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This Page Last Updated: Thursday 28 February 2019

The Essentials

Call Letters: WXKE
Frequency: 96.3fm
City of License: Churubusco
Metro(s): Fort Wayne
Power: 6700 watts @ 554 feet (Class B)
Format: Classic Rock
Address: 2000 Lower Huntington Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46819-1297
Phone: 260.747.1511
Ownership: Adams Radio Group, Inc.
Web Presence: http://963xke.com

Station Personnel

Current

GM: Chris Monk (October 2014 - Current)
Chief Engineer: Ed Didier
Director of Sales: Kevin Musselman (June 2, 2014 - Current)
LSM: Mark Osborn (January 2015 - Current)
PD: JJ Fabini
Production Director: Jason Lee
Mornings: The Bob and Tom Show (6am - 10am) (January 1, 2016 - Current) (Syndicated from WFBQ)
Middays: Doc West (10am - 3pm) (From PD/mornings at WXTW)
Afternoons: JJ Fabini (3pm - 7pm)
Nights: Jason Lee (7pm - 10pm) (From afternoons at WXTW)

Former

WKQM-FM

Owner: Frank Kovas (Deceased 29 January 2005)
GM: Connie Kovas
GM: Bill Collins (July 1995 - ?)

WEJE-FM

Owner: Frank Kovas (Deceased 29 January 2005)
VP/GM: John Sloan (January 1997 - ?)
GM/GSM: Palmer Pyle (? - March 1998)
GM: Bill Collins
GM: Connie Kovas
GSM: Brett Rump
SM: Dick O'Day (Now with Artistic Media Partners in South Bend)
SM: Nancy Cunningham (March 1998 - ?)
OM: Dave Lang (? - March 1998)
OM: Mary Clements
VP/Programming: Brian Michel (August 2000 - February 20, 2001) (From WPTE in Norfolk, Virginia) (Now OM/PD at KUDD and KUUU in Salt Lake City, Utah)
OM/PD: Sean Smyth (PD: October 1995 - ?; OM: March 1997 - ?) (Now out of radio)
OM/PD: Weasel (September 1995 - February 1999) (Now OM at the Advanced Media Partners' stations in Peoria, Illinois and mornings at their WPIA-FM)
OM/PD: Bob Shannon (March 2001 - April 2001)
PD: Kyle Guderian (September 1998 - April 2000; PD: February 1999 - April 2000) (From PD at WQBF in LaCrosse, Wisconsin)
PD: Phil Grosch (PD: April 2000 - May 19, 2000, MD before that) (Now with Emmis Communications in Chicago, Illinois)
PD/MD: J.J. Fabini (PD: May, 19, 2000 - September 2001, MD: Feburary 1999 - September 2001, Production Director: July 1999 - April 2000) (Now OM/middays at WXKE)
APD: Jamie Marchiori (September 1995 - August 1998) (Now out of radio)
Production Director: Jamie Marchiori (September 1995 - August 1998) (Now out of radio)
Production Director: Scott Kolesar (March 1998 - December 1998)
Production Director: Brian Michel (October 1998 - February 20, 2001) (From WPTE in Norfolk, Virginia) (Now OM/PD at KUDD and KUUU in Salt Lake City, Utah)
Production Director: Roxanne McVay (March 2001 - March 2001) (Deceased 8 December 2007)
Promotions Director: Courtney Heiser (? - March 2001)
Mornings: Scott McGlasson (6am - 10am) (October 2000 - September 2001) (From WTAO in Murphysboro, Illinois)
Mornings: Mancow Muller (syndicated from WRCX in Chicago, Illinois) (March 3, 1997 - March 2, 1998)
Mornings: Chad Silvieus (Middays: March 1998 - August 1998; Mornings: August 1998 - August 2000) (Now out of radio)
Mornings: Mac (Now nights at WCHZ in Augusta, Georgia)
Mornings: Joel Hoffman (October 2001 - September 2001)
Middays: Deb Mills (Now middays at WIKY-FM)
Middays: Susan Harley (October 1996 - ?) (Afternoons before that)
Middays: Jen Longawa ("Jen X.") (? - March 1998)
Middays: Michael Dean (September 18, 2000 - March 2001; Afternoons: May 22, 2000 - September 18, 2000; Nights: March 2, 1998 - May 19, 2000; Mornings: October 1996 - March 1997) (Now middays at KLAZ in Hot Springs, Arkansas)
Afternoons: Sean Smyth (December 1995 - January 1997) (Now out of radio)
Afternoons: Jamie Marchiori (September 1995 - August 1998) (middays, and mornings before that) (Now out of radio)
Afternoons: Doug Dingler ("Doug St. John") (? - January 1998) (Now out of radio)
Afternoons: Phil Grosch (? - May 19, 2000) (Now with Emmis Communications in Chicago, Illinois)
Afternoons: Moe (3pm - 8pm) (October 2000 - ?) (From WRWK in Toledo, Ohio)
Nights: LovePhones (10pm - 12am?) (October 1996 - ?)
Nights: Matt Goshert (Middays: April 2000 - May 19, 2000; Nights: May 22, 2000 - September 2001)
Nights: Weasel (December 1995 - February 1999) (Now OM at the Advanced Media Partners' stations in Peoria, Illinois and mornings at their WPIA-FM)

