WKPE-FM
Encyclopedia
WKPE-FM known as "Cape Country 104", is a Country radio station licensed to South Yarmouth, Massachusetts
, with its main studio in Hyannis, Massachusetts
, shared with WFCC-FM
, WQRC
, and WOCN-FM
. WKPE-FM is owned by local Cape Cod Business "Cape Cod Broadcasting" (aka Sandab Communications).
In 1980, the FM band was still new territory for Top-40 radio. Boston's Kiss 108
had only started one year prior and was very popular, routinely beating Top-40 AM station WRKO
in the ratings. Cape Cod needed its own similar station to compete in its own market, and in May 1980, 104.7 changed its call letters to WKZE and began its own programming, branding itself "KZ 104"
After just over 3 successful years in the Top-40 format, the station gained its current call letters on August 1, 1983, re-branding itself WKPE "Cape 104". Under the management of Roth Media and legendary Program Director Jack Alex "Cape 104" would become one of the Cape's most iconic stations. WKPE enjoyed ratings success throughout the 1980s. Legendary voices on the station included - John St. John, Al Mathews, Tom Casey, Captain Cape, Dave Sharp, Clarence Barnes, Pilot Gene, "Jammin" Jamie West, Steve Binder, Danny Walsh, Christine Fox, Paul Attea, Keith Lemire, Joe Rossetti, J.R. Randall, Marty Moran, Carolyn Johnson, Danny Walsh, Donna Wilde, Kristie Wiemer, Rick Ryder, Tony Vincent, Rick Pendelton, R.J. McKay, Steve McVie, JD (Jamie Bearse), Liza Z, Krissy Krantz, John Stevens and David Wolf to name a few. After the Top-40 format fragmented, "Cape 104" switched formats in the fall of 1992, rebranding itself "Oldies 104" to compete with Boston's "Oldies 103"
and Nantucket's "Oldies 96"
(which went Top-40 in January 1993).
After a 2.5-year experiment in the Oldies format, during the spring of 1995 WKPE switched formats to a modern rock format and became "Rock 104.7, The Cape." It was in direct competition with the other local area rock station WPXC.In 1999, the station was sold by Grancam Communications to Charles River Broadcasting. In September 1999 the channel switched formats to classic rock.
With the 2006-07 dismantling of Charles River Broadcasting, Cape Cod Broadcasting, owner of WQRC
and WOCN-FM
, signed a contract to operate WFCC-FM
and WKPE under a local marketing agreement, with the two stations still licensed to Charles River.
The list of songs played during the stunt were:
"American Pie" by Don McLean
, "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone
" by Ella Fitzgerald
, "Rehab" by Amy Winehouse
, "You're A Mean One Mr. Grinch" by Thurl Ravenscroft
(the voice of Tony the Tiger
), "Thriller
" by Michael Jackson
, "Wide Open Spaces
" by The Dixie Chicks, "Dirty Water
" by The Standells
, "Gone Country
" by Alan Jackson
, and "Sexyback
" by Justin Timberlake
.
On October 12, 2007, the stunting ended. After being absent from Cape Cod radio for more than 15 years, "Cape 104, The Cape's Hit Music Station" was relaunched. This marked the return of Steve Binder (mornings 6 am to 12 noon) from the original Cape 104 along with Shai Jackson (12 noon to 6 pm), another Cape Cod radio local. The format initially changed from Classic Rock
to Hot AC
, however by the end of 2007 it had evolved into CHR
as more mainstream tracks were added.
On December 26, 2008, Cape 104 flipped their format from 24/7 Christmas Music, to Country, renaming themselves "Cape Country 104, Today's Best Country And The Legends."
The current line up is Shai in the mornings 5 - 9 AM and Steve Marcus afternoons from 3 - 7 PM.
Cape Country 104 is a radio station dedicated to the local Cape Cod community and offers a variety of country music, local information and community updates.
South Yarmouth, Massachusetts
South Yarmouth is an unincorporated village and census-designated place in the town of Yarmouth in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 11,603 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
, with its main studio in Hyannis, Massachusetts
Hyannis, Massachusetts
Hyannis is the largest of seven villages in Barnstable, Massachusetts. Also it is the commercial and transportation hub of Cape Cod and was designated an urban area as a result of the 1990 census. Because of this, many refer to Hyannis as the "Capital of the Cape"...
, shared with WFCC-FM
WFCC-FM
WFCC-FM is a 50-kilowatt radio station licensed to Chatham, Massachusetts on Cape Cod, with studios and offices in Hyannis and transmitter facilities in Brewster...
