Corrections and Clarifications". The Plain Dealer. Plain Dealer Publishing Co. August 1, 2009. The Cleveland Clear Channel stations using the Premium Choice programming package are WAKS, WGAR, WMJI and WMMS. Each station uses it overnight on weekdays, and for selected hours on weekends.
  15. ^ "AT40 with Ryan Seacrest - All The Hits - Cleveland, OH". Kisscleveland.com. Retrieved April 10, 2013.
  16. ^ "TheHopeLine Community Radio Stations". Thehopeline.com. Retrieved April 10, 2013.
  17. ^ "Station Guide: Cleveland, OH". HDRadio.com. HD Radio. 2011. Retrieved January 15, 2011.[permanent dead link]
  18. ^ "On-Air Schedule". Kiss Cleveland.com. WAKS. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  19. ^ KissCleveland.com/schedule/saturday
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