WLNK - History

History

WBT-FM was first heard on the 107.9 frequency in 1961, but this was actually the second incarnation of WBT-FM. Those call letters were used on WBT's first FM service at 99.9 MHz from 1947-1954. The station at 107.9 was one of the first FM stereo stations in the nation. Initially, the station aired a mixture of classical music and beautiful music, but by the mid-1960s was airing the beautiful music format produced by Schulke Radio Productions.

On August 31, 1978 at 6 P.M., beautiful music WBT-FM became "WBCY-108, Charlotte's Best Rock". According to an ad appearing in The Charlotte Observer September 1, WBCY played 108 hours of music uninterrupted by commercials. Artists played included Chicago, Peter Frampton, The Rolling Stones, Carly Simon, Billy Joel, and Eddie Money. Popular announcers on the station during this time included John Lambis, Chris Jones, Alan Ryan, Becky Kent and Fred Story. Over the next 11 years, the station moved back and forth between adult top 40 and high-energy adult contemporary.

In the early '80s, WBCY hired Johnny Ray Isley as morning host, and later added Billy James as co-host. After John Boy accepted Jesus, he eventually decided he was being asked to play inappropriate songs, and he quit WBCY in February 1986. Bob Lacey, a veteran announcer for WBT (AM) and WBTV, replaced John Boy temporarily. Jim "Catfish" Prewitt also paired with Billy, who left the station in April. Later in 1986, Randy Cook and Spiff Dingle became the new morning hosts, while John Boy and Billy went to work for WRFX.

WBCY was also the home of popular Contemporary Christian music program, "Visions" hosted by Ken Mayfield. The program aired every Sunday morning from 1985 until 1993 when Mayfield left to manage WRCM.

In December 1988, Randy and Spiff were fired because WBCY intended to moved toward "a more adult-oriented sound." They became the morning hosts at WFOX in Atlanta. Later in the year, WBCY announced that Lacey would be the station's morning host. The station returned to the WBT-FM call letters and changed its format to mainstream adult contemporary under the moniker "Sunny 107.9". Sheri Lynch joined Bob in 1992. Eventually, the station's music began leaning in a top 40 direction again.

In 1995, WBT added an FM frequency to reach more listeners west of Charlotte at night, and the WBT-FM letters went to the former WBZK-FM in Chester, S.C., while Sunny 107.9 became WWSN. In late 1996, the station changed its nickname to "Hits 107.9."

In 1997, the station adopted its current call letters when the format was changed to modern adult contemporary. At the same time, it changed its moniker to "107.9 the Link." This format lasted only a few years, and the station returned to a more mainstream sound.

Matt Harris and Ramona Holloway joined WLNK as afternoon hosts in 2001.

That same year, Pam Stone began hosting a midday talk show, which meant WLNK was now lifestyle talk during the day on weekdays with music at night and on weekends. Stone's show later moved to weekends before the station ended it. Kelly McKay now hosts the midday program, which features more music than the rest of the station's daytime schedule.

The Bob and Sheri Show is widely syndicated, heard on over 40 stations. Syndication of WLNK's programming is handled by Dial Global.

In December 2010, WLNK switched formats to Hot Adult Contemporary according to the Mediabase reports.