About Us

The WAY-FM Story

WAY-FM Media Group, Inc. has been in existence since 1987. The non-profit corporation began as a single FM radio station in Fort Myers, Florida.

In the early 1980’s, Bob and Felice Augsburg were residing in Fort Myers, Florida, where Bob was working as the Program Director at WSOR, a Christian Radio Station formatted for adults 35+. Bob and Felice were compelled by the burden to see a younger audience reached and Bob began producing a Saturday evening broadcast geared for youth. This program, which aired on WSOR, became the springboard for Christian Rock concerts in the area and the impetus for a 24/7 station with this type of format.

Through several years of prayer and discussion with other local parents and business people, a non-profit Florida corporation was formed and an application filed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for an unused FM frequency. The Board of Directors met regularly to pray and consider how the station would be funded and operated, should an FCC license be granted. On December 24, 1986, an FCC permit appeared in the mail, allowing for the construction of a non-commercial FM station in Fort Myers. On October 9, 1987, WAY-FM (WAYJ) signed on the air.

By 1992, three WAY-FM radio stations were on the air—including Fort Myers, Florida, Nashville, Tennessee and West Palm Beach, Florida. In the mid-90’s, WAY-FM stations, beginning with West Palm Beach, began to sponsor and organize large Christian music concerts and day long music festivals. Within a few years, Nashville and Fort Myers also began to sponsor major Christian music events. In 2002, WAYM Nashville set an all time concert attendance record of 16,000+ celebrating their 10th anniversary. Over the years, WAY-FM radio stations have been selected four times as winners of the prestigious Dove Award for excellence in the operation of Christian Radio station.

After several years of planning, in 1996 WAY-FM also began The Christian Hit Radio Satellite Network (CHRSN). The Network was designed to help other stations who desired to reach the youth and young adults of their respective communities but lacked the manpower or resources to operate a station on their own. The Nashville WAY-FM became the flagship station of CHRSN, where the satellite hub remains to this day.

In 2001, WAY-FM Media Group established a corporate office in Colorado Springs, where Bob Augsburg, President/Founder now resides. Dusty Rhodes, former Station Manager of WAYF West Palm Beach, joined Augsburg in Colorado as Chief Operating Officer and is now the ministry’s Senior Vice President. In 2005, Dar Ringling joined the ministry as Chief Financial Officer while Lloyd Parker, formerly General Manager of the K-LOVE & Air 1 Radio Networks, became the Chief Operating Officer.

At this time, WAY-FM owns and operates 14 full power FM radio stations including, newly added stations in Denver, Colorado; Wichita, Kansas and Tallahassee, Florida. WAY-FM also owns more than 20 low-power repeater stations. The Christian Hit Radio Satellite Network (CHRSN) serves over 25 additional radio stations nationwide with satellite programming. Today more than 70 cities are impacted by WAY-FM.

The solid foundation established by the WAY-FM Board of Directors, the faithful prayer and financial support of our partners and listeners, and the merciful hand of the God we serve continues to direct and uphold the ministry of WAY-FM. Presently, WAY-FM is focused on a four-year vision, called Vision 20:1. You can read more about our vision for the future in the Vision 20:1 section of our web site.