WAPL

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WAPL (105.7

WAPL-FM, operating on a frequency of 105.7 MHz, was added in 1965 when an FM antenna was installed on the existing WAPL (AM) tower in Menasha. The initial power was around 20,000 watts at an antenna height of 160 feet. The station's format was beautiful music.

In 1965, WAPL-FM was upgraded to a 50,000-watt signal at 200 feet with a new tower on The Zuelke Building in downtown Appleton.

By 1977, having gone through a number of ownership and format changes, WAPL-FM changed its call letters to WCXR and briefly became a Christian station. This change lasted only eight months before changing format again, this time to

The Rockin' Apple

In 1978, WAPL AM and FM were offered for sale. WAPL-FM was purchased by Woodward Communications, Inc., of Dubuque, Iowa. Woodward already owned an AM station, WHBY, in the Appleton market. A strategy was developed to include the newly purchased station in the already planned new facility for WHBY on Appleton's southeast side. The plans included an upgrade of WAPL's signal to 100,000 watts of power and 450 feet of height for the antenna.

The new facilities were completed in the early fall of 1979, and WAPL and its new sister station, WHBY, won the Broadcast Management and Engineering award for "Best AM/FM Station" of 1979. Soon after the construction was complete, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ruled that high power FM station like WAPL should be at least 100,000 watts at 1000 feet. Immediately, the planning began for a new transmitter site which would allow WAPL to remain a Class C FM transmitting facility. During this time, most of the WAPL air staff went by only their first names and was composed of Robin, Dale, Cliff, Carl King, Laura Morgan, Mark Coulter and Operations Manager Dan Davis.

In October 1980, WAPL-FM began identifying itself as "The Rockin' Apple", under program director Wayne Shayne. WAPL would continue to use the nickname until 2002, at which time the station was re-branded as "Wisconsin's Rock Station". "The Rockin' Apple" was brought back as a station identifier in 2007 as preparations were being made for WAPL's 30th Anniversary celebration. In addition to Shayne, other members of the air staff during WAPL's history have included Rick Panneck, David Lee, Laura Morgan, Bob Baron, Rick Blades, and Nate Wright (Night Nate).

In April 1985, "The Mark and McNeal Morning Show" debuted with Mark Coulter, Rick McNeal and newsman Len Nelson. While Coulter departed after only eight months, McNeal and Nelson continued doing the morning show together until January 1999, when Nelson left the station to become news director of WGEE (now

WAPL received a construction permit August 27, 1987 to increase tower height and become a full Class C FM, nearly eight years after applying for it. The new transmitting facility was completed southeast of Green Bay in rural Shirley at a height of 1,175 feet above average terrain near WGBA-TV's transmitter, making the station "The 100,000 Watt Blowtorch of the Midwest". The station can be heard as far west from towns west of Wausau, as far east as cities across Lake Michigan such as Ludington and as far north as Iron Mountain, MI. The signal easily reaches the northern portions of the Milwaukee market, though a translator activated in 2015 broadcasting Milwaukee's AM sports station WSSP, also carried on 105.7, has removed some access to WAPL in that market.

The Rockin' Apple celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2008. WAPL was recognized by the American Red Cross in 2002 as Outstanding Media Partner for their fund raising efforts following the September 11 attacks in 2001. In addition to being a national Marconi Award finalist in 2006, WAPL has won numerous Wisconsin Area Music Industry Awards and was nominated for 2008 Station of the Year. WAPL remains radio-active in the community through charitable campaigns such as Rock Against Hunger, Rock For Kids, and Rock For The Cure. They partner annually with the Leukemia-Lymphoma Society, American Cancer Society, Children's Hospital, Paul's Pantry, and area domestic abuse shelters in raising nearly a million dollars for local charities. The current WAPL line-up includes The Rick and Cutter Show with news anchor Erin Davisson, The Liquid Lunch with Ross Maxwell, The Afternoon Road Show with Elwood and John Jordan, Andy Gardner, Home Brewed, House of Hair with Dee Snider, Nights with Alice Cooper, and Sammy Hagar's Top Rock Countdown.

In 2002, 105.7 FM and AM 1570 once again became sister stations. WAPL owner Woodward Communications, Inc. purchased 1570 WRJQ and immediately changed the call letters to WSCO and installed a Sports Talk format, replacing WRJQ's big band format. In addition to WHBY and WSCO, WAPL's other sister stations include the to

• 95.9
  Top 40 (CHR)
  format as "95.9 KISS FM"
• 94.7
  Active Rock
  -formatted "Razor 94.7"
• 104.3 WFZZ, Alternative rock-formatted "The Fuse"

In late 2007, WAPL began streaming its radio broadcast online via the World Wide Web.

On April 8, 2008, the station's official call letters were changed by the FCC from WAPL-FM to simply WAPL.^[1] (AM 1570's "WAPL" call sign had been changed in 1978, enabling 105.7 FM to drop the "-FM" suffix.)^[2]

In the

Nominated again in 2008, this time WAPL brought home the Marconi Award for National Rock Station of the Year. The Staff included Program Director Joe Calgaro, Promotions Director Elwood, and Music Director Borna Velic. The on-air line-up consisted of Rick McNeal, Len Nelson, and Jeanne Anthony of The Rick & Len Show, Karla Moore, Elwood, Joe Calgaro, Scott Stevens, and Ross Maxwell. WAPL won the 2010 Radio Station of the Year award at the Wisconsin Area Music Industry (WAMI) awards.^[4]

In May 2011, WAPL was named the first ever Medium Market Music Station of the Year by the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association.^[5] The air-staff included Rick and Len in the morning, Roxanne Steele, Elwood, Joe Calgaro and John Jordan in the afternoon, Scott Stevens, Borna Velic, and Ross Maxwell.

In September 2011, WAPL again won the National Association of Broadcaster's Marconi Award for National Rock Station of the Year. It was the second time WAPL received the award in 3 years.

In May 2012, WAPL was named Medium Market Music Station of the Year for the second consecutive year by the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association. The air-staff included Rick and Len in the morning, Roxanne Steele, Elwood, Joe Calgaro and John Jordan in the afternoon, Scott Stevens, Borna Velic, and Ross Maxwell.

Birth gift to Prince William

WAPL shares its "initials" with