Western Cities Broadcasting paid $3.6 million for the station, and needing vastly improved economic results from what KFAT was delivering, on January 17, 1983, KFAT flipped to CHR as KWSS. (Santa Cruz-area station KPIG-FM was heavily inspired by the legacy of KFAT.)
In 1983, Western Cities Broadcasting purchased KFAT for $3.6 million and sought to improve its financial performance. On January 17th, the station changed format from its previous programming to CHR as KWSS.  KPIG-FM in the Santa Cruz area was heavily influenced by KFAT's legacy.