Update 6/15: At 5:00pm, 95.9 WIOP debuted its new format as Soft AC “Lite 95.9“.
The first hour consisted of:
Debby Boone – You Light Up My Life
Phil Collins – You Can’t Hurry Love
Richard Marx – Endless Summer Nights
Sixpence None The Richer – Kiss Me
Bill Withers – Ain’t No Sunshine
The Young Rascals – Groovin’
Joey Scarbury – Believe It Or Not
Leona Lewis – Better In Time
Barry Manilow – I Made It Through The Rain
Barry White – Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe
Barbra Streisand – What Kind Of Fool
Scott Mckenzie – San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair)
Mariah Carey – Forever
Carole King – So Far Away
Kenny Rogers – Through The Years
Celine Dion – Where Does My Heart Beat Now
Update 6/13: 92.5 has changed calls to WCKN to match its “Kickin” branding.
95.9 has dropped the simulcast of 92.5’s programming and is now running a loop of construction sounds. The old 925TheBox.com is redirecting to Now959.com, which heads to a GoDaddy parking page.
Update 5/31: As expected, WIOP announced it was moving to 92.5 at 5:00pm today and made the switch immediately. The stations will simulcast, with 95.9 on a few second delay for a few weeks, prior to a new format launching around the July 4 weekend.
Listen to the move of Kickin 95.9 to 92.5 at FormatChange.com.
Original Report 5/26: Apex Broadcasting is planning a shuffle at its Charleston, SC cluster.
Country “Kickin’ 95.9” WIOP is promoting “The Biggest Announcement Ever” for Tuesday, May 31 at 5:00pm. We can tell you that at that time the station will announce it will be moving to the 92.5 slot currently held by Urban “92.5 The Box“. Kickin925.com has been registered and a Facebook page is currently in place.
What’s coming to 95.9? We’re not completely sure, although there have been recent anonymous registrations for Sunny959.com and MyLite959.com, which would both indicate an AC format of some sort. Apex does still have 96Wave.com in its possession from the long running Alternative format. With The Box unable to knock Citadel’s Urban Z93 WWWZ off its perch at the top of the market, going after Clear Channel’s AC Y102.5 WXLY would seemingly be the next logical target.
Apex launched Kickin 95.9 in September 2010 when it flipped from Classic Hits. The format has shown growth against Clear Channel’s 103.5 WEZL and Citadel’s 96.9 The Wolf WIWF since its launch and a move to the stronger 92.5 signal should only help in the battle. 92.5 is a Class C1 broadcasting with 100kW from 778 feet while 95.9 is a C2 with 50kW at 352 feet.
Apex also operates Urban AC Star 99.7 WXST, Variety Hits 101.7 Chuck-FM WAVF, and Fox Sports 1390/99.3 WSPO in the Charleston market.
jlm21 
justyce 
Lenz 
Marco 
Loving charleston 
This Completely SUCKS!!! I don’t understand how 92.5 the box didn’t knock Z93 off. Most of the Hip-Hop community is disappointed that we lost 92.5 the box. 🙁 I am so tried of Z93.
I am totally pissed! I really liked 92.5 The Box. It had a more urban flavor that reminds me of many stations up north. Plus it had The Rickey Smiley Morning Show! That was my ritual every morning. And Tangie in the evening…it was totally awesome. Bad move Charleston…really bad move.
Do you have to be number one to stay one the air? That doesn’t make sense… This gave alot of people something different to listen to and enjoy. They didn’t even give the damn station enough time!
I always like the option and the competition with 2 hip hop stations in Charleston. I guess if you’re not number one then you have no right to exist? I will miss the Box because it felt like a breath of fresh air from the tired and stale format of Z93. At least I can listen to my CDs without fear of it being taken away because it’s not number one. 🙂
Im so glad lite rock is back in charleston with the brand new lite 95.9 I just hope charleston based apex broadcasting will keep this station for a really long time