Editing WLS (AM)

{{for|the Philippine radio station|DWLS}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name                 = WLS
| city                 = [[Chicago, Illinois]]
| country              = US
| logo                 = WLS AM 890 logo.svg
| logo_upright         = .9
| area                 = {{ubl|[[Chicago metropolitan area]]}}
| frequency            = {{frequency|890|[[kHz]]}}
| branding             = 89 WLS
| language             = [[American English|English]]
| format               = [[Talk radio]]
| affiliations         = {{ubl|[[ABC News Radio]]|[[The Weather Channel]]|[[Westwood One]]|[[Motor Racing Network]]|[[WLS-TV]] Chicago (news partnership)}}
| owner                = [[Cumulus Media]]
| licensee             = Radio License Holdings LLC
| sister_stations      = {{hlist|[[WKQX]]|[[WLS-FM]]}}
| airdate              = {{start date and age|1924|4|11|p=y|br=yes}}
| former_callsigns     = {{ubl|WES (1924)}}<ref name="wls20"/>
| former_frequencies   = {{ubl|670 kHz (1924)<ref name="wls20"/><ref name="nyt-19240601"/><ref name="n0nnk"/>|870 kHz<ref name="wls20"/><ref name="nyt-19240601">{{cite news | url = http://www.wlshistory.com/WLS20/ | title = New Radiotelephone Stations Operating in Chicago | work = The New York Times | date = June 1, 1924 | access-date = July 30, 2010 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100119005933/http://www.wlshistory.com/WLS20/ | archive-date = January 19, 2010 | df = mdy-all }}</ref> (1924–1941)<ref name="HistoryCards">[https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=81917 History Cards for WLS], fcc.gov. Retrieved August 24, 2018.</ref>}}
| callsign_meaning     = Founded by [[Sears]], the "World's Largest Store"
| licensing_authority  = [[FCC]]
| facility_id          = 73227
| class                = A
| power                = {{val|50000|u=watts|fmt=commas}}
| coordinates          = {{coord|41|33|21.12|N|87|50|54.19|W|type:landmark_region:US-IL_source:FCC|display=inline,title}}
| repeater             = {{Radio Relay|94.7|[[WLS-FM HD2]]|Chicago}}
| webcast              = {{iHeartRadio|5366}}
| website              = {{URL|https://www.wlsam.com/}}
}}
'''WLS''' (890 [[kHz]]) is a commercial [[AM broadcasting|AM]] radio station in [[Chicago, Illinois]]. Owned by [[Cumulus Media]], through licensee Radio License Holdings LLC, the station airs a [[talk radio]] format. WLS studios are in the [[NBC Tower]] on North Columbus Drive in the city's [[Streeterville]] neighborhood. The station's programming is also available in the [[Chicago metropolitan area]] via a [[simulcast]] on the HD2 [[digital subchannel]] of [[sister station]] [[WLS-FM]]. The station formerly broadcast in [[C-QUAM]] [[AM stereo]].<ref>{{cite web|title=AM Stereo Stations: United States of America|url=http://www.amstereo.org/usa.htm|website=amstereo.org|date=September 3, 2008}}</ref>

