WSKX
Encyclopedia
WSKX known as "Kiss 95.3", is a radio station licensed to York Center
, Maine
, United States
, which airs a Top 40 format.
format. This was dropped in August 1996 in favor of a contemporary hit radio
format, WXHT "Heat 95.3", which placed a heavy emphasis on 1980s New Wave
hits. That lasted until May 1998, when it went Modern Rock
as "95-3 The Heat" via Radio One Networks.
In March 1999, the station changed to a country
format, becoming WUBB "B95.3". However, WUBB was faced with strong competition from country leader 97.5 WOKQ
, which also boasted a much stronger signal. WUBB also had a limited local presence when compared to WOKQ. As a result, WUBB never became a big ratings success.
96.7 (oldies) with WUBB's website stating "Coming Soon! Sports Radio" with a link to MSN
's Fox Sports
page, implying that the new format would be Fox Sports Radio
, seeing as the station is owned by Clear Channel Communications
, which, in turn, owns Fox Sports Radio. However, this never happened, and this was thought to be put on the website only to throw people off.
Then, on January 11, WUBB switched to a stunt format
of TV theme songs; in between the songs, there was a message saying "We are building a new station just for you," promoting an unnamed new format that would be announced at 6 a.m. on January 14, 2008. At the announced time, the station relaunched as "Kiss 95.3", simulcasting Kiss 108
from Boston
. Soon after, the call letters changed to current WSKX.
As of August 2009, WSKX is no longer simulcasting WXKS-FM
, but is still airing a Top 40 format.
York, Maine
York is a town in York County, Maine, United States at the southwest corner of the state. The population in the 2000 census was 12,854. Situated beside the Atlantic Ocean on the Gulf of Maine, York is a well-known summer resort. It is home to three 18-hole golf clubs, three sandy beaches, and...
, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, which airs a Top 40 format.
History
The station went on the air in May 1987 as WQMI with an middle of the road format. In 1988 it became WCQL as "Cool 95.3" with an oldiesOldies
Oldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
format. This was dropped in August 1996 in favor of a contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
format, WXHT "Heat 95.3", which placed a heavy emphasis on 1980s New Wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
hits. That lasted until May 1998, when it went Modern Rock
Modern rock
Modern rock is a rock format commonly found on commercial radio; the format consists primarily of the alternative rock genre...
as "95-3 The Heat" via Radio One Networks.
In March 1999, the station changed to a country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
format, becoming WUBB "B95.3". However, WUBB was faced with strong competition from country leader 97.5 WOKQ
WOKQ
-External links:*...
, which also boasted a much stronger signal. WUBB also had a limited local presence when compared to WOKQ. As a result, WUBB never became a big ratings success.
2008 format change
On January 10, 2008, it was noted that the station had dropped country and was simulcasting sister station WQSOWQSO
WQSO is a radio station broadcasting a News Talk format. Licensed to Rochester, New Hampshire, USA, the station serves the Rochester-Portsmouth area. The station is currently owned by Clear Channel Communications. The biggest local programming is the station's morning show, the New Hampshire...
96.7 (oldies) with WUBB's website stating "Coming Soon! Sports Radio" with a link to MSN
MSN
MSN is a collection of Internet sites and services provided by Microsoft. The Microsoft Network debuted as an online service and Internet service provider on August 24, 1995, to coincide with the release of the Windows 95 operating system.The range of services offered by MSN has changed since its...
's Fox Sports
Fox Sports (USA)
Fox Sports is a division of the Fox Broadcasting Company . It was formed in 1994 with Fox's acquisition of broadcast rights to National Football League games...
page, implying that the new format would be Fox Sports Radio
Fox Sports Radio
Fox Sports Radio, abbreviated FSR, is an international radio network consisting of sports talk programming. The network is a service of Premiere Networks...
, seeing as the station is owned by Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
, which, in turn, owns Fox Sports Radio. However, this never happened, and this was thought to be put on the website only to throw people off.
Then, on January 11, WUBB switched to a stunt format
Stunting (broadcasting)
In radio broadcasting, stunting occurs when a station abruptly airs programming that is seemingly uncharacteristic compared to what they normally play...
of TV theme songs; in between the songs, there was a message saying "We are building a new station just for you," promoting an unnamed new format that would be announced at 6 a.m. on January 14, 2008. At the announced time, the station relaunched as "Kiss 95.3", simulcasting Kiss 108
WXKS-FM
WXKS-FM, better known as Kiss 108, is a radio station in Boston, Massachusetts, licensed to nearby Medford broadcasting a Top 40 format...
from Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
. Soon after, the call letters changed to current WSKX.
As of August 2009, WSKX is no longer simulcasting WXKS-FM
WXKS-FM
WXKS-FM, better known as Kiss 108, is a radio station in Boston, Massachusetts, licensed to nearby Medford broadcasting a Top 40 format...
, but is still airing a Top 40 format.