WWLI

The Providence Journal Bulletin daily newspaper applied for a construction permit for a new FM station in 1944. The station was originally to operate in the old FM band on 46.9 MHz. The construction permit was issued by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 1947 with a frequency of 105.1 MHz in the new FM band.[https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=82560 WWLI's FCC history card; retrieved January 9, 2019.] The station began broadcasting July 11, 1948, as WPJB, with the call sign being derived from the newspaper's initials.{{cite book|title=Broadcasting Yearbook 1949|year=1949|page=314|url=http://www.davidgleason.com/Archive%20BC-YB/1949/101-200%20Broadcasting%20Yearbook%201949-2.pdf|access-date=December 13, 2010}}{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} WPJB mostly played classical music in its early decades.

WPJB was one of the few FM stations in this era to not be co-owned with an AM station. But in 1951 the Journal purchased WFCI (1420 AM){{cite news|title=WFCI Sale|url=http://www.davidgleason.com/Archive%20BC/BC%201951/BC%201951%2004%2009.pdf|access-date=December 13, 2010|newspaper=Broadcasting-Telecasting|date=April 9, 1951|page=22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324062037/http://www.davidgleason.com/Archive%20BC/BC%201951/BC%201951%2004%2009.pdf|archive-date=March 24, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} and changed its call sign to WPJB. This resulted in the FM station adding the -FM suffix, changing to WPJB-FM.{{cite news|title=FCC roundup|url=http://www.davidgleason.com/Archive%20BC/BC%201951/BC%201951%2006%2011.pdf|access-date=December 13, 2010|newspaper=Broadcasting-Telecasting|date=June 11, 1951|page=96|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324062116/http://www.davidgleason.com/Archive%20BC/BC%201951/BC%201951%2006%2011.pdf|archive-date=March 24, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} The Journal silenced 1420 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 its classical format. Both stations retained their existing call letters.{{cite news|title=Journal Takes WEAN Oct. 9, Relinquishes WPJB There|url=http://www.davidgleason.com/Archive%20BC/BC%201954/BC%201954%2010%2004.pdf|access-date=December 13, 2010|newspaper=Broadcasting-Telecasting|date=October 4, 1951|page=62|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324062226/http://www.davidgleason.com/Archive%20BC/BC%201954/BC%201954%2010%2004.pdf|archive-date=March 24, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} Over time, WPJB reduced the classical programming and added beautiful music.{{cite book|title=Broadcasting Yearbook 1973|year=1973|page=B-138|url=http://www.davidgleason.com/Archive%20BC-YB/1973/B%202%20YB%201973.pdf|access-date=December 13, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101008151948/http://davidgleason.com/Archive%20BC-YB/1973/B%202%20YB%201973.pdf|archive-date=October 8, 2010|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} Eventually, it was a full time easy listening station, playing quarter hour sweeps of mostly soft instrumental songs.

WPJB-FM became a top 40 station, "JB 105", on August 1, 1975, a change promoted in The Providence Journal the week before.{{cite web|title=WPJB (JB 105) History|url=http://pvdradiohistory.blogspot.com/2007/03/wpjb-jb-105-history.html|work=Radio Histories|access-date=December 13, 2010}} The station's classical music library was donated to the Providence College radio station, WDOM, a year later.{{cite news|last=Monti|first=Henry|title=WPJB Donates Library|url=https://digitalcommons.providence.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1264&context=cowl|access-date=December 13, 2010|newspaper=The Cowl|date=November 3, 1976|author2=Ratcliffe, Richard|page=3}} "JB 105" 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), to compete with established Top 40 outlets 630 WPRO and 92.3 WPRO-FM. The "Big Hits" format limited its playlist to only the biggest selling songs repeated frequently, with the use of numerous jingles.

