KWWV (106.1 FM, "Wild 106.1") is a

commercial radio Commercial broadcasting (also called private broadcasting) is the broadcasting of television programs and radio programming by privately owned corporate media, as opposed to state sponsorship, for example. It was the United States' first model ...

station that is

licensed A license (American English) or licence (Commonwealth English) is an official permission or permit to do, use, or own something (as well as the document of that permission or permit). A license is granted by a party (licensor) to another part ...

San Luis Obispo, California ; ; ; Chumashan languages, Chumash: ''tiłhini'') is a city and county seat of San Luis Obispo County, California, United States. Located on the Central Coast (California), Central Coast of California, San Luis Obispo is roughly halfway betwee ...

. The station is owned by Dimes Media Corporation and broadcasts a Top 40 (CHR)

radio format A radio format or programming format (not to be confused with broadcast programming) describes the overall content broadcast on a radio station. The radio format emerged mainly in the United States in the 1950s, at a time when Radio broadcasting, ...

. Programming includes ''The Wild Wake Up with Doughboy'' weekday mornings, DJ Flashback weekday afternoons and XYZ with Erik Zachary weeknights, ''

American Top 40 ''American Top 40'' (abbreviated to ''AT40'') is an internationally radio syndication, syndicated, independent song countdown radio programming, radio program created by Casey Kasem, Don Bustany, Tom Rounds, and Ron Jacobs (broadcaster), Ron Jaco ...

'' with

Ryan Seacrest Ryan John Seacrest (born December 24, 1974) is an American television presenter and producer. Seacrest is the host of '' Wheel of Fortune'', having hosted since replacing long-time host Pat Sajak in September 2024. Seacrest co-hosted and ser ...

weekends.

History

The station first signed on July 29, 1986, as KWSP, originally on the 106.3 FM frequency but later switching to 106.1. In August 1996, Hance Communications Ltd. sold KWSP to Gary and Virginia Brill for $500,000. The KWWV

call letters In broadcasting and radio communications, a call sign (also known as a call name or call letters—and historically as a call signal—or abbreviated as a call) is a Identifier, unique identifier for a transmitter station. A call sign can be fo ...

originally were used on the 99.7 FM frequency, which carried a

smooth jazz Smooth jazz is commercially oriented crossover jazz music. Although often described as a "genre", it is a debatable and highly controversial subject in jazz music circles. As a radio format, however, smooth jazz radio became the successor to e ...

format called "K-Wave". In 1997, smooth jazz was dropped in favor of

rhythmic contemporary hit radio Rhythmic contemporary, also known as Rhythmic Top 20, Rhythmic Top 30, Rhythmic Top 40, Rhythmic CHR or rhythmic crossover, is a primarily American music-radio format that includes a mix of EDM, upbeat rhythmic pop, hip-hop and upbeat R&B hits. ...

(CHR) as "Kiss 99.7". In the fall of 1999, station owner

American General Media American General Media is a media company specializing in radio. It was founded by Lawrence Brandon and is operated by sons Anthony and Rogers. American General Media is headquartered in Bakersfield, California. Lawrence Brandon owned and op ...

moved the format and the KWWV call sign to 106.1 FM to provide better signal coverage throughout San Luis Obispo County. Eventually, the station was forced to drop the "Kiss" moniker after

Clear Channel Communications iHeartMedia, Inc., or CC Media Holdings, Inc., is an American mass media corporation headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It is the holding company of iHeartCommunications, Inc., formerly Clear Channel Communications, Inc., a company founded by ...

(now iHeartMedia) filed suit claiming ownership of the name "

Kiss A kiss is the touching or pressing of one's lips against another person, animal or object. Cultural connotations of kissing vary widely; depending on the culture and context, a kiss can express sentiments of love, passion, romance, sex ...

". Following a period of American General Media ownership, the station was purchased by Clear Channel. Following the demise of Clear Channel-owned

mainstream top 40 Pop Airplay (also called Mainstream Top 40, Pop Songs, and Top 40/contemporary hit radio, CHR) is a 40-song music chart published weekly by Billboard (magazine), ''Billboard'' Magazine that ranks the most popular songs of pop music being played o ...

outlet

KSLY KSLY (96.1 FM, "K-Love") is a non-commercial radio station that is licensed to San Luis Obispo, California. Owned by Educational Media Foundation, the station carries a contemporary Christian music format from the nationally syndicated K-Lo ...

("SLY 96"), "Wild 106.1" adjusted its rhythmic CHR format to a more mainstream

Top 40 In the music industry, the Top 40 is a list of the 40 currently most popular songs in a particular genre. It is the best-selling or most frequently broadcast popular music. Record charts have traditionally consisted of a total of 40 songs. "To ...

presentation, reclaiming the number-one spot in the

Arbitron Nielsen Audio (formerly Arbitron) is a consumer research company in the United States that collects listener data on radio broadcasting audiences. It was founded as the American Research Bureau by Jim Seiler in 1949 and became national by mergin ...

ratings among females ages 18–34.

HD radio

KWWV broadcasts in

HD Radio HD Radio (HDR) is a trademark for in-band on-channel (IBOC) digital radio broadcast technology. HD radio generally simulcast, simulcasts an existing analog radio station in digital format with less noise and with additional text information. HD R ...

. KWWV-HD1 simulcasts the analog signal at 106.1 FM. KWWV-HD2 carries a

news/talk Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues and consisting entirely or almost entirely of original spoken word content rather than outside music. They may feature monologues, dialogues between the hosts, interviews ...

format branded as "K-News 98.5". KWWV-HD3 is a simulcast of

KYNS KYNS (1340 AM broadcasting, AM) is a commercial radio station that is City of license, licensed to San Luis Obispo, California, United States and serves the San Luis Obispo area. The station is owned by Martha Fahnoe, through licensee Dimes Media ...

, an AM station broadcasting classic country as "The Grade". On June 1, 2020, KWWV-HD2 changed its format from soft adult contemporary to

conservative talk Conservative talk radio is a talk radio format in the United States and other countries devoted to expressing conservative viewpoints of issues, as opposed to progressive talk radio. The definition of conservative talk is generally broad enough ...

, branded as "K-News 98.5".K-News 98.5 Debuts in San Luis Obispo
Radioinsight - June 1, 2020 In 2024, Dimes Media purchased former

KRQZ KRQZ (91.5 FM) is a radio station licensed to Lompoc, California, United States, serving the Santa Maria—Lompoc area. The station is owned by El Sembrador Ministries, Inc., and is part of its ESNE Radio Spanish-language Catholic radio network ...

translator K299BE (107.7 FM) to serve as a relay of KWWV-HD3.

References

External links

* * * * * * * * {{coord, 35.361, N, 120.657, W, type:landmark_region:US-CA_source:FCC, display=title WWV Contemporary hit radio stations in the United States Mass media in San Luis Obispo County, California Radio stations established in 1989 1989 establishments in California