DWAV (89.1 FM), on-air as Adventist World Radio 89.1, is a radio station owned by Blockbuster Broadcasting System and operated under an airtime lease agreement by the Adventist Media. The station's studio is located at the North Philippines Union Conference Compound, #210 San Juan St., Pasay, while its transmitter is located at Palos Verdes Executive Village, Brgy. Sta. Cruz, Sumulong Highway, Antipolo.[1]
The station first aired in 1975 as KB 89.1 under the call letters DWKB-FM. It was under the ownership of the Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation. In a short time, it became one of the country's most listened easy listening FM stations.
In 1987, the management planned to reformat the station, which would play Pinoy music, for the announcers to be competitive. However, the latter preferred to continue its old format.[2]
The station later rebranded as 89 DMZ and also changed its callsign to DZMZ-FM. It was known for airing dance, techno-pop,[3] hip hop and remixed music throughout its existence. The late rapper, Francis Magalona, worked with the station beginning in 1994[4] through his program, "The Word-up Show", which aired on Saturday nights. It also became the home of the "Mobile Circuit" aired on Friday nights.[5]
From May 2000, in what was the first in the country's broadcasting, the station simulcast a Tuesday primetime variety show of IBC-13, DMZTV, whose format is similar to that of MTV.[6][7]
Wave 89.1 began regular broadcast on March 1, 2001, simultaneous with a media launch in a hotel in Makati.[11] It also changed its callsign to DWAV to reflect the branding. Managed by former Magic 89.9 jock Rolando Sulit a.k.a. Joe D'Mango,[11] the station initially carried an urban adult contemporary format, playing contemporary pop music and rhythm and blues.[12]
Logo in 2009
In 2007, Gary Caoili took over the management of the station after Sulit departed his management duties for both Wave and sister station Jam 88.3 (and subsequently transferred to ABS-CBN before migrating to Australia for good). A year later, after the demise of Blazin' 105.9, the station shifted to Urban Contemporary, playing more Hip Hop and R&B.
From 2010 to 2014, the station has been known for hosting the Urban Music Awards.[13][14]
Logo in 2015
From 2015 to mid-2022, Nelson Capulso ("Sgt. Pepper"/"The Sarge") was the station manager.
On April 14, 2024, Wave quietly signed off for the last time.[15][16]
On March 10, 2024, the Adventist Media, the local radio arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church that runs Adventist World Radio (AWR) and Hope Radio, signed an agreement with Blockbuster Broadcasting System, wherein it will lease the station.[17]
On April 15, the station returned on air on test broadcast. It was officially launched on April 24, 2024 under the Adventist World Radio network, though occasionally dubbed as AWR on Wave 89.1.
