WayFM Network

Last updated
WayFM
Type Radio network
Country
United States
Programming
Format Christian adult contemporary
History
Launch dateOctober 9, 1987 (1987-10-09)
Links
Webcast Listen Live
Website https://www.wayfm.com/

The WayFM Network is a national, non-profit radio broadcasting network in the United States, primarily playing Christian adult contemporary music. While WayFM is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, it operates stations in 12 states (as of May 2018), with content creation and programming originating in Franklin, Tennessee.

Contents

History

Origins in Fort Myers

WAY Media, Inc. was founded in 1987 by Bob Augsburg. [1] 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.

In 2012, WAY-FM shifted from its long time Christian CHR format to a Christian Adult Contemporary format, along with shifting their audience from 18- to 34-year-olds, to older adults (25–54), thus growing up with its original audience more or less. 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. [4] Bob remains on the board of directors and is still involved in the ministry. John Scaggs was chosen as the new CEO. [4]

Merger with Hope Media Group

On January 26, 2022; it was announced that Way Media Group would merge with Hope Media Group based out of Houston, Texas. Hope Media Group owns and operates heritage Christian AC station KSBJ 89.3, and Spanish Christian AC sister KHVU 91.7 (Vida Unida), along with internet radio station NGEN Radio which features a pop and Hip-Hop leaning Christian CHR format.

Current reach

At this time, WAY-FM owns and operates 23 full power FM radio stations. WAY-FM also owns 38 translator stations. WAY-FM is also heard online and offers two online exclusive streams. NGEN radio streaming Christian Pop and Hip-Hop and Way Loud streaming Christian Active/Alternative Rock.

Station list

Alabama

Call sign Frequency City of license FID ERP (W) HAAT Class FCC info
WAYU91.1 FM Steele, Alabama 173825150230  m (755  ft)A LMS
WAYH 88.1 FM Harvest, Alabama 615093,500204 m (669 ft)C3 LMS
W297AP107.3 FM Anniston, Alabama 14119210222 m (728 ft)D LMS
W220ED91.9 FM Auburn, Alabama 1483561949 m (161 ft)D LMS
W210CA89.9 FM Birmingham, Alabama 14112910349.1 m (1,145 ft)D LMS
W258AE99.5 FM Florence, Alabama 584362773.4 m (241 ft)D LMS
W256CD99.1 FM Fultondale, Alabama 1538941300 m (0 ft)D LMS
W258AU99.5 FM Huntsville, Alabama 141160120387 m (1,270 ft)D LMS
W259BS99.7 FM Montgomery, Alabama 141115100 m (0 ft)D LMS
W272CO102.3 FM Montgomery, Alabama 90253250192 m (630 ft)D LMS
W292EI106.3 FM Warrior, Alabama 1411322500 m (0 ft)D LMS

Colorado

Call sign Frequency City of license FID ERP (W) HAAT Class FCC info
KBWA89.1 FM Brush, Colorado 914201,50044.2  m (145  ft)A LMS
KXWA 101.9 FM Centennial, Colorado 708229,500163 m (535 ft)C3 LMS
KCWA 93.9 FM Loveland, Colorado 9761580319 m (1,047 ft)A LMS
KRWA90.9 FM Rye, Colorado 8740910,00034.6 m (114 ft)C3 LMS
KJWA89.7 FM Trinidad, Colorado 87410160241 m (791 ft)A LMS
KFWA 103.1 FM Weldona, Colorado 792496,80046.3 m (152 ft)C3 LMS
K257FO99.3 FM Colorado Springs, Colorado 14017872651 m (2,136 ft)D LMS
K300CP107.9 FM Denver, Colorado 1401552500 m (0 ft)D LMS
K230BO93.9 FM Monument, Colorado 140364250148 m (486 ft)D LMS
K299AO107.7 FM Sterling, Colorado 13994575110.4 m (362 ft)D LMS

Florida

Call sign Frequency City of license FID ERP (W) HAAT Class FCC info
WAYP88.3 FM Marianna, Florida 4008270,000105  m (344  ft)C1 LMS
WAYJ 89.5 FM Naples, Florida 59831100,00094.1 m (309 ft)C1 LMS
WAYF88.1 FM West Palm Beach, Florida 6150750,000321 m (1,053 ft)C1 LMS
W263BI100.5 FM Fort Myers, Florida 143063250320.8 m (1,052 ft)D LMS
W295DC106.9 FM Panama City, Florida 1400541511 m (36 ft)D LMS
W258BC99.5 FM Perkins, Florida 14462225093.2 m (306 ft)D LMS
W244BD96.7 FM Stuart, Florida 8597480042 m (138 ft)D LMS
W239CG95.7 FM Tallahassee, Florida 144620100 m (0 ft)D LMS
W212CG90.3 FM West Palm Beach, Florida 1233642500 m (0 ft)D LMS

