WAPE-FM

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.[2] The studios and offices are located on Central Parkway in Jacksonville's Southside section.

For the defunct AM radio station in Jacksonville, Florida, see WAPE (defunct).
WAPE-FM
Broadcast areaJacksonville metro area
Frequency95.1 MHz (HD Radio)
Branding95.1 WAPE
Programming
Language(s)English
FormatTop 40/CHR
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
1949 (1949)
Former call signs
WJAX-FM (1978–86)
Call sign meaning
Previously used on the former WAPE (690 AM)
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID70863
ClassC
ERP100,000 watts
HAAT300 meters (980 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
30°19′22.00″N 81°38′34.00″W
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen live
Listen live (via Audacy)
Websitewww.wape.com

WAPE's effective radiated power is 100,000 watts. WAPE is licensed for HD Radio operations but currently has no secondary channel.

History

In 1949, the station first signed on as WJAX-FM, the FM counterpart to WJAX.[3] The two stations were owned by the City of Jacksonville. They simulcasted 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 format. In the 1970s, 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 an urban contemporary station. In March 1986, it flipped to a Top 40/urban hybrid format (also known as "CHUrban", which would be the forerunner to what is now rhythmic contemporary) as WAPE-FM under their brand new moniker "Power 95 WAPE".[4] WAPE-FM is the second outlet in Jacksonville to use the call sign and format, which was originally on the AM band at 690 kHz. WAPE-FM was Jacksonville's dominant hit music station from the mid 1980s to the early 1990s.

In 1993, the station's CHUrban format and "Power 95" branding were replaced with a Hot AC format as "WAPE 95.1, Today's Best Music with No Rap or Hard Rock". In 1997, WAPE returned to their Top 40/CHR roots as "95.1 WAPE".

In 1998, the station was bought by Capstar, Inc., a forerunner of iHeartMedia, Inc.[5] In 2000, WAPE-FM was acquired by Atlanta-based Cox Radio.[6]

Past air personalities

Some of WAPE's alumni, from both AM 690 and FM 95.1, include the late great Jay Thomas, Douglas "The Greaseman" Tracht, Cleveland Wheeler, Honest John, Mark "The Unknown DJ" Driscoll, Kandy Klutch, Hoyle Dempsey, Marjorie "Marge Fizzy" Lou, Tommy Murphy, Ross Earl, JJ The Night Guy, Tony Mann, Mark "Mark The Shark" Fisher, Billy Goat, Chase Daniels, Jay Styles, Dave O, The Tin Man, Dani, Steve Sutton, Christopher "Trane On The Radio" Trane, Patricia "Pat" Harrison, Just Jim, Aaron Daniels, Dino, Gregory Tanner, CC Rider, Miss Lara, Spoon, Amadeus, Eden Kendall, Michael Knight, Russ The Hammer, Cadillac Jack, with Billy "Wild Bill" Miller, and the iconic mascot that made WAPE-AM and WAPE-FM a legend all over Jacksonville and beyond The Big Ape.

References
  1. "Facility Technical Data for WAPE-FM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. Radio Locator.com/WAPE-FM
  3. Broadcasting Yearbook 1950 page 111
  4. https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1980s/1986/RR-1986-03-07.pdf
  5. Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1999 page D-90
  6. Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2010 page D-139
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