Editing WALR-FM (section)

===Early years===
On September 1, 1947, the station first [[sign-on|signed on]] as WLAG-FM.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Broadcasting Yearbook 1950 |url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1950/RADIO%20&%20TV%20ALL%20YB%201950%20B&W-11.pdf |access-date=January 28, 2024 |website=americanradiohistory.com}}</ref> Its [[city of license]] was [[LaGrange, Georgia]], about {{convert|40|mi|km|abbr=}} southwest of Atlanta and near the [[Alabama]] border. It was the FM counterpart to [[WLAG]] [[1240 AM]], owned by the LaGrange Broadcasting Company. Both stations [[simulcast]] a [[country music]] format. WLAG-FM's power was 29,500 watts and the antenna height was {{convert|220|ft|m|abbr=}}, so it was not heard in the Atlanta area. The station changed its [[call sign]] to WWCG in 1977 and continued with a country format.

In the early 1980s, the station got a big boost in power. It increased to 100,000 watts, using a tower taller than the [[Empire State Building]], giving it coverage of much of the Atlanta [[media market|radio market]]. It began broadcasting Al Ham's [[radio syndication|syndicated]] "[[Music Of Your Life]]" [[adult standards]] format with call signs WJYF and WJYA-FM, a simulcast partner with [[WFTD (AM)|WJYA (1080 AM)]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Broadcasting Yearbook 1985 |url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1985/B-Radio-All-BC-YB-1985.pdf |access-date=January 28, 2024 |website=americanradiohistory.com}}</ref>

In 1985, it was acquired by Zapis Communications, headed by Lee Zapis. In 1987, he switched the format to [[urban contemporary]] as WEKS, "Urban Kiss 104."

Zapis then sold the station to NewCity Communications in 1989.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1994 |url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1994/B-All-Radio-BC-YB-1994-B&W.pdf |access-date=January 28, 2024 |website=americanradiohistory.com}}</ref> NewCity had a plan to pair two different FM stations surrounding Atlanta to create one facility covering the market. To bring attention to the change, on June 21, WEKS went [[dark (broadcasting)|silent]]. The station signed back on the air on June 28, and began [[stunting (broadcasting)|stunting]] with music played by local celebrities, including then-Atlanta mayor [[Andrew Young]]. Finally, at 3 p.m. on June 30, WEKS switched back to [[country music]] as WYAI ("Y104"), simulcasting with [[WAKL (FM)|WYAY]] FM (Y106.7) on the other side of Atlanta.<ref>L. Eric Elie, "Atlanta FM Station OKs Deal for Another...," ''The Atlanta Journal-Constitution'', March 11, 1989.</ref><ref>Phil Kloer, "Blacks upset about loss of KISS-104," ''The Atlanta Journal-Constitution'', June 28, 1989.</ref> The two stations began competing with long-time Atlanta country leader [[WKHX]].

On January 1, 1994, the simulcast ended, with 104.1 flipping to a [[smooth jazz]] format as "Jazz Flavors 104.1". In addition, the station changed calls to WJZF to match the new branding.<ref>Steve Dollar, "New FM jazz station gives listeners another option," ''The Atlanta Journal-Constitution'', January 6, 1994.</ref><ref name=Vox94>{{cite magazine|title=Vox Jox|last=Stark|first=Phyllis|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=January 15, 1994|volume=106|issue=3|page=64}}</ref>

[[Cox Enterprises]], owner of [[WSB (AM)|WSB]], [[WSB-FM]], [[WSB-TV]] and two newspapers, entered into a [[local marketing agreement]] (LMA) with WJZF.<ref name=Vox94/> Cox tried to buy the station in 1995. However, the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) denied the request when challenged by [[Jacor|Jacor Broadcasting]], even though Cox intended to make changes to the WJZF signal "to avoid cross-ownership conflicts."<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Vox Jox|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=May 20, 1995|volume=107|issue=20|page=100}}</ref>