WWWD-FM

Owner: Frank Kovas (Deceased 29 January 2005)
GM: Connie Kovas
GM: George Hays (November 2001 - March 1, 2002) (From GSM at WFWI)
OM: Mary Clements
OM: Jack Holliday (? - February 1, 2002)
Mornings: Jeff Moore
Mornings: Ricki Farnsworth
Afternoons: Rod Tanner

WHTD-FM

PD: Dave Eubanks (February, 2002 - ?) (From PD at WZJM in Clevleand, Ohio)
Afternoons: Dave Eubanks (April 8, 2002 - ?) (From PD at WZJM in Clevleand, Ohio)

WNHT-FM

President/CEO: Lloyd Roach (July 18, 2006 - ?)
President/CEO: Kristine Foate (May 2004 - July 18, 2006) (From VP/GM of the Illini Radio Group in Champaign, Illinois)
Director of Sales: David Wisniewski (September 2004 - February 2006) (From Station Manager at Artistic Media Partners in South Bend)
GSM: Vori Dhabolt (? - July 18, 2006)
PD: Vince Wilson ("Mojo") (April 2006 - March 2008) (From nights at WXKB in Fort Myers, Florida) (Now mornings at WXKB in Fort Myers, Florida)
SM: Rob Livergood (January 1, 2007 - ?)
SM: Ben Saurer (Now GSM at WOWO(AM)/WOWO-FM)
Director of Programming: Bill Stewart (September 13, 2004 - July 18, 2006) (From GM at KIWR in Omaha, Nebraska) (Now VP/GM of the Meredith Communications' stations in Atlantic, Iowa)
OM: Dave Eubanks (OM: August 2003 - April 2004; PD: February 2002 - April 2004; Afternoons: April 8, 2002 - April 2004) (From PD at WZJM in Cleveland, Ohio)
PD: Aaron Seller ("Goose") (April 2004 - December 2004; APD/MD before that - MD: July 2003 - ?) (From WWCK in Flint, Michigan) (Now afternoons at KKPK in Colorado Springs, Colorado)
PD: David B. Goode (April 6, 2005 - March 2006) (From PD at WHZZ in Lansing, Michigan) (Now Promotions Director at WAJI and WLDE and nights at WAJI.)
PD/MD: "Shady" Spencer (PD: April 2008 - May 30, 2014; MD: April 2006 - May 30, 2014) (From nights at WXKB in Fort Myers, Florida)
MD: Jonathan (May 2004 - March 2006) (Now afternoons at WJDQ in Meridian, Mississippi)
Director of Creative Services: Mathew Albro (May 2005 - ?) (From Production and Operations Manager for Bacon's Broadcast Monitoring)
Promotions Director: Ali Lampley
Promotions Director: Michele Tessier
Assistant Promotions Director: Andy McKeeman (February 2004 - ?)
Mornings: Aaron Seller ("Goose") (5:30am - 10am) (February 16, 2004 - December 2004) (From WWCK in Flint, Michigan) (Now afternoons at KKPK in Colrado Springs, Colorado)
Mornings: Brian Van Bokkelen ("Van") (5:30am - 10am) (February 16, 2004 - ?) (Middays before that) (From WLHT in Panama City, Florida)
Mornings: Davin and Ana Friendly (2002 - Friday 13, 2004) (From morning co-host at KKPN in Rockport, Texas)
Mornings: Vince Wilson ("Mojo") (6am - 10am) (August 28, 2006 - March 2008) (Now mornings at WXKB)
Mornings: "Shady" Spencer (6am - 9am) (August 28, 2006 - May 30, 2014) (From nights at WXKB in Fort Myers, Florida)
Mornings: Sara Lauer (6am - 9am) (? - May 30, 2014)
Middays: Jonathan (May 2004 - March 2006) (Now afternoons at WJDQ in Meridian, Mississippi)
Middays: Jason Lee (12p - 3pm) (February 16, 2004 - ?)
Middays: Sarah Lauer (10am - 3pm)
Middays: Miss JaNay (10am - 2pm) (? - May 30, 2014) (Now nights at WJFX)
Afternoons: Dave Eubanks ("Big Dave") (3pm - 7pm) (From PD at WZJM in Cleveland, Ohio)
Afternoons: Limuel Woods ("Uncle Woody")
Afternoons: McConnell Adams ("Man at Large") (August 2006 - December 2006)
Afternoons: Keristan Baker ("Big Kess") (3pm - 7pm) (? - May 30, 2014) (From Nights)
Nights: Diesel (7pm - 12am)
Nights: DJ Wicked ("Dirty Dirty @ 930") (9:30pm - 10pm) (? - May 30, 2014)
Late Nights: BJ Steele ("Wild and Sexy After Dark") (10pm - 12am) (? - May 30, 2014)
Weekends: The Baka Boyz (Saturday 7pm - 10pm) (? - May 30, 2014)
Weekends: DJ Dave (Sunday 12pm - 4pm) (? - May 30, 2014)
Weekends: DJ Ajax (Sunday 4pm - 7pm) (? - May 30, 2014)
Weekends: Big Tigger (Sunday 7pm - 10pm) (? - May 30, 2014)

WXKE-FM

GM: Shel Leshner (June 2, 2014 - August 6, 2014)
Chief Engineer: Phil Jennings (April 2014 - June 2015) (Now Mid-South Regional Engineer for the WAY-FM Network, based in Nashville, Tennessee)
News Director: Joey Martin (October 2014 - ?) (From newsperson at WLW in Cincinnati, Ohio)
Promotions Director: Hannah Rupert (July 1, 2014 - ?)
Promotions Director: Taylor Matteson

Station History

96.3fm signed on in mid-April 1994.