Its transmitter site is located on the southwestern edge of [[Tinley Park, Illinois]] in Will County.<ref name="n0nnk">{{cite web|url=http://community-2.webtv.net/%40HH%21AB%21A2%21A541EBE39068/N0NNK/WLS890/ |title=WLS/890 and Larry Lujack |date=November 24, 2004 |access-date=July 30, 2010 |author=pmg / NzeroNNK |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080712143216/http://community-2.webtv.net/%40HH%21AB%21A2%21A541EBE39068/N0NNK/WLS890/ |archive-date=July 12, 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.radioworld.com/default.aspx?tabid=75&entryid=971 |title=A Celebration for the WLS Tower |last1=Moss |first1=Brett |date=November 14, 2013 |website=radioworld.com |access-date=May 30, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303230301/http://www.radioworld.com/default.aspx?tabid=75&entryid=971 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 }}</ref> WLS is a [[List of broadcast station classes|Class A]] station broadcasting on the [[clear-channel station|clear-channel frequency]] of 890&nbsp;kHz with 50,000 watts, using a [[omnidirectional antenna|non-directional]] antenna fed by a Nautel NX-50 [[transmitter]], with a Harris DX-50 serving as a backup transmitter. Both transmitters run in MDCL (Modulation Dependent Carrier Level) mode to improve efficiency. The station's daytime [[Radio propagation#Surface modes (groundwave)|groundwave]] service contour covers portions of five states.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://publicfiles.fcc.gov/am-profile/wls/contour-maps/ |title=  0.5 mV/m Daytime Groundwave Service Contour [WLS, 890 kHz, Chicago, IL] |website=fcc.gov |publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]] |access-date=October 20, 2021}}</ref>  At night, its signal routinely reaches 38 states via [[skywave]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Childers |first=Scott |date=2008 |title=Chicago's WLS Radio |location=Charleston, South Carolina |publisher=Arcadia |page=83 |isbn=9780738561943}}</ref>

WLS participates as an [[Emergency Alert System]] primary entry point, serving northern Illinois and western [[Indiana]].

== Programming ==
Weekdays on WLS, two local talk show hosts are heard: Steve Cochran is in morning [[drive time]]. And Brett Gogoel hosts an hour on the markets and an hour on local news topics in late afternoons.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.insideradio.com/free/money-and-local-news-are-focus-of-new-one-hour-afternoon-shows-on-wls-am/article_838ef5d2-63c2-11ee-8474-17769903207e.html|title=Money And Local News Are Focus Of New One-Hour Afternoon Shows On WLS-AM.|date=October 5, 2023|website=Insideradio.com}}</ref>  The rest of the weekday schedule is [[radio syndication|nationally syndicated]] [[conservative talk]] shows from co-owned [[Westwood One]]:  ''[[Chris Plante|The Chris Plante Show]], The Vince (Coglianese) Show, [[The Ben Shapiro Show]], [[The Mark Levin Show]], [[The Michael Knowles Show]], [[Red Eye Radio]]'' and ''[[America in the Morning]]''. These shows are generally outside the viewpoints enjoyed by residents of the city of Chicago.

Weekends feature shows on money, health, real estate, technology, travel and cars. Syndicated weekend programs include ''[[The Kim Komando Show]]'' and ''[[The Larry Kudlow Show]]'', as well as repeats of weekday shows. Some weekend hours are paid [[brokered programming]]. Most hours on nights and weekends begin with an update from [[ABC News Radio]].

==History==
===Summary===
Founded in 1924 by [[Sears, Roebuck and Company]]—with the [[call sign]] an abbreviation for Sears' "World's Largest Store" slogan—WLS spent its early years as the radio outlet of the ''[[Prairie Farmer]]'' magazine. From 1928 until 1954, WLS shared their assigned frequency and overall broadcast operations with [[Blue Network]]-owned [[WENR (Chicago)|WENR]] until the Blue Network's successor, the [[American Broadcasting Company]], merged WENR into WLS and eventually purchased it outright. The station's [[contemporary hit radio]] era from 1960 until 1989 saw WLS at a creative and ratings pinnacle headlined by personalities [[Dick Biondi]], [[Larry Lujack]], [[John Records Landecker]] and [[Bob Sirott]]. Since 1989, WLS has been a full-time talk radio outlet.

