WRKA

The station signed on the air on {{start date and age|1974|11}}. The original call sign was WFIA-FM, the sister station to 900 WFIA. The stations aired a Christian radio format and were owned by AM 900, Inc.[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1976/C%20%20Broadcasting%20Yearbook%201976.pdf Broadcasting Yearbook 1976 page C-80] The call sign was later changed to WXLN and played Contemporary Christian music.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}}

In the summer of 1990, the Christian format ended. The station flipped to Top 40-CHR as WZKS "Kiss 104"."KISS radio," The Courier-Journal, July 11, 1990.

Debuting on July 5, 1990, WZKS intended to challenge established Top 40 station 99.7 WDJX. But WDJX's owners entered into a local marketing agreement (LMA) to operate the station on January 27, 1992. That meant WZKS would no longer challenge WDJX. The two stations simulcast the same top 40 format for nearly a month and a half.Tom Dorsey, "DJX to take control of KISS; format change is uncertain," The Courier-Journal, January 22, 1992.{{cite web|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1992/RR-1992-01-31.pdf#page=20 |title=Two Louisville CHRs form LMA|pages=20 }} After the simulcast broke at 6 a.m. on March 20, WZKS began stunting by playing songs recorded by Garth Brooks, then switched to country music on March 23.Tom Dorsey, "The news is, ABC's newsmagazines are doing well indeed," The Courier-Journal, March 19, 1992.

During this period, 103.9 became the first FM station in the market intended to challenge longtime country leader 97.5 WAMZ. Initially, 103.9 was known as "Hot Country 103.9". Unlike WAMZ, WZKS had no local DJs, instead relying on Westwood One's "Hot Country" format.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}} On March 30, 1993, the station was revamped as "103.9 The Hawk". It added local air personalities and changed its call sign to WHKW.Tom Dorsey, "WKPC makes its annual bid for listeners' dollars tonight," The Courier-Journal, April 14, 1993.

The format, call letters, and "The Hawk" branding were transferred to WKJK (107.7 FM) on May 24, 1994.Tom Dorsey, "TV shows flock to DJ for story on balloon rescue," The Courier-Journal, May 24, 1994. After that programming move, WHKW adopted an oldies format branded as "Cool 103.9", with replacement WQLL call letters on June 6.Tom Dorsey, "WAVE to add 5:30 newscast to challenge WHAS," The Courier-Journal, June 30, 1994.{{cite magazine|title=Vox Jox|last=Stark|first=Phyllis|magazine=Billboard|date=July 16, 1994|volume=106|issue=29|page=84}} The playlist was later changed to all 1970's music, but the "Cool" branding was retained.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}}

In May 1996, WQLL's format and "Cool" branding would move to 107.7 FM.Tom Dorsey, "Radio deals may lead to a lock on formats," The Courier-Journal, May 15, 1996.Tom Dorsey, "Flurry of radio-station sales confirmed," The Courier-Journal, May 16, 1996.Tom Dorsey, "Few sets stayed dim for TV Turnoff Week; kids respond to poll," The Courier-Journal, May 20, 1996. After simulcasting for a few days, 103.9 FM changed its format to smooth jazz on June 3, 1996, and changed its call letters to WSJW.Tom Dorsey, "'Murder One' gets reprieve as ABC announces fall lineup," The Courier-Journal, May 21, 1996. On August 7, 1998, the station changed again to adult contemporary as WMHX "Mix 103.9", reviving a format dropped by the former WLRS a year earlier.Tom Dorsey, "Hot music replaces the smooth at WSJW," The Courier-Journal, August 12, 1998.

