WWLI
Encyclopedia
WWLI is a radio station
in Providence, Rhode Island
that under ownership of Cumulus Media
. This station is better known as "Lite Rock 105" and plays the adult contemporary format. Its transmitter is located in Johnston, Rhode Island
.
. WPJB was initially one of the few FM stations to not be co-owned with an AM
station, but in 1951 the Journal purchased WFCI
(1420 AM) and changed its call letters to WPJB; this resulted in the FM station changing to WPJB-FM. The Journal would shut down WPJB on October 9, 1954 after purchasing WEAN (790 AM; now WPRV) from General Teleradio
; as WEAN did not operate an FM station, WPJB-FM remained on the air with classical music
, though both stations retained their existing call letters. The station subsequently incorporated beautiful music
into its programming as well.
WPJB-FM became a top 40 station, "JB 105", on August 1, 1975, a change promoted in The Providence Journal the week before; the station's classical music library was donated to the Providence College
radio station, WDOM
, a year later. The station initially used an early version of a format developed by Mike Joseph that eventually became known as Hot Hits
(branded as "Big Hits" on WPJB), though it phased out most aspects of this format by 1977. WPJB saw some ratings success when rival WPRO-FM
began taking a more adult-focused approach in 1980, boosting its teen listenership; however, by the end of the year, WPRO-FM's ratings began to recover, and WPJB began making changes to its format. Initially, at the start of 1981, the station moved to more of a rock
-based direction, but after WHJY
adopted an album rock format in September, WPJB abruptly backed away from this emphasis. The following year, the station began shifting to an adult contemporary format; that November, WPJB stopped including a top-35 chart in The Providence Journal, and in 1983 the "JB 105" branding was dropped. WPJB again shifted closer to top 40 in August 1984.
The Providence Journal sold WPJB-FM and WEAN to Eastern Broadcasting Corporation in 1985. Eastern placed less emphasis on the WPJB call letters that April; on June 13, the station began to announce that "WPJB is dead!", and after a period of stunting
, it adopted a soft adult contemporary format, "Lite 105", on June 14, with the call letters changing to WWLI. Eastern Broadcasting was bought by Tele-Media in 1989; four years later, Tele-Media bought former rival WPRO-FM and its AM sister station
. Tele-Media, in turn, sold its stations to Citadel Broadcasting
in 1997. WWLI soon moved to a mainstream adult contemporary format, and changed its branding to "Lite Rock 105" in 2001. Citadel merged with Cumulus Media
on September 16, 2011.
Notable former personnel include inaugural Rhode Island Radio Hall of Fame member Charlie Jefferds, Heidi West, Gary Degraide, Peter Clark, Linda Liese, Tom Holt, Bonnie, Donna Mac, Sue Wilson, Kim Wakefield, Scott Cook, Tanya Cruise, Larry Kruger, RJ, Michael Bernz and Cruisin' Bruce Palmer.
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...
in Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
that under ownership of Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media, Inc. is the second largest Owner and Operator of AM and FM radio stations in the United States, behind Clear Channel Communications, operating 570 stations in 150 markets as of September 16, 2011. The company also owns Cumulus Media Networks...
. This station is better known as "Lite Rock 105" and plays the adult contemporary format. Its transmitter is located in Johnston, Rhode Island
Johnston, Rhode Island
Johnston is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 28,769 at the 2010 census. Johnston is the site of the Clemence Irons House a stone-ender museum and the only landfill in Rhode Island...
.
History
The station began broadcasting July 11, 1948 as WPJB, owned by The Providence JournalThe Providence Journal
The Providence Journal, nicknamed the ProJo, is a daily newspaper serving the metropolitan area of Providence, Rhode Island and is the largest newspaper in Rhode Island. The newspaper, first published in 1829 and the oldest continuously-published daily newspaper in the United States, was purchased...
. WPJB was initially one of the few FM stations to not be co-owned with an AM
AM broadcasting
AM broadcasting is the process of radio broadcasting using amplitude modulation. AM was the first method of impressing sound on a radio signal and is still widely used today. Commercial and public AM broadcasting is carried out in the medium wave band world wide, and on long wave and short wave...
station, but in 1951 the Journal purchased WFCI
WFCI (defunct)
WFCI was one of four radio stations in the pre-World War II Providence market . WFCI was an affiliate of the NBC Blue network which in 1943 became simply the Blue Network & finally changed to the American Broadcasting Company, or ABC, in 1945. WFCI added FM service on 101.5 MHz circa 1950...
