WAY-FM Network

Origins in Fort Myers

WAY Media, Inc. has been in existence since 1987. The non-profit corporation began as a single FM radio station in Fort Myers, Florida.

In the early 1980s, Bob and Felice Augsburg were residing in Fort Myers, where Bob was working as the Program Director at WSOR, a Christian Radio Station formatted for older adults. Bob and Felice have said that they "were compelled by the burden to see a younger audience reached and Bob began producing a Saturday evening broadcast geared for youth."^[2] This program, which aired on WSOR, became the springboard for Christian Rock concerts in the area and the impetus for a 24/7 station with this type of format.^[2]

Much discussion with local parents and business people led to a non-profit Florida corporation and an application filed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for an unused FM frequency.

On Christmas Eve (December 24) 1986, the group received its permit for the construction of a new non-commercial FM station in Fort Myers, WAYJ. On October 9, 1987, WAYJ, broadcasting as "WAY-FM", signed on the air.

Growth

By 1992, three WAY-FM radio stations were on the air—including Fort Myers; Nashville, Tennessee (WAYM); and West Palm Beach, Florida (WAYF).

In the mid-90s, WAY-FM stations, beginning with WAYF, began to sponsor and organize large Christian music concerts and day-long music festivals. Within a few years, Nashville and Fort Myers also began to sponsor major Christian music events.

After several years of planning, in 1996, WAY-FM began the Christian Hit Radio Satellite Network (CHRSN). The network was designed to help other stations who desired to reach the youth and young adults of their respective communities but lacked the manpower or resources to operate a station on their own.

Corporate office established

In 2001, WAY-FM Media Group established a corporate office in Colorado Springs, Colorado where Bob Augsburg, the president and founder now lives. Dusty Rhodes, former Station Manager of WAYF, joined Augsburg in Colorado as Chief Operating Officer and is now the ministry's Senior Vice President.

In 2005, Dar Ringling joined the ministry as Chief Financial Officer while Lloyd Parker, formerly General Manager of the K-LOVE & Air1 Radio Networks, became the Chief Operating Officer. They changed the station's format from Christian Rock and Rap to Christian Adult Contemporary and Worship, shifting their audience from 18- to 34-year-olds, to older adults.

In 2012, WAY-FM shifted from its long time Christian CHR format to a Christian Adult Contemporary format. Since 2013 WAY-FM via flagship station WAYM, Nashville is a Christian AC reporter to the Nielsen BDS service, and became a monitored reporter to Mediabase's Christian AC panel in April 2015.

In July 2013, WAY-FM ceased providing programming to non-owned stations via satellite, with the exception of the network morning show, The Wally Show. In 2017, The Wally Show stopped syndication, as well.

In May 2015, WAY-FM announced plans to acquire KVRK, in North Texas.^[3] The Station calls letters are now KAWA and now broadcasts the national WAY-FM format. The former Power FM however has become an online music channel, app, and community of Christian rock fans managed by WAY-FM Media Group.

New CEO

In August 2017, Founder Bob Augsburg officially retired from his position as CEO. Bob remains on the Board of Directors and is still involved in the ministry. John Scaggs was chosen as the new CEO. ^[1]

Alabama

• Gadsden / Anniston – WAYU 91.1 & 107.3
• Huntsville – WAYH 88.1, 99.5, and 102.1-HD3
• Montgomery – 102.3 & 95.1-HD4
• Birmingham - 89.9 & 95.7-HD2

Colorado

• Denver – KXWA 101.9 & KCWA 93.9
• Colorado Springs - KVUU-HD2 - K276FL 99.3
• Fort Collins – KCWA 93.9
• Pueblo - KRWA 90.9
• Trinidad – KJWA 89.7

Florida

• Fort Lauderdale – 88.1
• Fort Myers – 100.5
• Naples – WAYJ 89.5
• Panama City - WAYP 88.3
• Tallahassee – 88.1
• West Palm Beach – WAYF 88.1

Georgia

• Lindale / Rome – 90.3
• Thomasville / Albany / Tallahassee – WAYT 88.1

Indiana

• Evansville – 91.9
• New Albany (Louisville, KY) – WAYI 104.3 & WAYK 105.9

Kansas

• Wichita – KYWA 90.7

Kentucky

• Bowling Green – WAYD 88.1
• Henderson – 91.9
• Leitchfield - 89.5
• Louisville - WAYI 104.3 & WAYK 105.9
• Madisonville – 90.3
• Owensboro – 91.3

Oregon

• Portland - K283BL 104.5 (repeats the HD2 signal of KFBW)

South Carolina

• Charleston – WAYA-FM 100.9

Tennessee

• Chattanooga – 90.9 & 104.7
• Clarksville – WAYQ 88.3
• Nashville – WAYM 88.7
• Waverly – WAYW 89.9

Texas

• Sanger - KAWA 89.7

Washington

• Spokane - 89.1 K206CQ (rebroadcasts programming from KYCC, Stockton, California)
• Vancouver - KFBW 105.9-HD2 (programmed by WAY-FM; owned by Clear Channel Communications)

Florida

• Glen St. Mary – 100.3

Georgia

• Columbus – 96.1

Indiana

• Marion - 94.3 WIWU "The Fortress"

Iowa

• Cedar Rapids – 89.1

Kansas

• Hays – 98.5

Kentucky

• Shelbyville – 93.3

Michigan

• Port Huron – Power 88.3 WNFA (now airs a locally originating CCM format)
• Grand Rapids, Michigan - 99.3 WJQK

(WAY-FM is not related to Cornerstone University's WaY-FM network, based in Grand Rapids, Michigan.)

Minnesota

• Bemidji - 94.9
• Fosston – 107.1
• Park Rapids – 92.9
• Roseau - 102.9
• Thief River Falls – 107.9
• Walker – 104.9

Mississippi

• Jackson – 93.5

Montana

• Bozeman – 99.1

New Hampshire

• Keene – 94.9

North Dakota

• Grand Forks – 104.9

Ohio

• Ashland – 91.1
• Mansfield – 90.7 (WVMC and its translators in Ashland and Wooster switched to a praise and worship music format)
• Wooster – 102.7

Oregon

• Brookings – 106.3
• Canyonville – 96.7
• Coos Bay – 98.7
• Gold Beach – 105.5
• Sutherlin – 107.1
• Winston – 105.5

Pennsylvania

• Brookville – 95.9
• Indiana – 103.7
• Pittsburgh – 910 AM
• State College – 89.1

South Carolina

• Spartanburg – 104.1
• Charleston - 100.9

South Dakota

• Rapid City – 97.9

Texas

• Kerrville – 101.5
• Sanger - 89.7 KAWA-FM (Now owned by WAY-FM and broadcasting their signal as of September 2015.)

Vermont

• Burlington – 90.9

Virginia

• Hampton – WRPC-LP 103.7

Wisconsin

• Green Bay – WORQ 90.1
• Wausau – 89.5