WAEB-FM
WAEB-FM, commonly known as "B104", is a Mainstream Top 40 radio station located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania, in the United States and owned by iHeartMedia. WAEB-FM broadcasts at 104.1 MHz FM.
 | |
| City | Allentown, Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Lehigh Valley |
| Frequency | 104.1 (MHz) (HD Radio) |
| Branding | B104 |
| Slogan | The Valley's #1 Hit Music Station |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| Format | Top 40 (CHR) HD2: Country "iHeartCountry Family" HD3: Spanish "Latina FM" |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | iHeartMedia (Capstar TX LLC) |
| Sister stations | WAEB, WSAN, WZZO |
| History | |
| First air date | 1961 |
| Former call signs | WAEB-FM (1961-late 1960s) WXKW (1960s–1985) |
| Call sign meaning | W Allentown, Easton, Bethlehem |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 14372 |
| Class | B |
| ERP | 50,000 watts |
| HAAT | 152 meters |
| Transmitter coordinates | 40°43′13″N 75°35′44″W |
| Translator(s) | See § Translators |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | b104.com |
History
WAEB-FM signed on in 1961, initially simulcasting the Top 40 format airing on 790 WAEB. In the late 60s, WAEB FM separated from WAEB and went through several formats before eventually becoming a country music station known as WXKW.
In April 1985, the station reverted to the WAEB call letters and switched to a Soft AC format, playing a small amount of adult standards artists initially as well as a few new songs. The station was known as "The New Light 104 WAEB-FM" and it was a "niche" format meant to compete with 100.7 WFMZ (which was easy listening at the time) and 96.1 WLEV (which was an automated/live assist "Hot AC.")
By the early part of 1986, WAEB FM had evolved to more of a mainstream AC format, but by the late part of 1986, the station was phasing out the "Light" name and became "104 WAEB-FM", and the music mix changed to a more heavily dayparted AC/CHR mix without the hype.
On January 26, 1987, the day known as when "The records went away". The station switched to a CHR format and became "The world's 1st ever laser hitmusic radio station!, The New Laser 104.1 WAEB-FM". Aptly named because 90% percent of the music (when available) was played on CD. One remnant of the station's "Laser Days" was at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, where back in 1987, their "Colossus" steel roller coaster was renamed "The Laser" until it was moved in 2008. Legendary voice man Mitch Craig was the voice of WAEB-FM in its "Laser 104.1" years.
In 1991, 104.1 gradually downplayed the "Laser 104.1" moniker and identified themselves as "104.1 WAEB-FM." In September of that year, after WHXT a.k.a. "Hot 99.9" in Easton switched to WODE better known as "Oldies 99.9", WAEB-FM's transition to "BDay" was complete. The station then became known as "The New B104 FM".
The station positioned itself as "The New B104 FM" through late 1992. The late great Brian James became the new voice of WAEB-FM after Mitch, then by late 1992 the station started to play down the fact that they were "new" and then began positioning as the station that plays "10 songs in a row" and gives you "Everything You Need to Know" because of their emphasis on local news in the morning and afternoon, as well as traffic reports every 10 minutes. Ken Matthews hosted the morning show and Chuck McGee did afternoon drive.
By Spring 1996, B104 was reimaged, most of the flame throwing CHR jingles from the 80's were dropped and Sean Caldwell became the new voice of WAEB-FM after Brian. The Retro 80's Buffet began at noon hosted originally by Jennifer Knight (now on 95.1 WAYV Atlantic City). In late 1996 B-104 began broadcasting Open House Party with John Garabedian on Saturday nights, after it was dropped by Pottsville's WAVT (T-102). By 1997 B104 began playing a lot more "softer" songs during the day that a lot of other CHR's didn't play (like "Here in my Heart" by Chicago), to pick up listeners who felt displaced by the signing off of A/C 96.1 WLEV in July 1997. In late 1998 B 104 began using a new jingle package, and streaming on the web.I In the 1990s during the day B 104 was Allentown's de facto Adult Contemporary station as it eliminated rap and hard rock during the day. B104 aired special edits of songs such as Green Day Holiday, Beyonce Crazy In Love And many others where the raps or spoken parts were extracted from the songs. Through the 2000s B104 had a whatever weekends to distance themselves from the repetition cliches of pop radio. In 2006, B 104 was re-imaged again, dropping Sean as the voice as well as the "10 in a row" slogan. Morning man Ken Matthews exited, and long time night guy Mike Kelly was moved to mornings, as the station then began to resemble other CHR's owned by Clear Channel Communications (now iHeartMedia) in markets around the country, a sound they still maintain today as a Mainstream CHR radio station. Today B104 is a Mainstream CHR that no longer "dayparts" their music. B104 relies heavily on syndicated product from their parent company iHeartMedia, along with a live and local morning show "Mike and Steph in The Morning".