(1420 AM) and changed its call letters to WPJB; this resulted in the FM station changing to WPJB-FM. The Journal would shut down WPJB on October 9, 1954 after purchasing WEAN (790 AM; now WPRV) from General Teleradio
RKO General
RKO General was the main holding company through 1991 for the noncore businesses of the General Tire and Rubber Company and, after General Tire's reorganization in the 1980s, GenCorp. The business was based around the consolidation of its parent company's broadcasting interests, dating to 1943, and...
; as WEAN did not operate an FM station, WPJB-FM remained on the air with classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
, though both stations retained their existing call letters. The station subsequently incorporated beautiful music
Beautiful music
Beautiful music is a mostly instrumental music format that was prominent in American radio from the 1960s through the 1980s...
into its programming as well.
WPJB-FM became a top 40 station, "JB 105", on August 1, 1975, a change promoted in The Providence Journal the week before; the station's classical music library was donated to the Providence College
Providence College
Providence College is a private, coeducational, Catholic university located about two miles west of downtown Providence, Rhode Island, United States, the state's capital city. With a 2010–2011 enrollment of 3,850 undergraduate students and 735 graduate students, the College specializes in academic...
radio station, WDOM
WDOM
WDOM is a radio station licensed to Providence, Rhode Island, United States. The station is currently owned by Providence College.-Station history:...
, a year later. The station initially used an early version of a format developed by Mike Joseph that eventually became known as Hot Hits
Hot Hits
Hot Hits was a radio format created by consultant Mike Joseph in the 1970s. That concept, which helped spur the birth of what is now known as CHR, also revitalized the Top 40 format and would play a role in bringing the format to the FM band throughout the 1980s.The concept was to play only the...
(branded as "Big Hits" on WPJB), though it phased out most aspects of this format by 1977. WPJB saw some ratings success when rival WPRO-FM
WPRO-FM
WPRO-FM is a radio station in Providence, Rhode Island. The station broadcasts an adult top 40 format. It is the sister station to WPRO...
began taking a more adult-focused approach in 1980, boosting its teen listenership; however, by the end of the year, WPRO-FM's ratings began to recover, and WPJB began making changes to its format. Initially, at the start of 1981, the station moved to more of a rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
-based direction, but after WHJY
WHJY
WHJY is a commercial radio station in Providence, Rhode Island owned by Clear Channel that broadcasts at 94.1 MHz. .WHJY plays classic and mainstream rock - a radio format known as "active rock", and has been doing so since September 4, 1981...
adopted an album rock format in September, WPJB abruptly backed away from this emphasis. The following year, the station began shifting to an adult contemporary format; that November, WPJB stopped including a top-35 chart in The Providence Journal, and in 1983 the "JB 105" branding was dropped. WPJB again shifted closer to top 40 in August 1984.
The Providence Journal sold WPJB-FM and WEAN to Eastern Broadcasting Corporation in 1985. Eastern placed less emphasis on the WPJB call letters that April; on June 13, the station began to announce that "WPJB is dead!", and after a period of stunting
Stunting (broadcasting)
In radio broadcasting, stunting occurs when a station abruptly airs programming that is seemingly uncharacteristic compared to what they normally play...
, it adopted a soft adult contemporary format, "Lite 105", on June 14, with the call letters changing to WWLI. Eastern Broadcasting was bought by Tele-Media in 1989; four years later, Tele-Media bought former rival WPRO-FM and its AM sister station
WPRO (AM)
WPRO is a radio station located in Providence, Rhode Island. The station is owned by Cumulus Media, and airs a talk format. WPRO's studio and transmitter are located in East Providence, at the Salty Brine Broadcast Center, named after WPRO's longtime morning host...
. Tele-Media, in turn, sold its stations to Citadel Broadcasting
Citadel Broadcasting
Citadel Broadcasting Corporation was a Las Vegas, Nevada-based broadcast holding company. Citadel owned 243 radio stations across the United States and was the third-largest radio station owner in the country...
in 1997. WWLI soon moved to a mainstream adult contemporary format, and changed its branding to "Lite Rock 105" in 2001. Citadel merged with Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media, Inc. is the second largest Owner and Operator of AM and FM radio stations in the United States, behind Clear Channel Communications, operating 570 stations in 150 markets as of September 16, 2011. The company also owns Cumulus Media Networks...
on September 16, 2011.
Personalities
Notable current air personalities include morning show hosts David Jones and Heather Gersten, Gary DeGraide on mid-days, Tony Bristol on afternoons, Art Spencer on evenings, plus weekend host JT.Notable former personnel include inaugural Rhode Island Radio Hall of Fame member Charlie Jefferds, Heidi West, Gary Degraide, Peter Clark, Linda Liese, Tom Holt, Bonnie, Donna Mac, Sue Wilson, Kim Wakefield, Scott Cook, Tanya Cruise, Larry Kruger, RJ, Michael Bernz and Cruisin' Bruce Palmer.