Randy Michaels Buys WAKY/Louisville
• A contract has been signed and an application is being filed with the FCC to transfer legendary Classic Hits simulcast 103.5 WAKY-FM & 620 AM/Louisville and associated translators (100.1, 104.5 & 106.3) from W&B Broadcasting Inc. to WAKAYANA, LLC, headed by Randy Michaels. The Seller, W&B Broadcasting Inc., is headed by President Bill Walters.
The legendary “Fun Lovin’ WAKY” started as No. 1 in the ratings in 1958, and still tops the ratings in 2025. In its eight decades on the air, WAKY has featured unforgettable personalities like Bill Bailey, Johnny Randolph, Gary Burbank, Jumpin’ Jack Sanders, Weird Beard, Steven Lee Cook, Coyote Calhoun,Mason Lee Dixon, Mike McVay, Dude Walker, and Mark Strauss.
The owners of the legendary WAKY, Rene Bell, Mike Baldwin and Bill Walters consider it a dream come true to have had the opportunity to continue the WAKY Magic for nearly 20 years. They thank all the past and their current WAKY co-workers and advertisers. Most especially, they thank the WAKY listeners who not only listen but have taken ownership in WAKY since the beginning!
Michaels points out that a few years ago, he was asked to write an article on the greatest Top 40 stations of all time. “Putting WAKY on that list was an easy and obvious choice,” he said.
At the time, it didn’t occur to me that someday I might have a chance to own the call letters once associated with Gordon McClendon, Johnny Randolph, Mike McVay and so many other radio legends. I have great reverence and respect for this amazing station and its heritage. I’m enormously proud to be part of it.”
The acquisition also marks a welcome radio reunion for Michaels and “The King of Louisville Radio Royalty,” Bill Gentry, who has agreed to economize on greens fees and become VP/GM of WAKY. Michaels remarked, “Bill was our GM at the Jacor stations in Louisville. He did an amazing job stealing share from Clear Channel. Then we merged with Clear Channel and sold the Jacor stations in favor of Clear Channel’s bigger signals. We moved Bill across the street to Clear Channel, and he moved all of that business back with him. I’ve realized that at some point, Bill Gentry has run every station in Louisville but WAKY. That’s another good reason to buy WAKY, so that Bill can have a turn there too.”
WAKYANA LLC President Jeff Ziesmann said, “W&B have done an exceptional job making WAKY the top radio brand in Kentuckiana. WAKY and Bill Gentry are both legends in the Louisville market. We are excited and humbled to be the next custodians of this legendary station. We will get started as soon as somebody shows us where the coffee maker is.” KALIL & CO., INC. is the exclusive broker for this transaction.
