Kiss 106.1, Seattle (1996 - 2009)

Unused bumper sticker from the 1996, sheet measures approximately 16.5 cm by 10.5 cm. 
Front side: background: clear; Kiss 106 logo.
Back side: free MALLPeRKS membership coupon.

On March 25, 1996, at 3 p.m., KCIN / KRPM flipped to a gold-leaning Rhythmic Adult Contemporary format, branded as "Kiss 106" KCIN reacquired the KRPM-FM call sign on April 5, but would adopt the current KBKS-FM call letters on April 15. (KRPM AM continued to simulcast until February 1, 1999, when it flipped to classic country.)

KBKS's playlist consisted of a wide range of rhythmic hits targeting adults 25–54 years old, including Motown, gold hits from the 1960s through the 1980s, re-currents, and current-day hits from artists like Celine Dion, Toni Braxton, Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson, and Boyz II Men. The station primarily competed against KUBE, KLSY, and KPLZ-FM.

Unused bumper sticker from the 1997, sheet measures approximately 22.5 cm by 7.5 cm.
Front side: background: white; Kiss 106.1 logo.
Back side: white.


On May 23, 1997, the Friday before Memorial Day weekend, KBKS flipped to Top 40/CHR and modified its moniker to "Kiss 106.1." This marked the first Mainstream Top 40/CHR station in Seattle since 1994, when KPLZ shifted to Hot AC. The Rhythmic AC format later returned to Seattle radio on KQMV from 2006-2010, and KMTT in 2013. 

EZ Communications and American Radio Systems merged in July 1997. Then, ARS and Infinity merged that September. With this, KBKS become an Infinity Broadcasting station (which was owned by CBS).

Unused bumper sticker from the 2000, sheet measures approximately 18 cm by 8 cm. 
Front side: shaped, oval; background: purple, black; Kiss 106.1 logo.
Back side: white.


At first, KBKS' direction leaned more towards Modern AC as a way to counter KUBE's Rhythmic Top 40 direction. KBKS became more mainstream in early 2000.

Unused bumper sticker from the 2004, sheet measures approximately 14 cm by 7.5 cm. 
Front side: shaped background: purple; Kiss 106.1 logo.
Back side: white.

Unused bumper sticker from the 2006, sheet measures approximately 14 cm by 7.5 cm. 
Front side: shaped; background: black; Kiss 106.1 logo.
Back side: Orange Julius promo.


In 2007, at the same time the station rebranded to "106.1 KISS FM," the station began leaning more rhythmic, in the hopes of denting KUBE's dominant ratings in the Seattle Top 40 battle.

On December 10, 2008, CBS Radio announced it would swap five of its stations, including KBKS, to Clear Channel Communications while trading two stations in Houston, Texas. The deal was approved by the FCC on March 31, 2009, and consummated on April 1. Under Clear Channel, now iHeartMedia, the station backed off of its rhythmic lean and returned to a more mainstream direction.

Unused bumper sticker from the 2009, sheet measures approximately 12.5 cm by 7.5 cm. 
Front side: shaped; background: white; 106.1 Kiss FM logo.
Back side: white.


The acquisition by Clear Channel joined KBKS with former long-time rival rhythmic top 40 station KUBE, as KBKS began competing against Sandusky Broadcasting's Top 40 KQMV (Movin' 92.5) and Modern AC KLCK-FM (Click 98.9), as well as Fisher Broadcasting's Hot AC KPLZ-FM (Star 101.5). KLCK-FM has since switched to country music as KNUC.

source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KBKS-FM