WWKL 106.7 FM: A History of Format Shifts and Branding
The evolution of the 106.7 FM frequency in Pennsylvania is a masterclass in the volatility of the radio industry. From its humble beginnings in the 1960s to its role as a competitive Top 40 powerhouse, the station has undergone numerous identity changes, reflecting broader trends in music consumption and corporate broadcasting strategies.
Early Years and the Rise of Z107
The station first signed on the air on April 13, 1964, operating under the call sign WMSH-FM and based in Elizabethtown. During its early years, it served as a sister station to an AM outlet at 1600 kHz. The station's identity shifted frequently in its first decade, becoming WEPN-FM in 1969 and WPDC-FM in 1971.
A significant turning point occurred in 1980 when the station adopted the call letters WRKZ and launched the "Z107" brand. This era marked a shift to a country music format, accompanied by a power boost and a move of the city of license to Hershey. By 2002, the station rebranded as "Cat Country 106.7" under the call sign WCAT-FM, while the WRKZ call letters moved to 102.3 FM in Carlisle to begin a simulcast.
[ไม่มีภาพประกอบ]The Coolpop Era and Stunting
One of the most memorable periods in the station's history began on February 19, 2004. After more than 24 hours of "stunting"—a radio tactic used to generate buzz by playing a repetitive or strange loop—the station played "Pop Goes the Weasel" continuously. This led to wild rumors, including false claims that a staff member had taken hostages in the studio.
The mystery ended with the launch of WCPP, branded as "Coolpop," a Mainstream CHR (Contemporary Hit Radio) format that debuted with Outkast's "Hey Ya!" Coolpop distinguished itself as "The World's First Coolpop Station," blending current hits with "Cassette Classics" from the 1970s and 1980s. The station also featured themed weekends such as "One Hit Wonders" and "Studio 106.7." While initially relying on voicetracking—pre-recorded segments—from sister station WNTQ in Syracuse, New York, the station eventually hired a full local lineup, including the morning show hosted by Ed Coffey and Amy Warner.
Transitions Through Adult Hits and Gen X
The high-energy Coolpop era ended abruptly on July 1, 2005, when the station flipped to an Adult Hits format branded as Mix 106.7. This was followed by another shift on April 9, 2010, when the station became Channel 106.7, focusing on a "Gen X" format featuring hits from the 1980s and 1990s. During this period of transition, the station's corporate ownership shifted when Citadel Broadcasting merged with Cumulus Media on September 16, 2011.
The Return to Country: Z Country and Nash-FM
Country music returned to the frequency on January 20, 2012, at 1:06 p.m. The Gen X format closed with *NSYNC's "Bye Bye Bye," making way for WZCY-FM, branded as "Z Country 106.7," which launched with Brad Paisley's "This Is Country Music."
This country identity evolved further on February 3, 2014, when WZCY-FM joined nine other Cumulus-owned stations in rebranding as Nash FM 106.7. The transition was marked by the final play of Rascal Flatts' "Prayin' for Daylight" and the debut of Randy Houser's "How Country Feels."
The "HOT 106.7" Era and Market Competition
On March 15, 2018, the station returned to the Top 40 format as HOT 106.7. This was part of a strategic format swap with WWKL "HOT 93.5," which took over the Nash FM country branding. The move was designed to reduce signal overlap with WIOV-FM 105.1 and better compete with iHeartMedia's WHKF in Harrisburg.
This competitive shift triggered a domino effect in the South Central Pennsylvania market. iHeartMedia responded by flipping WHKF to alternative rock and pushing listeners toward WLAN-FM 96.9. Meanwhile, other stations like WQXA shifted from Alternative to Mainstream Rock following the sale of WTPA-FM to the Educational Media Foundation, which flipped it to the Christian network "K-Love." In April 2024, HOT 106.7 evolved its sound from Top 40/CHR to rhythmic contemporary.
Sale to Family Life Ministries and Future Move
The era of commercial rhythmic hits on 106.7 FM is coming to an end. On June 30, 2026, Cumulus Media announced the sale of WWKL and WLLF (Youngstown, Ohio) to Family Life Ministries for $2.25 million. The buyers intend to integrate the station into the Christian AC-formatted Family Life Network.
To preserve the brand, Cumulus began promoting the move of "HOT 106.7" to translator W243BR (96.5 FM) in Harrisburg on July 23, 2026. This new signal is fed by the HD2 subchannel of 93.5 WTPA-FM, marking the fourth different frequency to host the HOT brand in the Harrisburg market.
Key Facts
- Original Sign-on: April 13, 1964, as WMSH-FM.
- Notable Stunt: Played "Pop Goes the Weasel" on a loop for 24+ hours before launching Coolpop in 2004.
- Corporate Ownership: Transitioned from Citadel Broadcasting to Cumulus Media in 2011.
- Sale Price: Sold to Family Life Ministries in 2026 for $2.25 million.
- Frequency Migration: The "HOT" brand has occupied 92.1, 93.5, 106.7, and finally 96.5 FM.
| Year/Period | Branding | Format |
|---|---|---|
| 1964–1980 | WMSH / WEPN / WPDC | Various |
| 1980–2002 | Z107 / Cat Country | Country |
| 2004–2005 | Coolpop | Mainstream CHR |
| 2005–2010 | Mix 106.7 | Adult Hits |
| 2010–2012 | Channel 106.7 | Gen X (80s/90s Hits) |
| 2012–2018 | Z Country / Nash FM | Country |
| 2018–2026 | HOT 106.7 | Top 40 / Rhythmic Contemporary |
| 2026+ | Family Life Network | Christian AC |
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the "Pop Goes the Weasel" incident?
In February 2004, the station played the song "Pop Goes the Weasel" on a continuous loop for over 24 hours as a "stunt" to generate interest before launching the Coolpop Top 40 format. This led to false rumors of a hostage situation in the studio.
Why did the station switch from Nash FM back to HOT 106.7?
The switch in 2018 was a strategic format swap intended to reduce signal overlap with co-owned country station WIOV-FM 105.1 and to use the stronger 106.7 signal to better compete with iHeartMedia's Top 40 offerings in Harrisburg.
Who purchased WWKL in 2026?
Cumulus Media sold WWKL and WLLF to Family Life Ministries for $2.25 million, resulting in the station switching to a Christian AC format.
Where can listeners find "HOT 106.7" after the sale?
The HOT branding moved to translator W243BR at 96.5 FM in Harrisburg, which is fed by the HD2 subchannel of 93.5 WTPA-FM.
What is a "voicetracked" DJ?
Voicetracking refers to the process where a disc jockey pre-records their segments and announcements, which are then inserted into the broadcast stream, rather than performing live in the studio.