WLYT-FM
Encyclopedia
WLYT is Lite 102.9, an adult contemporary music station serving the Charlotte, North Carolina
area. Although licensed to Hickory, NC, the main studios are located at 801 Woodridge Center Drive, just off the Billy Graham Parkway near Charlotte/Douglas International Airport
. The station is owned and operated by Clear Channel Communications
.
(where it was WHKY-FM). Prior to the move, "Y-102.9" had played Top 40 with a heavy emphasis on album-oriented rock
, a format that made people notice at a time when rock radio was in decline. Before that, WHKY-FM had aired Christian
programming.
WRLX "Relax 102.9", a beautiful music
station, promoted itself with images of a pair of retirement-age
punk rock
ers, intended to humorously illustrate how the competition apparently viewed the station's target audience. In 1989, the station changed its call letters to WEZC and its name to "EZ 102.9", gradually adding more vocals during the summer to make the transition from beautiful music
to MOR. Some of the early announcers include Bob Brandon, Jim Davenport, Catherine Lane, Jon Robinson and Todd Edwards. In 1993, the name changed again to Lite 102.9 as the station moved to soft adult contemporary, and the call letters switched to WLYT in 1995. Over the years, as the definition of soft adult contemporary has changed, WLYT has evolved. The station now plays pop and lite rock music from the 1970s to present, with an occasional 1960s song.
Lite 102.9 had featured a "70's Flashback Weekend" every weekend since late 2004 through 2005, but discontinued this tradition after the slogan changed from "Continuous Lite Favorites" to "The Best Variety of Yesterday and Today." The station plays Christmas music annually, with 'preview weekends' from early November through Thanksgiving, then a 24-hour Christmas format from Thanksgiving through Christmas Day. WLYT's main competitor is CBS Radio
's WKQC
, K104.7.
In late January 2008, WLYT changed its morning show to more closely resemble the "Today" show on NBC
, with more talk geared toward women 25 to 54. During the first hour, the talk was more hard news
, becoming lighter as the morning show progressed and adding more music during work hours. The program schedule was altered as well.
The show was discontinued in early 2010 with Morning hosts Jim Shafer (who had moved to the station from WWMG in 2004) and Jen Byrum (morning host since 1999) being released. On April 13, 2010, "Valentine in the Morning", a syndicated show from Clear Channel, made its debut. A local host will be hired for local segments of ths show.
each year.
Weekdays:
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
area. Although licensed to Hickory, NC, the main studios are located at 801 Woodridge Center Drive, just off the Billy Graham Parkway near Charlotte/Douglas International Airport
Charlotte/Douglas International Airport
Charlotte Douglas International Airport is a joint civil-military public international airport located in Charlotte, North Carolina. Established in 1935 as Charlotte Municipal Airport, in 1954 the airport was renamed Douglas Municipal Airport after former Charlotte mayor Ben Elbert Douglas, Sr...
. The station is owned and operated by Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
.
History
The station's history in Charlotte began in 1987 with a signal boost and a move from Hickory, North CarolinaHickory, North Carolina
Hickory is a city in Catawba County, North Carolina. Hickory has the 162nd largest urban area in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 341,851, making it the 4th largest metropolitan area in North Carolina. The city's population was 37,222...
(where it was WHKY-FM). Prior to the move, "Y-102.9" had played Top 40 with a heavy emphasis on album-oriented rock
Album-oriented rock
Album-oriented rock is an American FM radio format focusing on album tracks by rock artists.-Music played:Most radio formats are based on a select, tight rotation of hit singles...
, a format that made people notice at a time when rock radio was in decline. Before that, WHKY-FM had aired Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
programming.
WRLX "Relax 102.9", a beautiful music
Beautiful music
Beautiful music is a mostly instrumental music format that was prominent in American radio from the 1960s through the 1980s...
station, promoted itself with images of a pair of retirement-age
Senior citizen
Senior citizen is a common polite designation for an elderly person in both UK and US English, and it implies or means that the person is retired. This in turn implies or in fact means that the person is over the retirement age, which varies according to country. Synonyms include pensioner in UK...
punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
ers, intended to humorously illustrate how the competition apparently viewed the station's target audience. In 1989, the station changed its call letters to WEZC and its name to "EZ 102.9", gradually adding more vocals during the summer to make the transition from beautiful music
Beautiful music
Beautiful music is a mostly instrumental music format that was prominent in American radio from the 1960s through the 1980s...
to MOR. Some of the early announcers include Bob Brandon, Jim Davenport, Catherine Lane, Jon Robinson and Todd Edwards. In 1993, the name changed again to Lite 102.9 as the station moved to soft adult contemporary, and the call letters switched to WLYT in 1995. Over the years, as the definition of soft adult contemporary has changed, WLYT has evolved. The station now plays pop and lite rock music from the 1970s to present, with an occasional 1960s song.
Lite 102.9 had featured a "70's Flashback Weekend" every weekend since late 2004 through 2005, but discontinued this tradition after the slogan changed from "Continuous Lite Favorites" to "The Best Variety of Yesterday and Today." The station plays Christmas music annually, with 'preview weekends' from early November through Thanksgiving, then a 24-hour Christmas format from Thanksgiving through Christmas Day. WLYT's main competitor is CBS Radio
CBS Radio
CBS Radio, Inc., formerly known as Infinity Broadcasting Corporation, is one of the largest owners and operators of radio stations in the United States, third behind main rival Clear Channel Communications and Cumulus Media. CBS Radio owns around 130 radio stations across the country...
's WKQC
WKQC
WKQC is a CBS Radio adult contemporary radio station in Charlotte, North Carolina. The station goes by the name "K 104.7" with the slogan "Cool Songs."The station receives exceptional interference from another 104.7 in Columbia, just 75 miles south...
, K104.7.
In late January 2008, WLYT changed its morning show to more closely resemble the "Today" show on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
, with more talk geared toward women 25 to 54. During the first hour, the talk was more hard news
Hard News
Hard News: The Scandals at The New York Times and Their Meaning for American Media is a 2004 book by journalist Seth Mnookin about the reign of Howell Raines at The New York Times.Mr...
, becoming lighter as the morning show progressed and adding more music during work hours. The program schedule was altered as well.
The show was discontinued in early 2010 with Morning hosts Jim Shafer (who had moved to the station from WWMG in 2004) and Jen Byrum (morning host since 1999) being released. On April 13, 2010, "Valentine in the Morning", a syndicated show from Clear Channel, made its debut. A local host will be hired for local segments of ths show.
Program Schedule
Lite 102.9 plays Christmas musicChristmas music
Christmas music comprises a variety of genres of music normally performed or heard around the Christmas season, which tends to begin in the months leading up the actual holiday and end in the weeks shortly thereafter.-Early:...
each year.
Weekdays:
- 10:00AM–3:00PM - Phil Harris
- 3:00PM-7:00PM Nick Allen
- 7:00PM–12:00AM - Delilah After Dark