WBPE
Encyclopedia
WBPE is a radio station
owned by Artistic Media Partners in Lafayette, Indiana
. The station's studios are located at 3824 South 18th Street in Lafayette, Indiana
. WBPE's programming is simulcasted on sister station WSHY (1410 AM).
However just a short year later, the new station was sold to Karson Jacobs Media who also owned an AM radio station in Bloomington Illinois and another FM in Decatur, Illinois. The radio station had high ratings, but not making enough money to keep it in operation. He took his successful Adult Contemporary format on the station in Decatur and displaced the rock format as LITE ROCK, MAGIC 95 WKJM. The stations ratings struggled to make it in the top five however billing increased due to the new format.
The station would then try to compete with WAZY in the late 80s by flipping to CHR as POWER 95, retaining the WKJM calls. The stint as a CHR didn't last long since the station was purchased in June 1991 by Marion-based Bomar Broadcasting and re-launched the station with a more mainstream AC approach and gave it new call letters as WEZV. The station then became known as EZ 95.3
Shortly thereafter, Bomar flipped WEZV to Beautiful Music (Easy Listening), simulcasting of WMRI/Marion (now WXXC
) with local break inserts. WEZV would be one of two other Indiana stations "networked" to WMRI's beautiful music format, the other stations were WLEZ in Terre Haute (now WBOW-FM) and WYEZ (now WHPZ) in Breman (South Bend). During this period, WEZV referred to themselves as "The EASY One--WEZV, 95.3 FM." Toward the end of Bomar's ownership of WEZV, the network began to skew away from instrumentals and lean more toward those from smooth jazz artists.
In August 1998, University Broadcasting (now Artistic Media Partners) purchased the radio station and moved it to its current location in Lafayette. It joined Alternative Rock WGBD (now WSHP
) and Hot Adult Contemporary WAZY
and, in September 1998, changed formats to Hot County as 95.3 The Wolf. Call letters were changed a few days after the format change to WLFF.
During its inception as The Wolf, the station tried to find its niche within the Lafayette market. While maintaining a primarily mainstream country sound, the station leaned anywhere from gold-based to modern in order to lure listeners away from cross-town country leader, WKOA. Subtle name changes have also occurred over the years as well as a stint with satellite-fed programming. The station has referred to itself numerous times as 'The Wolf' with a few stints as 'Wolf Country.' The Wolf saw its biggest success around 2003 when the station adopted a full-service sound similar to that of its crosstown country competitor. On November 26, 2006, 95.3 The Wolf began carrying Waitt Radio Networks. This would be the second time the station carried the network throughout its run.
In 2004 Artistic Media Partners swapped signals with co-owned Classic Rock WSHP, and in 2005 swapped back to its original signal at 95.3 placing Purdue Men's and Women's Basketball and Football on the station.
Despite the rights to Purdue Men's and Women's Basketball and Football, WLFF was never able to unseat WKOA as the country leader in the market. On December 5, 2007, after 9 years in the country format, The Wolf began stunting with a music mix consisting of party hits and children's music. At noon on December 6, 2007, the format officially flipped to Adult hits
as 95.3 Bob FM.
On January 28, 2008, 95.3 changed its call letters to WBPE to better match its new on-air identity.
, like other Bob FMs formats across the US and Canada, features a mix of classic 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s hits with some current hot adult contemporary singles.
WBPE is the home of Purdue Women's Basketball.
WBPE is currently streaming live on their website.
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...
owned by Artistic Media Partners in Lafayette, Indiana
Lafayette, Indiana
Lafayette is a city in and the county seat of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, United States, northwest of Indianapolis. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 67,140. West Lafayette, on the other side of the Wabash River, is home to Purdue University, which has a large impact on...
. The station's studios are located at 3824 South 18th Street in Lafayette, Indiana
Lafayette, Indiana
Lafayette is a city in and the county seat of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, United States, northwest of Indianapolis. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 67,140. West Lafayette, on the other side of the Wabash River, is home to Purdue University, which has a large impact on...
. WBPE's programming is simulcasted on sister station WSHY (1410 AM).
History
WBPE signed on the air on January 1, 1985 as WLZR "LAZER 95 - Lafayette's Only New Rock". When the station signed on, it became the highest rated station in the market. The new owner was a banker and former lawyer in Lafayette who realized the potential of a rock format.However just a short year later, the new station was sold to Karson Jacobs Media who also owned an AM radio station in Bloomington Illinois and another FM in Decatur, Illinois. The radio station had high ratings, but not making enough money to keep it in operation. He took his successful Adult Contemporary format on the station in Decatur and displaced the rock format as LITE ROCK, MAGIC 95 WKJM. The stations ratings struggled to make it in the top five however billing increased due to the new format.
