WIKD-FM  102.5
Daytona Beach

Original Call Letters: WERU

Originally Licensed: Jan. 25 2005

Original City of License: Daytona Beach

Original Frequency: 99.1

Origin of Call Letters:  

Original Power: 100 Watts

Original Location: 

Original Format: Free Format


Network Affiliation(s):


Owner(s):


2005-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University


History Of  Call Letters and Formats:


WIKD-2007-Free Format  "Eagles FM"
WIKD-2012-Free Format  "The Wicked 102.5 FM"

History Of WIKD
Thanks to Daniel Chiericoni, the WIKD-LP Technical Manager for this history of WIKD.
WIKD began as "The Broadcast Club" in the Spring semester of 1990, initially chartered by then-freshman Steve Graff. The first few meetings brought high turnout (ca. 75 students), but did not immediately lead to much organization. The club gained momentum after Graff met Todd Gumbrecht, another freshman resident of the same dormitory (Doolittle Hall, then known as Dorm II) as Graff. The two developed a strategy of "infiltration and propaganda" in order to meet their goal of establishing a campus radio station. The club became known for its fliers which were posted around campus (often in unapproved locations) to announce club meetings, as this was long before e-mail and text messaging and Facebook and Twitter. The fliers were influenced by the DIY ethic of punk rock, surrealism, 1950's clip art, science fiction, and "golden age" of radio. A flier typically consisted of cut-and-pasted and defaced photographs from magazines, and their graphic and provocative nature made them stand out from other notices on campus. The initial club logo was a stylized radio tower resembling the tower symbol from an FAA sectional chart, with the letters "WERU" drawn in a 1920's art deco type script. The radioactivity symbol became another popular club logo later, appearing on buttons, t-shirts, and stickers. With the preponderance of fliers, t-shirts, buttons, and stickers, some students believed there actually already was an operating station on campus. The club decided to pursue the goal of carrier current broadcasting, and in the Spring of 1990, Graff and Gumbrecht traveled to NYC (on the SGA's dime) to attend a convention of carrier current college stations hosted by equipment manufacturer LPB. At this meeting, the pair obtained a copy of the UConn station bylaws, which became the model for the broadcast club/WERU organization. In 1991, Gumbrecht became the SGA representative for students living in campus housing. In addition to being a passionate advocate for dorm residents, Gumbrecht used this platform to further the argument for the station, and to find allies within the Student Government Association. Also, in 1991, the club organization began to bloom, with Carrie Czernikowski as the treasurer, author of the training manual, and eventual training director, and Aaron Gee as the Chief Engineer. Initially there was antipathy from the Dean of Students, the Student Activities office, and the SGA toward the club and its goal of establishing a radio station. This was due to the failure and dissolution of a previous iteration of the broadcast club, involving theft of equipment. The mischievous and defiant impression that the club gave off at times may not have helped with this matter. However, the growing popularity of the movement among students, and the dedication of its members eventually overcame the aversion, and by 1992, "Campus Radio" became a campaign issue in the SGA presidential race. While working toward the eventual goal of a campus radio station, the club engaged in fundraising, publicity, and charity events, such as providing mobile DJ services for student organizations and Special Olympic events. These activities further increased the club's exposure, and generated funding for a proposed studio. The first WERU studio was in a closet shared by the university cafeteria vendor, Morrison's. At this point, the station broadcast via AM carrier current on 710AM. Eventually, the station moved operations to a closet in the McKay Hall dormitory with a small mixing board and two CD players. WERU later moved into a Student Government Association (SGA) office in the Student Center (currently room UC-111). With upgraded facilities, and by this time a full-fledged division of the SGA, WERU was initially broadcasting on 104.7 MHZ through radiating cable FM on campus. After many years of trials and tribulations from previous Chairmen, WERU 104.7 FM had finally applied for a LPFM FCC license in 2002 thanks to SGA President, Peter Alverez, and WERU Chairman, Patrick "Nacho" Mudge. Shortly after application, "Nacho" left ERAU to be soon followed by Chairman Greg Huston, who continued to pursue the station's LPFM license. By the Fall 2004 semester Division Chairpersons Jesse Lesperance and David Yarwood had successfully completed the LPFM construction permit application. In February 2005 WERU completed its first broadcast on 99.1 FM. WIKD then applied and was approved for their current call letters as WIKD. On Christmas Day 2006, an F2 tornado struck the Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach Campus, which caused millions of dollars in damages, subsequently damaging the radio station studio. Though the valiant work of many, WIKD was quickly back up and running, and within 2 months was back to a high broadcasting standard. During the Winter break of 2011/2012 a team of WIKD members got to work to give the radio station a much needed makeover, both aesthetically, and technically. The implementation of a brand new Nautel VS300 transmitter with dynamic RDS capability was followed by a brand new climate controlled 10x12' transmission shed. The studio itself was made state of the art with complete Cat6 wiring and StudioHub+ implementation. Furthermore new doors, ceiling tiles, paint job, desk carpet were installed. 6 fiber optic lines were run to form the internal network (WIKDNET) so that FTP and streaming services could be improved. Major strides in programming rotation were made to suit the new studio changes which include a CHR style rotation schedule. DJ's continue to bring free-format variety to the station through their shows. In April 2012 the WIKD crew applied for a frequency change from 99.1 MHz to 102.5 MHz. In doing so WIKD-LP effectively became a 24/7 FM station rather than the previous half-day timeshare station. In switching to 102.5 MHz WIKD also waived the large amounts of interference that were being received on 99.1 from a larger power FM station in Jacksonville, FL. This new station was branded as The WIKD 102.5 FM and Eagles FM was dropped completely as a name. WIKD continuously strives to provide the highest quality radio entertainment in Daytona Beach, broadcasting through a fully digital capable studio, providing the only free-format radio option in Daytona Beach. WIKD also provides a DJ service to members of the ERAU community, and the Daytona Beach Area called WIKD Entertainment. WIKD Entertainment offers professional entertainment services at reasonable prices, available for parties, weddings, various on-campus events, and other private events. All on-campus events for student clubs and organizations are provided free of charge.