, WQRC
WQRC
WQRC is a radio station broadcasting a Hot Adult Contemporary format. Licensed to Barnstable, Massachusetts, USA, the station serves the Cape Cod area...
, and WOCN-FM
WOCN-FM
WOCN-FM is a soft Adult Contemporary radio station licensed to Orleans, Massachusetts. The station is licensed to Sandab Communications and operated locally...
. WKPE-FM is owned by local Cape Cod Business "Cape Cod Broadcasting" (aka Sandab Communications).
History
The station went on the air on July 25, 1974, as WVLC-FM, broadcasting at 104.7 MHz. Initially, the station was just a full time simulcast of WVLC-AM 1170 (now WFPB).In 1980, the FM band was still new territory for Top-40 radio. Boston's Kiss 108
WXKS-FM
WXKS-FM, better known as Kiss 108, is a radio station in Boston, Massachusetts, licensed to nearby Medford broadcasting a Top 40 format...
had only started one year prior and was very popular, routinely beating Top-40 AM station WRKO
WRKO
WRKO is a radio station based in Boston, Massachusetts, currently owned by Entercom. Its transmitter is located in Burlington, Massachusetts, next to the Burlington Mall.-1920-1940:...
in the ratings. Cape Cod needed its own similar station to compete in its own market, and in May 1980, 104.7 changed its call letters to WKZE and began its own programming, branding itself "KZ 104"
After just over 3 successful years in the Top-40 format, the station gained its current call letters on August 1, 1983, re-branding itself WKPE "Cape 104". Under the management of Roth Media and legendary Program Director Jack Alex "Cape 104" would become one of the Cape's most iconic stations. WKPE enjoyed ratings success throughout the 1980s. Legendary voices on the station included - John St. John, Al Mathews, Tom Casey, Captain Cape, Dave Sharp, Clarence Barnes, Pilot Gene, "Jammin" Jamie West, Steve Binder, Danny Walsh, Christine Fox, Paul Attea, Keith Lemire, Joe Rossetti, J.R. Randall, Marty Moran, Carolyn Johnson, Danny Walsh, Donna Wilde, Kristie Wiemer, Rick Ryder, Tony Vincent, Rick Pendelton, R.J. McKay, Steve McVie, JD (Jamie Bearse), Liza Z, Krissy Krantz, John Stevens and David Wolf to name a few. After the Top-40 format fragmented, "Cape 104" switched formats in the fall of 1992, rebranding itself "Oldies 104" to compete with Boston's "Oldies 103"
WODS
- External links :****...
and Nantucket's "Oldies 96"
WRZE
WEII is a radio station in Dennis, Massachusetts. The station airs a sports radio format from WEEI.The station started life in 1981 under the call letters WNTX. The station's most popular format under these calls was "Oldies 96", competing with the larger "Oldies 103" in Boston...
(which went Top-40 in January 1993).
After a 2.5-year experiment in the Oldies format, during the spring of 1995 WKPE switched formats to a modern rock format and became "Rock 104.7, The Cape." It was in direct competition with the other local area rock station WPXC.In 1999, the station was sold by Grancam Communications to Charles River Broadcasting. In September 1999 the channel switched formats to classic rock.
With the 2006-07 dismantling of Charles River Broadcasting, Cape Cod Broadcasting, owner of WQRC
WQRC
WQRC is a radio station broadcasting a Hot Adult Contemporary format. Licensed to Barnstable, Massachusetts, USA, the station serves the Cape Cod area...
and WOCN-FM
WOCN-FM
WOCN-FM is a soft Adult Contemporary radio station licensed to Orleans, Massachusetts. The station is licensed to Sandab Communications and operated locally...
, signed a contract to operate WFCC-FM
WFCC-FM
WFCC-FM is a 50-kilowatt radio station licensed to Chatham, Massachusetts on Cape Cod, with studios and offices in Hyannis and transmitter facilities in Brewster...
and WKPE under a local marketing agreement, with the two stations still licensed to Charles River.
2007 format change
Beginning on September 25, 2007, the radio station began to buzz. Initially, the stunting involved playing one song in a loop. Each day the station added another song to the line up. On the tenth day of the stunt program (October 4, 2007), the songs began disappearing from the rotation. An announcement between songs also began to play, noting how many more days were left (counting down from 8 days) before the new format would be announced on October 12, 2007.The list of songs played during the stunt were:
"American Pie" by Don McLean
Don McLean
Donald "Don" McLean is an American singer-songwriter. He is most famous for the 1971 album American Pie, containing the renowned songs "American Pie" and "Vincent".-Musical roots:...
