WPAP (92.5

MHz The hertz (symbol: Hz) is the unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI), equivalent to one event (or cycle) per second. The hertz is an SI derived unit whose expression in terms of SI base units is s−1, meaning that one he ...

) is a commercial FM

radio station Radio broadcasting is transmission of audio (sound), sometimes with related metadata, by radio waves to radio receivers belonging to a public audience. In terrestrial radio broadcasting the radio waves are broadcast by a land-based radio ...

located in Panama City, Florida. WPAP airs a

country music Country (also called country and western) is a genre of popular music that originated in the Southern and Southwestern United States in the early 1920s. It primarily derives from blues, church music such as Southern gospel and spirituals, ...

format.

History

WPAP began broadcast on March 7, 1967, as WDLP-FM, which was an FM translation of the popular AM station WDLP, with an ERP of 39 kW. On May 24, 1968, an application for assignment of the licences of both the FM and AM station were filed by a "Miracle Radio, Inc.". The station fell into their ownership later that year. In March 1969, the station was renamed WPAP-FM. To celebrate the new radio station, a concert was held at the City Auditorium on 4 April of that year, and featured

Wilma Burgess Wilma Burgess (born Wilma Charlene Burgess; June 11, 1939 – August 26, 2003) was an American country music singer. She rose to fame in the mid-1960s and charted fifteen singles on the ''Billboard'' C&W charts between 1965 and 1975. Backgroun ...

, Archie Campbell,

Lorene Mann Lorene Mann (born Lillian Lorene Mann; January 4, 1937 – May 24, 2013) was an American country music singer and songwriter. She is known for her duets with Justin Tubb and Archie Campbell. Biography Mann was born January 4, 1937, in Huntland, ...

, and

Ray Pillow Herbert Raymond "Ray" Pillow (born July 4, 1937) is an American country music singer who has also worked as a Music publisher (popular music), music publisher and A&R, artists and repertoire (A&R) representative. In his career, he has charted 18 ...

. Along with the call sign change, WPAP also became the first stereo FM station in the Florida Panhandle, thanks to strengthened equipment. On January 10, 1975, at 6:21 p.m., WPAP switched transmitters, increasing their power to 100,000 watts. From 1981 until 1984, it was marketed as "North Florida's Country Music Station" under the nickname "WPAP/FM 92". In March 1984, the station experimented with changing its branding to "92 WPAP". This lasted for barely under a year, when in early 1985 it became known as "WPAP 92.5". The current name, "92.5 WPAP", has been used since 1993. In 1997, WPAP,

WPBH WTKP (93.5 FM) is a commercial radio station located in Port St. Joe, Florida broadcasting in the Panama City area on 93.5 FM. History WTKP was formerly licensed to Mexico Beach, Florida at 99.3 FM. On May 3, 2007, the station started a simulcast ...

, WDIZ, and

WFSY WFSY (98.5 FM) is a radio station which normally broadcasts an adult contemporary format but during the holidays, broadcasts Christmas music. Licensed to Panama City, Florida, United States, the station also serves the Dothan, AL market. The sta ...

were sold to

iHeartMedia iHeartMedia, Inc., formerly CC Media Holdings, Inc., is an American mass media corporation headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It is the holding company of iHeartCommunications, Inc. (formerly Clear Channel Communications, Inc.), a company fou ...

(then known as Clear Channel). In August 2020, following the closure of WDIZ, the "96Rock" format used by the defunct station began broadcasting from WPAP-HD2.

HD channels

WPAP broadcasts two

HD Radio HD Radio (HDR) is a trademark for an in-band on-channel (IBOC) digital radio broadcast technology. It generally simulcasts an existing analog radio station in digital format with less noise and with additional text information. HD Radio is used ...

channels: * HD-1 simulcasts the main WPAP signal. * HD-2 carries "96.3 & 102.5 WFLA", the conservative talk format formerly on

WFLF-FM WFLF-FM (94.5 FM) is a radio station broadcasting in Panama City, Florida, owned and operated by iHeartMedia. History WFLF-FM first signed on at 93.5 MHz in 1977 as WGCV, a station licensed to Port St Joe, Florida. In 1982, Don Crisp bough ...

94.5 Parker.

HD2 translators

References

External links

WPAP official website
* * * * * PAP Country radio stations in the United States Radio stations established in 1967 IHeartMedia radio stations 1967 establishments in Florida {{Florida-radio-station-stub