Names In WIKD History

Steve Graff-1990-Founder of The Broadcast Club-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Todd Gumbrecht-1990-Member of The Broadcast Club-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Carrie Czernikowski-1990-Treasurer/Training Director-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Aaron Gee-1990-Chief Engineer-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Peter Alverez-2002-Student Government Association President-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Patrick "Nacho" Mudge-2002-WERU Chairman-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Greg Huston-2002-WERU Chairman-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Jesse Lesperance-2004-Division Chairperson-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
David Yarwood-2004-Division Chairperson-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Speedy (Jonathan Nutzati)-2009-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University


DJ Badshah (Prabhjot Saini)-2010-Event Coordinator-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University


DJ Venturi (Logan Paul)-2010-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University


DJ Moo (Mu’az Pawane)-2010

 



DJ One (Daniel Chiericoni)-2011-General Manager-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University


DJ Al (Alexander Reynolds)-2011-Technical Guru-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University


DJ Sinister (Ryan Shuttleworth)-2011-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University



Jessica Searcy-2011-Faculty Advisor-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University



DJ Shray (Aashray Sardana)-2011-Program Director-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

 



DJ Rapid (Domenic LaFauci)-2011-Training Director-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University


DJ Smeds (Angelina Smedley)-2011-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University


DJ Slender (Sam Lenderman)-2011-WIKD Entertainment DJ-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University


DJ LightOff (Benjamin Gayer)-2011-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University


DJ Audible Chocolate (John Adams)


Greg Keys (Gregory Zahornacky)-2012-Mornings-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University


DJ Joe (Jillian Thompson)-2012-Music Director-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
DJ Martín (Martin (Martin Terneus)-2012-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
DJ One-Up (Max Lang)-2012-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University


DJ Z (Zachary Dussault)-2012-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University


DJ GT (Shelby Barks)-2012-Chief Engineer/WIKD Entertainment DJ-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

 

DJ Vorn (Ethan Gasorek)-2012-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
DJ Sycho (Blake Bishop)-2012-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
DJ Skorch (Joshua Nutzati)-2012-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University


DJ MP3 (Max Podberesky)-2012-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

 



DJ D (James Dougan)-2012-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University



DJ Jack (Fernando Viera)-2012-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

DJ New Dyansty-"The Rave"-Fri 9PM-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

T-Money-"Money Mix"-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Borat-"Great Success"-Wed 8PM-10PM/Sat 11PM-Midnight-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

DJ Pure-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Jordan-"Thursday Night Shuffle"-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Dj Lio-"Sabor Latino"-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Cruz Control-Sunday-9PM-10PM-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Venpuri-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Reina-"Str8 Talk"-Sunday 6PM-8PM-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Dr. Mario-"Str8 Talk"-Sunday 6PM-8PM-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
DJ Natch-"Musical Diversity"-Tuesday/Thursday-4PM-5PM-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
DJ NiteKap-"Midniterave"-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Fretz-"The Score"-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

DJ No Go-Tuesdays 5PM-6PM-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

DJ Shadow-"Jet Set Radio"-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Ronnie Palma-"The Rhyme"-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Rapid (Domenic LaFauci)-Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

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