WWPE-FM

WWPE-FM (92.1 MHz; "Sasquatch 92.1") is a radio station licensed to Hermantown, Minnesota, and serves the Twin Ports. Established in 1996, the station is owned by Townsquare Media, through licensee Townsquare License, LLC. It airs a classic rock format branded as "Sasquatch 92.1" (Sasquatch or Bigfoot is a mythical ape-like creature said to inhabit the northern woods of the U.S. and Canada).

WWPE-FM
Broadcast areaDuluth-Superior
Frequency92.1 MHz
BrandingSasquatch 92.1
Programming
FormatClassic rock
AffiliationsCompass Media Networks
United Stations Radio Networks
Ownership
Owner
KBMX, KKCB, KLDJ, WEBC
History
First air date
June 17, 1996[1]
Former call signs
WWAX (1996–2020)
Technical information
Facility ID26004
ClassC3
ERP5,400 watts
HAAT215 meters (705 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
46°47′41″N 92°07′05″W
Links
WebcastListen Live
Websitesquatchrocks.com

The studios and offices are located in Downtown Duluth at 207 W. Superior St., Suite 130, Duluth, MN 55802, and the transmitter is located off South Blackman Avenue, in the Duluth antenna farm.[2]

History

The station signed on in 1996 as WWAX, carrying a modern adult contemporary satellite feed. The call sign was similar to the WAKX call sign formerly used by WDUL and KTCO. A change to local programming was made in 1997. WWAX branded itself as "92.1 Kiss FM" until being warned by Clear Channel (now iHeartMedia) which holds the trademark for the "Kiss" moniker. The station changed its moniker to "92.1 The Beat" by 2004. It had fluctuated between the formats of modern AC, hot AC, top 40 (CHR) and adult CHR from 1997 to early 2007, and competed with KBMX "Mix 108".

92.1 The Beat tweaked its format to rhythmic leaning CHR in February 2007, and went adult contemporary as "92.1 Lite FM" on February 29, 2008.

In October 2008, announcements were already made on the station's webpage that "A 'Lite' Christmas was coming soon". By November 1 of that year, 92.1 Lite was playing all Christmas music around the clock. For 2009, the station started around the clock Christmas music during the middle of November instead of at the beginning.

On September 2, 2010, WWAX changed its format to hot adult contemporary, branded as "NU 92" (pronounced as "New 92"). This came just after 102.5 flipped from classic rock to top 40 (CHR) as KDWZ on August 30, with NU 92 and KDWZ both competing with KBMX on both sides of the pop music spectrum.

On March 2, 2015, WWAX changed its format to sports, branded as "92.1 The Fan". Much of its programming originated from the "Fan Radio Network", based at KFXN-FM in Minneapolis–St. Paul.

On April 19, 2017, Red Rock Radio announced that it would sell WWAX and KQDS to Twin Ports Radio for $200,000; through a time brokerage agreement, Twin Ports assumed control of the stations on May 1. Twin Ports' owner, Dan Hatfield, also ran Christian radio station WJRF; following the sale, WWAX and KQDS moved their studios to WJRF's facilities, but retained their sports formats.[3] The sale was consummated on June 30, 2017.

On January 30, 2020, Townsquare Media announced that it would acquire WWAX; it assumed control of the station via local marketing agreement on February 1, at which point the classic rock format of WEBC began simulcasting on WWAX as "Sasquatch 92.1", with the sports talk format moving to WEBC as "Fan 106.5" on February 17.[4] The $370,000 sale to Townsquare was completed on October 9;[5] on October 20, the call sign was changed to WWPE-FM.[6]

References
  1. Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1999 (PDF). 1999. p. D-235. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
  2. "Predicted Coverage Area for WWPE 92.1 FM, Hermantown, MN". radio-locator.com. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  3. Venta, Lance (April 19, 2017). "Red Rock Radio Sells Last Two Duluth Stations". RadioInsight. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
  4. Townsquare Media To Acquire WWAX Duluth And Move Sasquatch
  5. "Virgin Islands' WGOD Sold". All Access. October 14, 2020. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  6. "Call Sign History (WWPE-FM)". Retrieved October 26, 2020.
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