The station would then try to compete with WAZY in the late 80s by flipping to CHR as POWER 95, retaining the WKJM calls. The stint as a CHR didn't last long since the station was purchased in June 1991 by Marion-based Bomar Broadcasting and re-launched the station with a more mainstream AC approach and gave it new call letters as WEZV. The station then became known as EZ 95.3
Shortly thereafter, Bomar flipped WEZV to Beautiful Music (Easy Listening), simulcasting of WMRI/Marion (now WXXC
WXXC
WXXC is a 50,000 watt Class B radio station licensed to Marion, Indiana and serving the Muncie-Marion Arbitron market broadcasting on 106.9 MHz. Studios and offices are located at 820 S. Pennsylvania St. in Marion, IN...
) with local break inserts. WEZV would be one of two other Indiana stations "networked" to WMRI's beautiful music format, the other stations were WLEZ in Terre Haute (now WBOW-FM) and WYEZ (now WHPZ) in Breman (South Bend). During this period, WEZV referred to themselves as "The EASY One--WEZV, 95.3 FM." Toward the end of Bomar's ownership of WEZV, the network began to skew away from instrumentals and lean more toward those from smooth jazz artists.
In August 1998, University Broadcasting (now Artistic Media Partners) purchased the radio station and moved it to its current location in Lafayette. It joined Alternative Rock WGBD (now WSHP
WSHP
WSHP, "North Pole Radio 95.7," is an FM radio station owned by Artistic Media Partners in Lafayette, Indiana. The station operates on 95.7 MHz. . The studios are located at 3824 South 18th Street in Lafayette, Indiana with the tower facility located in rural eastern Warren County, IN near...
) and Hot Adult Contemporary WAZY
WAZY
WAZY-FM, "Z96.5" is an FM radio station owned by Artistic Media Partners in Lafayette, Indiana. The station operates on the FM radio frequency of 96.5 MHz, FM channel 243. . The studios are located at 3824 South 18th Street in Lafayette, Indiana....
and, in September 1998, changed formats to Hot County as 95.3 The Wolf. Call letters were changed a few days after the format change to WLFF.
During its inception as The Wolf, the station tried to find its niche within the Lafayette market. While maintaining a primarily mainstream country sound, the station leaned anywhere from gold-based to modern in order to lure listeners away from cross-town country leader, WKOA. Subtle name changes have also occurred over the years as well as a stint with satellite-fed programming. The station has referred to itself numerous times as 'The Wolf' with a few stints as 'Wolf Country.' The Wolf saw its biggest success around 2003 when the station adopted a full-service sound similar to that of its crosstown country competitor. On November 26, 2006, 95.3 The Wolf began carrying Waitt Radio Networks. This would be the second time the station carried the network throughout its run.
In 2004 Artistic Media Partners swapped signals with co-owned Classic Rock WSHP, and in 2005 swapped back to its original signal at 95.3 placing Purdue Men's and Women's Basketball and Football on the station.
Despite the rights to Purdue Men's and Women's Basketball and Football, WLFF was never able to unseat WKOA as the country leader in the market. On December 5, 2007, after 9 years in the country format, The Wolf began stunting with a music mix consisting of party hits and children's music. At noon on December 6, 2007, the format officially flipped to Adult hits
Adult hits
Adult hits is a radio format, popular in the early 2000s, that does not adhere to a specific music genre, but instead draws from a wider playlist...
as 95.3 Bob FM.
On January 28, 2008, 95.3 changed its call letters to WBPE to better match its new on-air identity.
Programming
95.3 Bob FMBob FM
Bob FM is the on-air brand of a number of FM radio stations in Canada and the United States. The Bob FM format features a mix of classic 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s hits with some current hot adult contemporary singles....
, like other Bob FMs formats across the US and Canada, features a mix of classic 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s hits with some current hot adult contemporary singles.
WBPE is the home of Purdue Women's Basketball.
WBPE is currently streaming live on their website.
External links
- Official Website
- Artistic Media Website
- http://www.indianabroadcasters.org/information/easstatepolicy.pdf
- http://www.artisticradio.com/wlff.htm