Audacy’s 105.3 KITS San Francisco returned to its heritage Alternative “Live 105” identity on Monday, June 5 at 10:53am.

The change followed a brief stunt including clips from Dionne Warwick’s “Do You Know The Way To San Jose”, Tony Bennett’s “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” and Starship’s “We Built This City” along with Cheech and Chong’s apropos “Dave’s Not Here” bit. The relaunched format debuted with Green Day “Welcome To Paradise”, The Cure “Just Like Heaven” and Pearl Jam “Learn To Fly”.

Listen to the return of Live 105 at FormatChange.com.

The resurrected brand will focus on “music from every era of its history as the Bay Area’s Alternative.” The company notes core artists will include Red Hot Chili Peppers, Linkin Park, The Killers, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Blink-182, Foo Fighters, Depeche Mode, and The Cure.

Audacy Alternative Regional Vice President of Programming John Allers will serve as Brand Manager for “Live 105“. Allers joined Audacy in November 2021 after previously serving as VP/Alternative for iHeartMedia and Program Director of “Radio 104.5” WRFF Philadelphia from 2007 to 2020. Allers previously programmed Alternative “Channel 104.9” KCNL San Jose for Clear Channel from 2001 to 2006.

Hot AC “Alice 97.3” KLLC San Francisco APD/afternoon host Jayn, who also serves as Music Supervisor for KLLC and KITS, will add Music Director duties for “Live 105“. Jayn previously served as APD/MD/midday host at Alternative 94.7 KNRK Portland from 1995 to 2004 and began tracking middays there again earlier this year.

Audacy today announced the immediate return of Live 105 (KITS-FM) in San Francisco. The station, previously known as 105.3 Dave FM, will now feature music from every era of its history as the ‘Bay Area’s Alternative.’ Core artists will include Red Hot Chili Peppers, Linkin Park, The Killers, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Blink-182, Foo Fighters, Depeche Mode, The Cure and more.

“The people have spoken, and we are excited to answer the call,” said Stacey Kauffman, Regional Vice President and Market Manager, Audacy San Francisco and Sacramento. “After a six-year hiatus, Live 105 – THE Bay Area’s Alternative – has returned to the airwaves! We are proud to bring back this local favorite that gives our loyal listeners and favorite Alternative artists from the 90s to today a place to call home again, right here in the Bay Area.”

Live 105 will launch with Regional Vice President of Programming John Allers serving as Brand Manager. Jayn will serve as Music Director in addition to her role as Music Director for Alice @ 97.3 (KLLC-FM) in San Francisco.

“Our entire team has great respect and admiration for what Live 105 means to the Bay Area Alternative community,” said Allers. “We will continue to honor Live 105’s rich history and legacy by bringing back brand mainstays such as ‘Soundcheck’ with Aaron Axelsen and other familiar voices while collaborating with Live 105 alumnus ‘Miles The DJ’ in guiding the evolution of Live 105 into the future.”

Original Report 6/2: Audacy Variety Hits “105.3 Dave-FM” KITS San Francisco is in stunt mode.

While the station continues with its regular music, most of the “Dave-FM” imaging has been wiped from the station with mostly cold segues and occasional promos counting down to “T-Minus 3 Days” with clips spotlighting the history of Alternative “Live 105” on the frequency including artists it helped break, its “BFD” annual concert, and airing the Howard Stern Show.

KITS was known as Alternative “Live 105” from 1986 until it was rebranded as “Alt 105.3” in December 2017. The format would be dropped in favor of the Variety Hits “105.3 Dave-FM” brand in October 2021.

KITS rose from a 1.7 to 2.0 share in the San Francisco April 2023 Nielsen Audio ratings. It dropped 1.5 to 1.3 in adjacent San Jose.

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— LIVE 105 (@live105fm) June 2, 2023