99.9 KISW Celebrates 50 Years as "The Rock Of Seattle"

RADIO ONLINE | Thursday, February 4, 2021 | 11:02am CT

Seattle's 99.9 KISW is celebrating a 50-year milestone as Seattle's only rock and talk station. On February 12, the station will kick off its yearlong 50th anniversary celebration with "The 50th Anniversary Weekend." The special programming will celebrate with stories and memories from the station's alumni, local civic, sports and business leaders, as well as bands and artists from both Seattle and around the world, dating back to the station's inception on February 14, 1971.

Guests will include bands Metallica, Guns N' Roses, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, Nirvana, Greta Van Fleet, Heart, Alice In Chains, Disturbed, Judas Priest, athletes from Seattle Mariners, Seahawks, Kraken and Sounders, Mayor of Seattle Jenny Durkin, singer-songwriter Sammy Hagar, and actors Joel McHale and Rainn Wilson.

"There are only a handful of radio stations that can brag about thriving for 50 years in a particular format, and KISW is one of them," said Jack Hutchison, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Entercom Seattle. "KISW is synonymous with Seattle. We'd like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the many talented people who have been and still are part of this journey. They know the secret to our success has been to - first and foremost - recognize and immerse ourselves within the community. We're not done, so stay tuned for the next 50 years. They are going to be fun."

"We're indebted to the Seattle community, our partners and the KISW audience," said Dave Richards, Senior Vice President of Programming, Rock Format Captain, Entercom; Brand Manager, 99.9 KISW. "To be able to celebrate a milestone like this is a rarity, and we don't take that lightly. We celebrate this golden anniversary with everyone who has been along for the ride."

99.9 KISW launched on February 14, 1971 with an underground and progressive rock format. The station was owned at the time by Kaye - Smith, where Frank Sinatra was a minority owner. KISW eventually evolved its focus in the 1980s to album-oriented rock, playing the best-selling albums from the top rock acts. In the 1990s as Nirvana and Pearl Jam led an international change of music, KISW was the first to play them and their contemporaries. Over the years, personalities and shows like "Robin and Maynard," "Langan and West," "Crowe and West," "Bob Rivers Twisted Radio," Howard Stern, "BJ and Migs" and "The Mens Room" have helped the station serve entertainment and rock music to the greater Seattle area, reaching over 600,000 listeners as the city's top-rated radio station.