 | |
| Broadcast area | Roanoke metropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 106.1MHz (HD Radio)[1] |
| Branding | K-Love |
| Programming | |
| Format | Contemporary Christian[1] |
| Affiliations | K-Love |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Educational Media Foundation |
| History | |
First air date | 1994 (as WJJS)[2] |
Former call signs | WWFO (1991–1994) WJJS (1994–1996) WJJS-FM (1996–2007) WZBL (2007–2009) WSFF (2009–2019)[3] |
| Technical information[4] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 41635 |
| Class | A |
| ERP | 6,000watts |
| HAAT | 29 meters (95 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 37°17′3.00″N79°59′14″W / 37.2841667°N 79.98722°W /37.2841667; -79.98722 |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | klove.com |
 | |
| Broadcast area | Lynchburg metropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 101.7MHz |
| Branding | Air1, 101.7 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Contemporary Worship[5] |
| Affiliations | Air1 |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Educational Media Foundation |
| History | |
First air date | August 1, 1964; 60 years ago (1964-08-01)[2] |
Former call signs | WXYU (1964–1992) WJJS (1992–1994) WJJX (1994–2007) WSNZ (2007–2019)[6] |
Call sign meaning | WAirW(one)X |
| Technical information[7] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 70331 |
| Class | A |
| ERP | 3,400watts |
| HAAT | 88 meters (289 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 37°25′37.0″N79°07′26.0″W / 37.426944°N 79.123889°W /37.426944; -79.123889 (WAWX) |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | klove.com |
WLRX (106.1FM) andWAWX (101.7FM) areFMradio stations owned by theEducational Media Foundation (EMF). WLRX islicensed toVinton, Virginia, serving theRoanoke metropolitan area. WAWX is licensed toLynchburg, Virginia, serving theLynchburg metropolitan area. WLRX plays aContemporary Christianradio format from the "K-Love" national network, while WAWX airs aContemporary Worship format as anetwork affiliate of "Air1."[8][9]
Both stations are licensed forcommercial operation. But K-Love and Air1 are listener-supported and run no commercials. In addition, EMF owns 106.9WLGX in nearbyBedford, Virginia. WLGX also carries K-Love programming.
106.1 FM started out with the call signWWFO on January 18, 1991 and officially launched in 1994.
101.7 FM started out with the call signWDMS-FM on August 1, 1964 before being changed toWJJS in 1969 with aBlack music format. In 1986 the calls and format moved to its sister station at1320 AM, while the FM became Top-40 as "U102"WXYU. On January 1, 1992, the Urban format and WJJS calls returned to 101.7, while WXYU, by then a Country station, moved to AM.[10]
In 1994, the frequencies began a simulcast as "Jammin' 101.7 and 106.1" and 106.1 FM as a rhythmic top 40 format. 101.7 FM moved its callsign, WJJS to 106.1 FM on May 18, 1994, while 101.7 FM becameWJJX on April 29, 1994. On August 29, 1996, 106.1 FM modified the callsign toWJJS-FM and the WJJS call sign was returned to 1320 AM (nowWVGM).
In 1998, WJJS-FM/WJJX shifted tocontemporary hit radio and began a serious challenge to take on the area's longtime rivalWXLK in a battle would last for nearly seven years, even though they maintained a Rhythmic lean during that tenure.
But by 2005, WJJS-FM/WJJX would start shifting back towards a pure rhythmic direction as they began phasing out non-rhythmic product, resulting in a complete return to rhythmic top 40 in the Spring of 2006.
At noon on December 17, 2007, theWZBL call sign andclassic country format was moved from 104.9 FM to 106.1 FM as "106.1 The Bull". This was part of a frequency swap that moved the WJJS call letters to 104.9 FM as "Jammin' JJS". On the same date, the 101.7 FM "WJJX" simulcast was also swapped with WSNV, which had been broadcasting on 102.7 FM, simulcastingWSNV at 93.5 FM.[11]
At noon on March 27, 2009, the format was changed toadult hits as "106.1 Steve FM; Playing Whatever We Want".[12] The new callsign,WSFF, went into effect a day later on March 28. By late 2012, the slogan changed to "Random Radio". At 5:00 P.M. on March 25, 2011, WSFF began simulcasting on WSNZ at 101.7 FM, once again reuniting 106.1 FM with 101.7 FM.[13]
WSFF was part of a group of stations owned by Clear Channel that are scheduled to be sold as part of Clear Channel's conversion from a public to a private company.
The station formerly broadcast all Virginia Tech sporting events including Hokies football and basketball games until the start of the 2011-2012 year when it was moved to WSNV.[14]
On March 3, 2019, iHeart announced it would sell four stations in its Aloha Station Trust, including WSFF and WSNZ, to the Educational Media Foundation in exchange for six translators already operated by iHeart. The stations were expected to flip to one of EMF's national networks (K-Love,Air 1, orK-Love Classics) upon the sale's closure.[15]
On May 31, 2019, EMF closed the sale and flipped its format to their "K-Love" branding while "Steve-FM" was moved to sister stationWJJS.[16] EMF also changed call letters to WLRX for Roanoke and WAWX for Lynchburg.[17] Sometime in 2020, WAWX has split from the simulcast and has since flipped to EMF'sContemporary Worship network,Air1.