The station continually broke new songs and gave airplay to many artists for the first time on Australian radio, pushing many into the mainstream charts.
At the time, the mainstream media didn’t see the potential for a dance format station and were more interested in focusing on getting the biggest slice of the more traditional baby boomers.
Michael Hughes and Nigel Slater joined forces with renowned night club promotions and event managers Jake Kogakis, Peter Raff and Eric Pipersberg (aka The Gingerbread Men).
Together, they worked to form a broadcasting organization, gain support from the dance music industry, nightclubs and Melbourne’s best DJs.
A non-profit organization, called Dance Club Broadcasters was formed with Michael, Nigel, Jake, Peter and Eric as well as representatives of the industry.
Eventually, the name Kiss was agreed on due to the awareness and reputation leading dance stations in other big cities including London and New York.
This was a low power (200 watts) broadcast from the top of Swinburne University in Hawthorn reaching the surrounding eastern suburbs and inner city.
He had held DJ residencies in Melbourne's major clubs – The Underground, Redhead and Saratoga to name but a few plus he also had a degree in Media and Japanese.
For more information: ACMA Allocation of community licences in Melbourne The programming format had consistent shows across the weekdays with familiar breakfast, morning, afternoon, drive and evening request shows but the music and the presentation style was like nothing else on Melbourne radio at the time.
Weekdays Weekends Specialist shows, weeknights Kiss FM currently has active transmitters at Flemington, Geelong, Kangaroo Ground, Melbourne City, and a relay service to Cairns.
It is the home of duo TRANCEGRESSION, which features live DJ mixes including vocal hard trance though to hardstyle; The Beautiful Drive with Timmy Byrne.
Annually, the station hosts a dance party on Australia Day - 26 January - at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, known as Kiss My Grass.
At the time of the attempt, Kiss FM's trademark had expired, and a new application from ARN for KIIS had been submitted and accepted.