, "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone
Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone
"Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone" was written by Sam H. Stept with lyrics by Sidney Clare. Original publication also credited singer Bee Palmer as co-composer. The song was published in 1930...
" by Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist...
, "Rehab" by Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouse
Amy Jade Winehouse was an English singer-songwriter known for her powerful deep contralto vocals and her eclectic mix of musical genres including R&B, soul and jazz. Winehouse's 2003 debut album, Frank, was critically successful in the UK and was nominated for the Mercury Prize...
, "You're A Mean One Mr. Grinch" by Thurl Ravenscroft
Thurl Ravenscroft
Thurl Arthur Ravenscroft was an American voice actor and singer best known as the deep voice behind Tony the Tiger's "They're grrreat!" in Frosted Flakes television commercials for more than five decades. Ravenscroft was also known, however uncredited, as the vocalist for the song "You're a Mean...
(the voice of Tony the Tiger
Tony the Tiger
Tony the Tiger is the advertising cartoon mascot for Kellogg's Frosted Flakes breakfast cereal, appearing on its packaging and advertising. More recently, Tony has also become the mascot for Tony's Cinnamon Krunchers and Tiger Power...
), "Thriller
Thriller (song)
"Thriller" is a song recorded by American recording artist Michael Jackson, composed by Rod Temperton, and produced by Quincy Jones. It is the seventh and final single from his sixth studio album Thriller. It was released on January 23, 1984 by Epic Records...
" by Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
, "Wide Open Spaces
Wide Open Spaces (song)
"Wide Open Spaces" is a country song from the Dixie Chicks, written by Susan Gibson. Appearing as the title song on the band's 1998 album Wide Open Spaces, it was released as a single in August of that year, and hit number one on the U.S. Country singles chart, spending four weeks there in...
" by The Dixie Chicks, "Dirty Water
Dirty Water
"Dirty Water" is a song first recorded by the California rock and roll band The Standells in 1966 and composed by their producer, Ed Cobb. It is considered a classic of garage rock.-Description:...
" by The Standells
The Standells
The Standells are a garage rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in the 1960s, who have been referred to as the "Godfathers of Punk Rock", and are best known for their 1966 hit "Dirty Water," now the anthem of several Boston sports teams.-The 1960s:...
, "Gone Country
Gone Country (song)
"Gone Country" is the title of a song written by Bob McDill and recorded by American country music artist Alan Jackson. It was released in November 1994 as the third single from his fourth studio album, Who I Am...
" by Alan Jackson
Alan Jackson
Alan Eugene Jackson is an American country music singer, known for blending traditional honky tonk and mainstream country sounds and penning many of his own hits. He has recorded 13 studio albums, 3 Greatest Hits albums, 2 Holiday albums, 1 Gospel album and several compilations, all on the Arista...
, and "Sexyback
SexyBack
"SexyBack" is a song by American recording artist Justin Timberlake from his second studio album, FutureSex/LoveSounds . It was released on July 7, 2006, by Jive Records as the lead single from the album...
" by Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake
Justin Randall Timberlake is an American pop musician and actor. He achieved early fame when he appeared as a contestant on Star Search, and went on to star in the Disney Channel television series The New Mickey Mouse Club, where he met future bandmate JC Chasez...
.
On October 12, 2007, the stunting ended. After being absent from Cape Cod radio for more than 15 years, "Cape 104, The Cape's Hit Music Station" was relaunched. This marked the return of Steve Binder (mornings 6 am to 12 noon) from the original Cape 104 along with Shai Jackson (12 noon to 6 pm), another Cape Cod radio local. The format initially changed from Classic Rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
to Hot AC
Adult contemporary music
Adult contemporary music is a broad style of popular music that ranges from lush 1950s and 1960s vocal music to predominantly ballad-heavy music with varying degrees of rock influence, as well as a radio format that plays such music....
, however by the end of 2007 it had evolved into CHR
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...
as more mainstream tracks were added.
2008 Format Change
On November 10, 2008, Cape 104 flipped their format to 24/7 Christmas Music for the holiday season, renaming themselves "Cape Cod's Christmas Station, Cape 104."On December 26, 2008, Cape 104 flipped their format from 24/7 Christmas Music, to Country, renaming themselves "Cape Country 104, Today's Best Country And The Legends."
The current line up is Shai in the mornings 5 - 9 AM and Steve Marcus afternoons from 3 - 7 PM.
Cape Country 104 is a radio station dedicated to the local Cape Cod community and offers a variety of country music, local information and community updates.