 | |
| Broadcast area | Chattanooga metropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 98.1MHz |
| Branding | 98.1 The Lake |
| Programming | |
| Language | English |
| Format | Adult hits |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| History | |
First air date | August 29, 1994 (1994-08-29) (as WZST) |
Former call signs |
|
Call sign meaning | "Legend" (former branding) |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 72371 |
| Class | A |
| ERP | 1,000 watts |
| HAAT | 242 meters (794 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 35°05′17″N85°21′47″W / 35.088°N 85.363°W /35.088; -85.363 |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live (via Audacy) |
| Website | www |
WLND (98.1FM) is acommercialradio stationlicensed toSignal Mountain, Tennessee, and serving theChattanooga metropolitan area. The station is owned byAudacy, Inc., and broadcasts anadult hitsradio format, using the moniker "98.1 The Lake - We Play Anything!" As with many Adult Hits stations owned by Audacy, WLND operates with nodisc jockeys. Theradio studios and offices are on Old Lee Road in Chattanooga.
WLND has aneffective radiated power (ERP) of 1,000watts, compared with several other FM stations in the Chattanooga area powered at 100,000 watts. Thetransmitter is on Skillet Gap Road in Chattanooga.[2]
This station first went on the air in 1990 at 97.3 FM with the call letters WKXJ. The station played aRhythmic Contemporary format and was branded as "97 Kicks".[citation needed] By 1997, "Kicks FM" wasadult contemporary and simulcasting on103.1 FM.[3] In 1998,Cumulus Media began operating WKXJ under alocal marketing agreement, later completing the $3 million purchase from Marson Broadcasting in 1999.[4][5]
WZST "Star 98", aTop 40 Mainstream station at 98.1 FM,[3] took the WKXJ letters and relaunched as "98.1 KISS-FM".[citation needed] The 97.3 frequency switched torhythmic oldies asWLOV-FM.[6] WKXJ did well during its six and a half years as KISS-FM.[citation needed]
In 2000, Cumulus announced it would buy 11 radio stations in 4 markets from Clear Channel Communications (nowiHeartMedia) in exchange for 25 radio stations in 5 markets plus cash as a part of that company's merger with AMFM Incorporated.[7]
On June 13, 2007, at 10 a.m., WKXJ flipped to aclassic country-formatted station, which moved fromWNGA following a sale of that station to 3 Daughters Media. Shortly after the change, the station changed call letters to WLND to match the "Legend" branding.[8]
On November 17, 2008, the format switched toChristmas music. There was word that there might be a format change after that ended, but the station returned to its classic country format after the holiday format concluded. On September 4, 2009, WLND's former Top 40 format and "KISS-FM" branding returned to the Chattanooga airwaves, this time at sister station WURV (nowWKXJ).
On November 1, 2009, the format again switched to Christmas music as "Chattanooga's Christmas Station". At around 11:45 P.M. on December 25, 2009, after playing "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" byJohn Lennon andYoko Ono, the station switched to ahot AC format, with the branding "Your Life, Your Music, 98.1 LND".
The first song on LND was "Sweet Child o' Mine" byGuns N' Roses.[9] On September 2, 2010, WLND rebranded as "My 98.1".
On September 2, 2011, at Noon, WLND relaunched asadult hits "98.1 The Lake".
On November 1, 2017, iHeartMedia announced that WLND, along with allsister stations in Chattanooga andRichmond, would be sold toEntercom as part of that company's merger withCBS Radio.[10] The sale was completed on December 19, 2017.[11]
On August 30, 2024, WLND temporarily rebranded as "Olivia 98.1" while maintaining its adult hits format. Positioning as "Chattanooga’s Gold Medal Station", the station celebrated Chattanooga nativeOlivia Reeves, who won the first gold medal for weightlifting for the U.S. in 24 years at the2024 Summer Olympics with tributes for Reeves’ journey and record-breaking achievement. The station reverted back to the lake on September 3.[12]
As of April 2019, WLND is the flagship station of the Minor League Baseball AAChattanooga Lookouts (Affiliate of theCincinnati Reds).[13]