WayFM
Type
Country
Programming
History
Launch date
October 9, 1987 (1987-10-09)
Links
Website
The WayFM Network is a national, non-profit radio broadcasting network in the United States, primarily playing Christian adult contemporary music. While WayFM is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, it operates stations in 12 states (as of May 2018), with content creation and programming originating in Franklin, Tennessee.
WAY Media, Inc. was founded in 1987 by Bob Augsburg.[1] The non-profit corporation began as a single FM radio stationinFort Myers, Florida.
In the early 1980s, Bob and Felice Augsburg were residing in Fort Myers, where Bob was working as the Program Director at WSOR, a Christian radio station formatted for older adults. Bob and Felice have said that they "were compelled by the burden to see a younger audience reached and Bob began producing a Saturday evening broadcast geared for youth."[2] This program, which aired on WSOR, became the springboard for Christian Rock concerts in the area and the impetus for a 24/7 station with this type of format.[2]
Much discussion with local parents and business people led to a non-profit Florida corporation and an application filed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for an unused FM frequency.
On Christmas Eve (December 24) 1986, the group received its permit for the construction of a new non-commercial FM station in Fort Myers, WAYJ. On October 9, 1987, WAYJ, broadcasting as "WAY-FM", signed on the air.
By 1992, three WAY-FM radio stations were on the air—including Fort Myers; Nashville, Tennessee (WAYM); and West Palm Beach, Florida (WAYF).
In the mid-90s, WAY-FM stations, beginning with WAYF, began to sponsor and organize large Christian music concerts and day-long music festivals. Within a few years, Nashville and Fort Myers also began to sponsor major Christian music events.
After several years of planning, in 1996, WAY-FM began the Christian Hit Radio Satellite Network (CHRSN). The network was designed to help other stations who desired to reach the youth and young adults of their respective communities but lacked the manpower or resources to operate a station on their own.
In 2001, WAY-FM Media Group established a corporate office in Colorado Springs, Colorado where Bob Augsburg, the president and founder now lives. Dusty Rhodes, former Station Manager of WAYF, joined Augsburg in Colorado as Chief Operating Officer and is now the ministry's Senior Vice President.
In 2005, Dar Ringling joined the ministry as Chief Financial Officer while Lloyd Parker, formerly General Manager of the K-LOVE & Air1 Radio Networks, became the Chief Operating Officer.
In 2012, WAY-FM shifted from its long time Christian CHR format to a Christian Adult Contemporary format, along with shifting their audience from 18- to 34-year-olds, to older adults (25–54), thus growing up with its original audience more or less. Since 2013 WAY-FM via flagship station WAYM, Nashville is a Christian AC reporter to the Nielsen BDS service, and became a monitored reporter to Mediabase's Christian AC panel in April 2015.
In July 2013, WAY-FM ceased providing programming to non-owned stations via satellite, with the exception of the network morning show, The Wally Show. In 2017, The Wally Show stopped syndication, as well.
In May 2015, WAY-FM announced plans to acquire KVRK, in North Texas.[3] The Station calls letters are now KAWA and now broadcasts the national WAY-FM format. The former Power FM however has become an online music channel, app, and community of Christian rock fans managed by WAY-FM Media Group.
In August 2017, founder Bob Augsburg officially retired from his position as CEO.[4] Bob remains on the board of directors and is still involved in the ministry. John Scaggs was chosen as the new CEO.[4]
On January 26, 2022; it was announced that Way Media Group would merge with Hope Media Group based out of Houston, Texas. Hope Media Group owns and operates heritage Christian AC station KSBJ 89.3, and Spanish Christian AC sister KHVU 91.7 (Vida Unida), along with internet radio station NGEN Radio which features a pop and Hip-Hop leaning Christian CHR format.
At this time, WAY-FM owns and operates 23 full power FM radio stations. WAY-FM also owns 38 translator stations. WAY-FM is also heard online and offers two online exclusive streams. NGEN radio streaming Christian Pop and Hip-Hop and Way Loud streaming Christian Active/Alternative Rock.
