WSPK

Infobox Radio station


name = WSPK
airdate = December 7, 1947
city = Poughkeepsie, New York
area = Hudson Valley, eastern Catskills, Western Connecticut | and Far Northern New Jersey branding = K-104
slogan = Today's Hit Music
frequency = 104.7 MHz
format = Top 40
power = 7,400 watts
erp = 50,000 watts
haat = 381 meters
class = B
facility_id = 19630
callsign_meaning = W Stereo PoughKeepsie
former_callsigns = WHVS (1947-late 1950s)
WKIP-FM (late 1950s-1968)
owner = Pamal Broadcasting
licensee = 6 Johnson Road Licenses, Inc.
webcast = [http://www.k104online.com/listen/ Listen Live]
website = [http://www.k104online.com/ www.k104online.com]
sister_stations = WBNR, WBPM, WGHQ, WHUD, WLNA, WXPK

WSPK "(K-104)" is a contemporary hit radio radio station licensed to Poughkeepsie, New York and broadcasting from studios in Fishkill. It is owned by Pamal Broadcasting and broadcasts on 104.7 MHz at an ERP of 50 kilowatts from a tower at the top of Mount Beacon in Fishkill.

Though WSPK's main coverage area is centered on the Hudson Valley with secondary targeting into the eastern Catskills, Westchester County, the Danbury, Connecticut area, and Pike County, Pennsylvania, the overall signal area is vast. For many years, the station's top-of-hour ID mentioned its coverage of parts of five states (New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts) and "an itty-bitty piece of Vermont". WSPK reaches much of New York City metropolitan area (mostly from the Bronx on north) and, until the launch of stations at adjacent frequencies in the early 1990s, Albany as well.

Pre K-104

The 104.7 frequency signed on the air on December 7, 1947 as WHVS, the first FM station to sign on between New York City and the Albany area. In its early years, the station played classical music and for a time was a part of a regional network operated by powerhouse station WQXR. By the late 1950s, WHVS was sold to the owners of WKIP and took the WKIP-FM calls as well as simulcasting that station's full service format. In 1965, WKIP-FM moved its tower to the Mount Beacon site which hosted the area's first radio station (WOKO, which later moved to Albany), added stereo capabilities, and split off from its parent with a Top 40 format.

The height of the Mount Beacon site gave the station a wide coverage area; in many areas, WKIP-FM was the only FM station which came in with an excellent signal. This increased the station's value and in 1968 WKIP-FM was sold to Olympian Broadcasting and took on new call letters: WSPK. With new owners came a varied middle of the road/classical/beautiful music format which was commonplace on many FM stations at the time and was then dominated in the market by WHUD (today a sister station to WSPK). The new owners also chose an unusual identifier for an FM frequency: "10-47" (said on-air as "ten-forty-seven").

The new format paled in comparison to its rivals and after WBNR owner, Lance Broadcasting, purchased the station in 1970, changes soon came. By 1972, the station flipped to country music in a preemptive move against the newly relaunched WPDH. Country did not last long on the frequency and in 1975 WSPK took on a Top 40-leaning album-oriented rock format which struggled and went into a free fall after WPDH took on a truer AOR format. In 1978, the station went to a CHR/Oldies hybrid similar to what was on WBNR at the time, with early success. The station itself evolved to CHR through 1979 into 1980.

K-104 history

In 1980, newly arrived program director Stew Schantz (formerly of WPDH) re-worked the station's "K-104" image, after consultation with Chuck Stewart, the station's first African-American sales manager, who picked up the idea from a sales conference out west (there, station callsigns usually begin with a "K" where east of the Mississippi River they usually begin with a "W"). The new name worked wonders for a station which had spent the previous decade adrift. K-104 quickly began to rival regional leader WHUD and Dutchess County leader WKIP and dominated the region by the late 1980s. Probably the two most notable names to come out of this period, besides Schantz, were morning host Mark Bolger (now at WBWZ) and weekend evening host, Dr. John Barron (whose real name is Allan Sniffen, a dentist and curator of the radio-history site [http://www.musicradio77.com musicradio77.com] ). Scotty Mac, current program director of the station, arrived at the station in the late 1980s as the DJ at night.

