WPAT-FM

WPAT-FM signed on the air in {{Start date and age|1957|3}}.[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1961-62/section%20B%20All%20Radio%20%20Broadcasting%20Yearbook%201961-1962-9.pdf Broadcasting Yearbook 1961-1962 page B-105. Retrieved Oct. 29, 2024] It was the FM sister station of WPAT 930 AM, with studios in Newark, New Jersey. Its frequency of 93.1 MHz had previously been assigned to Edwin Howard Armstrong's pioneering FM station based in Alpine, New Jersey, KE2XCC. That station went off the air in 1954 with Major Armstrong's death. This was the second station to hold the WPAT-FM call sign. An earlier WPAT-FM, originally called WNNJ, had operated on 103.5 MHz from 1949 until its deletion in early 1951.

WPAT-AM-FM had a beautiful music format for nearly four decades.[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1980/C%20Radio%20Broadcasting%20Yearbook%201980.pdf Broadcasting and Cable Yearbook 1980 page C-145. Retrieved Oct. 29, 2024.] The stations aired quarter-hour sweeps of instrumental music, mostly cover versions of popular adult songs, Broadway and Hollywood show tunes. Over time, some vocal songs were added. The station was playing four vocals per quarter-hour by the late 1970's. To help the station sound more contemporary, by the 1980s, more soft rock vocals were mixed in. By 1992, vocals made up half of the playlist. Beginning in January 1993, WPAT-FM had made the transition to soft adult contemporary.[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1994/B-All-Radio-BC-YB-1994-B&W.pdf Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1994 page B-238. Retrieved Oct. 29, 2024] On October 1, 1994, the station moved to a mainstream adult contemporary format, purging most weekend specialty programming.

After being based in Newark, WPAT-AM-FM moved to studios on Church Street in Paterson. The stations later relocated to studios at the four-tower transmitter site of the AM station, at 1396 Broad Street in Clifton, New Jersey. WPAT-AM-FM were purchased by Capital Cities Communications in 1961.[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1961/1961-08-07-BC.pdf#page=88 "FCC okays $30 million in station sales."] Broadcasting, August 7, 1961, pg. 90.

In 1985, Capital Cities announced that it would buy the ABC Network, including its television and radio stations.Kleinfield, N.R. [https://www.nytimes.com/1985/03/19/business/abc-is-being-sold-for-3.5-billion-1st-network-sale.html "ABC is being sold for $3.5 billion; 1st network sale."] The New York Times, March 19, 1985. pg. 1.[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1985/BC-1985-03-25.pdf#page=31 "Capcities + ABC."] Broadcasting, March 25, 1985, pp. 31-33. As a result of Federal Communications Commission regulations at the time, the company decided to sell WPAT-AM-FM because ABC already owned 770 WABC and 95.5 WPLJ in New York City. (A broadcasting company could only own one AM and one FM station in each market.) The WPAT stations were sold to Park Communications, owned by Roy H. Park.[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1985/BC-1985-08-12.pdf#page=29 "Breaking up and breaking records."] Broadcasting, August 12, 1985, pg. 29.

In October 1995, Park Communications announced the sale of WPAT FM to Spanish Broadcasting System, owners of WSKQ. The sale included the license and transmitter, and excluded real estate, sales contracts employment contracts, internal equipment, and leases. The building was sold with AM 930 WPAT. On January 19, 1996, at 11:59 pm, WPAT-FM ceased being an English-language station when control was switched over to current owners Spanish Broadcasting System. WPAT-FM DJ Karen Carson did the last air shift for the station's adult contemporary format that day.{{cite news |last1=Hinckley |first1=David |title=It'll Be Muller Time At WYNY If Chi Deejay Joins A.M. Brew |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/muller-time-wyny-chi-deejay-joins-m-brew-article-1.727281 |newspaper=Daily News |location=New York City |date=January 23, 1996 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923010103/http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/muller-time-wyny-chi-deejay-joins-m-brew-article-1.727281 |archive-date=September 23, 2018}} Operations Director Ken Mackenzie gave a farewell speech right before the station ended its broadcast.

Immediately after the station signed off from Clifton, a new Spanish-language adult contemporary format signed on from SBS studios in Manhattan. The branding became "Suave 93.1" ("Smooth 93.1"). Eventually, on February 4, 1998, the station's branding was changed to "Amor 93.1" ("Love 93.1") and in January 2002, returned to "93.1 Amor" ("93.1 Love"). Over time, the station transitioned from Spanish AC to Spanish tropical music.

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{officialwebsite|https://lamusica.com/en/stations/wpat}}
• {{FM station data|51663|WPAT-FM}}
• {{Cite web|url=https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=82496 |title=History Cards for WPAT-FM |publisher=Federal Communications Commission}} (Guide to reading History Cards)

{{Spanish Broadcasting System}}

{{New York Radio}}

{{Spanish Radio Stations in New Jersey}}

Category:1957 establishments in New Jersey

Category:HD Radio stations

Category:Hispanic and Latino American culture in New York City

Category:Paterson, New Jersey

Category:Radio stations established in 1957

PAT-FM

PAT-FM

PAT-FM

Category:Tropical music radio stations