FCC info
WAYU
91.1 FM
173825
150
A
88.1 FM
61509
3,500
204 m (669 ft)
C3
W297AP
107.3 FM
141192
10
222 m (728 ft)
D
W220ED
91.9 FM
148356
19
49 m (161 ft)
D
W210CA
89.9 FM
141129
10
349.1 m (1,145 ft)
D
W258AE
99.5 FM
58436
27
73.4 m (241 ft)
D
W256CD
99.1 FM
153894
130
0 m (0 ft)
D
W258AU
99.5 FM
141160
120
387 m (1,270 ft)
D
W259BS
99.7 FM
141115
10
0 m (0 ft)
D
W272CO
102.3 FM
90253
250
192 m (630 ft)
D
W292EI
106.3 FM
141132
250
0 m (0 ft)
D
FCC info
KBWA
89.1 FM
91420
1,500
A
101.9 FM
70822
9,500
163 m (535 ft)
C3
93.9 FM
9761
580
319 m (1,047 ft)
A
KRWA
90.9 FM
87409
10,000
34.6 m (114 ft)
C3
KJWA
89.7 FM
87410
160
241 m (791 ft)
A
103.1 FM
79249
6,800
46.3 m (152 ft)
C3
K257FO
99.3 FM
140178
72
651 m (2,136 ft)
D
K300CP
107.9 FM
140155
250
0 m (0 ft)
D
K230BO
93.9 FM
140364
250
148 m (486 ft)
D
K299AO
107.7 FM
139945
75
110.4 m (362 ft)
D
FCC info
WAYP
88.3 FM
40082
70,000
C1
89.5 FM
59831
100,000
94.1 m (309 ft)
C1
WAYF
88.1 FM
61507
50,000
321 m (1,053 ft)
C1
W263BI
100.5 FM
143063
250
320.8 m (1,052 ft)
D
W295DC
106.9 FM
140054
15
11 m (36 ft)
D
W258BC
99.5 FM
144622
250
93.2 m (306 ft)
D
W244BD
96.7 FM
85974
800
42 m (138 ft)
D
W239CG
95.7 FM
144620
10
0 m (0 ft)
D
W212CG
90.3 FM
123364
250
0 m (0 ft)
D
FCC info
WAYT
88.1 FM
61193
17,000
C1
W212AR
90.3 FM
64263
10
217 m (712 ft)
D
FCC info
104.3 FM
76595
3,000
A
91.5 FM
69106
6,100
151 m (495 ft)
B1
W220DV
91.9 FM
141109
250
248.2 m (814 ft)
D
W261CW
100.1 FM
141110
43
0 m (0 ft)
D
FCC info
KYWA
90.7 FM
48537
53,000
C1
FCC info
WAYD
88.1 FM
93017
1,000
A
105.9 FM
50764
1,250
155 m (509 ft)
A
W212BZ
90.3 FM
140468
19
87.2 m (286 ft)
D
W201DD
88.1 FM
147296
27
58.9 m (193 ft)
D
W221EU
91.5 FM
141101
120
0 m (0 ft)
D
W291BZ
106.1 FM
142671
27
81.4 m (267 ft)
D
W217BP
91.3 FM
140460
15
87.4 m (287 ft)
D
FCC info
96.3 FM
1,350
C3
K272EL
102.3 FM
99
422.6 m (1,386 ft)
D
FCC info
100.9 FM
13,000
C3
W267BK
101.3 FM
Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
250
201.5 m (661 ft)
D
FCC info
WAYQ
88.3 FM
83853
14,000
C2
WAYW
89.9 FM
91932
500
97 m (318 ft)
A
WAYM
88.7 FM
58421
5,000
330 m (1,083 ft)
C2
W215BH
90.9 FM
94111
10
361 m (1,184 ft)
D
W284AE
104.7 FM
58443
250
219 m (719 ft)
D
W207CI
89.3 FM
58444
13
123.1 m (404 ft)
D
W257BX
99.3 FM
140706
60
54.4 m (178 ft)
D
W213BT
90.5 FM
64257
10
134.5 m (441 ft)
D
W210CD
89.9 FM
64258
250
316 m (1,037 ft)
D
W207CQ
89.3 FM
{{{fid10}}}
10
108 m (354 ft)
D
FCC info
89.7 FM
95,000
C
KAWA FMQ]
FCC info
K218FL
91.5 FM
106445
26
D
K235CU
94.9 FM
140432
20
0 m (0 ft)
D
National
State
Specialty
State
Regional
Defunct or
moribund
