As the 1990s began, CFMO begin moving toward soft adult contemporary, playing more contemporary music and fewer instrumentals. CHUM dropped the longtime easy listening format on August 28, 1992, adopting the CKKL-FM calls and the brand name "Kool FM" for its new Hot AC format. The first song was "Time, Love & Tenderness" by Michael Bolton. The CFMO calls and format were picked up by CHEZ-FM Inc., and adopted on what is now CKBY. During their Hot AC days, they aired mostly contemporary hits during the evening hours (in large part due to CRTC regulations banning FM stations for having more than 50% of hit material on their playlists to protect AM stations and French-language stations), as well as the dance music show "Pirate Radio" with Chris Sheppard on Saturday nights. During the 1990s, CKKL competed against Top 40 stations CKTF-FM (which airs in French) and AM station Energy 1200 (which aired in English). Station liners during this time promoted "Hit Music on FM", directly targeting Energy 1200 listeners. After "Energy" flipped to alternative rock in 1997, CKKL was considered the default English-language hit music station in Ottawa. By February 2003, when CIHT-FM (now a CHR station) launched with its rhythmic contemporary format, CKKL completely shifted to CHR.