WPST
Encyclopedia
WPST is a radio station
broadcasting a Top 40 (CHR)
format. Licensed to Trenton, New Jersey
, USA, the station serves the Philadelphia, Central Jersey area. The station is currently owned by Nassau Broadcasting Ii, LLC and features programing from Westwood One
. The transmitter is located in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania
, on US-1.
97.5 started life, initially on January 10, 1949, then officially on April 19, 1949, as WTOA. It was owned by the Mercer Broadcasting Company, which was a wholly owned subsidiary of the Trenton Times
newspaper. WTOA started out broadcasting from 3pm to 11pm, with an ERP
of 14,500 watts. Its original coverage area reached as far north as Brooklyn
, New York
and as far west as Reading, Pennsylvania
. 97.5 became WPST on September 13, 1971. The WPST calls originally stood for "Passport Stereo Trenton," a slogan of the station at the time. Also, the WPST calls were on a Miami TV station now known as WPLG
. WPST is known for its mainstream CHR format, which they've had for many years. Tom Taylor was the PD who launched the format in the mid 1970s, and did mornings on the station until 1987. In August 1975, owner Herb Hobler hired Phil Gieger as the General Manager. Along with Tom Taylor, they revamped the station and coined the phrase, "From The Shore To The Poconos
, The Best Music Is On The FM 97.5 WPST." They initially established an Adult Rock
format, and by the Fall of 1975, the station took off and eventually became the number one station in the market. Some WPST DJs over the years included Lee Tobin, John Mellon (aka Walt Ballard), Ed Johnson, Doug James, John Brown, Eddie Davis, Trish Merelo, David Cooper, Andy Gury, Jeff "Woody" Fife, Dan Kelly, Brian Douglas, Mel Toxic, Kris Gamble, Jay Sorensen, Bob Sorrentino, Dave Hoeffel, Tom Cunningham, Dave Moss, Michelle Stevens, Pat Gillen, Eric Johnson, Mark Sheppard, Andre Gardner, Phil Simon, Mike Kaplan, Steve Trevelise, Joel Katz, Rich DeSisto, Jason Barsky, Scott Lowe, Joe LeCompte, Jeff Ryan, [Mark
http://www.markvanness.com Vanness], Gabrielle Vaughn and Chris Puorro. Caricatures of the WPST DJs, circa 1977, can be found here. On February 14, 2005, at 5pm, 97.5 "switched" frequencies and formats with 94.5 WTHK (defunct), and adopted its current adult top 40 format. This officially "killed" the hot adult contemporary format on Philadelphia's WMWX, which became adult hits two months later and the following year getting the current calls WBEN-FM
. Nielsen BDS & Mediabase
still reported them as a contemporary hit radio
station until 2008
. The move left WIOQ
from Philadelphia as the only mainstream top 40 station in both areas of Trenton & Wilmington, Delaware
(served by WSTW
). In August 2005, 97.5's city of license was changed from Trenton to Burlington. Before moving closer to Philadelphia, the 97.5 transmitter was located in downtown Trenton, New Jersey. The tower from which 97.5 broadcast is the tallest structure in the City of Trenton.
By 2011
, the station returned to contemporary hit radio
per Mediabase
& Nielsen BDS reports.
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...
broadcasting a Top 40 (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...
format. Licensed to Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
, USA, the station serves the Philadelphia, Central Jersey area. The station is currently owned by Nassau Broadcasting Ii, LLC and features programing from Westwood One
Westwood One
Westwood One was an American radio network and was based in New York City. At one time, it was managed by CBS Radio, the radio arm of CBS Corporation, and Viacom and was later purchased by the private equity firm The Gores Group...
. The transmitter is located in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania
Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania
Fairless Hills is a census-designated place in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 8,466 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, on US-1.
History
94.5 in Trenton began on August 7, 1965 as WCHR with a religious format. But after 33 years, that all changed when Nassau Broadcasting bought the station. November 10, 1997 saw the beginning of things to come when WCHR began to simulcast on 920 AM in Trenton (see NJ AM Page 4) in preparation for a format change. On February 27, 1998, WCHR started stunting with construction sound effects and on March 2, 1998 94.5 became "New Jersey's Oldies Station." The WNJO calls were assigned on March 26, 1998. On November 1, 2001, WNJO switched to a classic hits format as "94.5 The Hawk." Calls changed to WTHK on August 1, 2002 - and slowly evolved into a classic rock station. On February 14, 2005, at 5pm, 94.5 "switched" frequencies and formats with 97.5 WPST. Forming 94.5 "PST" "number one for today's hit music". Matt Sneed (current MD) was the first voice on 94.5 WPST, while Chris Puorro was music director and Dave McKay was program director at the time.97.5 started life, initially on January 10, 1949, then officially on April 19, 1949, as WTOA. It was owned by the Mercer Broadcasting Company, which was a wholly owned subsidiary of the Trenton Times
The Times (Trenton)
The Times is a daily newspaper owned by Advance Publications that serves the Mercer County, New Jersey area, with a strong focus on the government of New Jersey. The paper had a daily circulation of 77,405, with Sunday circulation of 88,336...
