KISS-FM

In December 1946, the station first signed on the air.[2] It was owned by The Walmac Company, along with sister station AM 630 KMAK (now KSLR). KMAK and KISS-FM simulcast their programming, mostly from the Mutual Broadcasting System. The schedule included dramas, comedies, news, sports and big band broadcasts, during the "Golden Age of Radio."

The simulcast ended in the late 1960s, as the Federal Communications Commission encouraged AM-FM combos to offer separate programming. KISS-FM began carrying a beautiful music format, including instrumental cover versions of popular songs as well as Broadway and Hollywood show tunes.

KISS-FM's format changed to free form progressive rock in the late 1970s. In the 1980s, the playlist stressed hit albums as the station segued to album-oriented rock. During the early years, KISS-FM DJs were mostly given a free rein. Many brought in their own vinyl albums, producing their own shows within a looser rock ballad & heavy metal format. The most notable past KISS/KMAC DJs/personalities were Joe "The Godfather" Anthony and Lou Roney, who worked together for many years. Other popular DJs during that period included Donnie Meals, Frank Young and Wes Burlison

With KISS-FM's hard-edged rock sound, San Antonio became known as the "Heavy Metal Capital Of The World." Scores of bands can attribute their first & subsequent successes to airplay at KISS-FM. Stone City Attractions & Jam Productions were the notable concert promoters.

Co-owned 630 KMAC broadcast show tunes, opera, as well as religious programs such as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir until noon, when the AM station would simulcast the rock format heard on KISS-FM. At 6 pm KMAC would switch away from the simulcast and broadcast rock and progressive country till signing off at midnight. In those earlier years, KISS-FM signed off at midnight each night. "Spread The Word" was the popular window sticker slogan & on-air moniker during the 1970s & 1980s.

Over the years, the owners of the radio station included the Capitol Broadcasting Company, The Rusk Corporation and current owners Cox Media Group. In 1987, Adams Radio bought KISS-FM for $13 million.[3]

The rock format was set aside for a year and a half. In May 1990, KISS-FM flipped to oldies as "99.5 KISS Oldies." The Rusk Corporation, which owned KSMG Magic 105.3 (a competing Oldies station at the time) bought KISS-FM and KOOL 930 AM from Adams Broadcasting Corporation in November 1991. Rusk began simulcasting KSMG on both 99.5 FM and 930 AM.

On New Year's Eve, December 31, 1991, the rock music format returned to 99.5 KISS-FM. It was described as Active Rock.

In 1997, KISS-FM was acquired by Cox Radio.[4] As of 2012, the station's format was described as Mainstream Rock.[5] Despite being considered a mainstream rock reporter by Mediabase, KISS-FM has typically been an active rock station, according to Nielsen BDS.

KISS-FM is the legal call sign issued to this San Antonio radio station by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). It has had the call letters since its founding in 1946. The KISS-FM call sign is not related to the "KISS-FM" brand name used by iHeartMedia, Inc. iHeart uses the moniker "Kiss-FM" on many of its Top 40 stations and a few using other formats. It originated with Los Angeles's KIIS-FM, which has called itself KISS-FM since 1975.

Despite San Antonio being the headquarters city of iHeartMedia, the company seems to have a gentlemen's agreement not to have a KISS-FM-branded station in the city, while Cox has not attempted to claim rights on the branding despite holding the official KISS-FM call letters from the FCC.[6] Of note, Cox owns WALR-FM, an urban adult contemporary station in its home city of Atlanta, which utilizes the "KISS-FM" branding. iHeart has KISS-FM stations in Los Angeles, Chicago (WKSC), Dallas (KHKS), Boston (WXKS-FM), San Diego (KSSX) and other cities.