WAPE

WAPE may refer to:

WAPE (defunct)

WAPE (AM), 690 kHz, Jacksonville, Florida, was a Top 40 radio station with a powerful signal, covering a large area along the East Coast of the United States, during daylight hours. Its 690 kHz 50-kW daytime/25-kW nighttime frequency is now occupied by WOKV, owned by Cox Radio.

The station, known as The Big Ape, debuted March 1, 1958 with 25,000 watts, operating sunrise to sunset only. WAPE’s almost unequaled daytime coverage area was a result of several factors... the frequency (AM stations on lower frequencies cover far more territory than those on higher frequencies during the day), the location of the tower near the coast (AM signals travel much greater distances over salt water than over land), and the power. The result was a station with strong coverage from Daytona Beach, Florida, to Charleston, South Carolina, and a very audible signal from Cape Canaveral, Florida, to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. In the mid '60s, WAPE further solidified its position by increasing daytime power to 50,000 watts and began broadcasting 24 hours a day.

WAPE-FM

95.1 WAPE-FM ("The Big Ape") is a Top 40/CHR radio station based in Jacksonville, Florida, USA. The Cox Radio outlet broadcasts at 95.1 MHz with an effective radiated power of 100 kW. Its transmitter is located in Downtown Jacksonville, and studios are located on Belfort Parkway in Jacksonville's Southside section.

95.1 WAPE is licensed for HD Radio operations but currently has no secondary channel.

History

The station was very successful as an Urban Contemporary and Rhythmic Top 40 from 1978 to 1986 as WJAX-FM 95 before it flipped to CHR/Top 40/Urban format in 1987 as "The New Power 95 WAPE-FM". WAPE is the second outlet in Jacksonville to use these calls and format, which was originally on the AM band at 690 kHz. WAPE in the past has celebrated anniversary milestones dating back to the sign-on of the original WAPE/690 in 1957. Some of its alumni include Douglas "The Greaseman" Tracht, Cleveland Wheeler, actor, comedian, & DJ Jay Thomas, Mark "The Unknown DJ" Driscoll, Kandy Klutch (now on XM's "80s on 8"), and local legends Hoyle Dempsey, Tom Murphy, Ross Earl, JJ The Night Guy, Tony Mann, Mark The Shark, Billy Goat, Steve Sutton, Christopher "Trane On The Radio" Trane, Patricia "Pat" Harrison, Just Jim, Chase Daniels, Aaron Daniels (known as the legendary touring DJ Rockstar Aaron), Miss Lara Carlson and WAPE's iconic mascot The Big Ape. In 1993 their legendary CHR/Top 40/Urban format, as well their iconic nickname "Power 95" was replaced with a Hot AC format as well using their dial & call letters as "WAPE 95.1, Today's Best Music With No Rap Or Hard Rock", but in 1997 they decided to go back as a CHR & Top 40 format which is still using it to this day.