 | |
| |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Providence metropolitan area |
| Frequency | 105.1MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | Lite 105 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Adult contemporary |
| Affiliations | Compass Media Networks |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| History | |
First air date | July 11, 1948; 77 years ago (1948-07-11) (as WPJB) |
Former call signs |
|
Call sign meaning | "Lite" |
| Technical information[2] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 64838 |
| Class | B |
| ERP | 50,000 watts |
| HAAT | 152 meters (499 ft) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | lite105.com |
WWLI (105.1FM), brandedLite 105, is an Americancommercial radio station licensed toProvidence, Rhode Island. The station is owned byCumulus Media and broadcasts anadult contemporaryradio format, switching toChristmas music for much of November and December, including the days between Christmas Day and New Years Eve. The radio studios are on Wampanoag Trail inEast Providence.
WWLI has aneffective radiated power (ERP) of 50,000 watts, the maximum for FM stations in Rhode Island. Thetransmitter is off Heath Street inJohnston.[3]
TheProvidence Journal Bulletin daily newspaper applied for aconstruction permit for a new FM station in 1944. The station was originally to operate in the old FM band on 46.9 MHz. The construction permit was issued by theFederal Communications Commission (FCC) in 1947 with a frequency of 105.1 MHz in the new FM band.[4] The station began broadcasting July 11, 1948, as WPJB, with thecall sign being derived from the newspaper's initials.[5] WPJB mostly playedclassical music in its early decades.
WPJB was one of the few FM stations in this era to not be co-owned with anAM station. But in 1951 theJournal purchasedWFCI (1420 AM)[6] and changed its call sign to WPJB. This resulted in the FM station adding the -FMsuffix, changing to WPJB-FM.[7] TheJournalsilenced 1420 WPJB on October 9, 1954, after purchasing WEAN790 AM (nowWPRV) fromGeneral Teleradio. As WEAN did not operate an FM station, WPJB-FM remained on the air with its classical format. Both stations retained their existing call letters.[8] Over time, WPJB reduced the classical programming and addedbeautiful music.[9] Eventually, it was a full timeeasy listening station, playing quarter hour sweeps of mostly soft instrumental songs.
WPJB-FM became atop 40 station, "JB 105", on August 1, 1975, a change promoted inThe Providence Journal the week before.[10] The station's classical music library was donated to theProvidence College radio station,WDOM, a year later.[11] "JB 105" initially used an early version of a format developed by Mike Joseph that eventually became known asHot Hits (branded as "Big Hits" on WPJB), to compete with established Top 40 outlets 630WPRO and 92.3WPRO-FM. The "Big Hits" format limited itsplaylist to only the biggest selling songs repeated frequently, with the use of numerousjingles.
Eventually, "JB 105" shifted to a more standard Top 40 style.[10] WPJB saw some ratings success when rival 92.3 WPRO-FM began taking a more adult-focused approach in 1980, which boosted JB 105's teen listenership. However, by the end of the year, WPRO-FM's ratings began to recover, and WPJB began making changes to its format.[10] At the start of 1981, the station moved to more of arock-based direction, but afterWHJY adopted analbum rock format in September, WPJB abruptly backed away from this emphasis.[10] The following year, the station began shifting to anadult contemporary format. That November, WPJB stopped including a Top 35 chart inThe Providence Journal, and in 1983 the "JB 105" branding was dropped.[10] WPJB again shifted closer to top 40 in August 1984.[10]
The Providence Journal sold WPJB-FM and WEAN to Eastern Broadcasting Corporation in 1985.[12] Eastern placed less emphasis on the callsign WPJB that April.[10] On June 13, the station began to announce that "WPJB is dead!" After a period ofstunting, on June 14, it adopted asoft adult contemporary format, as "Lite 105".[10] with the call letters changing to WWLI.[1] Eastern Broadcasting was bought by Tele-Media in 1989.
Four years later, Tele-Media bought former rival WPRO-FM and itsAM sister station.[10] Tele-Media, in turn, sold its stations toCitadel Broadcasting in 1997.[13] WWLI soon moved to a mainstream adult contemporary format.[10] The branding changed to "Lite Rock 105" in 2001.[14]
In 2007, the format was freshened to include more 1980s, 1990s and current songs, while dropping some songs from the 1970s. By the end of 2008, longtime afternoon host Charlie Jefferds left the station and live weekend hosts were eliminated in a cost-cutting measure. In November 2010, mid-day host Tanya Cruise left the station. Citadel merged withCumulus Media on September 16, 2011.[15] On November 4, 2011, NiteLite host Art Spencer was released after 18 years as the station's evening host, per budget cuts ordered by new owner, Cumulus. Since 2012, the format has become substantially more uptempo, with newer releases added to theplaylist.
In December 2013, the new "Heather and Steve" morning show debuted (former host David Jones exited in November 2013), and in February 2014, "Intelligence for Your Life with John Tesh" was added as thesyndicated evening program. The morning show became "Heather and Matty" in November 2021 after Steve (Stephen Donovan) had been let go during the summer.[16]
In October 2014, Lite Rock's "2 Lite Chicks" (Heather Gersten and Amy Pontes) debuted the "Wicked Awesome 80's (sic) Show." It airs on Saturday nights.
In January 2021, WWLI reverted back to being "Lite 105", the branding that was previously used from 1985 to 2001.[17] The station's branding changes to "The Christmas Station," when it switches to aChristmas music format in November and December.
Notable former personnel include inaugural Rhode Island Radio Hall of Fame member Charlie Jefferds,[18] former program Director Brian Demay, former program director Tony Bristol, former morning show host David Jones, former Nite Lite host Art Spencer, former morning show host Gary Degraide and former assistant program director Mike Rovin (a.k.a. "JT").
Other personalities heard on the station include Heidi West, Peter Clark, Linda Liese, Tom Holt, Bonnie, Donna Mac, Sue Wilson, Rebecca Morse Whitten (a.k.a. Kim Wakefield), Scott Cook, Lori Sergiacomi (a.k.a. "Tanya Cruise"), Larry Kruger, Rick Cabral (a.k.a. "RJ"), Michael Bernz and Cruisin' Bruce Palmer.
41°48′25″N71°28′12″W / 41.807°N 71.470°W /41.807; -71.470