WAYI
WAYI is an American Christian contemporary radio station at 104.3 FM. The station is licensed to Charlestown, Indiana, serving the Louisville, Kentucky, radio market. The station is owned by Way-FM Media Group, Inc..
| City | Charlestown, Indiana |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Louisville, Kentucky |
| Frequency | 104.3 MHz |
| Branding | Way-FM 104.3 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Christian Contemporary |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | WAY-FM Network (Way-FM Media Group, Inc.) |
| WAYK | |
| History | |
Former call signs | WLVX (1996-1998) WBLO (1998-2003) WEGK (2003-2005) WLRX (2005-2007) WAYI (2007-2010) WWPW (2010-2012) WLUE-FM (2012-2014) WAYG (2014) |
Call sign meaning | WAY-FM Indiana |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 76595 |
| Class | A |
| ERP | 3,000 watts |
| HAAT | 100 meters |
Transmitter coordinates | 38°28′55″N 85°37′33″W |
| Links | |
| Website | Way-FM 104.3 website |
History
The station was owned by Radio One when it was rhythmic contemporary WBLO, and switched its format in 2005 to classic country music. In 2007, Radio One sold the station to the WAY-FM Network, a Christian broadcaster and took the call letters WAYI. The station used to be a simulcast of WESI, 105.1 FM, but up until 2010 it had simulcast with WRVI.
On March 31, 2010, Radio Multi-Media, a group headed by Rene Moore (formerly of the 1980s singing duo Rene & Angela) began leasing the station, changing the format to urban contemporary and the call letters to WWPW. WWPW also added the syndicated Rickey Smiley in morning drive.[1]
Radio-Multi-Media filed for bankruptcy in December 2011 and ceased operation of the station. Way Media applied for Special Temporary Authority with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to take the station dark for several weeks until they were able to provide a programming feed to the transmitter site.[2]
On February 1, 2012, the station returned to the air with a news/talk format, simulcasting WNDA 1570 AM New Albany, Indiana, under new call letters, WLUE-FM.[3]
On February 15, 2012, WLUE-FM changed its format to a 1980s-based adult contemporary format branded as "Louie 104.3".[3] On January 31, 2014, WLUE's format and lease expired and its programming returned to the Way-FM format. The company that was leasing the station was exercising an option to buy WLUE from Way-FM but decided for financial reasons not to acquire the outlet and has no plans to bring the AC format back or look for another signal.[4]
On February 3, 2014, WLUE-FM changed its format to contemporary Christian, branded as "Way FM" under new call letters, WAYG. On May 8, 2014, the call letters were again changed back to WAYI.
References
- "Louisville's new "Beat" will be at 104.3 ... tonight". Radio Info. March 31, 2010. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
- "WWPW/Louisville Flips to Urban as 104.3 The Beat". Radio Online. March 31, 2010. Retrieved December 22, 2011. - Venta, Lance (December 22, 2011). "104.3 The Beat Louisville Goes Dark". Radio Insight. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
- "Louie Comes Back To Louisville", radioinsight.com, February 15, 2012
- Message from WLUE (Posted January 31, 2014)
External links
- WAYI in the FCC's FM station database
- WAYI on Radio-Locator
- WAYI in Nielsen Audio's FM station database