WYKS 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 Returned as Sales Manager 1992-96 Jeri Banta - Program Director/Morning Show Host - 1984 - 2003
"From The Outside Looking In" - is a Gainesville, Florida ritual, bringing the best ofthe Underground to the airwaves and the internet each and every Sunday night at 8pm EST. A veritable overnight success, The Perimeter was created in 1992 by Mike Masters, the PM Drive on-air personality at the time, and has remained the top rated weekend radio broadcast in the region since then. Masters crafted the name of the show after the famed I-285 "Perimeter" in Atlanta, GA - upon return from a weekend visit to his brother who lived there. The Perimeter initially included music from the Progressive and Industrial genres, along with the Drum & Bass, House, Breakbeats and Hip Hop that you can still hear. The show is an anomaly, finding its home on Gainesville's biggest Pop/Top 40 station, however - it is a testament to the staying power of cutting edge Electronica in all of its forms. With perennial favorites Dave Fox at the helm, and resident deejay Comic assuming the role of logistics after the departures of TCX and Steven Chadwick, the show is on course to increase its audience in the upcoming months. With an alumni list that reads like the 'Who's Who' of the Southeast EDM scene, and new up-and-comers crawling out of the woodwork almost daily, the show is never at a loss for quality talent and mind-altering music! As of June 2007, guest DJ's are DJ Mo, Flaco, Ghost, Stylist, Fawda Bass, and many others.
