WKPE-FM

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The Rocket 104.7 (WKPE)

Broadcast area	Cape Cod
First air date	May 23, 1980 (as WKZE)
Frequency	104.7 MHz FM
Format	Commercial; Classic Rock
Callsign meaning	W KaPE (intentional mis-spelling, based off old calls WKZE)
Owner	Charles River Broadcasting

WKPE-FM (The Rocket 104.7) is a classic rock radio station licensed to Orleans, Massachusetts, with its main studio in Yarmouth, Massachusetts, shared with WFCC-FM. Originally an independently owned station owned by Grancam Communications, its sister radio station at 1170 AM was donated to the University of Massachusetts around 1998, and is now a part of the WUMB network under the callsign of WFPB. WKPE-FM was sold in 1999 to Charles River Broadcasting and is now a sister station to three classical music stations, of which the flagship is WCRB in Waltham, Massachusetts, and a Rhode Island CNN Headline News relay (WCNX-AM 1180 Hope Valley).

[edit] History

WKPE gained their current call letters on August 1, 1983, morphing their identity from the former Top-40 WKZE ("KZ-104"). The station's branding became "Cape 104", while retaining the same Top-40 music format. In 1992, citing low ratings, WKPE changed their format to Oldies and became "Oldies 104" to compete with the popular "Oldies 96" on Nantucket and "Oldies 103" in Boston. In January 1993, "Oldies 96" changed their call letters to WRZE and became the Cape's new Top-40 station, "The Rose", reducing WKPE's direct competition.

During the spring of 1995 WKPE switched formats to a modern rock format and became "Rock 104.7, The Cape." It was in direct competition with the other local area rock station WPXC, Pixy 103, which has the same format. WKPE featured a morning show called "The Naked Radio Morning Show", which was a mix of talk, contests, and music. Notable segments were "the morning mind twister" (a trivia call-in) and "cop or no cop" (in which various Dunkin' Donuts were called to answer that question). During President Clinton's summer trips to Martha's Vineyard listeners were invited to call in with sittings of a presidential nature. Originally hosted by Dean Peachy and Jason Rhodes the program changed slightly when Peachy left the station only to return in 1998 to host the show with another DJ, Jeff. WKPE also hosted a Sunday night local music program called "The Cheap Seats", hosted by DJ Catherine "Cat" Wilson, which was "designed to let bands show off their stuff, learn about other bands and get the latest on industry showcases and information." The program gained much acclaim and was such a success that it remained for a time after the channel changed to a classic rock format. At 11PM on Sunday nights The Doctor Demento show aired.

It was the highest rated rock station on the Cape aside from Pixy 103 mornings featuring Howard Stern. In September 1999 the channel switched formats to classic rock. Bill Campbell, CEO of the Charles River Broadcasting Company was quoted as saying "There were a couple of holes [in local radio formats]. It was either this or Hawaiian music." Only DJs Dan Towers, Cat, and Nick Strassel stayed on when the channel changed to 'The Rocket'. Towers having been at Rock 104.7 from the beginning. Rock 104.7 DJ Peter Maxx returned to the channel sometime later. Dan Towers left the channel and the Cape in 2002 for WAQY-FM in Springfield, MA. Cat also left and moved to another Cape Cod radio station WCOD.