WAPL-FM

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article does not cite any references or sources. (February 2007) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

WAPL (105.7 FM) is a rock music formatted radio station licensed to Appleton, Wisconsin, that serves the Appleton-Oshkosh and Green Bay, Wisconsin, areas.

[edit] Beginnings

WAPL radio made its on-air debut in 1952 operating on a frequency of 1570 AM under the ownership of well known Wisconsin broadcasters, the Bartell Family. It was the third AM station in the market, but the first to serve the younger audience with rock & roll music.

WAPL-FM, operating on a frequency of 105.7 FM was added in 1963 when an FM antenna was installed on the existing WAPL (AM) tower in Menasha. The initial power was around 20,000 watts at an antenna height of 160 feet. The station's format was "beautiful music".

In 1965, WAPL-FM was upgraded to a 50,000 watt signal at 200 feet with a new tower on The Zuelke Building in downtown Appleton.

By 1977, having gone through a number of ownership and format changes, WAPL-FM changed it’s call letters to WCXR and briefly became a Christian station. This change lasted only eight months before changing format again, this time to album rock. Shortly thereafter, the station's call letters reverted to WAPL-FM. The on-air line up included Laura Morgan, Dan Adams and program director Steve Brown.

[edit] The Rockin' Apple

In 1978 WAPL AM and FM were offered for sale. WAPL-FM was purchased by Woodward Communications, Inc., of Dubuque, Iowa. Woodward already owned an AM station, WHBY, in the Appleton market. A strategy was developed to include the newly purchased station in the already planned new facility for WHBY on Appleton's southeast side. The plans included an upgrade of WAPL's signal to 100,000 watts of power and 450 feet of height for the antenna.

The new facilities were completed in the early fall of 1979, and WAPL and its new sister station, WHBY won the Broadcast Management and Engineering award for "Best AM/FM Station" of 1979. Soon after the construction was complete, the FCC ruled that high power FM station like WAPL should be at least 100,000 watts at 1000 feet. Immediately, the planning began for a new transmitter site which would allow WAPL to remain a Class C FM transmitting facility. During this time, most of the WAPL air staff went by only their first names and was comprised of Robin, Dale, Cliff, Carl King, Laura Morgan, Mark Coulter and Operations Manager Dan Davis.

In October 1980, WAPL-FM began identifying itself as The Rockin’ Apple, under program director Wayne Shayne. WAPL would continue to use the nickname until 2002, at which time the station was re-branded as Wisconsin's Rock Station. The Rockin' Apple was brought back as a station identifier in 2007 as preparations were being made for WAPL's 30th Anniversary celebration. In addition to Shayne, other members of the air staff during WAPL's history have included Rick Panneck, David Lee, Laura Morgan, Bob Baron, Rick Blades, and Nate Wright (Night Nate).

In April 1985, "The Mark and McNeal Morning Show" debuted with Mark Coulter, Rick McNeal and newsman Len Nelson. While Coulter departed after only eight months, McNeal and Nelson continued doing the morning show together until January 1999, when Nelson left the station to become news director of WGEE (now WTAQ) and was replaced by Jon Jordan. McNeal and Jordan would continue on the "Rockin' Apple Morning Show" until April 2002 when WAPL management dropped the show in favor of "Bob and Brian," a show originating from Milwaukee's WLZR (now WHQG). "Bob and Brian" aired on WAPL until March 2003. The syndicated show was a bust with Rockin' Apple listeners causing WAPL to drop it in favor of a local, music-intensive morning shift. ("Bob and Brian" would eventually resurface in The Fox Cities radio market on WWWX-FM.) In September 2003, WAPL reunited Rick McNeal and Len Nelson at their 25th Anniversary Celebration and announced that they would return to the station to once again helm the morning show.

WAPL received a construction permit August 27, 1987 to increase tower height and become a full Class C FM, nearly eight years after applying for it. The new transmitting facility was completed near Green Bay in the town of Shirley, Wisconsin at a height of 1,175 feet above average terrain making the station “The 100,000 Watt Blowtorch of the Midwest”.