WKQM-FM

Owned by Kovas Communications with studios located at 2000 Lower Huntington Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46819-1297. Beautiful Music format. WEJE debuted with an alternative music format (still with the WKQM call letters) on 21 September 1995.

WEJE-FM

Studios located at 2000 Lower Huntington Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46819-1297. The first morning show debuted in December 1995. Management decided on a jockless show. "The Edge" moniker is dropped in January 1998 due to the discontinuation of servicemark-holder Jacobs Media's services. In May 1998, a new moniker debuts: "Extreme 96.3." WEJE moved to 102.3fm in March 2001.

WWWD-FM

Studios located at 2000 Lower Huntington Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46819-1297. After former tenant WEJE and its alternative music format vacated 96.3fm, owner Frank Kovas turned on a new sound: Country. "Big Red Country" WWWD premiered at Midnight on March 12, 2001. Artistic Media Partners notified WWWD that they hold the servicemark for "Big Red Country," (on their station WGCT), so the moniker was changed. Soon thereafter, WWWD began using "Red Hot Country." In December 2001, WWWD was sold (along with the other Kovas Communications stations) for $7.5 million to Travis Broadcasting Corp. On March 1, 2002, WWWD switched formats from country to CHR as "Hits 96." The FCC approved that change in early to mid-March 2002.

WHTD-FM

Owned by Travis Broadcasting Corp. with studios at 2000 Lower Huntington Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46819-1297 (Telephone: 260.747.1511). On March 1, 2002, the station switched formats to CHR as "Hits 96" with new call letters WHTD. Website URL was: http://www.hits96.com.

WNHT-FM

Switched from CHR ("Hits 96.3") to Rhythmic CHR ("Wild 96.3") on April 5, 2004, after a loop of Tone Loc's 1989 hit "Wild Thing." WNHT was purchased, along with its sister stations by Summit City Radio Group in July 2004. WNHT did a brief stunt to stir publicity in August 2006 by playing a loop of the Timex Social Club's 1986 hit "Rumors" before retaining its "Wild 96.3" moniker after ending the loop at 5:00PM on August 21, 2006. Their first song into the new/old format/moniker was The Pack's 2006 hit "Vans." Their website address was http://www.wild963.com.

WXKE-FM

On Tuesday June 10, 2014 at Midnight, WXKE moved its format and call letters from 103.9fm to 96.3fm.

For Further Reading...

Kilbane, Kevin. "Fort Wayne's new feel-good station spins familiar discs." The Fort Wayne News-Sentinel. April 27, 1994. Page 1F.
"Bill Collins promoted to general manager of WGL." The Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette. 28 July 1995. Page 6D.
McDonald, Rob. "96.3-FM finds alternative to classic rock playlists." The Fort Wayne News-Sentinel. 20 September 1995. Page 1F.
Robinson, Dean. "First program director says city's new alternative station will have mass appeal." The Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette. 29 September 1995. Page 6D.
Vinyard, Valerie. "Alternative Edge." The Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette. 19 October 1995. Page 10D.
McDonald, Rob. "Fort tunes into alternative." The Fort Wayne News-Sentinel 28 December 1995. Page 1T, 12T.
"Kovas, Williams replace Collins." The Fort Wayne News-Sentinel 12 March 1996. Page 2A.
Robinson, Dean. "WGL Gives Sports Talk A Try; WEJE Loses Edge." The Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette. 28 January 1998. Page 2D.
Robinson, Dean. "WGL Addds Talk Shows, Cuts Sports." The Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette. 2 March 1998. Page 6D.
"Guderian Tapped as PD at WEQX/Albany." Radio and Records. 14 April 2000. Page 14.
Downs, Emma. "New format pushes WEJE up FM dial." The Fort Wayne News-Sentinel. 9 March 2001. Page 5A.
Edmonds, Rhea. "4 radio stations to get new owner." The Fort Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette. 3 November 2001. Page 7B.
Frazier, Lynne McKenna. "Kovases to sell 4 radio stations to company based in Virginia." The Fort Wayne News-Sentinel. 3 November 2001. Page 3A.
Hans, Jennifer Dawn. "Leading Lady." Business People Magazine. November 2005. Pages 69-73.
Gray, Frank. "WXKE stalwart likes change." The Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette. 22 June 2014. Pages 1C, 2C.

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All pages Copyright Blaine Thompson. Articles, photos, corrections, and other contributions should be e-mailed to the editors.