Editing WEPN-FM (section)

==== "Smooth R&B and Classic Soul" (1995–2012) ====
In December 1994, WQHT's parent Emmis Communications took advantage of newly relaxed FCC ownership regulations and agreed to purchase WRKS from Summit, forming the market's first FM [[duopoly (broadcasting)|duopoly]]. WRKS subsequently stopped playing hip-hop and flipped to [[urban adult contemporary]] format using the slogan "Smooth R&B and Classic [[Soul music|Soul]]". The shift in format resulted in notable personalities associated with the previous format, such as Wendy Williams and Red Alert, moving from WRKS to WQHT. The new sound on WRKS was introduced by the station during its annual "Twelve Days of Kiss-mas" promotion during the Christmas holiday, and was fully implemented in January 1995. Soul music legend [[Barry White]] became the station's imaging voice and promotional face, and would remain in this role until his death in 2003.

In September 1995, WRKS hired another deep-voiced [[bass singer]], [[Isaac Hayes]], as its new morning show host, and later added Ashford & Simpson to helm its afternoon drive program. Funk musician [[Roger Troutman]] (of the band [[Zapp]]) and former disc jockey-turned-motivational speaker [[Leslie C. Brown|Les Brown]] also hosted programs on WRKS around this time.

WRKS's playlist for its first year consisted almost exclusively of songs from the 1960s and 1970s; after 1996, the station began reintroducing current R&B back into rotation. But in 1999, WRKS switched from a classic soul-based Urban AC format to a mostly current R&B format. That same year, [[Frankie Crocker]] was hired as an announcer and a weekend DJ. The station slowly began to reintroduce rap in 2000. When [[WWPR-FM]] was launched in March 2002, the station shifted back to classic soul. In 2003, [[Barry Mayo]] briefly returned as general manager for WRKS, WQHT and jazz-formatted WQCD (now [[WFAN-FM]]), and WRKS returned to its full-fledged Urban AC format.

In April 2001, WRKS became the New York home for the nationally syndicated ''[[Tom Joyner]] [[Tom Joyner Morning Show|Morning Show]]'', as Isaac Hayes chose not to renew his contract with the station; he remained for a few months to host the local segments within the program (known on the station as ''The Tom Joyner Morning Show with Isaac Hayes''). Joyner's first stint on WRKS lasted only two years. [[D. L. Hughley]] was brought on to host ''The D. L. Hughley Morning Show'' in July 2009.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hinckley |first=David |date=July 15, 2009 |title=D.L. Hughley to host morning show on New York's Kiss-FM radio |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2009/07/15/2009-07-15_dl_hughley_to_host_morning_show_on_new_yorks_kissfm_radio.html |access-date=July 20, 2009 |work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]|location=New York}}</ref> Emmis planned to syndicate the show, but after a dispute between Emmis and a proposed distributor over who would pay his salary, Hughley left the station and the program was cancelled on August 7, 2010.<ref>{{cite news |date=August 18, 2010 |title=D.L. Hughley Morning Show officially off WRKS New York |url=http://www.radio-info.com/news/dl-hughley-morning-show-officially-off-wrks-new-york |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100822194010/http://www.radio-info.com/news/dl-hughley-morning-show-officially-off-wrks-new-york |archive-date=August 22, 2010 |access-date=August 31, 2010 |publisher=Radio-Info.com}}</ref> The station picked up Joyner's program again in 2011.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=February 7, 2011 |title=Tom Joyner returns to NY radio scene as morning host on WRKS, ready to go up against friend Harvey |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2011/02/07/tom-joyner-returns-to-ny-radio-scene-as-morning-host-on-wrks-ready-to-go-up-against-friend-harvey/ |access-date=September 7, 2024 |website=Daily News|location=New York |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2003, author and "relationship expert" [[Michael Baisden]] became host of the afternoon show, which later became syndicated nationally in January 2005.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.urbanradionation.com/2012/04/michael-baisden-says-farewell-to-kiss.html|title=Michael Baisden Says 'FAREWELL TO KISS' FM in New York}}</ref>

In early September 2010, the slogan for the station, "Old School & Today's R&B", changed to "'80s, '90s & Today's R&B", which included dropping most pre-1979 titles. This would later change to "Classic Soul & Today's R&B", which would last until the station's demise in 2012.

