Kiss 92.5 back in Toronto

[Nostalgia Kills]

- from the Rogers press release:

TORONTO, June 5 /CNW/ - Today at 3:00 p.m. ET, Toronto listeners and
thousands more across the country via the internet, were introduced to Rogers
Broadcasting's newest radio station, KISS92.5 FM, the only "ALL HITS" radio
station in the city of Toronto.
"We did an incredible amount of research and it came back loud and clear.
It told us there was a huge unfulfilled demand for a station that would play
All Hits and nothing but today's Hits. We are encouraged by our findings that
indicate there are a large number of people who are seeking out this kind of
programming...more than we ever had thought," said Sandy Sanderson, Executive
Vice President, Toronto Radio.
Available on-air at 92.5 FM in Toronto and online at kiss925.ca, the
station kicked off its broadcast Friday at 3 o'clock with a promise to play
10,000 songs in a row with no commercial interruption, featuring artists like
Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Black Eyed Peas, Kanye West, Nickelback, Katy Perry, T.I.,
Justin Timberlake, Kardinal Offishall, Britney Spears, Ne-Yo, Kelly Clarkson
and Rihanna among others. The launch was simulcast on Rogers All-News outlet,
680News.
KISS92.5 will engage its listeners both on the air and online by taking
advantage of all the possibilities that present themselves in the new digital
world. As the station evolves, the audience will be "plugged in" through
instant messaging, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and several other social
networking sites as well as wirelessly via texting.
On-air talent for KISS92.5 will be announced in the coming weeks, along
with details on concerts and events that will feature today's biggest hit
makers.
Added Paul Ski, CEO, Radio, "Launching this station across several
platforms will expand dramatically what we can offer our advertisers. At the
same time, we are offering a true alternative listening option for a very
dynamic sector of the Toronto population."

Rogers Broadcasting is a subsidiary of Rogers Media, a division of Rogers
Communications (TSX: RCI; NYSE: RCI). Rogers Broadcasting has 54 AM and FM
radio stations across Canada. Television properties include 5 Citytv stations
and 5 OMNI local over-the-air stations, the specialty channels Sportsnet,
Canada's live-event leader, which offers viewers four channels, including four
high definition channels, OLN, Biography, G4Tech TV, and Canada's only
televised shopping service, The Shopping Channel.

[TheJakes]

Rogers really blew it when they switched KISS92.5 from CHR/Pop to JACK back in 2003. At the time KISS92.5 was the only true Top 40 station in the Toronto market and they could have turned themselves into a Z100 type station in NYC. Instead, because "teen pop" which KISS92.5 lead the way on was in delcine they switched to the new JACK format.

Now that the CHR/Pop format is in the asendency again they are competing with Z103.5, CHUM, Virgin and Flow for that same segment.

Stupid Rogers really missed the boat back in 2003.

[HER MINAJesty]

:o YES!

We need a new radio station here, everything has gotten stale.

I'm glad they brought KISS back but I agree, it never should have left.

[jamrock16]

REALLY!?! I was just thinking the other day how much I missed this staiton and how terrible Jack FM was. They probably did lose alot of their listeners to Z103.5, CHUM and Virgin but I'm sure they'll do fine after they're up and running for a while.

Why did Kiss leave anyways?

[Nostalgia Kills]

Jun 5, 2009 19:21:48 GMT -5 TheJakes said:

At the time KISS92.5 was the only true Top 40 station in the Toronto market

I seem to remember them being extremely Rhythmic before the Jack flip.

[Battle601]

I guess this means another addition (or return) to the panel for Canada Top 40 on Mediabase. And with the station playing 10,000 songs in a row without any commercials, many songs currently charting will get a major boost.

[Quixotic Music Lover]

Long overdue addition to the Toronto radio landscape. Mind you I only listen to Top40 music through my TV (Galaxie.ca, HitList) and Itunes. I hate all the commercials that radio stations play.

[sdot23]

We need a new Urban station. Flow 93.5 is awful.

[TheJakes]

Jun 6, 2009 15:43:13 GMT -5 Nostalgia Kills said:

Jun 5, 2009 19:21:48 GMT -5 TheJakes said:

At the time KISS92.5 was the only true Top 40 station in the Toronto market

I seem to remember them being extremely Rhythmic before the Jack flip.

They went Rythmic for a few months prior to their flip to JACK. I think they might have been trying to sabotage the station in order to pave the way for the JACK format which was Rodger's hot new idea. Of course the JACK format bombed in the Toronto market.

But KISS 92.5 had had several years of strong numbers as a CHT/Pop station and had created a brand in the Toronto market which they threw away in the JACK flip and probably can never get back.

