Entertainment

Iconic NY Black radio station folds, 98.7 KISS ends 30-year run

Legendary New York radio station, 98.7FM is ending its 30-year run.

Published

13 years ago

April 26, 2012

Table of Contents

Legendary New York radio station, 98.7 KISS FM is ending its 30-year run. Known for playing hip-hop music before anyone else and a consistent R&B playlist, will merge with long-standing rival 107.5 WBLS. ESPN Radio will take over the 98.7 FM.

Newsday reports:
ESPN also announced changes to its lineup effective Monday, notably Stephen A. Smith replacing Robin Lundberg beside Ryan Ruocco from 1 to 3 p.m. and Michael Kay’s show being trimmed by an hour to 3 to 6. (Smith is to be the first voice heard on 98.7 at 12:01 a.m. Monday.)

The change in format at 98.7 came as a shock to many R&B fans in New York; KISS-FM (WRKS) has been around for 30 years. Emmis sold intellectual property rights to the station to YMF Media, which will merge it into WBLS (107.5 FM).

WRKS has suffered in the ratings under Arbitron’s people meters, which replaced the old diary system. It also lagged in overall advertising billings.

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Unheard Voices, an award-winning, family-operated online news magazine, began in 2004 as a community newsletter serving Neptune, Asbury Park, and Long Branch, N.J. Over time, it grew into a nationally recognized Black-owned media outlet. The publication remains one of the few dedicated to covering social justice issues. Its honors include the NAACP Unsung Hero Award and multiple media innovator awards for excellence in social justice reporting and communications.