WWIL is a radio station

Radio station

Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...

 broadcasting a Gospel

Gospel music

Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....

 format. Licensed to Wilmington, North Carolina

Wilmington, North Carolina

Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...

, USA. The station is currently owned by Carolina Christian Radio Inc.

History

At one time, this station was called WHSL.

R. Darryl Davis was host of "Fat Man's Blues Shop" on WWIL; he later played "Blues

Blues

Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...

 in the Night" on WHQR

WHQR

WHQR is a radio station broadcasting a Public Radio format. Licensed to Wilmington, North Carolina, USA, it serves the area. The station is currently owned by Friends of Public Radio, Inc., a community group....

.

Family Radio Network Inc. purchased WWIL in 1992 from a Jacksonville

Jacksonville, North Carolina

Jacksonville, North Carolina, is a city in Onslow County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2010 United States census, the population stood at 70,145, which makes Jacksonville the 14th largest city in North Carolina...

 church. Before that, the station was R&B. WWIL began calling itself "Family Radio" in 1993. Jim Stephens worked for a Raleigh

Raleigh, North Carolina

Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...

 Christian station but vacationed in Wilmington. When he turned on the radio, he found no Christian stations. So he took over WWIL and struggled financially after moving to Wilmington but he got numerous cards and letters from people who enjoyed the Contemporary Christian music

Contemporary Christian music

Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...

 and nationally syndicated ministers. Stephens needed for these listeners to prove their support with cash, and they did. WWIL added a 20,000 watt FM

WWIL-FM

WWIL-FM is a radio station broadcasting a Contemporary Christian format. Licensed to Wilmington, North Carolina, USA, the station serves the Wilmington area. The station is currently owned by Carolina Christian Radio Inc. The station has obtained a construction permit from the FCC for a power...

 signal in 1995. As of 1999, the AM station aired "God's Country" during the day, including Ricky Skaggs

Ricky Skaggs

Rickie Lee "Ricky" Skaggs is a country and bluegrass singer, musician, producer, and composer. He primarily plays mandolin; however, he also plays fiddle, guitar, and banjo.-Early career:...

, The Gatlin Brothers and traditional Southern gospel

Southern Gospel

Southern Gospel music—at one time also known as "quartet music"—is music whose lyrics are written to express either personal or a communal faith regarding biblical teachings and Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music...

. At night and early in the morning, the station played urban gospel such as Andrae Crouch

Andrae Crouch

Andraé Crouch is a seven-time Grammy Award-winning American gospel singer, songwriter, arranger, recording artist, record producer, and pastor.-Early years:Born Andraé Edward Crouch in San Francisco, California....

 and Shirley Caesar

Shirley Caesar

Shirley Ann Caesar is an American Gospel music singer, songwriter and recording artist whose career has spanned six decades...

.

The station's owners (the company also owned WLSG

WLSG

WLSG is a radio station broadcasting a Religious format. Licensed to Wilmington, North Carolina, USA, it serves the Wilmington area. The station is currently owned by Carolina Christian Radio.-History:...

 at the time) purchased The Dove FM 89.7

WDVV

WDVV is a radio station broadcasting a Contemporary Christian format. Licensed to Wilmington, North Carolina, USA, the station serves the Wilmington area. The station is currently owned by Carolina Christian Radio Inc.-History:...

 and WMYT for $1.2 million, according to volunteer manager D. Chuck Langley, who had run the stations since the beginning but wanted to focus on his realty and marketing businesses.