In 1999, under network programme director Roger Clamp and Global Radio chief executive Brent Impey, the station changed to a less alternative format.

The station's ratings fell, but improved when the transmitter was relocated to the Sky Tower from its previous position on Waiheke Island and gained a higher-powered frequency.

The station Kiwi FM was launched on Waitangi Day, 6 February 2005 and was opened with a speech by then-Prime Minister Helen Clark.

Then broadcasting minister Steve Maharey said the station had been granted the use of three FM frequencies for an initial period of one year, during which time it would work towards becoming a not-for-profit organisation.

The new organizational structure for Kiwi FM was rather unusual: it was set up as a partnership between Government Ministries for Broadcasting and Economic Development and listed media company MediaWorks.

He claimed "Channel Z served an important role between the Student Radio Network and the commercial stations" and that with it gone "New Zealand music is going to find it a much harder place to get heard".

The first CD included "Change (In the House of Flies)" by Deftones, "Last Resort" by Papa Roach, "Heaven Is a Halfpipe" by OPM, "Generator" by Foo Fighters, "Alright" by Tadpole, "Sucker" by 28 Days, "99 Red Balloons" by Goldfinger, "Calling On" by Weta, "Mudshovel" by Staind, "Southtown" by P.O.D., "Please Bleed" by Ben Harper, "Johnny" by Salmonella Dub, "Freshmint!"

by Regurgitator, "Green" by Goodshirt, "Now" by Fur Patrol, "Comfortably Shagged" by HLAH, "American Bad Ass" by Kid Rock, and "Bodyrock" by Moby.

The second CD includes "Make Me Bad" by Korn, "Pardon Me" by Incubus, "Pacifier" by Shihad, "My Own Worst Enemy" by Lit, "Penguins & Polarbears" by Millencolin, "Bullet in my Hand" by Slim, "Mary" by Supergrass, "Empty Head" by Betchadupa, "Baggy Trousers" by Dark Tower, "What You Do (Bastard)" by Stellar*, "The Best Things" by Filter, "Waffle" by Sevendust, "I'm with Stupid" by Static-X, "Who am I" by Wash, "Super Breakdown" by Sprung Monkey, "Ready 1" by Grinspoon, "Out of Control" by the Chemical Brothers, and "Build It Up, Tear It Down" by Fatboy Slim.

The main disc included "Flavour of the Weak" by American Hi-Fi, "Your Disease" by Saliva, "Fat Lip" by Sum 41, "My Generation" by Limp Bizkit, "Man Overboard" by Blink 182, "Good Fortune" by PJ Harvey, "My Happiness" by Powderfinger, "Hanging By a Moment" by Lifehouse, "Duck and Run" by 3 Doors Down, "Counting The Days" By Goldfinger, "Between Angels and Insects" by Papa Roach, "The Lost Art of Keeping a Secret" by Queens of the Stoneage, "Hit or Miss" by New Found Glory and "Movies" by Alien Ant Farm.

New Zealand tracks include "Funny Boy" by Rubicon, "Labourer" by Marystaple, "Blowing Dirt" by Goodshirt and "Drivers Side" by Zed.

The album included a bonus disc, featuring "What a Day" by Nonpoint, "Wrecking Ball" by Creeper Lagoon, "Sometimes" by Ours, "No One" by Cold, "Slow" by Professional Murder Music, and "Low" by New Zealand band Slim.

New Zealand tracks included "Just Like Everybody Else" by Shihad, "Push on Thru" by Salmonella Dub, "Bruce" by Rubicon, "King Kong" by Voom, "Streets Don't Close" by Sommerset, "Real World" by Slim, "Nil By Mouth" by Blindspott, "Astronaut" by The Feelers, "Better Days 2001 Remix" by Tadpole, "Snapshot" by Weta, "Andrew" by Fur Patrol, "Blowing Dirt" by Goodshirt, and "Awake" by Betchadupa.

The first CD also included "Papercut" by Linkin Park, "Alive" with P.O.D., "Back to School" by Deftones, "Drive" by Incubus, "Waiting" by Green Day, "What's That You Say" by Sprung Monkey, "Hash Pipe" by Weezer, "Promise" by Eve 6, "Bohemian Like You" by The Dandy Warhols, "Teenage Dirtbag" by Wheatus, and "Fat Cop" by Regurgitator.

The second CD also included "Bodies" by Drowning Pool, "Speed Kills" by Bush, "Sometimes" by Ash, "When It's Over" by Sugar Ray, "Crystal" by New Order, "Hollywood Bitch" by Stone Temple Pilots, "Control" by Puddle of Mudd, "Rip It Up" by 28 Days, and "Gravity" by The Superjesus.

The first disc contained "Pts.OF.Athrty" by Linkin Park, "Boom" by P.O.D., "Prayer" by Disturbed, "Chemical Heart" by Grinspoon, "Envy" by Ash, "The Taste of Ink" by The Used, "Girl All the Bad Guys Want" by Bowling For Soup, "I'd Do Anything" by Simple Plan, "Cosmopolitan Blood Loss" by Glassjaw, "Rock Star" by N.E.R.D.

by Sahara Hotnights, "Poem" by Taproot, "The Energy" by Audiovent, "Up All Night" by Unwritten Law, "Walk Away" by Epidemic, "Long Grass" by Pan Am, "For Nancy ('Cos It Already Is)" by Pete Yorn, and "60 Miles an Hour" by New Order.

Featured New Zealand tracks included "Room to Breathe" by Blindspott, "Exit to the City" by The D4, "Sing the Night Away" by Steriogram, and "Condition Chronic" by Tadpole.

It included "Run" by Pacifier, "The Xpedition" by P-Money, "Green" by Goodshirt, "Long Grass" by Pan Am, "Nothing New" by Tadpole, "Nirvana" by Elemeno P, "Clutter" by Sommerset, "Shift" by Eight, "Probably Feel Alright" by Splitter, "Enemy" by Jester, "Astronaut" by The Feelers, "Ain't That Bad" by Cassette, "Stick With It" by Pluto, "Staring at the Ocean" by Heavy Jones Trio, "Describing Song" by Goldenhorse, "Beaten Again" by Pine, and "Coming Back Home" by The Black Seeds.