By the early 1990s, K-104 evolved to a more adult-leaning approach as the CHR format went into a short-term decline. With this, the numbers weakened even though there was no real competition for its target audience. In 1996, owner Beacon Broadcasting (the evolved Lance Broadcasting) sold their remaining stations to Albany Broadcasting (which would take the Pamal name in 1999). Seeing his future at risk, Schantz then retired from the station. He has since gone on to do behind-the-scenes work in Utica, Albany and Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

Schantz's departure led for the return of Scotty Mac, now in the program-director position, and a re-imaged CHR approach which leaned towards dance music, then a rarity in the United States. The station soon regained its dominance and soon would set all-time ratings records given a further lack of competition in its key market. Though in recent years competition has come in the form of WPKF and the station is no longer a perennial #1, K-104 still is one of the highest rated and most visionary stations in the CHR format.

Woodman was at the helm of the Woodman in the Morning show for over 7 years with number 1 ratings across all demographic's from 1999 and on they took mornings to a new level- He had a few co-hosts in his time, with DJ Dawn, and the Kay who pretty much kept Woodman on the straight and narrow road and newswomen Donna Davis along with Andre his stuntboy, then in 1998 Kay left the program to pursue other interests. And Andre Kane took over as producer of the "Woodman in the Morning Show" Shortly after they brought in another stunt guy/voice guy, Goatboy, who brought a different element to the show, celebrity voice work; his list included President Bill Clinton with the "Chappaqua phone" (Bill and Hillary had a house in Chappaqua) and "Bubba or Billy" would call about hot topics about himself; also Regis Philbin with Woodman behind it all calling celebs at there house leaving messages on answering machines asking them if they wanted to be on "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire"; also WWE wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin, and "The Governator" Arnold Schwarzenegger. He is currently heard on 98.3-95.7 WSUL as Cody Thomas mid-days who was with the show until August 2000. Along that time Donna Davis took a maternity leave to give birth to a baby girl. Which lead to bring in Lynn Kelly to fill in for Donna, the chemistry between Woodman and Lynn & Andre lead her to being the full-time newswomen on the show and Woodmans "Voice of Reason". In 2005 after a good 4 years with the show, Lynn left and they brought in a girl by the name of Taylor Gray, but she quickly left after a few weeks. Then Woodman held a contest called "The Morning Wood Contender" looking for that one bright star to be the co-host with Woodman - and when the smoke cleared Tory Grace stood tall and has been the co-host ever since.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, morning-show host "The Woodman" organized a charity drive and then trekked south, together with other staff members, to distribute the food and clothing that had been collected.

In April 2006, norning show host Woodman discussed exiting with management. Jack Hammer exited the show and temporarily left radio for a hiatus. Woodman remained on air for three or four days a week until after K-Fest in June. During this time and following Woodman's official departure after K-Fest, Bill Beale served as interim host, with Tory Grace and Andre serving as co-hosts. Bill Beale, Tory Grace, and Andre held down the fort for a few months until August, when Miami, Florida radio personality, Chris Marino, took over the morning show. Ray "The Freakin' Puerto Rican hanging in Beacon" Love, had been a mix DJ on the station. After a year in the spot, Ray Love left the show to pursue other opportunities. Matt Dawg was recruited in early 2008 and is the current 'stunt guy'.

On Friday nornings, K104's extended family drops by; Jillian the Intern and Brook and Diva ("representing the Gay community"}. you can always count on lots of fun when the entire "Family" is together.

K-107

In early 2003, Pamal Broadcasting purchased WYNY (107.1 MHz), the Westchester County portion of the "Y-107/Rhumba 107.1" "quadcast" from Nassau Broadcasting (which itself had bought all four stations from Big City Radio). Despite rumors of a format change (possibly to country, even though that format is broadcast by a competing station, WRWD, on an adjacent frequency), Pamal instead used the purchase as an opportunity to expand the reach of K-104 further into Westchester County. On April 9 of that year, WYNY took on the WXPK calls and the stations relaunched as "K-104 and K-107".

Though a good idea in principle, K-107 was beset with various difficulties: a months-long delay with Verizon to install an ISDN line from the Beacon studios to the WXPK transmitter in Briarcliff Manor, difficulty in getting local businesses to advertise on the station, and even the socioeconomic differences between Westchester County and the Hudson Valley. The station soon vanished from the ratings for Westchester County and actually brought down WSPK's numbers in the New York City area ratings. Pamal ended the simulcast after one year and the 107.1 frequency flipped to adult album alternative as "107.1 The Peak".

