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

For the defunct AM radio station in Jacksonville, Florida, see WAPE (defunct).
WAPE-FM
CityJacksonville, Florida
Broadcast areaJacksonville area
Branding95.1 WAPE
SloganJacksonville's #1 Hit Music Station!
We Are The Original Big Ape!
Frequency95.1 MHz (HD Radio)
First air date1949
FormatTop 40/CHR
ERP100,000 watts
HAAT300 meters (980 ft)
ClassC
Facility ID70863
Transmitter coordinates30°19′22.00″N 81°38′34.00″W
Call sign meaningWe're The APE (An ape is used as a mascot.)
Former call signsWJAX-FM (1978-1986)
OwnerCox Media Group
(Cox Radio, Inc.)
Sister stationsWXXJ WJGL WEZI WOKV
WebcastListen Live!
WebsiteWAPE.com

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 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 (CHR)/Urban hybrid (also known as "CHUrban", which would be the forerunner to what is now rhythmic contemporary) format as WAPE-FM under the moniker "Power 95, WAPE".[3] 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 branding "Power 95" were replaced with a Hot AC format as "WAPE 95.1, Today's Best Music with No Rap or Hard Rock". In 1997, the station 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.[4] In 2000, WAPE-FM was acquired by Atlanta-based Cox Radio.[5]

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 "Marj" Fizzy, Tom Murphy, Ross Earl, JJ The Night Guy, Tony Mann, Marcus "Mark The Shark" Bowder, 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, CC Rider, Miss Laura Carlson, Spoon and WAPE's legendary mascot himself, The Big Ape.

See also
  • WAPE (defunct) (history of previous station with these calls)

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