# WAEV

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**WAEV** (97.3 [FM](/source/FM_broadcasting), "97.3 Kiss FM") is a commercial [radio station](/source/Radio_station) licensed to [Savannah, Georgia](/source/Savannah,_Georgia), United States. Owned by [iHeartMedia](/source/IHeartMedia), it broadcasts a [contemporary hits](/source/Contemporary_hits) format using the "[KISS-FM](/source/KISS-FM_(brand))" brand. The studios and offices are on Alfred Street in [Garden City](/source/Garden_City,_Georgia), using a Savannah address.

WAEV's transmitter is sited on Fort Argyle Road ([Georgia SR 204](/source/Georgia_State_Route_204)) near [Bloomingdale, Georgia](/source/Bloomingdale,_Georgia).[1]

## History

The station signed on the air on February 4, 1969.[2] The original call sign was WXLM. It played an [easy listening](/source/Easy_listening) format, a mix of instrumental [cover versions](/source/Cover_version) of popular hits along with soft vocals. It was largely automated. WXLM was a rare stand-alone FM station, with no co-ownership with an AM station, television station or newspaper.

In September 1977, the station flipped to [Album Rock](/source/Album_Rock) in response to rival station WTOC starting a highly successful overnight album rock program in 1976. Before this, Savannah had been without a rock station since [WEAS-FM](/source/WEAS-FM) flipped in the early 1970s. WXLM 97.3 went by the name "97 Rock." The station played long sets of rock music, including [The Beatles](/source/The_Beatles), [The Rolling Stones](/source/The_Rolling_Stones), [Creedence Clearwater Revival](/source/Creedence_Clearwater_Revival) and [The Who](/source/The_Who).

In 1980, the station flipped to [adult contemporary music](/source/Adult_contemporary_music), calling itself "Wave 97". It took new call letters, WAEV. When "WXLM 97 Rock" left the air, Savannah did not have a rock station until [WIXV](/source/WIXV) picked up the format in 1986. WAEV picked up the tempo and evolved into a [hot adult contemporary](/source/Hot_adult_contemporary) station as "Mix 97.3" in 1993.

After several years of falling ratings and revenue in the early 2000s, the station rebranded to a Top 40—Contemporary Hits sound. It began using the [KISS-FM](/source/KISS-FM_(brand)) branding in December 2001, common on other [Clear Channel Communications](/source/Clear_Channel_Communications) FM stations such as [KIIS-FM](/source/KIIS-FM) [Los Angeles](/source/Los_Angeles) and [KHKS](/source/KHKS) [Dallas](/source/Dallas). It picked up *[The Kidd Kraddick Morning Show](/source/The_Kidd_Kraddick_Morning_Show)* from KHKS for its wake up program. After several months of further format "tweaking", the station moved into a mainstream mix of Top 40 hits.

## References

1. [FCC.gov/WAEV](https://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/fmq?call=waev&fileno=&state=&city=&freq=88.1&fre2=107.9&serv=&status=&facid=&asrn=&class=&list=0&NextTab=Results+to+Next+Page%2FTab&dist=&dlat2=&mlat2=&slat2=&NS=N&dlon2=&mlon2=&slon2=&EW=W&size=9)

1. [*Broadcasting & Cablecasting Yearbook 1985* page B-71. Retrieved Dec. 31, 2024.](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1985/B-Radio-All-BC-YB-1985.pdf)

## External links

- [Official website](https://973kissfm.iheart.com/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [WAEV](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WAEV) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WAEV?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.