 | |
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|---|---|
| Broadcast area | |
| Frequency | 93.9MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | 93.9 Lite FM |
| Programming | |
| Language | English |
| Format | Adult contemporary |
| Affiliations | |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
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| History | |
First air date | April 7, 1958 (67 years ago) (1958-04-07) |
Former call signs |
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Call sign meaning | "Lite" |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 70042 |
| Class | B |
| ERP |
|
| HAAT | 482 meters (1,581 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 41°52′44.1″N87°38′8.2″W / 41.878917°N 87.635611°W /41.878917; -87.635611 |
| Translator | 99.1 W256CL (Park Forest) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live (viaiHeartRadio) |
| Website | 939litefm |
WLIT-FM (93.9MHz, "93.9 Lite FM") is a radio station inChicago,Illinois. Owned byiHeartMedia, it broadcasts anadult contemporary format. Its studios are located at theIllinois Center complex in theChicago Loop, while the station transmitter is on top of theWillis Tower.
This station signed on the air as WEBH-FM on April 7, 1958;[2][3] the call letters stood for theEdgewater Beach Hotel, the location of its original studios and transmitter site.[3][4][2] The station was owned by the Buddy Black Broadcasting Co.[3][2][4]
WEBH-FM airedeasy listening music, along with popularjazz on weekday evenings, a classical music block on Sundays afternoons, and Sunday morningreligious programming.[4] In 1968, the station's transmitter was moved toRiverside Plaza, and its studios were moved to theCongress Plaza Hotel.[3][5] In 1969, the station was sold to Rich Communications Corp. for $325,000.[6]
In January 1970, the station's call sign was changed to WWEL.[7][3] WWEL broadcast abeautiful music format.[8] The EL in WWEL's call sign was chosen to describe its Easy Listening format.[4] In 1971, the station's transmitter was moved to theJohn Hancock Center, and it was sold to Sudbrink Broadcasting.[3][9] The station's studios were moved to the John Hancock Center the following year.[3]
In February 1972, the station's call sign was changed to WLAK.[3] This time the call letters referred toLake Michigan where Chicago is the largest port. WLAK adopted thebeautiful music format produced and distributed by Stereo Radio Productions, as did the other Sudbrink FM stations.[10] WLAK did well in the ratings throughout the 1970s, and was the top rated FM station in 1975.[11][12][13]
In 1974, the station's transmitter and studios were moved to theSears Tower.[3] In 1978, WLAK was sold toStorer Broadcasting for $4.25 million.[14] That December, Storer announced that it would exit radio to focus on its television stations and cable systems.[15] While the company's other radio stations were sold in 1979,Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations of the time required Storer to retain WLAK for three years.[15] Storer sold WLAK toViacom International for $8 million in 1981.[15]
In March 1982, WLAK's format began to shift towardssoft adult contemporary.[16][17] More soft vocals were added to theplaylist, while the share of instrumentals was reduced.[16][17] Core artists includedNeil Diamond,Barbra Streisand,Lionel Richie, and softer selections bythe Beatles.[16] On August 8, 1983, it completed its transition to soft AC.[18][17] The instrumentals were cut entirely, and the station was branded as "Love Songs".[18][19][20][17] It featuredlove songs from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, from artists such asDionne Warwick,Frank Sinatra, andGordon Lightfoot.[17] Later, its slogan was "Songs to Sing Along With," as it continued to air a soft AC format.[21]
WLAK changed call letters on January 16, 1989, to WLIT-FM, and rebranded as "Lite FM", using the slogan "Lite Favorites".[22][23][24]Viacom sold its radio stations to Chancellor Broadcasting in 1997.[25] In 1999, Chancellor restructured as AMFM Inc.[26] In 2000, WLIT's ownership changed toClear Channel Communications after Clear Channel's merger with AMFM.[27][28]
Over time, the station evolved to a mainstreamadult contemporary format. WLIT became Chicago's only adult contemporary station on August 1, 2011, when former rival 105.9WCFS-FM flipped to asimulcast ofall-news radio 780WBBM. This marked the first time in years Chicago only had one AC radio station.
On June 17, 2013, at 9 am, Clear Channel re-launched WLIT as "93.9 My FM" and retired theLite FM brand in Chicago after 24 years. The first song on "My FM" was "Teenage Dream" byKaty Perry.[29][30][31] The station's playlist was adjusted to be more current/recurrent-based.[29][30][31]
On December 1, 2017, during its annualChristmas music programming, WLIT returned to the Lite FM branding.[32] The station also dropped its carriage of thesyndicatedOn with Mario Lopez evening show, replacing it with the syndicated call-in and dedications showDelilah.[32]
In December 2018,Robert Feder reported that WLIT planned to flip to asoft adult contemporary format. It would begin using the slogan "Relaxing Favorites" after the conclusion of its Christmas programming.[33]
As of September 2023,[update] WLIT has been constantly ranked number one in Chicago, according toNielsen Audio.[34]
In May 2025, WLIT dropped its “Relaxing Favorites” slogan in favor for “More Music, More Variety”, returning to its previous mainstream adult contemporary format.
In February 2006, WLIT began broadcasting inHD Radio. WLIT's HD2 subchannel was originally a simulcast of the now-defunct "Real Oldies"AM 1690WRLL (nowWVON). It later changed to a mix ofdisco music and 1970s/1980soldies called "Flashback". In August 2009, the format changed again, this time to a gold-basedAC format known as "Chicago's Classic Lite", and later branded as "Delilah".[35][36]
On February 1, 2016, WLIT's HD2 adopted aRegional Mexican format branded "Poder 97.5" (Power 97.5), which was rebroadcast at 97.5 MHz throughFM translator W248BB.[37][38] On May 6, 2019, WLIT-HD2 dropped the "Poder 97.5" Regional Mexican format and switched to iHeart's "The Breeze" soft adult contemporary format. The 97.5 translator flipped toChristian contemporary music, as an affiliate ofK-Love. As of December 2019, K-Love broke away from the WCKL-FM simulcast and started simulcastingAir1 from WCKL-HD2.[39] In early 2022, the HD2 subchannel ceased operations.
From November through Christmas Day every year, WLIT switches to allChristmas music, resuming its regular branding and AC format on December 26. It is traditionally one of the earlier stations to adopt an all-Christmas format, traditionally doing so between November 1 and November 5,[40][41] compared to the November 10 standard iHeart uses for most of its other stations.[42] Its Christmas mix, featuring approximately 250 songs, weighs heavily toward standards, especially in early November, so as to give listeners a greater emphasis on the familiar.[43]
In December 2000, the station began airing the nationallysyndicatedDelilah program on weekday evenings.[44] It is produced byPremiere Networks, which is co-owned with WLIT. WLIT cancelled Delilah's program in November 2007, but it returned in October 2008.[45] Delilah's program was taken off WLIT again in March 2012, but was brought back to 93.9 in December 2017, after the station returned to its "Lite FM" branding.[45][46] Delilah is currently heard Sunday through Friday evenings.
WLIT also carries theEllen K Weekend Show from co-ownedKOST Los Angeles on Saturday mornings. As with Delilah, Ellen K is syndicated by Premiere Networks.
Melissa Forman joined WLIT as morning host in 2001, remaining until 2006, but returning 14 months later.[47][48] Forman was again let go in 2009, and began co-hosting "You & Me This Morning" onWCIU-TV, but was again hired as morning host on WLIT in May 2018.[47][48][49]
WLIT's midday DJ is Robin Rock, Mick Lee is heard in afternoondrive time and Theresa Lucas overnight.