Eventually, "JB 105" shifted to a more standard Top 40 style. WPJB saw some ratings success when rival 92.3 WPRO-FM began taking a more adult-focused approach in 1980, which boosted JB 105's teen listenership. However, by the end of the year, WPRO-FM's ratings began to recover, and WPJB began making changes to its format. 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.{{cite news|title=Providence Journal Co. sells two radio stations|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cZsrAAAAIBAJ&dq=providence-journal%20wean&pg=3245%2C2445810|access-date=December 14, 2010|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=January 16, 1985|page=36}} Eastern placed less emphasis on the callsign WPJB that April. On June 13, the station began to announce that "WPJB is dead!" After a period of stunting, on June 14, it adopted a soft adult contemporary format, as "Lite 105". with the call letters changing to WWLI.{{cite web |title=Call Sign History |work=FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database |url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=64838&Callsign=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.{{cite news|last=Fybush|first=Scott|title=Snow, Snow, and More Snow|url=http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-970403.html|access-date=December 14, 2010|newspaper=North East RadioWatch|date=April 3, 1997}} WWLI soon moved to a mainstream adult contemporary format. The branding changed to "Lite Rock 105" in 2001.{{cite news|last=Fybush|first=Scott|title=Clear Channel Buys Two in Maine|url=http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-010416.html|access-date=December 14, 2010|newspaper=North East RadioWatch|date=April 16, 2001}}

In 2007, the format was freshened to include more 1980s, 1990s and current songs, while dropping some songs from the 1970s. By the end of 2008, longtime afternoon host Charlie Jefferds left the station and live weekend hosts were eliminated in a cost-cutting measure. In November 2010, mid-day host Tanya Cruise left the station. Citadel merged with Cumulus Media on September 16, 2011.{{cite news|title=Cumulus now owns Citadel Broadcasting|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2011/09/16/cumulus-now-owns-citadel-broadcasting.html|access-date=September 16, 2011|newspaper=Atlanta Business Journal|date=September 16, 2011}} On November 4, 2011, NiteLite host Art Spencer was released after 18 years as the station's evening host, per budget cuts ordered by new owner, Cumulus. Since 2012, the format has become substantially more uptempo, with newer releases added to the playlist.

In December 2013, the new "Heather and Steve" morning show debuted (former host David Jones exited in November 2013), and in February 2014, "Intelligence for Your Life with John Tesh" was added as the syndicated evening program. The morning show became "Heather and Matty" in November 2021 after Steve (Stephen Donovan) had been let go during the summer.{{Cite web|url=https://www.golocalprov.com/business/its-now-the-heather-and-matty-morning-show-on-lite-105|title=It's Now the Heather and Matty Morning Show on Lite 105}}

In October 2014, Lite Rock's "2 Lite Chicks" (Heather Gersten and Amy Pontes) debuted the "Wicked Awesome 80's (sic) Show." It airs on Saturday nights.

In January 2021, WWLI reverted back to being "Lite 105", the branding that was previously used from 1985 to 2001.{{Cite web|url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/203695/wwli-trims-the-rock-from-its-lite-name/|title=WWLI Trims the Rock from Its Lite Name}} The station's branding changes to "The Christmas Station," when it switches to a Christmas music format in November and December.

Notable former personnel include inaugural Rhode Island Radio Hall of Fame member Charlie Jefferds,{{Cite web |url=http://charliejefferds.com/ |title=Charlie Jefferds - Home |access-date=2010-02-18 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120719121638/http://charliejefferds.com/ |archive-date=2012-07-19 |url-status=dead }} former program Director Brian Demay, former program director Tony Bristol, former morning show host David Jones, former Nite Lite host Art Spencer, former morning show host Gary Degraide and former assistant program director Mike Rovin (a.k.a. "JT").

Other personalities heard on the station include Heidi West, Peter Clark, Linda Liese, Tom Holt, Bonnie, Donna Mac, Sue Wilson, Rebecca Morse Whitten (a.k.a. Kim Wakefield), Scott Cook, Lori Sergiacomi (a.k.a. "Tanya Cruise"), Larry Kruger, Rick Cabral (a.k.a. "RJ"), Michael Bernz and Cruisin' Bruce Palmer.

{{Reflist}}

• 1992 Broadcasting Yearbook, page A-306

• {{official website|http://www.lite105.com/}}
• {{FM station data|64838|WWLI}}

{{Providence Radio}}

{{Adult Contemporary Radio Stations in Rhode Island}}

{{Cumulus Media}}

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Category:HD Radio stations

WLI

Category:Mainstream adult contemporary radio stations in the United States

Category:Cumulus Media radio stations

Category:Radio stations established in 1948

Category:1948 establishments in Rhode Island