KWAV
 |
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| City | Monterey, California |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area |
Santa Cruz Monterey Salinas, California |
| Branding | K-Wave 96.9 |
| Slogan | Soft Rock |
| Frequency | 96.9 MHz (also on HD Radio) |
| First air date | 1961 |
| Format |
Adult Contemporary HD3: Smooth jazz |
| ERP | 18,000 watts |
| HAAT | 747 meters |
| Class | B |
| Facility ID | 7714 |
| Callsign meaning | K-WAVe |
| Owner |
Mapleton Communications (Mapleton License of Monterey, LLC) |
| Sister stations | ESPN 630 |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | kwav.com |
KWAV is a commercial radio station in Monterey, California, broadcasting to the Santa Cruz-Monterey-Salinas, California, area on 96.9 FM. Its studios are in Monterey while its transmitter is located on Mount Toro, south of Salinas. KWAV is a Class B FM radio station with a higher power than would be granted under the present U.S. Federal Communications Commission rules; it is often referred as a "Superpower" Grandfathered Class B.
KWAV airs an adult contemporary music format branded as "K-Wave 96.9".
In the mid-1990s, KWAV was branded as "Today's Hits, Yesterday's Favorites." The Adult Contemporary music mix was upbeat, featuring an R&B-leaning playlist with Cher, Mariah Carey, Gloria Estefan, Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, Paula Abdul, The Pointer Sisters, Vanessa Williams, Brian McKnight, Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Smokey Robinson, Timmy T, Stevie B, Expose, and Ace of Base as core artists. Other core artists included Amy Grant, Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart, Sting, Michael Bolton, Billy Joel, Richard Marx, Paul Young, Restless Heart, Don Hensley, Foreigner, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Hornsby, Huey Lewis, Heart, Roxette, Basia, and Swingout Sister. Also included were numerous pop/alternative crossover tracks by Melissa Etheridge, Duran Duran, Carrie Underwood, Lisa Loeb, Hootie & The Blowfish, Meatloaf, and Dionne Farris. By early 1996, the music mix became very upbeat - almost Hot Adult Contemporary in nature - and included songs by Blues Traveler, Gin Blossoms and The Cranberries.
In February 1996, the station revamped its image, becoming "Soft Rock Favorites" and shifting its playlist to include more 1970s songs.
In March 1999, the station dropped its "Love Songs Til Midnight" all-request call-in program in favor of the nationally syndicated Delilah program. "LSTM" host Candy James subsequently moved to middays.
From 2000-2005, the station's music mix included numerous R&B oldies by Al Green, The Supremes, The Spinners, and The Four Tops.
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