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WAPE-FM

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For the defunct AM radio station in Jacksonville, Florida, see WAPE (defunct).
WAPE-FM
Broadcast areaJacksonville area
Frequency95.1 MHz (HD Radio)
Branding"95.1 WAPE"
Programming
FormatTop 40/CHR
Ownership
Owner
WXXJ WJGL WEZI WOKV
History
First air date
1949
Former call signs
WJAX-FM (1978-1986)
Call sign meaning
W APE (An ape is used as a mascot.)
Technical information
Facility ID70863
ClassC
ERP100,000 watts
HAAT300 meters (984 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
30°19′22.00″N 81°38′34.00″W / 30.3227778°N 81.6427778°W / 30.3227778; -81.6427778
Links
WebcastListen Live!
WebsiteWAPE.com

WAPE-FM (95.1 MHz "The Big Ape") is a commercial FM radio station in Jacksonville, Florida. It is owned by Cox Radio and airs a Top 40 (CHR) radio format. Its transmitter is located in Downtown Jacksonville, off Gator Bowl Boulevard.[1] The studios and offices are located on Belfort Parkway in Jacksonville's Southside section.

WAPE's effective radiated power is 100,000 watts, the maximum permitted for non-grandfathered FM stations. WAPE is licensed for HD Radio operations but currently has no secondary channel.

History

In 1949, the station first signed on as WJAX-FM.[2] It was the FM counterpart to AM 930 WJAX (now WFXJ). The two stations were owned by the City of Jacksonville. They simulcast their programming, and were NBC Radio Network affiliates. WJAX-FM originally ran at only 7,700 watts, a fraction of its current power. Through the 1950s and 60s, WJAX-AM-FM carried a full service middle of the road music format.

Around 1970, WJAX-FM switched to an album rock sound. It was during the 1970s that WJAX-FM got a power boost to its current 100,000 watts, able to cover Jacksonville and its growing suburbs, from Southeast Georgia down to St. Augustine and Gainesville.

From the mid-1970s until 1986, WJAX-FM was successful as a Top 40 station. In March 1986, it flipped to a rhythmic contemporary or "CHUrban" format as WAPE-FM, "The New Power 95." WAPE-FM is the second outlet in Jacksonville to use this call sign and format, which was originally on the AM band at 690 kHz.

In 1993, the station's CHUrban format, and its nickname "Power 95" were replaced with a Hot AC format. The new slogan was "WAPE 95.1, Today's Best Music with No Rap or Hard Rock". But in 1997, the station returned to its Top 40/CHR sound.

In 1998, the station was bought by Capstar, Inc., a forerunner of iHeartMedia, Inc.[3] In 2000, WAPE-FM was acquired by Atlanta-based Cox Radio.[4]

Past Air Personalities

Some of WAPE's alumni, from both AM 690 and FM 95.1, include comic actor Jay Thomas, Douglas "The Greaseman" Tracht, Cleveland Wheeler, Honest John, Mark "The Unknown DJ" Driscoll, Kandy Klutch, Hoyle Dempsey, Tom Murphy, Ross Earl, JJ The Night Guy, Tony Mann, Mark The Shark, Billy Goat, Tin Man, Dani, Steve Sutton, Christopher "Trane On The Radio" Trane, Patricia "Pat" Harrison, Just Jim, Chase Daniels, Aaron Daniels, CC Rider and Miss Laura Carlson.

See also

References

  1. ^ Radio Locator.com/WAPE-FM
  2. ^ Broadcasting Yearbook 1950 page 111
  3. ^ Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1999 page D-90
  4. ^ Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2010 page D-139
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