WLNK

Infobox Radio Station
name = WLNK


city = Charlotte, North Carolina
area = Charlotte/Metrolina
branding = 107.9 The Link
slogan = Life is Short, Have Fun!
frequency = 107.9 (MHz)
format = Talk radio/Hot Adult Contemporary music
erp = 100,000 watts
class = C
owner = Greater Media
website = [http://www.1079thelink.com http://www.1079thelink.com]
callsign_meaning = W LiNK

WLNK, known on the air as 107.9 The Link, is a 100,000 watt radio station in Charlotte, North Carolina. It broadcasts at 107.9 MHz, primarily serving the Charlotte metropolitan area. On air programming consists of female-oriented talk radio, combined with Hot Adult Contemporary music.

The station was owned by Philadelphia-based Lincoln Financial Group until 2008. The WLNK callsign predates its previous owner and thus, similarities to the name "Lincoln" are coincidental. On November 12, 2007, as Lincoln Financial began to liquidate its broadcasting assets, Greater Media announced plans to acquire WLNK, along with sister stations WBT and WBT-FM, for $100 million [http://www.greatermedia.com/press/detail.php?ID=279, retrieved on 2008/05/15.] , a deal which was finalized on January 31, 2008.

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 1960's was airing the Beautiful Music format produced by Shulke Radio Productions.

In September 1978, the station became "WBCY-108, Charlotte's Best Rock", playing a rock-leaning version of what today would be called hot adult contemporary. 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 80's, WBCY hired Johnny Ray Isley as morning host, and later added Billy James as co-host. After John Boy became a Christian, he eventually decided he was being asked to play inappropriate songsFact|date=May 2008, and he quit WBCY in February 1986. Bob Lacey, a veteran announcer for WBT (AM) and WBTV, replaced John Boy temporarily [Jeff Borden, "Bob Lacey to Replace John-Boy on Interim Basis," "The Charlotte Observer", February 13, 1986.] . 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 [Jeff Borden, "WBCY to Introduce New Disc Jockey Duo on Morning Show," "The Charlotte Observer", September 11, 1986.] .

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 [Jeff Borden, "Randy and Spiff Hit Atlanta," "The Charlotte Observer", January 21, 1989.] . Later in the year, WBCY announced that Lacey would be the station's morning host [Richard Maschal, "Bob Lacey to Return to Radio," "The Charlotte Observer", November 8, 1989.] . 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-AM added an FM frequency to reach more listeners west of Charlotte at night, and the WBT-FM letters went to the former WBZK in Chester, S.C. [Tim Funk and David Poole, "Hornets Factor in Station Purchase," "The Charlotte Observer", February 2, 1995.] ,while Sunny 107.9 became WWSN [Tim Funk, "WBTV's Bridges to Be Police's Community Education Coordinator," "The Charlotte Observer", August 30, 1995.] . In late 1996, the station changed its nickname to "Hits 107.9."

In 1997, the station's current name and letters were adopted when the format was changed to modern adult contemporary [Kay McFadden, "So Long, 'Sunny,' Hello, 'Link,'" "The Charlotte Observer", March 14, 1997.] [Bill Keveney, "Radio Wrap," "The Charlotte Observer", December 13, 1998.] . This format lasted only a few years, and the station returned to a more mainstream sound.

Matt Harris (not to be confused with Matt "Mattman" Harris from WTPT's "Rise Guys") and Ramona Holloway joined WLNK as afternoon hosts in 2001 [Mark Washburn, "The Link Seeks Magic with Drive-Time Team," "The Charlotte Observer", March 19, 2001.] [http://www.theriseguys.com/aboutmatt.html, Retrieved on 2008/05/15.] . The decision was made to syndicate Matt and Ramona in 2003 [Mark Washburn, "From Charlotte, with Love: 'Matt & Ramona,'" "The Charlotte Observer", June 24, 2003.] . That same year, Pam Stone began hosting a midday talk show, which meant WLNK was now lifestyle talk during the day on weekdays [Mark Washburn, "107.9 Tries Talk As 'Link' to Women," "The Charlotte Observer", July 1, 2003.] with music at night and on weekends.

WLNK syndicates much of its programming. Bob and Sheri is the most widely syndicated, heard on over 40 stations. Matt and Ramona is heard on 4 stations (including WLNK), and Cooper Lawrence heard on 5 (including WLNK). Syndication of WLNK's programming is handled by Dial Global.

References

External links

* [http://www.1079thelink.com 107.9 The Link's website]
*