WPRO-FM
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WPRO-FM (92.3 MHz "92 PRO-FM") is a commercial
contemporary hit radio Contemporary hit radio (CHR, also known as contemporary hits, hit list, current hits, hit music, top 40, or pop radio) is a radio format common in many countries that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top ...
American radio station in
Providence, Rhode Island Providence () is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Rhode Island, most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. The county seat of Providence County, Rhode Island, Providence County, it is o ...
, United States, owned by Cumulus Media. The station's studios and offices are located in the Brine Broadcasting Center on Wampanoag Trail on the East ProvidenceBarrington line. Its
transmitter In electronics and telecommunications, a radio transmitter or just transmitter (often abbreviated as XMTR or TX in technical documents) is an electronic device which produces radio waves with an antenna (radio), antenna with the purpose of sig ...
is located on Neuticonacanut Hill in Johnston, Rhode Island. WPRO-FM is unique in the Providence
media market A media market, broadcast market, media region, designated market area (DMA), television market area, or simply market is a region where the population can receive the same (or similar) television station, television and radio broadcasting, ra ...
in keeping the same call sign since its sign-on in 1948; and the same format, top 40, since 1974.


History

Cherry & Webb Broadcasting Company, owners of WPRO (AM 630), applied for a construction permit for a new high frequency broadcasting station on 47.5 MHz on October 29, 1940. An amended application was filed January 15, 1941, and was finally granted by the
Federal Communications Commission The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent agency of the United States government that regulates communications by radio, television, wire, internet, wi-fi, satellite, and cable across the United States. The FCC maintains j ...
(FCC) on June 12, 1947, with its new frequency of 92.3 MHz in the new FM band. WPRO-FM began broadcasting on April 17, 1948. The Cherry & Webb Broadcasting Company, in turn, was owned by the Cherry & Webb Department Store. (In the early days of broadcasting, it was common for department stores to own radio stations, to provide programming for customers who bought receivers.) At first, WPRO-FM simulcast its AM sister station, WPRO. In 1959, Capital Cities Communications acquired both WPRO and WPRO-FM. Through the 1960s and early 1970s, WPRO-FM aired a beautiful music format, while WPRO AM enjoyed high ratings with a top 40 format.


Switch to Top 40

On April 29, 1974, at 3:00 pm, WPRO-FM changed formats from easy listening, joining its AM counterpart as a top 40 outlet. The influential sound and feel of the station's new format was crafted by WPRO-FM's first program director Gary Berkowitz. The initial on-air staff included up-and-coming radio luminaries including Big John Bina, Tony Bristol, Tom Cuddy, Daniel 'Giovanni' Centofanti (who celebrated 50 years on the air in April 2024), and Jimmy Gray, in addition to future music industry executives and radio broadcasters including Al Gomes, Vic Michaels, and John Leahy. Howard Hoffman, Rocky Allen, and Bruce Diamond would later join the station as its popularity surged. Over time, the AM moved toward an adult top 40 direction, adding more information and service features, while WPRO-FM continued as a music-intensive top 40 outlet. Capital Cities and ABC merged in 1985, and WPRO-AM-FM were then under the ownership of one of America's biggest broadcasting companies.


Cap Cities sells WPRO-AM-FM

In December 1992, Capital Cities/ABC announced that the stations would be sold to Tele-Media, with the sale being consummated the following April. This put the station under common ownership with WLKW (the former WEAN) and WWLI. Tele-Media, in turn, sold its stations to Citadel Broadcasting in 1997. Citadel merged with Cumulus Media on September 16, 2011.


Notable WPRO-FM alumni

* Rocky Allen * Bruce Diamond * Don Geronimo * Al Gomes * Howard Hoffman


References


External links

* * {{Cumulus Media 1948 establishments in Rhode Island Contemporary hit radio stations in the United States Cumulus Media radio stations HD Radio stations Radio stations established in 1948 PRO-FM