WWPE-FM

Last updated
WWPE-FM
Squatch-92.1-logo.png
Broadcast area Duluth-Superior
Frequency 92.1 MHz
BrandingSasquatch 92.1
Programming
Format Classic rock
Affiliations Compass 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 ID 26004
Class C3
ERP 5,400 watts
HAAT 215 meters (705 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
 46°47′41″N92°07′05″W / 46.79472°N 92.11806°W / 46.79472; -92.11806
Links
Webcast Listen Live
Website squatchrocks.com

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).

Contents

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]

Related Research Articles

Red River Broadcasting is a television broadcasting company based in Fargo, North Dakota. It operates Fox affiliates in the Fargo, North Dakota and Duluth, Minnesota–Superior, Wisconsin television markets.

WEBC is an AM radio station located in Duluth, Minnesota, owned by Townsquare Media. It airs a sports format branded as "Northland Fan".

KZIO is a radio station located in Duluth, Minnesota that serves as a satellite station to Minnesota Public Radio's AAA station KCMP, with inserts for local weather, underwriting messages, and a local music program that airs on Sunday evenings. Established in 1995 as WRSR, the station is owned by American Public Media Group's Minnesota Public Radio. Its former owner was Red River Broadcasting, which also owns KQDS-TV channel 21 and formerly owned KQDS 1490, KQDS-FM 94.9, and WWAX 92.1 before deciding to sell their radio assets through 2015 into 2017. The studios under RRB ownership were located at Grandma's Marketplace in Canal Park in Duluth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KDKE</span> Radio station in Superior, Wisconsin

KDKE is a classic country radio station located in Duluth, Minnesota. KDKE is owned by Midwest Communications, which also owns WDSM, WDUL, KDAL, KDAL-FM and KTCO in Duluth. All the Duluth stations share the same studio location at 11 East Superior St. Suite 380, downtown Duluth. Most of KDKE's personalities are voice-tracked or syndicated.

WLHT-FM is a hot adult contemporary music formatted radio station in Grand Rapids, Michigan owned by Townsquare Media. WLHT's studios are located on Ottawa Avenue Northwest in downtown Grand Rapids, while its transmitter is located in Comstock Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WDUL</span> Radio station in Superior, Wisconsin

WDUL is a radio station licensed in Superior, Wisconsin. The station is owned and operated by Midwest Communications, which owns six stations in Duluth, Minnesota. All the Duluth stations share the same studio location at 11 East Superior St. Suite 380, downtown Duluth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midwest Communications</span> American radio broadcasting company

Midwest Communications is a Wausau, Wisconsin-based radio broadcasting company. It owns 82 radio stations located primarily within the Midwest United States, in Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Illinois and Wisconsin. The company is a family-owned business and is headed by the Wright family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KDAL-FM</span> Radio station in Duluth, Minnesota

KDAL-FM is an American radio station in Duluth, Minnesota airing an adult contemporary format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WFMK</span> Radio station in East Lansing, Michigan

WFMK is an adult contemporary radio station licensed to East Lansing, Michigan and serving the Lansing radio market. The station is owned by Townsquare Media and broadcasts in HD radio.

KQDS-FM is a classic rock music formatted radio station located in Duluth, Minnesota. Established in 1976 as KAOH-FM, the station is owned by Midwest Communications, and follows a format similar to that of the well-known KQRS-FM in the Twin Cities.

Nassau Broadcasting Partners LP was a company based in Princeton, New Jersey that owned radio stations in New England and the Mid-Atlantic United States. Nassau's stations, which included both AM and FM frequencies, were located in Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The company was owned and headed by Louis F. Mercatanti. Nassau was predominantly an operator of radio stations in medium and small markets. Nassau formerly owned radio station WCRB in Waltham, a Boston suburb, and located in the Boston market, the 11th largest radio market in the US, according to BIA Financial Network. However that station was sold to WGBH in 2009. Nassau operated radio stations in substantially all of the major formats. The company's most common format was classic rock/classic hits. On October 13, 2011 Nassau Broadcasting entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after their senior lenders petitioned for an involuntary Chapter 7 liquidation in September. The stations were auctioned to various bidders in May 2012 subject to bankruptcy judge and FCC approval. Nassau's last station, WPLY in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, lost its license in 2014 after having shut down in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KBMX</span> Radio station in Proctor—Duluth, Minnesota

KBMX is a Top 40 radio station serving Duluth, Minnesota, and Superior, Wisconsin. It is owned by Townsquare Media.

KCHH is a radio station licensed to Worden, Montana, and serving the Billings, Montana metropolitan area. The station airs an adult contemporary format. KCHH is owned by Townsquare Media. KCHH also offers a translator at 95.1 (MHz) K236AB broadcasting off the Crown Plaza in Downtown Billings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KSAS-FM</span> Radio station in Caldwell, Idaho

KSAS-FM is a commercial radio station located in Caldwell, Idaho, broadcasting to the Boise, Idaho area. KSAS-FM airs a Top 40 (CHR) music format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KLDJ</span> Radio station in Duluth, Minnesota

KLDJ is a radio station in Duluth, Minnesota, owned by Townsquare Media, airing a classic hits music format.

KJOQ is a commercial AM radio station in Duluth, Minnesota. Established in 1963 as KAOH, the station is owned by Daniel and Alana Hatfield, through licensee Twin Ports Radio, LLC, and airs a worship music format. The studios are located in Duluth's Central Hillside at 806 East 4th street in Duluth. The AM transmitter is located off Maryland Avenue in Superior, Wisconsin and the 100.9 FM translator is co-located with former sister station WWPE-FM 92.1 in the Duluth antenna farm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KDCZ</span> Radio station in St. Charles, Minnesota

KDCZ is a radio station broadcasting a classic rock format. KDCZ is licensed to St. Charles, Minnesota, and serves the Rochester, Minnesota metropolitan area. The station is owned by Townsquare Media.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBZW</span> Radio station in Union City–Atlanta, Georgia

WBZW is an Atlanta radio station broadcasting a Regional Mexican radio format. It is owned by iHeartMedia and is licensed to serve Union City, Georgia. It operates from studios located at the Peachtree Palisades building in the Brookwood Hills district of Atlanta, and the transmitter is located in Tyrone.

KLBG is a commercial radio station licensed to serve Lindsborg, Kansas, United States. The station is owned by Christofer Shank, through licensee Ad Astra per Aspera Broadcasting, Inc.

WWAX may refer to:

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.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.