Georgia

Call sign Frequency City of license FID ERP (W) HAAT Class FCC info
WAYT88.1 FM Thomasville, Georgia 6119317,000392  m (1,286  ft)C1 LMS
W212AR90.3 FM Lindale, Georgia 6426310217 m (712 ft)D LMS

Indiana

Call sign Frequency City of license FID ERP (W) HAAT Class FCC info
WAYI 104.3 FM Charlestown, Indiana 765953,000100  m (328  ft)A LMS
WJWA 91.5 FM Evansville, Indiana 691066,100151 m (495 ft)B1 LMS
W220DV91.9 FM Evansville, Indiana 141109250248.2 m (814 ft)D LMS
W261CW100.1 FM Evansville, Indiana 141110430 m (0 ft)D LMS

Kansas

Call sign Frequency City of license FID ERP (W) HAAT Class FCC info
KYWA90.7 FM Wichita, Kansas 4853753,000144  m (472  ft)C1 LMS

Kentucky

Call sign Frequency City of license FID ERP (W) HAAT Class FCC info
WAYD88.1 FM Auburn, Kentucky 930171,000113  m (371  ft)A LMS
WAYK 105.9 FM Valley Station, Kentucky 507641,250155 m (509 ft)A LMS
W212BZ90.3 FM Brentwood, Kentucky 1404681987.2 m (286 ft)D LMS
W201DD88.1 FM Central City, Kentucky 1472962758.9 m (193 ft)D LMS
W221EU91.5 FM Central City, Kentucky 1411011200 m (0 ft)D LMS
W291BZ106.1 FM Murray, Kentucky 1426712781.4 m (267 ft)D LMS
W217BP91.3 FM Owensboro, Kentucky 1404601587.4 m (287 ft)D LMS

Oregon

Call sign Frequency City of license ERP (W) HAAT Class FCC info
KKWA 96.3 FM West Linn, Oregon 1,350386  m (1,266  ft)C3 FMQ
K272EL102.3 FM Portland, Oregon 99422.6 m (1,386 ft)D LMS

South Carolina

Call sign Frequency City of license ERP (W) HAAT Class FCC info
WAYA-FM 100.9 FM Ridgeville, South Carolina 13,00091  m (299  ft)C3 FMQ
W267BK101.3 FM Mount Pleasant, South Carolina 250201.5 m (661 ft)D LMS

Tennessee

Call sign Frequency City of license FID ERP (W) HAAT Class FCC info
WAYQ88.3 FM Clarksville, Tennessee 8385314,000227  m (745  ft)C2 LMS
WAYW89.9 FM New Johnsonville, Tennessee 9193250097 m (318 ft)A LMS
WAYM88.7 FM Spring Hill, Tennessee 584215,000330 m (1,083 ft)C2 LMS
W215BH90.9 FM Chattanooga, Tennessee 9411110361 m (1,184 ft)D LMS
W284AE104.7 FM Chattanooga, Tennessee 58443250219 m (719 ft)D LMS
W207CI89.3 FM Cleveland, Tennessee 5844413123.1 m (404 ft)D LMS
W257BX99.3 FM Columbia, Tennessee 1407066054.4 m (178 ft)D LMS
W213BT90.5 FM Cookeville, Tennessee 6425710134.5 m (441 ft)D LMS
W210CD89.9 FM Hendersonville, Tennessee 64258250316 m (1,037 ft)D LMS
W207CQ89.3 FM Jackson, Tennessee {{{fid10}}}10108 m (354 ft)D FMQ

Texas

Call sign Frequency City of license ERP (W) HAAT Class FCC info
KAWA 89.7 FM Sanger, Texas 95,000572  m (1,877  ft)CKAWA FMQ]

Washington

Call sign Frequency City of license FID ERP (W) HAAT Class FCC info
K218FL91.5 FM Spokane, Washington 106445260  m (0  ft)D LMS
K235CU94.9 FM Longview, Washington 140432200 m (0 ft)D LMS

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">KSBJ</span> Radio station in Humble–Houston, Texas

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References

  1. ↑ cmarcucci (2012-02-14). "WAY-FM selling WAYJ-FM". Radio & Television Business Report. Retrieved 2019-08-20.
  2. 1 2 Archived July 13, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ↑ Philpot, Robert. "Report: Power 89.7 FM soon to become "Way-FM" | The Star Telegram The Star Telegram". Star-telegram.com. Retrieved 2015-05-15.
  4. 1 2 "John Scaggs Named CEO of Christian Broadcaster WAY Media". Insideradio.com. Retrieved 2019-08-15.
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