Following the death of [[Whitney Houston]]—who was born in nearby [[Newark, New Jersey]]—on February 11, 2012, WRKS dedicated the subsequent weekend to commemorating her career, including tributes by the station's staff and alumni, and listener phone-ins.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Trust |first=Gary |date=February 12, 2012 |title=Whitney Houston's 'Hometown' Radio Station Remembers The Singer |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/whitney-houstons-hometown-radio-station-remembers-the-singer-1098915/ |access-date=September 7, 2024 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref>

Notable station personalities during the Kiss years included:
* [[Barry Mayo]] (1981)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jazz |first=All About |date=July 11, 2019 |title=Barry Mayo Reframed: From Radio Mogul to Photographer and Award Winning Filmmaker Chasing Light |url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/barry-mayo-reframed-from-radio-mogul-to-photographer-and-award-winning-filmmaker-chasing-light-by-christine-passarella |access-date=September 7, 2024 |website=[[All About Jazz]] |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Jazzy Jay]] (1983)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Scott |first=Dana |title=Kool DJ Red Alert Celebrates 40 Legendary Years on the Radio |url=https://rockthebells.com/articles/kool-dj-red-alert-40-years-radio/ |access-date=September 7, 2024 |website=rockthebells.com |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Shep Pettibone]] (Mastermixer) (1981–1984)<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=September 7, 2017 |title=Celebrating 15 years of Running Back with Gerd Janson and Tony Humphries |url=https://djmag.com/content/celebrating-15-years-running-back-gerd-janson-and-tony-humphries |access-date=September 7, 2024 |website=DJ Mag |language=en}}</ref>
* [[DJ Chuck Chillout]] (1982–1989)<ref>''The Source'' Magazine, November 2004, "Hip Hop Iconz Volume 9: Chuck Chillout Breaking The Ice," pp.&nbsp;78–80.</ref>
* [[Tony Humphries (musician)|Tony Humphries]] (1982–1994)<ref name=":5" />
* [[Wendy Williams]] (1989–1994)<ref name="Billboard 1990">{{cite magazine |last1=Ross |first1=Sean |last2=Rosen |first2=Craig |last3=Stark |first3=Phyllis |date=May 12, 1990 |title=Vox jox |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |page=14 |volume=102 |issue=19 |id={{ProQuest|1505961644}}}}</ref>
* [[Ashford & Simpson]] (1995–1999)<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 8, 2024 |title=ASHFORD & SIMPSON: VERSED IN ANGELOU |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1997/07/18/ashford-simpson-versed-in-angelou/f1e20799-7f92-4eb7-9a36-44c7a4f14dae/ |access-date=September 7, 2024 |work=The Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>
* [[Roberta Flack]] (1995–1999)<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 18, 1997 |title=Two Radio Stations Battle Bitterly for the Soul of the City |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/01/18/nyregion/two-radio-stations-battle-bitterly-for-the-soul-of-the-city.html |access-date=September 6, 2024 |website=The New York Times}}</ref>
* [[Isaac Hayes]] (1996–2001)<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 29, 2012 |title=Final Farewells at a Legendary Radio Station |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/30/nyregion/final-farewells-at-kiss-radio.html |access-date=September 6, 2024 |website=The New York Times}}</ref>
* [[Kool DJ Red Alert]] (Mastermixer) (1983–1994; 2007–2012)<ref name="TroySmith">{{cite web |last1=D |first1=Davey |last2=Smith |first2=Troy L. |title=Hip Hop History: Kool DJ Red Alert Gives the Ultimate Interview |url=https://hiphopandpolitics.com/2013/10/04/hip-hop-history-kool-dj-red-alert-gives-ultimate-interview/ |access-date=November 1, 2023 |website=Davey D's Hip Hop Corner}}</ref>
* [[Tom Joyner]] (2001–2003; 2011–2012)<ref name=":3" />
* [[Michael Baisden]] (2003–2012)<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=JOHNSON |first=STEPHON |date=May 6, 2012 |title=Kiss it goodbye: Station meets unceremonious fate |url=https://amsterdamnews.com/news/2012/05/06/kiss-it-goodbye-station-meets-unceremonious-fate/ |access-date=September 7, 2024 |website=New York Amsterdam News |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[DJ Cocoa Chanelle]] (Mastermixer) (2011–2012)<ref name=":4" />
* [[Ed Lover]] (2011–2012)<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 4, 2011 |title=Ed Lover Joins KISS FM - XXL |url=https://www.xxlmag.com/ed-lover-joins-kiss-fm/ |access-date=September 7, 2024 |website=XXL Mag |language=en}}</ref>