WAY-FM Network

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

WayFM
TypeRadio network
Country
SloganUplifting. Upbeat. Real.
Programming
FormatContemporary Christian music
Ownership
OwnerJohn Scaggs
History
Launch dateOctober 9, 1987 (1987-10-09)
Links
WebcastListen Live
Websitehttps://www.wayfm.com/

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]

Current Programming

The Wally Show,[5] WAY-FM's current morning show and the self-proclaimed as "the needle for the Christian bubble,"[6] launched in 2011.

Nationally syndicated hosts on The Brant Hansen Show[7] can be heard during middays on WAY-FM.

CJ & Joy[8] host WAY-FM's afternoon show. CJ joined the show in early 2018.

Kelly Corday[9] was hired as WAY-FM's evening show host and promotions director in 2019.[10]

Current reach

At this time, WAY-FM owns and operates 20 full power FM radio stations. WAY-FM also owns 24 low-power repeater stations.

Station list

Alabama

Call signFrequency
(MHz)
City of licenseERP
(W)
Height
(m (ft))
ClassFCC info
WAYU91.1Steele, Alabama150230 m (750 ft)AFCC
WAYH88.1Harvest, Alabama3,500204 m (669 ft)C3FCC
W297AP107.3Anniston, Alabama10222 m (728 ft)DFCC
W220ED91.9Auburn, Alabama1949 m (161 ft)DFCC
W210CA89.9Birmingham, Alabama180349.1 m (1,145 ft)DFCC
W258AE99.5Florence, Alabama2773.4 m (241 ft)DFCC
W258AU99.5Huntsville, Alabama120387 m (1,270 ft)DFCC
W272CO102.3Montgomery, Alabama250192 m (630 ft)DFCC

Colorado

Call signFrequency
(MHz)
City of licenseERP
(W)
Height
(m (ft))
ClassFCC info
KBWA89.1Brush, Colorado1,50044.2 m (145 ft)AFCC
KXWA101.9Centennial, Colorado9,500163 m (535 ft)C3FCC
KCWA93.9Loveland, Colorado580319 m (1,047 ft)AFCC
KRWA90.9Rye, Colorado10,00034.6 m (114 ft)C3FCC
KJWA89.7Trinidad, Colorado160241 m (791 ft)AFCC
K257FO99.3Colorado Springs, Colorado72651 m (2,136 ft)DFCC
K299AO107.7Sterling, Colorado75110.4 m (362 ft)DFCC

Florida

Call signFrequency
(MHz)
City of licenseERP
(W)
Height
(m (ft))
ClassFCC info
WAYP88.3Marianna, Florida70,000105 m (344 ft)C1FCC
WAYJ89.5Naples, Florida100,00094.1 m (309 ft)C1FCC
WAYF88.1West Palm Beach, Florida50,000321 m (1,053 ft)C1FCC
W263BI100.5Fort Myers, Florida250320.8 m (1,052 ft)DFCC
W295DC106.9Panama City, Florida1511 m (36 ft)DFCC
W244BD96.7Stuart, Florida80042 m (138 ft)DFCC

Georgia

Call signFrequency
(MHz)
City of licenseERP
(W)
Height
(m (ft))
ClassFCC info
WAYT88.1Thomasville, Georgia17,000392 m (1,286 ft)C1FCC
W212AR90.3Lindale, Georgia10217 m (712 ft)DFCC

Indiana

Call signFrequency
(MHz)
City of licenseERP
(W)
Height
(m (ft))
ClassFCC info
WAYI104.3Charlestown, Indiana3,000100 m (330 ft)AFCC
W220DV91.9Evansville, Indiana250248.2 m (814 ft)DFCC

Kansas

Call signFrequency
(MHz)
City of licenseERP
(W)
Height
(m (ft))
ClassFCC info
KYWA90.7Wichita, Kansas53,000144 m (472 ft)C1FCC

Kentucky

Call signFrequency
(MHz)
City of licenseERP
(W)
Height
(m (ft))
ClassFCC info
WAYD88.1Auburn, Kentucky1,000113 m (371 ft)AFCC
WAYK105.9Valley Station, Kentucky1,250155 m (509 ft)AFCC
W212BZ90.3Brentwood, Kentucky1987.2 m (286 ft)DFCC
W201DD88.1Central City, Kentucky2758.9 m (193 ft)DFCC
W291BZ106.1Murray, Kentucky2781.4 m (267 ft)DFCC
W217BP91.3Owensboro, Kentucky1587.4 m (287 ft)DFCC

Oregon

Call signFrequency
(MHz)
City of licenseERP
(W)
Height
(m (ft))
ClassFCC info
KKWA96.3West Linn, Oregon1,350386 m (1,266 ft)C3KKWA FCC]

South Carolina

Call signFrequency
(MHz)
City of licenseERP
(W)
Height
(m (ft))
ClassFCC info
WAYA-FM100.9Ridgeville, South Carolina13,00091 m (299 ft)C3FCC
W267BK101.3Mount Pleasant, South Carolina250201.5 m (661 ft)DFCC

Tennessee

Call signFrequency
(MHz)
City of licenseERP
(W)
Height
(m (ft))
ClassFCC info
WAYQ88.3Clarksville, Tennessee14,000227 m (745 ft)C2FCC
WAYW89.9New Johnsonville, Tennessee50097 m (318 ft)AFCC
WAYM88.7Spring Hill, Tennessee5,000330 m (1,080 ft)C2FCC
W215BH90.9Chattanooga, Tennessee10361 m (1,184 ft)DFCC
W284AE104.7Chattanooga, Tennessee250219 m (719 ft)DFCC
W207CI89.3Cleveland, Tennessee13123.1 m (404 ft)DFCC
W257BX99.3Columbia, Tennessee6054.4 m (178 ft)DFCC
W213BT90.5Cookeville, Tennessee10134.5 m (441 ft)DFCC
W207CQ89.3Jackson, Tennessee10108 m (354 ft)DFCC

Texas

Call signFrequency
(MHz)
City of licenseERP
(W)
Height
(m (ft))
ClassFCC info
KAWA89.7Sanger, Texas65,000572 m (1,877 ft)CKAWA FCC]

Washington

Call signFrequency
(MHz)
City of licenseERP
(W)
Height
(m (ft))
ClassFCC info
K206CQ89.1Spokane, Washington10433 m (1,421 ft)DFCC

References

  1. cmarcucci (2012-02-14). "WAY-FM selling WAYJ-FM". Radio & Television Business Report. Retrieved 2019-08-20.
  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. "John Scaggs Named CEO of Christian Broadcaster WAY Media". Insideradio.com. Retrieved 2019-08-15.
  5. "The Wally Show".
  6. "The Wally Show Facebook Page".
  7. "The Brant Hansen Show on WAY-FM".
  8. "CJ & Joy".
  9. "Kelly Corday WAY-FM".
  10. "Inside Radio".
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