WVLI

The station began broadcasting September 21, 1986, holding the call sign WLRT.[1][2] The station aired a lite rock format.[2][1] In 1993, the station adopted a country music format and was branded "T93".[6]

In 1998, the station was sold to Big City Radio, which also purchased WCBR-FM in Arlington Heights (also on 92.7) at the same time.[7] When Big City Radio took control of the two stations, they stunted with a simulcast of their Los Angeles sister station 107.1 KLYY, which aired a modern rock format.[8] The station's call sign was changed to WBRO shortly thereafter.[3]

92 Kiss FM logo

On November 14, 1998, at Noon, WBRO and WCBR launched their new format, CHR as "92.7 Kiss FM", with the first song being "Kiss" by Prince.[9][10][11] In late December 1998, the station's call sign was changed to WKIF, while WCBR's call sign was changed to WKIE.[3][12]

Big City Radio also purchased WDEK 92.5 in DeKalb, Illinois, which was airing a locally programmed CHR format at the time, and switched it to a simulcast of WKIF and WKIE in early 1999.[13] Not long after, the moniker was adjusted to "92 Kiss FM".[14] Melissa Forman hosted mornings on 92 Kiss FM, before moving to 93.9 WLIT-FM in 2001.[15][16]

On January 12, 2001, Clear Channel's WUBT changed formats from rhythmic oldies to CHR as WKSC-FM "Kiss 103.5".[17] At that time, Clear Channel filed suit against Big City Radio, alleging the "Kiss FM" branding used by WKIF and its simulcasts violated its national trademark.[17][18] However, Big City Radio had already planned on changing the formats of these stations.[18] On January 26, 2001, 92 Kiss-FM signed off, and the three stations adopted a dance hits format as "Energy 92.7&5".[18][19] The station's airstaff remained intact.[20][21] The new format was designed by 92 Kiss FM's program director, Chris Shebel, who has stated that the dance hits format is something he had dreamed of doing for a long time.[18]

In late 2002, Big City Radio, became insolvent and began the process of selling all of its radio stations.[22] In early 2003, WKIF, WKIE, and WDEK were sold to Spanish Broadcasting System for $22 million.[23] On January 6, 2003, the three stations adopted a Spanish contemporary format as "Onda 92".[24][25][26][27]

In 2004, Spanish Broadcasting System sold WKIF, WKIE, and WDEK to Newsweb Corporation for $28 million.[28][29] WKIF was broken off the simulcast and became a full time affiliate of CNN Headline News,[30][31] while WKIE and WDEK began simulcasting its new adult hits sister station 99.9 WRZA in Park Forest, Illinois as "Nine FM", with the slogan "We Play Anything".[32] In October 2008, the Nine FM simulcast on WKIE, WDEK, and WRZA was replaced with progressive talk, but on December 19, 2008, Nine FM was brought back on WKIF.[31]

In 2012, the station was sold to Milner Broadcasting for $1 million.[33][34][35] In August 2012, WKIF changed their format to oldies, simulcasting WVLI 95.1 FM Kankakee, branded as "The Valley".[36] On December 27, 2012, WVLI 95.1 (now WFAV) dropped the simulcast of 92.7 and made its anticipated switch to CHR simulcasting WFAV 103.7 in Gilman, Illinois.[37] On December 29, 2012, WKIF and WVLI swapped call letters, putting WKIF on 95.1 and WVLI on 92.7.[3][38] In 2018, Milner Broadcasting was sold to the newly formed Milner Media Partners.[39]