Aimed at rival WFRG-FM which had also gone through a frequency swap, "KDY country" could not dislodge WFRG and often ended up last place in the Utica-Rome market.

In August 1994, Norma Eilenberg hired program director Wally "Wilcox" McCarthy who changed WKDY's format to contemporary hit radio (CHR).

Now branded as "Kiss 102", WKDY was the first top 40 station in the Utica-Rome market since WRCK where Wilcox was before its sale and changed from CHR to classic rock.

The on-air staff during the station's rise in the market consisted of Wally and Jess in the morning (Wally "Wilcox" McCarthy and Jess Woollard), Dianne Chase in Midday, Shannon Steele Afternoon Drive, Steve "Roadrunner" Lawrence at night and Estelle in the overnight.

In October 2007, Clear Channel sold WUMX along with sister stations WOUR, WRNY, and WIXT to Galaxy Communications, who kept the hot AC format and Mix 102.5 branding.

As of January 2024, the WUMX lineup consists of Big Poppa (who replaced Elvis Duran and the Morning Show) and Brett Hall.