WAYV
Encyclopedia
WAYV is a commercial radio station
located in Atlantic City, New Jersey
. WAYV airs a contemporary hit radio
format. It has been among the top rated and billing stations in the Atlantic City market since 1980.
The on-air personalities are Mike & Diane (mornings), Jennifer Knight (middays), and Nicky G (afternoons). WAYV is simulcast on 102.3 WAIV
in Cape May
.
In 1963, Mel Gollub sold WRNJ to Eddie Newman, a nighttime talk host at WPEN, Philadelphia.
On July 1, 1974, Eddie Newman sold the station to Radio WAYV, Inc., and calls were changed to WAYV. The station featured a "Beautiful Music" format that lasted until 1977. The music was provided by Jim Schulke's Stereo Radio Productions.
In 1978, under Program Director Bob Everland, the format evolved into "The Music People", a soft-rock format similar to "Magic" stations, such as WMGK
in Philadelphia.
In January 1979, with the arrival of Kingsley Smith as Program Director, the format was made more contemporary and disco was added at night. The response to the "Disco nights at the Jersey shore" was large enough so that in late '79 WAYV became the "Rhythm of South Jersey" with fulltime disco and had its first time as #1 in the Spring 1980 Atlantic City Arbitron.
With the wane of Disco in 1981, the format again evolved into Hot Adult Contemporary (Hot AC) daytime / Contemporary Hit Radio(CHR) nighttime with the arrival of John Barab as Program Director. That combination remained into the early '90s through a number of Program Directors. In April 1990, WAYV started calling itself "Hot 95", which lasted for a short period of time. With some updates and adjustments over the last twenty years, the Hot AC format still existed until 2011
. Despite the disco and Hot AC formats, WAYV also provided the first Atlantic City broadcast home for Jerry Blavat and his live broadcasts from Memories in Margate.
During the 1980s, WAYV's studios were located on the Atlantic City boardwalk at Chelsea Ave., and before that, the broadcast studio was located on the rooftop of the Ritz Apartments (formerly the Ritz Carlton Hotel.)-- in 1980 through 1981 the business office was located in a rowhouse on the beach block of California Avenue. The General Manager at this time was Vi Trofa, a former school administrator who was hired by then Radio WAYV, Inc. owners Bob McMurtrie, Carl Monk and Tom Donatucci to run the business operation. Trofa was married to the former mayor of Ocean City, Nick Trofa, and would remain as General Manager through 1993.
In 1986, Radio WAYV Inc. was purchased by Robert Forrest. In 1991, WAYV moved from its Boardwalk location to its present studio site at the Bayport One building in West Atlantic City. In the fall of 1993, Atlantic City Broadcasting Corp., a subsidiary of Frank Osborn's Osborn Communications, began operating WAYV and purchased it in March 1994.
In June 1996, WAYV was purchased by Equity Communications. It remains in the Bayport One building, and has been joined by Equity's other acquisitions, which include 100.7 WZXL
, 99.3 KissFM
, 96.1 WTTH "The Touch"
and Classic Oldies WMID 1340
and Easy 93.1. In 2003, WAYV began simulcasting on 102.3 WAIV
, giving the station better coverage in the southern portion of the market as well as some penetration into Lewes, Delaware
and coastal Sussex County.
By July 4, 2011, following their flashback weekend, the station changed to contemporary hit radio
, and Mediabase
& Nielsen BDS moved the station to that panel. The move joins WWAC in the list of Atlantic City contemporary hit radio
stations.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
located in Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
. WAYV airs a contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
format. It has been among the top rated and billing stations in the Atlantic City market since 1980.
The on-air personalities are Mike & Diane (mornings), Jennifer Knight (middays), and Nicky G (afternoons). WAYV is simulcast on 102.3 WAIV
WAIV
WAIV is a radio station licensed to Cape May, New Jersey, broadcasting on 102.3 FM. WAIV serves Cape May County in the Atlantic-Cape May Market.-History:...
in Cape May
Cape May
Cape May is a peninsula and island ; the southern tip of the island is the southernmost point of the state of New Jersey, United States. It runs southwards from the New Jersey mainland, separating Delaware Bay from the Atlantic Ocean...
