KWAV

Infobox Radio Station


name = KWAV
airdate = 1961
frequency = 96.9 (MHz) HD Radio
city = Monterey, California
area = Santa Cruz
Monterey
Salinas, California
format = Adult Contemporary
owner = Buckley Broadcasting
erp = 18,000 watts
haat = 747 m
branding = K-Wave 97 FM
slogan =
class = B
website = [http://www.kwav.com/ www.kwav.com]

KWAV is a commercial radio station in Monterey, California, broadcasting to the Santa Cruz-Monterey-Salinas, California area on 96.9 FM.

KWAV airs an adult contemporary music format branded as "K-Wave 97 FM".

History, 1994-Present

In the mid-90's, KWAV was branded as "Today's Hits, Yesterday's Favorites." The Adult Contemporary music mix was upbeat, featuring an R&B-leaning playlist with Cher, Mariah Carey, Gloria Estefan, Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, Paula Abdul, The Pointer Sisters, Vanessa Williams, Brian McKnight, Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Smokey Robinson, Timmy T, Stevie B, Expose, and Ace of Base as core artists. Other core artists included Amy Grant, Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart, Sting, Michael Bolton, Billy Joel, Richard Marx, Paul Young, Restless Heart, Don Hensley, Foreigner, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Hornsby, Huey Lewis, Heart, Roxette, Basia, and Swingout Sister. Also included were numerous pop/alternative crossover tracks by Melissa Etheridge, Duran Duran, Sheryl Crow, Lisa Loeb, Hootie & The Blowfish, Meatloaf, and Dionne Farris. By early 1996, the music mix became very upbeat - almost Hot Adult Contemporary in nature - and included songs by Blues Traveler, Gin Blossoms and The Cranberries.

In February 1996, the station revamped its image, becoming "Soft Rock Favorites" and shifting its playlist to include more 70's songs.

In March 1999, the station dropped its "Love Songs Til Midnight" all-request call-in program in favor of the nationally-syndicated Delilah program. "LSTM" host Candy James subsequently moved to middays.

From 2000-2005, the station's music mix included numerous R&B oldies by Al Green, The Supremes, The Spinners, and The Four Tops.

In 2003, local TV personality Barry Brown and Karen Hamilton joined as hosts of the morning program (5:30 to 9:00).

In 2005, the station shifted its playlist to include fewer oldies and more of the upbeat 80's and 90's R&B-leaning tracks it used to play in the mid 1990's. The station also began adding 70's-era R&B/disco tracks by artists such as Earth Wind & Fire, Diana Ross, Gloria Gaynor, and The Beegees. The branding remains "Soft Rock Favorites."

In 2007, the station began to broadcast in HD Radio.

Current Line-Up

M-F, 5:30-9: Barry Brown and Karen Hamilton

M-F, 9-2: Candy James (includes "All Request Lunch" 12-1)

M-F, 2-7: Steve Davis (includes "Drive at Five")

M-F, S, 7-12: Love Songs w/ Delilah

Weekends/Fillers: Skyler Stevens, Greg Dean

Former DJ's

Alan Richmond, Bob March, Sandy Shore, John Garabo, Sebastian Thomas, Debi McCallister (now at KQFC in Boise, Idaho) and Jack Peterson.

External links

* [http://www.kwav.com/ Official Website]
*FMQ|KWAV
*FML|KWAV