On March 31st, 1925, a 500-watt transmitter debuted in Fort Wayne, Indiana. 100 years later, WOWO has a little bit more power on 1190 AM and 92.3 FM, and is still making a huge impact on the Northeast Indiana city.
Those in the Summit City have depended on WOWO as a voice of the community in countless situations. The heritage brand has featured an illustrious history worthy of a grand celebration of its centennial. And the preparations for that celebration have been more than a year in the making.
“We began talking about WOWO’s 100th, in earnest, about a year ago, which gave us a lot of time to come up with ideas on how to celebrate with the community and the great thing we all decided was the celebration shouldn’t last just one day, but should be a year-long event,” Program Director Jon Zimney told Barrett Media.
Kayla Blakeslee, host of Fort Wayne’s Morning News, said she believes the station continues to matter to Fort Wayne listeners due to its long history of community service. She takes pride in that element.
“WOWO isn’t just a station people listen to—it’s a station people believe in,” said Blakeslee. “That’s rare in today’s media landscape. There’s a reason generations of families have kept WOWO on their dial. They know that when they tune in, they’re getting real news, honest conversation, and a connection to their community.
“I take that responsibility seriously. I don’t just sit behind a microphone every morning—I’m having real conversations with people, keeping them informed, making them laugh when they need it, and yes, throwing in a little sass when the moment calls for it. Because news shouldn’t just be about headlines—it should be about people, their concerns, their stories, and making sure they have a voice. And that’s exactly what WOWO has always been about.”
Blakeslee called helming the morning show on a legacy brand like WOWO a dream come true.
“It’s truly an honor,” she said. “For a century, this station has been the heartbeat of Northeast Indiana … to be a small part of that history — to carry that responsibility every morning — it’s humbling. I think about the great voices who came before me — Charly Butcher, Bob Sievers, and Jay Gould, just to name a few — and I think about the incredible stories told over these airwaves, and the generations of listeners who have turned to WOWO for truth, perspective, and connection. This isn’t just a job—it’s a privilege. And as we approach 100 years, I feel an even deeper obligation to honor what this station has meant to so many while pushing it forward for the future.”
In 2023, WOWO added a stronger FM simulcast at the 92.3 FM signal. It marked a return to the signal for the Federated Media news/talk brand, which had previously aired on 92.3 FM from March 2012 to January 2016 before moving to 107.5 FM in Fort Wayne. While the daytime signal of 1190 AM features 50,000 watts of power, it drops to a directional signal and 9,800 watts at nighttime. 92.3 FM has 2,200 watts compared to the 75 watts its previous FM-simulcast on 107.5 FM featured.
Since making the move, the station has seen a ratings jump. Before making the move, the station was 12th in the Persons 25-54 demographic with a 2.4 share. In the fall back of 2024, WOWO had seen that figure jump to a 6.0 share, good for fifth in the market. That has led to optimism for the brand going forward.
“Typically, news/talk stations win with men, but not necessarily with persons 25-54,” said Federated Media Chief Strategy Officer and Director of Programming James Derby. “We believe the move to the FM has not only helped boast our male numbers but certainly with women too. We love the long-standing tradition of 1190-AM and it won’t go away but to remain relevant and attract our future listeners FM and Stream must be part of the mix.”
“It’s been a game-changer,” Blakeslee added of the move to 92.3 FM. “WOWO has always been strong on 1190 AM, but there’s no denying that getting back on 92.3 FM gave us a clearer, stronger, and more accessible presence in the community. It’s easier for folks to tune in while driving, and it’s brought back listeners who told me they drifted away over the years.
“When we first announced the return, you could feel that renewed energy — more engagement, more interaction, more people relying on us again as their go-to news source. At the end of the day, we’re here to serve the people of Fort Wayne and Northeast Indiana, and getting back on FM has allowed us to do that even better.”
As WOWO celebrates its 100th anniversary, the station has a special gala planned for Monday afternoon. Local, state, and federal officials will be alongside current and former station staffers for an hour-long program celebrating the station’s history, including a video presentation showcasing some of the earliest photos, videos, and audio of the brand.
That isn’t the only thing the station has up its sleeve for its 100th anniversary.
“We have a special presentation high atop ‘WOWO Land’ in downtown Fort Wayne, in which we will be presented with several proclamations from the City of Fort Wayne; Allen County Indiana; the State Of Indiana; and from the U.S. House of Representative and the U.S. Senate,” said Zimney. “Besides the dignitaries, former and present WOWO airstaff will be on hand, as well as members from our audience.
The celebration won’t end on Monday, however.
“We are working on additional celebrations and surprises for the audience that will play out throughout the rest of the year!” Zimney added.
Some stations have featured more subdued celebrations of their 100th anniversary. But WOWO leaders believed it was an important milestone to commemorate.
“Over the past few years we’ve witnessed some legendary stations reach milestones like WOWO’s 100th. Some stations have chosen to celebrate with great fanfare and others didn’t mention it on-air,” said Derby. “For us, it was never a question of celebrating it. Not just on WOWO’s actual Birthday of March 31st, but throughout the entire year with features, specials, and events.
“We should never shy away from the age of a station. We should rejoice in the fact that we’ve served a community for a remarkable amount of time and, in turn, Fort Wayne’s listeners, businesses, and non-profit charitable organizations have returned the favor by supporting us.”
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Garrett Searight is Barrett Media’s News Editor, which includes writing bi-weekly industry features and a weekly column. He has previously served as Program Director and Afternoon Co-Host on 93.1 The Fan in Lima, OH, and is the radio play-by-play voice of Northern Michigan University hockey. Reach out to him at Garrett@BarrettMedia.com.