.
History
95.1 started broadcasting in April 1961, with calls of WRNJ. Mel Gollub, owner of WIFI (now WXTU) in Philadelphia, built WRNJ on top of the Ritz Carlton Hotel on the Boardwalk in Atlantic City. He owned and operated it for its first two years.In 1963, Mel Gollub sold WRNJ to Eddie Newman, a nighttime talk host at WPEN, Philadelphia.
On July 1, 1974, Eddie Newman sold the station to Radio WAYV, Inc., and calls were changed to WAYV. The station featured a "Beautiful Music" format that lasted until 1977. The music was provided by Jim Schulke's Stereo Radio Productions.
In 1978, under Program Director Bob Everland, the format evolved into "The Music People", a soft-rock format similar to "Magic" stations, such as WMGK
WMGK
WMGK, known as "Classic Rock 102.9 MGK" or "Philadelphia's Classic Rock: 102.9 MGK", is a Classic rock formatted radio station which is broadcast in the Philadelphia area. The station features popular Philadelphia radio personality John DeBella and former Howard Stern Show censor Andre Gardner. ...
in Philadelphia.
In January 1979, with the arrival of Kingsley Smith as Program Director, the format was made more contemporary and disco was added at night. The response to the "Disco nights at the Jersey shore" was large enough so that in late '79 WAYV became the "Rhythm of South Jersey" with fulltime disco and had its first time as #1 in the Spring 1980 Atlantic City Arbitron.
With the wane of Disco in 1981, the format again evolved into Hot Adult Contemporary (Hot AC) daytime / Contemporary Hit Radio(CHR) nighttime with the arrival of John Barab as Program Director. That combination remained into the early '90s through a number of Program Directors. In April 1990, WAYV started calling itself "Hot 95", which lasted for a short period of time. With some updates and adjustments over the last twenty years, the Hot AC format still existed until 2011
2011 in radio
The following events occurred in radio broadcasting in 2011.-Events:*January 1: 2 Knoxville stations change formats as WDLF and WYLV flip to K-LOVE and Air 1 , and a few Pittsburgh station change formats, as ESPN Radio moves from WEAE to WBGG, and Radio Disney moves from WWCS to the renamed WDDZ,...
. Despite the disco and Hot AC formats, WAYV also provided the first Atlantic City broadcast home for Jerry Blavat and his live broadcasts from Memories in Margate.
During the 1980s, WAYV's studios were located on the Atlantic City boardwalk at Chelsea Ave., and before that, the broadcast studio was located on the rooftop of the Ritz Apartments (formerly the Ritz Carlton Hotel.)-- in 1980 through 1981 the business office was located in a rowhouse on the beach block of California Avenue. The General Manager at this time was Vi Trofa, a former school administrator who was hired by then Radio WAYV, Inc. owners Bob McMurtrie, Carl Monk and Tom Donatucci to run the business operation. Trofa was married to the former mayor of Ocean City, Nick Trofa, and would remain as General Manager through 1993.
In 1986, Radio WAYV Inc. was purchased by Robert Forrest. In 1991, WAYV moved from its Boardwalk location to its present studio site at the Bayport One building in West Atlantic City. In the fall of 1993, Atlantic City Broadcasting Corp., a subsidiary of Frank Osborn's Osborn Communications, began operating WAYV and purchased it in March 1994.
In June 1996, WAYV was purchased by Equity Communications. It remains in the Bayport One building, and has been joined by Equity's other acquisitions, which include 100.7 WZXL
WZXL
WZXL is a radio station also known as "South Jersey's Rock Station", playing classic rock. WZXL is licensed to Wildwood, NJ....
, 99.3 KissFM
WZBZ
WZBZ is a radio station also known as "99.3 Kiss FM" in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The station plays a Rhythmic Top 40/Rhythmic Contemporary format. It is simulcast on WSNQ.-History:...
