WayFM
TypeRadio network
Country
Programming
FormatChristian adult contemporary
History
Launch dateOctober 9, 1987 (1987-10-09)
Links
WebcastListen Live
Websitehttps://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.

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 signFrequencyCity of licenseERP (W)HAATClassFCC info
WAYU 91.1 FMSteele, Alabama150230 m (755 ft)AFMQ
WAYH 88.1 FMHarvest, Alabama3,500204 m (669 ft)C3FMQ
W297AP 107.3 FMAnniston, Alabama10222 m (728 ft)DFMQ
W220ED 91.9 FMAuburn, Alabama1949 m (161 ft)DFMQ
W210CA 89.9 FMBirmingham, Alabama10349.1 m (1,145 ft)DFMQ
W258AE 99.5 FMFlorence, Alabama2773.4 m (241 ft)DFMQ
W256CD 99.1 FMFultondale, Alabama1300 m (0 ft)DFMQ
W258AU 99.5 FMHuntsville, Alabama120387 m (1,270 ft)DFMQ
W259BS 99.7 FMMontgomery, Alabama100 m (0 ft)DFMQ
W272CO 102.3 FMMontgomery, Alabama250192 m (630 ft)DFMQ
W292EI 106.3 FMWarrior, Alabama2500 m (0 ft)DFMQ

Colorado

Call signFrequencyCity of licenseERP (W)HAATClassFCC info
KBWA 89.1 FMBrush, Colorado1,50044.2 m (145 ft)AFMQ
KXWA 101.9 FMCentennial, Colorado9,500163 m (535 ft)C3FMQ
KCWA 93.9 FMLoveland, Colorado580319 m (1,047 ft)AFMQ
KRWA 90.9 FMRye, Colorado10,00034.6 m (114 ft)C3FMQ
KJWA 89.7 FMTrinidad, Colorado160241 m (791 ft)AFMQ
KFWA 103.1 FMWeldona, Colorado6,80046.3 m (152 ft)C3FMQ
K257FO 99.3 FMColorado Springs, Colorado72651 m (2,136 ft)DFMQ
K300CP 107.9 FMDenver, Colorado2500 m (0 ft)DFMQ
K230BO 93.9 FMMonument, Colorado250148 m (486 ft)DFMQ
K299AO 107.7 FMSterling, Colorado75110.4 m (362 ft)DFMQ

Florida

Call signFrequencyCity of licenseERP (W)HAATClassFCC info
WAYP 88.3 FMMarianna, Florida70,000105 m (344 ft)C1FMQ
WAYJ 89.5 FMNaples, Florida100,00094.1 m (309 ft)C1FMQ
WAYF 88.1 FMWest Palm Beach, Florida50,000321 m (1,053 ft)C1FMQ
W263BI 100.5 FMFort Myers, Florida250320.8 m (1,052 ft)DFMQ
W295DC 106.9 FMPanama City, Florida1511 m (36 ft)DFMQ
W258BC 99.5 FMPerkins, Florida25093.2 m (306 ft)DFMQ
W244BD 96.7 FMStuart, Florida80042 m (138 ft)DFMQ
W239CG 95.7 FMTallahassee, Florida100 m (0 ft)DFMQ
W212CG 90.3 FMWest Palm Beach, Florida2500 m (0 ft)DFMQ

Georgia

Call signFrequencyCity of licenseERP (W)HAATClassFCC info
WAYT 88.1 FMThomasville, Georgia17,000392 m (1,286 ft)C1FMQ
W212AR 90.3 FMLindale, Georgia10217 m (712 ft)DFMQ

Indiana

Call signFrequencyCity of licenseERP (W)HAATClassFCC info
WAYI 104.3 FMCharlestown, Indiana3,000100 m (328 ft)AFMQ
WJWA 91.5 FMEvansville, Indiana6,100151 m (495 ft)B1FMQ
W220DV 91.9 FMEvansville, Indiana250248.2 m (814 ft)DFMQ
W261CW 100.1 FMEvansville, Indiana430 m (0 ft)DFMQ

Kansas

Call signFrequencyCity of licenseERP (W)HAATClassFCC info
KYWA 90.7 FMWichita, Kansas53,000144 m (472 ft)C1FMQ

Kentucky

Call signFrequencyCity of licenseERP (W)HAATClassFCC info
WAYD 88.1 FMAuburn, Kentucky1,000113 m (371 ft)AFMQ
WAYK 105.9 FMValley Station, Kentucky1,250155 m (509 ft)AFMQ
W212BZ 90.3 FMBrentwood, Kentucky1987.2 m (286 ft)DFMQ
W201DD 88.1 FMCentral City, Kentucky2758.9 m (193 ft)DFMQ
W218CR 91.5 FMCentral City, Kentucky1200 m (0 ft)DFMQ
W291BZ 106.1 FMMurray, Kentucky2781.4 m (267 ft)DFMQ
W217BP 91.3 FMOwensboro, Kentucky1587.4 m (287 ft)DFMQ

Oregon

Call signFrequencyCity of licenseERP (W)HAATClassFCC info
KKWA 96.3 FMWest Linn, Oregon1,350386 m (1,266 ft)C3FMQ
K272EL 102.3 FMPortland, Oregon99422.6 m (1,386 ft)DFMQ

South Carolina

Call signFrequencyCity of licenseERP (W)HAATClassFCC info
WAYA-FM 100.9 FMRidgeville, South Carolina13,00091 m (299 ft)C3FMQ
W267BK 101.3 FMMount Pleasant, South Carolina250201.5 m (661 ft)DFMQ

Tennessee

Call signFrequencyCity of licenseERP (W)HAATClassFCC info
WAYQ 88.3 FMClarksville, Tennessee14,000227 m (745 ft)C2FMQ
WAYW 89.9 FMNew Johnsonville, Tennessee50097 m (318 ft)AFMQ
WAYM 88.7 FMSpring Hill, Tennessee5,000330 m (1,083 ft)C2FMQ
W215BH 90.9 FMChattanooga, Tennessee10361 m (1,184 ft)DFMQ
W284AE 104.7 FMChattanooga, Tennessee250219 m (719 ft)DFMQ
W207CI 89.3 FMCleveland, Tennessee13123.1 m (404 ft)DFMQ
W257BX 99.3 FMColumbia, Tennessee6054.4 m (178 ft)DFMQ
W213BT 90.5 FMCookeville, Tennessee10134.5 m (441 ft)DFMQ
W210CD 89.9 FMHendersonville, Tennessee250316 m (1,037 ft)DFMQ
W207CQ 89.3 FMJackson, Tennessee10108 m (354 ft)DFMQ

Texas

Call signFrequencyCity of licenseERP (W)HAATClassFCC info
KAWA 89.7 FMSanger, Texas95,000572 m (1,877 ft)CKAWA FMQ]

Washington

Call signFrequencyCity of licenseERP (W)HAATClassFCC info
K218FL 91.5 FMSpokane, Washington260 m (0 ft)DFMQ
K235CU 94.9 FMLongview, Washington200 m (0 ft)DFMQ

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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