newspaper. WTOA started out broadcasting from 3pm to 11pm, with an ERP
Effective radiated power
In radio telecommunications, effective radiated power or equivalent radiated power is a standardized theoretical measurement of radio frequency energy using the SI unit watts, and is determined by subtracting system losses and adding system gains...
of 14,500 watts. Its original coverage area reached as far north as Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and as far west as Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading is a city in southeastern Pennsylvania, USA, and seat of Berks County. Reading is the principal city of the Greater Reading Area and had a population of 88,082 as of the 2010 census, making it the fifth most populated city in the state after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown and Erie,...
. 97.5 became WPST on September 13, 1971. The WPST calls originally stood for "Passport Stereo Trenton," a slogan of the station at the time. Also, the WPST calls were on a Miami TV station now known as WPLG
WPLG
WPLG, channel 10, is an ABC network affiliated television station located in Miami, Florida. WPLG is owned and operated by Post-Newsweek Stations, a subsidiary of the Washington Post Company. The station's studios are located in Pembroke Park, and its transmitter is located at the massive broadcast...
. WPST is known for its mainstream CHR format, which they've had for many years. Tom Taylor was the PD who launched the format in the mid 1970s, and did mornings on the station until 1987. In August 1975, owner Herb Hobler hired Phil Gieger as the General Manager. Along with Tom Taylor, they revamped the station and coined the phrase, "From The Shore To The Poconos
The Poconos
The Pocono Mountains is a region located in northeastern Pennsylvania, United States. The Poconos, located chiefly in Monroe and Pike counties , are an upland of the larger Allegheny Plateau...
, The Best Music Is On The FM 97.5 WPST." They initially established an Adult Rock
Album-oriented rock
Album-oriented rock is an American FM radio format focusing on album tracks by rock artists.-Music played:Most radio formats are based on a select, tight rotation of hit singles...
format, and by the Fall of 1975, the station took off and eventually became the number one station in the market. Some WPST DJs over the years included Lee Tobin, John Mellon (aka Walt Ballard), Ed Johnson, Doug James, John Brown, Eddie Davis, Trish Merelo, David Cooper, Andy Gury, Jeff "Woody" Fife, Dan Kelly, Brian Douglas, Mel Toxic, Kris Gamble, Jay Sorensen, Bob Sorrentino, Dave Hoeffel, Tom Cunningham, Dave Moss, Michelle Stevens, Pat Gillen, Eric Johnson, Mark Sheppard, Andre Gardner, Phil Simon, Mike Kaplan, Steve Trevelise, Joel Katz, Rich DeSisto, Jason Barsky, Scott Lowe, Joe LeCompte, Jeff Ryan, [Mark
http://www.markvanness.com Vanness], Gabrielle Vaughn and Chris Puorro. Caricatures of the WPST DJs, circa 1977, can be found here. On February 14, 2005, at 5pm, 97.5 "switched" frequencies and formats with 94.5 WTHK (defunct), and adopted its current adult top 40 format. This officially "killed" the hot adult contemporary format on Philadelphia's WMWX, which became adult hits two months later and the following year getting the current calls WBEN-FM
WBEN-FM
WBEN-FM, known as "95.7 Ben FM," is an adult hits station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The station plays a mix of 1970s, 1980s and 1990s hits, with some current hot adult contemporary rock singles. Named after Benjamin Franklin, the station pioneered a "Playing Anything We Feel Like" radio...
. Nielsen BDS & 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...
still reported them as 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...
station until 2008
2008 in radio
Several events occurred in radio in 2008.- Events :* January 2: WWFT finished Christmas music stunting, rolling out the red carpet for Adult contemporary music branded as "Warm."...
. The move left WIOQ
WIOQ
WIOQ, known as "Q102", is a CHR/Pop radio station which is broadcast in the Philadelphia area. The station appeals to a generally young demographic. WIOQ is owned by Clear Channel Communications. Its transmitter is located in the Roxborough section of Philadelphia.-WFIL-FM/Popular 102:The...
from Philadelphia as the only mainstream top 40 station in both areas of Trenton & Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
(served by WSTW
WSTW
WSTW is a Pop Contemporary Hit Radio formatted radio station that broadcasts in the Wilmington, Delaware metropolitan area which is just south of Philadelphia. Although the station and transmitter are located in Wilmington, the signal is strong enough to provide city-grade coverage of most of...
). In August 2005, 97.5's city of license was changed from Trenton to Burlington. Before moving closer to Philadelphia, the 97.5 transmitter was located in downtown Trenton, New Jersey. The tower from which 97.5 broadcast is the tallest structure in the City of Trenton.
By 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,...
, the station returned 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...
per 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 reports.