Z100 created a brand and has stuck with through ups and downs which has served it well.

[Nostalgia Kills]

Jun 8, 2009 21:13:57 GMT -5 TheJakes said:

Jun 6, 2009 15:43:13 GMT -5 Nostalgia Kills said:

They went Rythmic for a few months prior to their flip to JACK. I think they might have been trying to sabotage the station in order to pave the way for the JACK format which was Rodger's hot new idea. Of course the JACK format bombed in the Toronto market.

Or the whole Rhythmic thing was an over-reaction to Flow.

[HER MINAJesty]

I remember KISS got DJ-X to do the evening show, and he was a major Urban DJ on the Toronto scene and used to have his own show when FLOW 93.5 debuted.

FLOW isn't really a true "urban" station, it's more Rhythmic I think...they have played some weird choices, like Coldplay, etc.


When are the 10,000 songs going to end? Will they be getting on-air DJ's this week?

[TheJakes]

Jun 19, 2009 21:30:54 GMT -5 HER MINAJesty said:

When are the 10,000 songs going to end? Will they be getting on-air DJ's this week?

10,000 songs in row takes about a month so it should be early July when the on-air talent begins. Rumor has it that Russell James from 91.7 The Bounce in Edmonton is going to be the new MD/APD at Kiss 92.5FM.

It will be interesting to see if they try to bring on-air talent from outside the Toronto market. If they try and hire away some local talent like Chris Biggs, Kella, Jimmy T (from Virgin), Peter Kash (Z103.5) or JJ who was Axel and Melanie (FLOW). Maybe Corey Kimm who was out in Winnipeg for awhile.

[Battle601]

Wouldn't be surprised if Taylor Kaye is thrown in there too. It looks like her evening shifts were cut with Virgin recently expanding Ryan Seacrest to five hours (that's even one more hour than the actual broadcast stateside!).

She moved from CHUM to MixFM/Virgin last year, and until recently, was doing voiceover work for MuchMoreMusic before CTVglobemedia went through a round of job cuts late last year.

[HER MINAJesty]

Wow, I didn't realize 10,000 songs in a row would take so long to finish! LOL!

Im not complaining, but I was wondering when it would end.

I really hope Corey Kimm is not back...I don't like the sound of his voice.

JJ isn't on FLOW in the morning anymore?? Melanie jumped from z103.5 in the morning with Chris Biggs to FLOW a few years ago. I MUCH prefer JJ and Melanie to Chris Biggs and Dave Blezard on 103.5 THEY ARE SO irritating (Chris and Dave). They say the stupidest things and I hate the sounds of their voices.

I wonder if they will try and make KISS a Rhythmic sort of station, like how it was when CISS flipped to JACK? Who is more successful in Toronto, FLOW or z103? I wonder whose listeners KISS will try to steal.

[TheJakes]

Mocha has been announced for afternoon drive and assistant music director. He starts about Sep 23rd. He is the first on-air personality announced.

I remember him from the old KISS 92.5 years.

He has been at 91.5 The Beat Kitchener from it's beginning over 5 years ago as music director and on air evenings, then afternoon drive and presently mornings with Adele.

[TheJakes]

Toronto, Ontario (July 9, 2009) - It’s official…KiSS 92.5 has hired Roz Weston for our new Morning Show!

Roz Weston, Senior Entertainment Reporter from Entertainment Tonight Canada will join KiSS 92.5 as our new Morning Show Co-Host.

“Here’s what I know about Roz: He’s smart, he’s funny, he’s got an incredible work ethic, and he’s an all around great guy,” says KiSS 92.5 Program Director Julie Adam. “All of those things add up to him being the new Morning Show Co-Host on KiSS 92.5.”

As part of Entertainment Tonight Canada, Roz has made himself a household name interviewing some of the biggest celebrities and headline makers in the world of entertainment. His trusted reputation amongst the stars, the media and audiences, will be sure to please KiSS listeners.

KiSS 92.5 is currently in the auditioning process for Roz’s morning Co-Host. Once confirmed, a start date for the new KiSS 92.5 Morning Show will be announced.

Toronto can look forward to listening to Roz on KiSS 92.5 every morning, and then tune into Entertainment Tonight Canada on Global Television weeknights 7pm ET/7:30pm PT.

KiSS 92.5 is one of 51 FM and AM radio stations owned and operated by Rogers Broadcasting, a division of Rogers Media Inc.

[HER MINAJesty]

Ugh...is he trying to become the Canadian Ryan Seacrest?

I remember on the original KISS 92.5 Morning Show with MadDog & Billie, Roz was the producer and towards the end he took on a larger on-air role.


The station has begun playing commercials now...but I guess the on-air personalities won't come on until September??