Pumping more wattage to your cottage — The Wolf
Written by Kc Saint John | | SYLT@toledofreepress.comThe new kid in town is 107.7 FM WPFX, filling the airwaves with a music-driven, country-variety format.
That means more Toby Keith, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Rascal Flatts and many more. The Wolf, 107.7 FM, is proudly locally owned and operated by Toledo Radio LLC. This is Northwest Ohio’s answer to the increasingly large demand for country music.
The Wolf is based in the heart of Downtown Toledo. In order to make this happen for Toledo, Toledo Radio LLC, donated its original transmitter, tower, antenna and land in North Baltimore to the University of Findlay. This allowed the university to upgrade its noncommercial station, WLFC, from a mere 155 watts to a whopping 4600 watts and allowed WPFX to move its 107.7 frequency to Toledo. Its current tower is located in a prime location along Interstate 75 just south of Perrysburg.
Dan Dudley, co-owner and president, has been instrumental in the history of Toledo broadcasting. He was involved with the development of stations like WIOT, as well as breaking in new markets like the mid-’90s success Buzz 106.5 FM— a perfect example of Dudley leading his team ahead of the curve and taking risks that have paid off for Toledo and surrounding areas.
Even Kid Rock contributes some of his rise to success with his first multiplatinum album to the local support of stations like the Buzz. For those of you who remember, Kid Rock was local here. (Yes, Kid Rock was spinning records and slinging his tapes right here in Downtown Toledo, our own backyard.)
After Dudley’s decades of success in radio and after the Buzz was sold in 2000, he decided he would retire. This retirement didn’t last and as we tune in on our FM dial, Dudley didn’t walk away.
Dudley saw and claimed an excellent opportunity he couldn’t deny and picked up a frequency that could move from Findlay to Toledo. Knowing he had a successful staff from The Buzz he could still count on, Dudley decided to give Toledoans something he claims they haven’t had for 20 years — a country-variety independent radio station, 107.7 on the dial, Wolf.
Real country variety isn’t something new to radio but it is new to Toledo and has already made quite an impact. The Wolf hit the airwaves early in November and strategically started its broadcast by playing 10,000 songs back-to-back to boast its more-music-less-talk broadcast, delivering 50 minutes of music every hour.
Craig Snyder, the Wolf’s premier radio personality is glad to be with the Wolf. Snyder worked 10 years with the other country station in Toledo, before taking a chance with the new alternative station, WBUZ, beginning a gratifying relationship with Dudley. Snyder is now again on a team with Dudley, led by Laura Hart, 107.7 FM’s general manager. Hart started working in radio in the early ’90s with 94.5 FM and eventually, as careers developed, decided to make her move with Toledo Radio’s 106.5 FM and her success continues with Toledo Radio, LLC. Hart knows Toledo, and knows it is a very competitive market and loves what she does. She is confident that with the talent and staff at the Wolf that Toledo will be rewarded with a quality station once again.
To ultimately guarantee success, WPFX takes guidance from Rusty Walker, a 25-year veteran and seven-time Country Consultant of the Year. Walker is labeled as possibly country radio’s greatest programmer and is also on the Country Music Association Board of Directors. With his guidance 107.7 FM is guaranteed to be a contender in the consistent battle for ratings among stations.
Country currently leads, holding 14 points in this market, almost twice the points of the next station. The Wolf gives 50 minutes of music every hour and still handles all your traffic, news and weather. Take a minute to check it out on your FM dial or tell a country-loving friend; good things are happening for Toledo.
WPFX 107.7 FM is located at 720 Water St. 4th Floor. O
Kc Saint John is a glass artist and fire-breather who enjoys teaching and creating with a focus in glass. He works to develop talent and promote unity and information within the community.
He is a former Chicago WEA A&R Rep and major label multiplatinum talent manager of Chicago’s infamous cabaret Metro Smart Bar and is now back in Toledo’s Old West End, “Enjoying Toledo and all it has to offer.” Kc owns Lost Peninsula Arts & Glass; a music/art school and gallery and manages The Glass Dojo, a collaborating artists’ group. Visit www.kcsaintjohn.com.
Tags: Country Music, Radio, Star, Wolf, WPFX