After the station was purchased by Cox Radio in 1999, WHMX switched to an all-80s hits format branded as "103.9 The Point" in November 2000.Tom Dorsey, "Sweeps are over, so reruns fill screen," The Courier-Journal, November 30, 2000. The call letters were switched to WPTK on November 24, then a month later, on December 20, to WPTI.{{cite web|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2000/RR-2000-11-24.pdf#page=30|access-date=2023-09-17|title=Street Talk|pages=30}} WPTI dropped the 80s hits format for another attempt at country, branded "New Country 103.9", on October 21, 2004.{{cite web|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2004/RR-2004-10-29.pdf#page=12|title=WPTI Goes Country; Killion New PD|pages=12|date=2004-10-29|access-date=2023-09-17}}Tom Dorsey, "Presidential debates shut out third-party candidates," The Courier-Journal, October 23, 2004."Changing the Station," The Courier-Journal, October 27, 2004. WPTI's call letters were changed to WRKA on July 18, 2008, and the format was changed to classic country as "Country Legends 103.9" that July 23. The previous country format was moved to the former WRKA, renamed WQNU.Tom Dorsey, "WRKA's oldies out, country music is in," The Courier-Journal, July 21, 2008.

Cox Radio, Inc. sold WRKA, along with 22 other stations, to Summit Media LLC for $66.25 million on July 20, 2012. The sale was consummated on May 3, 2013.{{Cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/59007/cox-puts-clusters-up-for-sale/|title=Cox Puts Clusters Up For Sale|date=2012-07-20|website=RadioInsight|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-16}}{{Cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/80882/cox-sells-stations-in-six-markets-to-two-groups/|title=Cox Sells Stations In Six Markets To Two Groups|date=2013-05-06|website=RadioInsight|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-16}} SummitMedia had new plans for the station.

On May 23, 2014, WRKA began stunting by only playing music by Garth Brooks as "103.9 Garth-FM." The station later claimed it was not able to use Brooks' name due to what was described as "legal issues". It rebranded as "XXXXX-FM" (with the "XXXXX" being pronounced on-air as a long beep) and promising a new format to debut the following Monday, June 2, at 7 a.m.. At that time, WRKA relaunched with a 1990s-heavy country format, once again branded as "103.9 The Hawk".{{Cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/88780/wrka-stunting-with-non-stop-garth/|title=103.9 The Hawk Debuts In Louisville|date=2014-06-02|website=RadioInsight|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-16}} The first song on "The Hawk" was Gone Country by Alan Jackson.{{Cite web|url=http://formatchange.com/103-9-the-hawk-debuts/|title=103.9 The Hawk Debuts|date=2014-06-02|website=Format Change Archive|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-16}}

On December 31, 2018, WRKA dropped the classic country format and began stunting as "103.9 The Party" using the slogan, "Where it's New Year's Eve every day."[https://radioinsight.com/headlines/173273/a-new-years-party-starts-on-103-9-louisville/ A New Year's Party Starts on 103.9 Louisville] Radioinsight - December 31, 2018 On January 14, 2019, at 9 a.m., WRKA flipped to rhythmic adult contemporary, branded as "103.9 The Groove".[https://radioinsight.com/headlines/173273/a-new-years-party-starts-on-103-9-louisville/ 103.9 The Groove Debuts in Louisville] Radioinsight - January 14, 2019

In January 2020, WRKA shifted to urban adult contemporary, still under the "Groove" branding.[https://radioinsight.com/headlines/182920/103-9-the-groove-louisville-evolving-to-urban-ac-adds-rickey-smiley/ 103.9 The Groove Evolving to Urban AC; Adds Rickey Smiley] Radioinsight - January 3, 2020 It added The Rickey Smiley Morning Show for wake-ups.

File:WPTI logo.png|logo through July 23, 2008

File:WRKA-FM logo.png|previous "Country Legends" logo, 2008–2013

File:WRKA 103.9TheHawk logo.png|previous "103.9 The Hawk" logo, 2014–2018

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://www.1039thegroove.com}}

{{FM station data|743143|WRKA}}

{{Louisville Radio}}

{{Urban Radio Stations in Kentucky}}

Category:Urban adult contemporary radio stations in the United States

RKA

Category:Radio stations established in 1974

Category:1974 establishments in Kentucky