B104 featured the "Firecracker 500" every 4th of July weekend through 2003 with the number 1 song usually being the biggest hit on the station in the last year.
B 104 is a part of the iHeartRadio network. On Saturday October 20, 2012, B104 dropped Open House Party on Saturday nights and replaced it with Clear Channel's Saturday Online with Romeo.
B104 is continually at the top of the 12+ ratings in the Lehigh Valley maintaining 10+ shares for almost the last 25 years.
B104's signal can be heard as far North as Vernon, NJ, as far east as Clinton, NJ, as far west as Wyomissing, PA, as far north as Tamaqua, PA, and as far south as Doylestown, PA. The station's transmitter is located in Washington Township, Lehigh County, just south of Slatington on Tower Road. Signal restrictions to 104.1 FM come from WPHI 103.9 in Philadelphia, WNNK 104.1 in Harrisburg, Radio 103.9 WNBM-FM in the Bronx/NYC and WAXQ 104.3 in New York City.
WAEB-HD2 has had several different formats. Previously, it has aired new top 40 music, alternative, a simulcast of WAEB-AM, and currently, country.
On air
Weekdays
- Jojo Wright (12am-5am)
- Mike & Steph in the Morning [Mike Kelly and Stephanie Wells] (5am – 10am)
- Bob Hauer – News Anchor
- On Air with Ryan Seacrest (10am – 2pm)
- Kyle Anthony (2pm – 7pm)
- The Party at Five (5pm-6pm)
- Nik the Web Chick (7pm – 12am)
- B104's Most Liked (8pm – 9pm)
Saturday
- Nathan Fast (12am-6am)
- iHeartRadio Countdown (6am – 8am)
- Best of Mike & Steph in the Morning (8am – 10am)
- Glenn & Bob (10am – 2pm)
- Kyle Anthony (2pm – 7pm)
- Most Requested Live with Romeo (7pm – 12am)
Sunday
- Nathan Fast (12am – 6am)
- Brady (6am – 8am)
- American Top 40 (8am – 12pm)
- Glenn & Bob (12pm – 3pm)
- EJ (3pm – 7pm)
- Club Kane (7pm – 12am)
Signal note
Because of B104's proximity to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania along I-81 and I-78, the signal collides with the signal of WNNK-FM (Wink 104) in Reading, Pennsylvania.
Translators
| Call sign | Frequency (MHz) | City of license | Facility ID | ERP (W) | Height (m (ft)) | Class | Transmitter coordinates | FCC info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W221CU | 92.1 | Allentown, Pennsylvania | 139244 | 10 | 299.9 m (984 ft) | D | 40°33′52″N 75°26′25″W (NAD 27) | FCC |
| W296CL | 107.1 | Reading, Pennsylvania | 151079 | 10 | 235 m (771 ft) | D | 40°21′15″N 75°53′55″W (NAD 27) | FCC |
| W300BT | 107.9 | Hazleton, Pennsylvania | 156246 | 18.6 | 173 m (568 ft) | D | 40°58′9″N 75°57′28″W (NAD 27) | FCC |
W221CU-Allentown and W296CL-Reading (Latina FM) has been airing a Spanish CHR format since May 2017.[1]
See also
References
- "Spanish Wars Erupt In Eastern Pennsylvania - RadioInsight". radioinsight.com. 18 May 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
External links
- WAEB in the FCC's FM station database
- WAEB on Radio-Locator
- WAEB in Nielsen Audio's FM station database