, 96.1 WTTH "The Touch"
WTTH
WTTH is an urban adult contemporary music formatted radio station based in Margate City, New Jersey. It serves the general Atlantic City, NJ, metro area.-History:...
and Classic Oldies WMID 1340
WMID
WMID is a radio station in Atlantic City, New Jersey which plays "the classic oldies". Its parent company is Equity Communications ....
and Easy 93.1. In 2003, WAYV began simulcasting on 102.3 WAIV
WAIV
WAIV is a radio station licensed to Cape May, New Jersey, broadcasting on 102.3 FM. WAIV serves Cape May County in the Atlantic-Cape May Market.-History:...
, giving the station better coverage in the southern portion of the market as well as some penetration into Lewes, Delaware
Lewes, Delaware
Lewes is an incorporated city in Sussex County, Delaware, USA, on the Delmarva Peninsula. According to the 2010 census, the population is 2,747, a decrease of 6.3% from 2000....
and coastal Sussex County.
By July 4, 2011, following their flashback weekend, the station changed to contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
, and Mediabase
Mediabase
Mediabase is a music industry service that monitors radio station airplay in 180 US and Canadian markets. Mediabase publishes music charts and data based on the most played songs on terrestrial and satellite radio, and provides in-depth analytical tools for radio and record industry professionals...
& Nielsen BDS moved the station to that panel. The move joins WWAC in the list of Atlantic City contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
stations.
Weekdays
- Mike & Diane: Weekdays 5:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
- Jennifer Knight: Weekdays 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Nicky G: Weekdays 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- Jackson Blue: Weekdays 7 p.m. to Midnight
Saturdays
- American Top 40American Top 40American Top 40 is an internationally syndicated, independent radio program created by Casey Kasem, Don Bustany, Tom Rounds and Ron Jacobs. Originally a production of Watermark Inc...
with Ryan SeacrestRyan SeacrestRyan John Seacrest is an American radio personality, television host, network producer and voice actor. He is the host of On Air with Ryan Seacrest, a nationally syndicated Top 40 radio show that airs on KIIS-FM in Los Angeles and throughout the United States and Canada on Premiere Radio Networks,...
: Saturdays 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. - Nicky G: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Some notable alumni
- Bob Everland, Program Director in the mid-1970s
- Doug Allen, Operations Manager in the mid-1970s
- Kingsley Smith, Program Director in the late 1970s to early 1980s
- Diane Prior, evening, then midday, then morning host in the late 1970s to early 1980s
- Allison Wing, midday host in the early to mid-1980s
- Johnny B.(John Barab), evening host and Program Director in the early to mid 80s
- Christopher Caldwell, hosted various shifts in the early to mid-1980s
- Christy Springfield (under a different name), evening host in the early 1980s
- Eric Johnson, overnight host in the early 1980s
- Bobby Sharpe, afternoon host in the mid-1980s
- Spider McGuire, morning host (with multiple cohosts) through the 1980s and 1990s
- Mike Boyle, afternoon host and Program Director in the mid-1980s
- Russ Monroe, morning host and Program Director in the mid-1980s
- John Rizzo, afternoon host in the mid to late-1980s
- Glen Stewart, midday host in the late 1980s
- Sean Jones Weekend host late 1980s - early 1990s
- Sab Cupelli, midday host and Program Director in the early 1990s
- Dave Lavender evening host in early 1990s
- Tim Marshall evening host & weekends in early 1990s
- Rick Derringer, evening host in the early 1990s
- Charlie Maxx (under a different name), afternoon host in the early 1990s
- Walt B (aka. Alan Fox), Overnight host early 1990s
- Jimi Bruce, overnight host of "The Pajama Bar" 1992 - 1993
- Jeff Knight (Jeff Davis), Night Host and APD, 1993
- J. Patrick, middays and PD, 1993
- Mark Hunter, afternoon host and Program Director in the mid 1990s
- Jay Towers, midday host in the mid-1990s
- Mike Rivers, weekend host in the early to mid 1990s
- Tommy Frank, Program Director in the mid to late 1990s
- Christina Joyce, midday host in the late 1990s to early 2000s
- Michael J (aka. Hitman). Nights mid-1990s - 2000
- Scott Stephens, overnight host mid-1990s
- Paul Kelly, afternoon host and Program Director in the late 1990s to 2008
- Heather DeLuca, night/midday host in the early 2000s to 2009
- Karin Pietruszka Richman Morning Show Side Kick 1998 - 2008