===Establishment by Sears===
In the 1920s, [[Sears, Roebuck and Company]] was a major retail and [[mail order]] company. To get farmers and people in rural communities to buy radio sets from its catalogs, Sears initially bought time on radio stations. It later decided to establish its own station.<ref name="wls20" /> Just before the permanent station was ready, Sears began broadcasts on March 21, 1924, as WBBX with noon programs using the [[WSCR|WMAQ]] studios.<ref name="wls20">{{cite web | url = http://www.wlshistory.com/WLS20/ | title = The Beginning | work = The History of WLS Radio | publisher = Scott Childers | date = March 2, 2010 | access-date = July 30, 2010 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100119005933/http://www.wlshistory.com/WLS20/ | archive-date = January 19, 2010 | df = mdy-all }}</ref>

Sears broadcast test transmissions from its own studios on April 9, 10 and 11, 1924, using the [[call sign]] WES (for "World's Economy Store").<ref name="wls20" /> Sears originally operated its station at the [[Sears, Roebuck and Company Complex|company's corporate headquarters]] on Chicago's West Side, which is also where the company's mail order business was located.<ref name="wls20" /> On April 12, 1924, the station commenced officially, using the call letters WLS (for "World's Largest Store"), and broadcasting from its new studios in the [[Sherman House Hotel]] in downtown Chicago.<ref name="wls20" /><ref>"[http://www.talkers.com/tag/co-host/ WLS, Chicago Celebrates 89th Anniversary with Special Event]", ''[[Talkers Magazine]]''. April 12, 2013. Retrieved August 24, 2018.</ref> The station's transmitter was originally located outside [[Crete, Illinois]].<ref name="wls20" /><ref name="HistoryCards" /> On April 19, the station aired its first ''[[National Barn Dance]]''.<ref name="wls20" /> [[Harriet Lee (singer)|Harriet Lee]] was a WLS staff singer as part of the ''Harmony Team'' in the late 1920s.<ref>{{cite news|title=Gifted Blonde Belle Real Air Veteran|newspaper=[[Pottsville Republican]]|date=May 29, 1930|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/62933675/pottsville-republican-52930/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}{{open access}}</ref> The popular [[contralto]] singer also played "Aunt May" on the ''Children's Hour'' show.

The station shared time on the frequency with [[WCPT (AM)|WCBD]] until the November 11, 1928, implementation of the [[Federal Radio Commission]]'s [[General Order 40]], at which point WLS began sharing time as a "clear channel" station with [[WENR (Chicago)|WENR]].<ref name="CoC">Hearings Before the [[United States Senate Committee on Interstate Commerce]]. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=dIHNAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA127 Commission on Communications]''. [[United States Government Publishing Office|United States Government Print Office]]. May 8, 1929. p. 126-129. Retrieved August 24, 2018.</ref>

===Prairie Farmer ownership===
[[File:Prairie Farmer Building, Chicago, IL.jpg|thumb|The Prairie Farmer Building, home to WLS's studios from 1930 to 1960.]]
Sears opened the station in 1924 as a service to farmers and subsequently sold it to the ''[[Prairie Farmer]]'' magazine in 1928.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.wlshistory.com/WLS30/ | title = The Prairie Farmer Days | work = The History of WLS Radio | publisher = Scott Childers | date = May 6, 2010 | access-date = July 30, 2010 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100804071114/http://www.wlshistory.com/WLS30/ | archive-date = August 4, 2010 | df = mdy-all }}</ref><ref name="HistoryCards" /> The station moved to the Prairie Farmer Building on West Washington in Chicago, where it remained for 32 years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.richsamuels.com/nbcmm/wls/studios/index.html |title=A look at the floor plan for the WLS studios in the Prairie Farmer Building-Studio A and its control room are still intact today |publisher=Richsamuels.com |date=February 23, 1967 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110911114453/http://www.richsamuels.com/nbcmm/wls/studios/index.html |archive-date=September 11, 2011 }}</ref> For a few months after ABC's 1960 purchase of it and the format change, the "bright new sound" that began in May 1960 was broadcast from the Prairie Farmer Building. WLS didn't make the move to downtown Michigan Avenue's [[London Guarantee Building|Stone Container Building]], located at 360 North Michigan Avenue, until October of that year.<ref name="WLS60" /> Thirty years later, it would move once more, to the studios of its then-sister station [[WLS-TV]] at 190 North State Street.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.wlshistory.com/WLS90/ | title = WLS Talkradio 89: The Talk of Chicago | work = The History of WLS Radio | publisher = Scott Childers | date = March 2, 2010 | access-date = July 30, 2010 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100925001409/http://www.wlshistory.com/WLS90/ | archive-date = September 25, 2010 | df = mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fybush.com/sites/2004/site-041001.html |title=WLS move to 190 North State-1990 |publisher=Fybush.com |access-date=November 13, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111019184353/http://www.fybush.com/sites/2004/site-041001.html |archive-date=October 19, 2011 }}</ref> It was the scene of the ''National Barn Dance'', which featured [[Gene Autry]], [[Pat Buttram]], and [[George Gobel]], and which was second only to the ''[[Grand Ole Opry]]'' (itself a local ''National Barn Dance'' spinoff) in presenting [[country music]] and humor.<ref name="WLS">{{Citation | editor-last = Childers | editor-first = Scott | title = Chicago's WLS Radio | year = 2008 | pages = 11–59 | publisher = Arcadia Publishing | isbn =9780738561943 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wlshistory.com/NBD/ |title=WLS History-National Barn Dance |publisher=Wlshistory.com |date=April 19, 1924 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111112103519/http://www.wlshistory.com/NBD/ |archive-date=November 12, 2011 }}</ref>

