major flip coming?

[ThatGuyOnTheRadio]

While we are briefly on the topic of WAPE, back during the early 80s WAPE-AM did, in fact, go through a series of major format changes. The first such major change took place during the summer of 1981 when Top 40/Adult Contemporary was dropped in favor of modern country. A year later WAPE changed format again, this time to adult standards/big bands, before becoming religious/Christian talk in 1983. It wasn't until 1985 when WAPE-AM licensee Fort Lauderdale based Statewide Broadcasting, Inc. acquired the former WJAX-FM 95.1 and re-introduced Top 40 to Jacksonville as WAPE-FM "Power 95 - The BIG Ape". Top 40 formatted WIVY 102.9 had dopped Top 40 in favor of adult contemporary in 1983, so Jacksonville had no local Top 40 outlet for a little over two years.

What those in JAX call the "dark ages"

 

[jmtillery]

What those in JAX call the "dark ages"

It may very well be considered the "dark ages" although, to me, those "ancient" times tend to blend in with today considering I'm old enough to vividly remember attending first grade with Moses. You will even find my name "Mark" mentioned several times in the Bible.

Radio was interesting in those days. During the mid 80s when I was with WAPE-AM-FM, we had several hampsters powering the generator power wheel in order to generate enough electricity to power the 50kw AM and 20kw (100kw ERP) FM transmitters. And that wasn't easy to do since Ben Franklin had not yet invented electricty.

 

[TommyR]

While we are briefly on the topic of WAPE, back during the early 80s WAPE-AM did, in fact, go through a series of major format changes. The first such major change took place during the summer of 1981 when Top 40/Adult Contemporary was dropped in favor of modern country. A year later WAPE changed format again, this time to adult standards/big bands, before becoming religious/Christian talk in 1983.

Did religious WAPE really have a sweeper "From Grease to grace" or is that just an urban legend, considering the two prior format hops? I've seen that online somewhere, and also heard it from someone else (who probably read it in the same place).

I also remember the Hot AC-ish Ape, and looking back, I'm a little surprised that they didn't stay that course any longer. I know WEJZ was many years from becoming as hip as they are today, but was Y-103/Coast 102.9 (before Soft Rock) that big of a threat in the early to mid 90's? This is an honest question. I'm not aware of the numbers from this time period.

 

[jmtillery]

Did religious WAPE really have a sweeper "From Grease to grace" or is that just an urban legend, considering the two prior format hops? I've seen that online somewhere, and also heard it from someone else (who probably read it in the same place).

I also remember the Hot AC-ish Ape, and looking back, I'm a little surprised that they didn't stay that course any longer. I know WEJZ was many years from becoming as hip as they are today, but was Y-103/Coast 102.9 (before Soft Rock) that big of a threat in the early to mid 90's? This is an honest question. I'm not aware of the numbers from this time period.

I was GSM with WAPE-AM in 1986 while the AM was religious, and I don’t recall ever hearing a sweeper as you described. That isn’t to say it didn’t exist. It means I’m not aware of it. If it did exist, in my opinion it would have been in pour taste to air it. On the other hand, at that time WAPE was owned by a non-Christian, secular broadcaster - Statewide Broadcasting, Inc. - based in Fort Lauderdale. Statewide later merged into Evergreen Media, Chancellor Media and eventually Clear Channel.

Had WAPE-AM implemented an oldies based hot adult contemporary format with an MOR lean and added full service news and information to the mix, including news and weather updates from one of Jacksonville‘s TV news stations such as WTLV or WJXT, I believe WAPE would have thrived for many more years as a dominant radio medium, targeting a more adult demo while Y 103 would have had the adult 18 - 34 demo remaining with Top 40 on FM. WIVY, however, did not remain with Top much longer after WAPE switched to country. If you were in the area and remember the changes, WIVY dropped Top 40 and the Y 103 moniker in 1983, becoming adult contemporary WIVY 103 two years after WAPE-AM switched to a country format. Until the former urban contemporary WJAX-FM became Top 40 WAPE-FM in 1985, Jacksonville had no Top 40 outlet for that two year time span.

Also WEJZ did not exist until the early 90s. While I was with WAPE, WEJZ was mainstream adult contemporary formatted WLCS “Class 96.1”, having dropped beautiful music as WKTZ-FM. WLCS didn’t perform well in the ratings, so since beautiful music had previously been very successful as WKTZ-FM, a call letter change to WEJZ and a format switch back to beautiful music was implemented. However, beautiful music did not perform as well as expected in the ratings the second time around, so a switch to soft adult contemporary was eased in, mixed with beautiful music, over time using the same WEJZ call letters until an eventual full soft adult contemporary music format was on the air.

 

[jpm3002]

I just read this thread and I agree with some of the others about it being a hoax. There is no way COX would reformat 95.1, 96.9, 102.9or 106.5 nor do I believe they would mess with the ROCK (a little wishful thinking here since I am a fan of it). I just don't see any of their stations being vulnerable for a "major flip". Of course, that's my opinion and I don't know diddly about the radio industry (just a curious person trying to learn a few things from reading these boards). I will go back to lurking in the background now. ;D

 

[jmtillery]

At this point it is a "wait and see" approach, so I will keep my eyes and ears open for any "major" format changes that may be forthcoming in North Central and / or North Florida radio.