[edit] Awards

In 1990, under Program Director Garrett Hart, WAPL-FM was chosen “Best Radio Station” by the readers of Rolling Stone Magazine. The award was the first of five such awards won by the staff of The Rockin' Apple. The station's line-up includes Hart, Nelson and McNeal, Baron, Tony Scott, Jeannie Wilde, Shane Reno, Dave Wayne, Sharon Hunter, Chris Dare and Bob Crew.

After being the runner-up in 1991, WAPL would again win the “Best Radio Station” award from the readers of Rolling Stone in 1992, followed by a third award in four years in 1993. Joining Hart, Nelson, McNeal, Baron, Wilde, Scott and Crew were Miles Walker, Karla Moore, Andy Hammer and Linda Shane. The Rockin' Apple repeated yet again in 1994 and 1995, with an airstaff including Pete Burns, Susan Currie, Ross Maxwell, Roxanne Steele, Randy Hawke, Jamie Powers and Bill Kidd. Rolling Stone discontinued the “Best Radio Station” category from it annual Readers' Poll the following year.

After replacing longtime WAPL Program Director Garrett Hart in 1997, new PD Randy Hawke led WAPL to a win as Radio and Records “Best Small Market Rock Radio Station” in 1999. At that time, the airstaff included Rick McNeal and John Jordan in mornings, Hawke, Roxanne Steele, Ross Maxwell, Pete Burns, Scott Stevens, Rex Charger, and Desiree.

In 2006, under Program Director Joe Calgaro, 105.7 WAPL was selected as one of five finalists for the Marconi Award for National Rock Radio Station of the Year. The Marconis, presented by the National Association of Broadcasters are considered the Oscars of the radio industry. The airstaff at the time consisted of Rick McNeal, Len Nelson, Joe Calgaro, Elwood, Scott Stevens, Borna Velic, Ross Maxwell, Karla Moore, and Roc Dawg (Tony Van Elzen).

[edit] WAPL Today

While the radio landscape in Northeast Wisconsin has changed regularly over the years, WAPL remains a rare breed as a heritage rock station that continues to stand the test of time. The Rockin' Apple celebrates it's 30th Anniversary in 2008. WAPL was recognized by The American Red Cross in 2002 as Outstanding Media Partner for their fund raising efforts following 9/11. In addition to being a national Marconi Award finalist in 2006, WAPL has won numerous Wisconsin Area Music Industry Awards and is nominated once again for 2008 Station of the Year. WAPL remains radio-active in the community through charitable campaigns such as Rock Against Hunger, Rock For Kids, and Rock For The Cure. They partner annually with the Leukemia-Lymphoma Society, American Cancer Society, Children's Hospital, Paul's Pantry, and area domestic abuse shelters in raising nearly a million dollars for local charities. The current WAPL line-up includes The Rick and Len Show with news anchor Jeanne Anthony, The Workzone with Karla Moore, The Noon Lunch Whistle with Elwood, Joe Calgaro and The Afternoon Road Show, Rockin' Apple Second Shift with Scott Stevens, and Max After Midnight with Ross Maxwell.

In 2002, 105.7 FM and AM 1570 once again became sister stations. WAPL owner Woodward Communications, Inc. purchased 1570 WRJQ and immediately changed the call letters to WSCO and installed a Sports Talk format, replacing WRJQ's Big Band format. In addition to WHBY and WSCO, WAPL's other sister stations include:

• 95.9 WKSZ, running a CHR format as "95.9 KISS FM"
• 94.7 WZOR, Active Rock-formatted "Razor 94.7"
• 104.3 WECB, "104.3 The Breeze," a Soft AC format

In late 2007, WAPL began streaming their radio broadcast online via the World Wide Web.

[edit] Trivia

WAPL shares it's "initials" with William, Prince of Wales, the heir to the British thrown, whose full name is William Arthur Philip Louis. Upon the birth of the future king in June of 1982, WAPL sent gifts to Buckingham Palace. The story was reported in papers and radio broadcasts in the US, Canada, Australia and throughout the United Kingdom. WAPL received a note of thanks from Prince Charles and Princess Diana that informed them that the Royal Family is not allowed to accept gifts but that the items would be donated to charity.

[edit] External links

• WAPL official website
• Query the FCC's FM station database for WAPL
• Radio Locator information on WAPL
• Query Arbitron's FM station database for WAPL