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Nov 18, 2023

‘Kiss FM’ Memphis Displaces Longtime Rocker WEGR As Market Shuffle Continues.

The programming landscape in the Memphis market continues to change as radio

The programming landscape in the Memphis market continues to change as radio groups look to capitalize on the impending exit of Audacy's top-five-ranked hot AC "FM 100" WMC-FM, which posted a 5.4 (6+) share in Nielsen's March PPM survey. The 99.7 signal will be the new home of country "The Wolf" WLFP as the company is in the process of selling its current 94.1 signal to Educational Media Foundation (EMF).

Last week, Flinn Broadcasting revived CHR "Q107.5" WHBQ, returning a brand and format that was on the station for nearly two decades before its 2020 flip to classic hits. Now iHeartMedia moves CHR "101.9 Kiss FM" KWNW four ticks up the dial to 102.7, which has been the home of longtime classic rocker WEGR. With the change in dial position, iHeart also adjusts "Kiss FM" to a hot AC presentation, filling the soon-to-be format void with the forthcoming demise of "FM100."

"We’ve moved. You can hear us now at 102.7 – Hit Music For Memphis!" a web banner on the station website reads.

WEGR's format slides the other way and is now on 101.9 FM. A similar web banner on the WEGR site tells listeners to "Re-set your pre-set!"

"With changing market conditions, we believe we can best serve the community with these moves," newly installed Market Manager Karen McCrary Mitchell said in a release.

It's an upgrade for "Kiss FM," which features the Premiere Networks-syndicated "Elvis Duran and the Morning Show" and "On Air With Ryan Seacrest," as 102.7 is a 100,000-watt signal and has comparable coverage to WMC-FM's 96,000-watt effective output at 99.7. Meanwhile, WEGR is downgraded to an 8,500-watt signal at 101.9.

WEGR was tied for seventh in Nielsen's March PPM report with a 3.8 share. "Kiss FM" KWNW posted a 1.1 and was fourteenth in the market.