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WKLS
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| WKLS | |
 |
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| City of license | Atlanta, Georgia |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Branding | Project 9-6-1 |
| Slogan | Live Loud...Play Hard! |
| Frequency | 96.1 (MHz) 96.1 HD-2 for New Alternative Rock |
| First air date | 1960 |
| Format | Active rock |
| ERP | 99,000 watts |
| Class | C0 |
| Callsign meaning | W Kennedy Lathom Swan |
| Former callsigns | WEOA, WKLS |
| Owner | Clear Channel Communications |
| Sister stations | WBZY, WGST, WLTM, WUBL, WWVA |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | www.project961.com |
WKLS-FM (branded Project 9-6-1) is an radio station in Atlanta, Georgia that plays active rock. New Alternative Rock music can be heard on its HD subchannel on 96.1 FM (HD Radio needed).
Contents |
WKLS' callsign stands for the initials of the founding owners: Don Kennedy, James Lathom, and Arthur Swan. The 96.1 frequency was originally WGAA-FM in Cedartown GA. They formed WKLS in 1960 with a $25,000 investment. It was sold 10 years later for $750,000. In its first 10 years or so, WKLS played an easy listening format. WKLS changed to a rock music format in 1974 and was renamed "96 Rock," the branding it retained until November 2006.
For a time in 1977 disc jockey "Skinny" Bobby Harper, who was the inspiration for Dr. Johnny Fever of the television sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati, graced WKLS.
Since 1974, WKLS has always featured rock music, though the focus has changed somewhat over time. In the 1970s, the station played what was then known as AOR; songs from that period are known in the radio business as classic rock today. WKLS also had an AM daytimer on 970 AM in the'80's on the station that is now WNIV.
In the early 1980s, 96 Rock cultivated a somewhat macho image. The station often mocked competing stations which played top 40 hits as "wimp rock". WKLS began to play more and more heavy metal, which was increasing in popularity, especially among teenaged boys. However, a backlash began to develop among the station's more mature listeners. In 1985, the station modified its playlist to a mix of older and new rock.
96 Rock continued to play a mixture of classic rock and new rock for the next 19 years. WKLS finally became exclusively a classic rock station in 2004. The 2004 change occurred when competing Atlanta station Z-93 (WZGC) became "Dave FM," switching from classic rock to a broader rock-pop-alternative format. This did not cause a dramatic change in 96 Rock's playlist, however. Even before officially declaring itself a classic rock station, most of its songs in fact fit that category already; only a few new songs were played an hour.
WKLS's longevity as 96 Rock allowed it to claim to be have the longest-running format on an FM station in the Atlanta market. The station has honored its history and tradition on several occasions. In 1984, the station recognized its 10th anniversary by airing a Labor Day countdown of the top 296 songs from 1974-1984. The station's 30th anniversary was recognized in 2004 with several promotions; one such promotion encouraged listeners to write to the station and reminisce about events in their lives, in which 96 Rock played a memorable role. Some of this correspondence was read on the air and posted on the station's website.
On November 17, 2006, at 9 a.m., the station dropped the 32-year-old 96 Rock branding in favor of "Project 9-6-1," a more active rock format. This action made WVEE-FM the new longest-running format in the city. At the same time, 105.3 The Buzz (WBZY-FM) ceased independent operations and began simulcasting the new format for several days, until a regional Mexican music format began. The new format is intended to be somewhat of a merger between 96 Rock and The Buzz, although more personalities from The Buzz are on the new station than ones from 96 Rock.
- Mornings: "The Giant Show" with "Giant" Brian Carothers and Shaffee
- Traffic: Art "Madman" Mehring
- Mid-days: Aly (Under The Cover with Aly at 12:30pm Weekdays)
- Afternoon Drive: Chris Williams - Program Director (Friday Work Release every Friday Afternoon)
- Nights: Matt "Knox"
- Project Homegrown (8pm Weekdays): Aaron Hickman
- PunkRockalypse (9pm Sundays) : Amy Dumas
- Fill-Ins/Weekends: Eric
 Original 96 Rock logo (1974-1985) |
Current Project 9-6-1 logo (2006-present) |
In April 2004, long-time morning show hosts the Regular Guys (Larry Wachs and Eric Von Haessler) were fired for airing graphic sexual language with porn star Devin Lane as the content bled through a Honda commercial. That content, which aired the previous month, was intended to be played backwards, to mock the FCC indecency crackdown, when they came back from the break. Regular Guys sidekick "Southside" Steve Rickman and former midday host Tim Rhodes took the morning time slot temporarily. A permanent replacement came in the form of the syndicated Bob & Tom Show, as Rhodes and Rickman moved to the afternoon slot. However, WKLS rehired the Regular Guys, who returned to the airwaves on March 21, 2005 and came back to 96 Rock in May, after a brief stint on local AM talk station WGST.
On October 23, 2006, however, Clear Channel Radio terminated the Regular Guys for good following an incident in which Wachs recorded bathroom conversations between the two morning show hosts on WWVA-FM (Viva 105.7), while all three men were using the bathroom. The recording was played on air a couple of days later. The WWVA hosts (known as "Yogi and Panda") complained to management and subsequently sued Clear Channel and The Regular Guys. Wachs said, "A case of a humorous prank has turned into a culture clash, a suppression of First Amendment rights, and a ridiculous smear campaign against me as well as termination of my income without due process." regular guys show/2006/10/i have a statem.html
On July 7, 2007, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported that the new morning show host for Project 9-6-1 will be "Giant" Brian Carothers, morning producer and sidekick for John DeBella at WMGK-FM in Philadelphia. The Giant Show debuted on October 1, 2007. project 961s.html
- Morning Drive: The Regular Guys
- Mid-days: Fin, Tim Rhodes now at Bulldog 103.7 WPUP in Athens
- Afternoon Drive: Christopher Rude "The Rude Ride Home" now doing mornings at 680 the Fan WCNN in Atlanta, Jennifer Reed, Southside Steve Rickman now a part of the Rhubarb and Dallas Morning Show on Eagle 106.7 WYAY in Atlanta, and Rhodes, Dick and Justice
- Nights: Big Rig, B.C. and Bubba, Greg Clarkson "The Dark Side"
- Overnights: English Nick
- Weekends/Fill In DJs: Geoff Cole, JT now doing weekends at sister station 94.9 The Bull, Cousin Deke, Mr. Bill, Alfred, Jason Gore,Steve Mitchell part of the Mark and Steve Morning Show now doing afternoons on Eagle 106.7 WYAY, Mark McCain other half of the Mark and Steve Morning Show now doing weekends on WYAY. Kade Kelly,Rob Butterly.
In 2005 and 2006, in addition to broadcasting music, WKLS carried broadcasts of Atlanta Braves baseball games, along with sister station WGST-AM. When the new format began, sister station WUBL-FM ("94.9 The Bull") took over the broadcasts effective with the 2007 season. The broadcast contract runs through the 2009 season.
WKLS broadcasts in IBOC digital radio, using the HD Radio system from iBiquity.
On January 30, 2006, the station added a separate HD2 carrier, known under the branding "The Incubator," which features an Adult Album Alternative format.
- list of radio stations in Georgia (U.S. state)
- Georgia (U.S. state)
- lists of radio stations in North and Central America