The station also experimented successfully in many forms of news broadcasting, including weather and crop reports. Its most famous news broadcast was the eyewitness report of the [[Hindenburg disaster]] by [[Herbert Morrison (announcer)|Herbert Morrison]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wlshistory.com/audio/morrison-hindenburg.mp3 |title=audio file of Herbert Morrison's account of the Hindenburg Disaster for WLS |access-date=November 13, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927051418/http://www.wlshistory.com/audio/morrison-hindenburg.mp3 |archive-date=September 27, 2011 }}</ref> Morrison and engineer Charles Nehlsen had been sent to [[New Jersey]] by WLS to cover the arrival of the Hindenburg for delayed broadcast. Their recordings aired the next day on May 7, 1937,<ref>{{cite book |last=Childers |first=Scott |date=2008 |title=Chicago's WLS Radio (Images of America: Illinois) |location=Charleston, SC |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |page=40 |isbn=9780738561943}}</ref> the first time that recordings of a news event were ever broadcast.

In the fall of 1937, the station was one of several Chicago radio stations to donate airtime to [[Chicago Public Schools]] for [[Distance education in Chicago Public Schools in 1937|a pioneering program]] in which the school district provided elementary school students with [[distance education]] amid a [[polio]] outbreak-related school closure.<ref name="washingtonpost.com">{{cite news |last1=Strauss |first1=Valerie |last2=Hines |first2=Michael |title=Perspective {{!}} In Chicago, schools closed during a 1937 polio epidemic and kids learned from home – over the radio |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/04/03/chicago-schools-closed-during-1937-polio-epidemic-kids-learned-home-over-radio/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=August 16, 2021}}</ref>

===Blue Network affiliation===
[[File:WLS (AM) transmitter building.jpg|thumb|WLS's transmitter building in Tinley Park]]
Starting in the 1930s, WLS was an affiliate of the [[Blue Network]] of the National Broadcasting Company ([[NBC]]),<ref name="BCYearbook1935">''[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1935/Stations-by-State-Broadcasting%20Yearbook%201935%20Complete.pdf Broadcasting 1935 Yearbook]'', [[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]]. 1935. p. 29. Retrieved August 20, 2018.</ref> and as such aired the popular ''[[Fibber McGee and Molly]]'' and ''[[Lum and Abner]]'' comedy programs (both produced at the studios of Chicago's NBC-owned stations, WENR and WMAQ) during their early years. When the [[Federal Communications Commission]] forced NBC to sell the Blue Network, WLS maintained its affiliation with the network under its new identity, the American Broadcasting Company (ABC).<ref name="BCYearbook1946">''[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1946/Radio-by-state-BC-YB-1946.pdf Broadcasting 1946 Yearbook]'', [[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]]. 1946. p. 98. Retrieved August 25, 2018.</ref> Under this affiliation, some programs from the network that were not commercially sponsored or which were scheduled to cross the time that WLS and WENR shifted its use of the same frequency (such as baseball or football games) were transferred to air on a third Blue Network/ABC affiliate in Chicago, [[WCFL (AM)|WCFL]]. Blue/ABC network broadcasts of addresses by labor leaders were also shifted away from WLS and WENR to WCFL, which was owned at the time by the [[Chicago Federation of Labor]].