K*Fest

WSPK holds a yearly event known as K*Fest; for more information see K Fest (Radio). In 2007, rapper Akon threw a boy off the stage into the crowd, an event which attracted media attention. As of November 29, 2007 charges have been filed against Akon regarding this incident. Charges include, Endangering the Welfare of a Minor, a misdemeanor and second-degree harrasment. [http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071129/ENT04/71129011 Fishkill Police file charges against Akon for KFEST stage toss] Another K*FEST took place on Sunday June 1, 2008 at Dutchess Stadium with probably the biggest crowd ever recorded for a KFEST.

The K104 Christmas Wish

Every Holiday Season K104 conducts an event, The 12 Days Of Christmas wish. Where Listeners have the chance to write about someone they know who has had a rough time through the year and they are given the chance to write a letter and are able to earn the family they are writing about a chance to have a magical holiday season with the 12 days of Christmas wish giving that family a $500 gift certificate to one of the area malls.

Weekdays

*Midnight - 5:00 a.m. - Michael Bennett
*5:00 a.m. - 5:30 a.m. - Bill Beale
*5:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. - Chris Marino and "The K104 Morning Show" [Tory Grace, PJ & Bill Beale]
*10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. - Scotty Mac
*2:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. - Skywalker
*7:00 p.m. - midnight - Brian Stylez

Weekends

*Terry Donovan
*Matt Davenport
*Darcy
*Jenn Doherty
*Oni Montana
*PJ
*Andrew Enriquez
*Michael Bennett

Past radio hosts

*Jim Hartman
*Jim Simonetti (K104 PD, later GM at WAVZ-WKCI-WELI/New Haven)
*Rosemary Young
*Bob Perry (created the JACK-FM radio format in 2000, President - Big Sticks Broadcasting)
*Dean Darling
*John LeMiux
*Jimmy Howes (currently Marconi Award Program Director of WGHT Radio)
*Chris Lead
*Caroline Barten
*John Shaffer
*Deb Weber
*C.J. Thomas
*KC Rhodes (real name Ken Rosato, news anchor for WABC-TV)
*Bob Dayton
*Dr. John Barron (also known as Allan Sniffen)
*Sean Phillips
*Chris St. James
*"Downtown"Lou Brown
*Mark Bolger
*Dawn Spicer
*Frank Banks
*Scotty Mac
*Bruce Clayton
*Jay(Josh) Sommers
*Mark Mitchell (now in Nashville, Tennessee at COUNTRY 103WKDF) MARKET 44
*Sue Turk
*Sean Ford
*Stew Schantz
*Kacey (now on sister station WHUD 100.7)
*Bill Carroll
*Matt Davenport (1998-2001, WPKF middays 2002-2003, WSPK-2007-present)
*Andrew Costa
*Donnie Michaels
*Sebastian
*John Foxx
*Mark Foxx
*Stick
*Paulie Cruz
*Stevie T
*Phill Kross (now on Z100)
*Bill Plax (now Production Director at Fresh 102.7 in New York City and weekends on Party 105 Long Island)
*Hamilton
*Nikki
*DJ Dawn
*Jack Hammer (now on sister station WBPM Classic Hits 92.9 Mornings 6 a.m. - 10 a.m. "The Electric Morning Show" with Jack Hammer and Andre Kane [www.wbpm929.com] )
*Donna Davis
*Lynn Kelly
*Kay
*Woodman (Now at WMEE 93.7)
*Andre (now on sister station WBPM Classic Hits 92.9 morning show co-host 6 a.m. - 10 a.m. "The Electric Morning Show" with Jack Hammer and Andre Kane [www.wbpm929.com] )
*Goatboy - (also known as Cody Thomas on 98.3-95.7 WSUL monticello,NY mid-days 10-3)
*DJ Joey C - also known as Elian
*J-Me
*Brian Stylez
*Danny Valentino (now on Sirius Satellite Radio in New York City)
*"Fast" Freddie Coleman (later at WPDH/WCZX now of ESPN Radio)
*Dan Kelly (now Creative Services Director at WPLJ/NYC)
*Mark David (now National Director of Operations, Tallgrass Broadcasting)
*John Hart
*Matt Jagger
*D. Knight
*Jess Tyler

Past PDs

*Chris Lead
*Bob Dayton
*Bob Steel
*Sean Phillips
*Jim Simonetti
*Stew Schantz

External links

* [http://www.k104online.com/ Station homepage]
*FMQ|WSPK
*FML|WSPK
*FMARB|WSPK