WLND
Encyclopedia
WLND is a radio station
serving the Chattanooga, Tennessee
area. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications
and is licensed to serve Signal Mountain, Tennessee
, USA.
format and was branded as "97 Kicks". By 1997, "Kicks FM" was adult contemporary and simulcasting on 103.1 FM
. In 1998, Cumulus Media
began operating WKXJ under a local marketing agreement
, later completing the $3 million purchase from Marston Broadcasting in 1999. WZST "Star 98", a Top 40 Mainstream station at 98.1 FM, took the WKXJ letters and relaunched as "98.1 KISS-FM". The 97.3 frequency switched to rhythmic oldies
as WLOV-FM. WKXJ did well during its six and a half years as KISS-FM.
In 2000, Cumulus announced it would buy 11 radio stations in 4 markets from Clear Channel Communications
in exchange for 25 radio stations in 5 markets plus cash. WLOV, WIIS-AM, WUSY, WKXJ and WLMX-FM were included in those stations going to Clear Channel.
On June 13, 2007 at 10 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time WKXJ changed formats to become a classic country
music station. This was due to Clear Channel moving the format from WNGA, which they sold prior to the flip. Shortly after this format change the station changed call letters to WLND and added the "Legend" branding.
On November 17, 2008, the format switched to Christmas music
. There was word that there might be a format change after that ended, but the station returned to its classic country format after the holiday format concluded. On September 4, 2009, WLND's former Top 40 format and "KISS-FM" branding returned to the Chattanooga airwaves, this time at sister station WURV (now WKXJ
).
On November 1, 2009, the format again switched to Christmas music as "Chattanooga's Christmas Station". At around 11:45 P.M. on December 25, 2009, the station switched to a hot AC format, with the branding "Your Life, Your Music. 98.1 LND."
On September 2, 2010 WLND rebranded as "My 98.1".
On September 2, 2011 at Noon WLND relaunched as adult hits
"98.1 The Lake".
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...
serving the Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga is the fourth-largest city in the US state of Tennessee , with a population of 169,887. It is the seat of Hamilton County...
area. The station is owned 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...
and is licensed to serve Signal Mountain, Tennessee
Signal Mountain, Tennessee
Signal Mountain is a town in Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States. The town is a suburb of Chattanooga and is located on Walden Ridge, a land mass often mistakenly referred to as "Signal Mountain" itself...
, USA.
History
This station first went on the air in 1990 at 97.3 FM with the call letters WKXJ. The station played a Rhythmic ContemporaryRhythmic Contemporary
Rhythmic contemporary, also known as rhythmic top 40, rhythmic contemporary hit radio or rhythmic crossover, is a music radio format that includes a mix of EDM, upbeat rhythmic pop, hip-hop and R&B hits. Rhythmic contemporary rarely uses rock music or country music in its airplay, but it may...
format and was branded as "97 Kicks". By 1997, "Kicks FM" was adult contemporary and simulcasting on 103.1 FM
WBDX
WBDX is a radio station broadcasting a Contemporary Christian format. Licensed to Trenton, Georgia, USA, the station serves the Chattanooga, Tennessee area. The station is owned by Partners For Christian Media, Inc.. WLLJ , licensed to Etowah, Tennessee, airs the same programming.-History of...
. In 1998, 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...
began operating WKXJ under a local marketing agreement
Local marketing agreement
In U.S. and Canadian broadcasting, a local marketing agreement is an agreement in which one company agrees to operate a radio or television station owned by another licensee...
, later completing the $3 million purchase from Marston Broadcasting in 1999. WZST "Star 98", a Top 40 Mainstream station at 98.1 FM, took the WKXJ letters and relaunched as "98.1 KISS-FM". The 97.3 frequency switched to rhythmic oldies
Rhythmic oldies
Rhythmic Oldies is a radio format that concentrates on the rhythmic, disco or dance genres of music. Playlists may span from the 1970s through the early 1990s...
as WLOV-FM. WKXJ did well during its six and a half years as KISS-FM.
In 2000, Cumulus announced it would buy 11 radio stations in 4 markets from 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...
in exchange for 25 radio stations in 5 markets plus cash. WLOV, WIIS-AM, WUSY, WKXJ and WLMX-FM were included in those stations going to Clear Channel.
On June 13, 2007 at 10 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time WKXJ changed formats to become a classic country
Classic country
Classic country is a music radio format that specializes in playing mainstream country hits from past decades.This genre generally follows one of two formats: those specializing in hits from the 1920s through the early 1970s, and focus primarily on innovators and artists from country music's Golden...
music station. This was due to Clear Channel moving the format from WNGA, which they sold prior to the flip. Shortly after this format change the station changed call letters to WLND and added the "Legend" branding.
Christmas 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:...
. There was word that there might be a format change after that ended, but the station returned to its classic country format after the holiday format concluded. On September 4, 2009, WLND's former Top 40 format and "KISS-FM" branding returned to the Chattanooga airwaves, this time at sister station WURV (now WKXJ
WKXJ
WKXJ is a radio station licensed to Walden, Tennessee, USA, and serving the Chattanooga, Tennessee, area. The station operates a Top 40 music format and is branded as "103.7 KISS-FM"...
).
On November 1, 2009, the format again switched to Christmas music as "Chattanooga's Christmas Station". At around 11:45 P.M. on December 25, 2009, the station switched to a hot AC format, with the branding "Your Life, Your Music. 98.1 LND."
On September 2, 2010 WLND rebranded as "My 98.1".
On September 2, 2011 at Noon WLND relaunched as adult hits
Adult hits
Adult hits is a radio format, popular in the early 2000s, that does not adhere to a specific music genre, but instead draws from a wider playlist...
"98.1 The Lake".