Prior to its flip to Rhythmic in 2002, the station was an Oldies outlet. The move was part of a shakeup in the market when sister station WNNK shifted to Adult Top 40 and to counter Rhythmic-leaning Top 40 Mainstream rival upstart WHKF-FM, a move that has paid off for them in terms of ratings. By 2006 WWKL began shifting towards a mainstream CHR direction to compete with WLAN-FM, even though as of 2009 they still report to R&R/Nielsen BDSRhythmic Airplay panel. This kind of direction has also sparked debate from radio message boards about stations that decided to add certain Pop and Dance tracks but stay within the Rhythmic realm.Mediabase still reports the station as contemporary hit radio, and despite them not being contemporary hit radio, they have always been a rhythmic contemporary due to WHKF airing a contemporary hit radio format.