In 1931, the station's power was increased from 5,000 watts to 50,000 watts, and the station began sharing the transmitter of WENR near [[Downers Grove, Illinois]].<ref name="HistoryCards" /><ref>"[http://www.richsamuels.com/nbcmm/wenr/wenrnbc.html NBC Acquires WENR]", Richsamuels.com. Retrieved August 25, 2018.</ref> In 1938, the station's transmitter was moved to Tinley Park, Illinois.<ref name="HistoryCards" />
Changes were made regarding AM frequencies in 1941 as a result of the [[North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement]] (NARBA); this moved WENR and WLS from 870 to 890&nbsp;kHz.<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://archive.org/stream/radiovarieties34unse#page/n161/mode/2up|title=After March 29 WLS Changes to a New Place on Your Radio Dial|journal=Radio Varieties|date=March 1941|author=WLS Radio|access-date=January 14, 2017}}</ref>

[[File:WLS Moving Day advertisement (1941).jpg|thumb|On March 29, 1941, WLS and WENR moved from 870 to 890 kHz, as part of the regional NARBA reassignments<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/broadcasting20unse#page/n707/mode/1up/ "WLS Chicago"] (advertisement), ''Broadcasting'' March 24, 1941, page 2.</ref>]]
[[File:WLS Chicago radio station advertisement (1954).gif|thumb|In 1954, WLS became a fulltime station, after the deletion of WENR.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/broadcastingtele46unse_0/page/n44/mode/1up WLS (advertisement)], ''Broadcasting'', April 5, 1954, page 39.</ref>]]

===ABC ownership===
WENR and WLS shared their common frequency on a time-sharing arrangement until 1954, when ABC (then known as American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres) bought a 50 percent interest in WLS and combined the stations under the WLS call sign.<ref name="wls20" /><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/broadcastingtele46unse/page/n649/mode/1up|title=WLS, WENR Chicago Merge – Now WLS|magazine=Broadcasting – Telecasting|date=February 8, 1954|page=52|access-date=June 22, 2024}}</ref>
In November 1959, ABC announced its purchase of ''Prairie Farmer'' and its half of WLS, giving ABC full ownership of the station.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1959/1959-11-23-BC.pdf|title=AB-PT Buys Rest of WLS; Purchases Prairie Farmer Publishing Empire|magazine=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]]|date=November 23, 1959|page=76|access-date=August 24, 2018}}</ref>

===Musicradio era===
[[File:WLS Silver Beatle Survey.jpg|thumb|WLS weekly Silver Dollar Survey, distributed free via record stores, was retitled Silver Beatle Survey during the height of Beatlemania]]
On May 2, 1960, at 6&nbsp;am, WLS went with a full-time [[Top 40]] format.<ref>[[Zorn, Eric]]. "[https://www.chicagotribune.com/1985/04/11/old-discs-jocks-dusted-off-in-honor-of-oldies/ Old Discs, Jocks Dusted Off In Honor Of Oldies]", ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''. April 11, 1985. Retrieved August 19, 2018.</ref><ref name="Scrapbook">{{cite web |url=http://rockradioscrapbook.ca/changes.html |title=Rock Radio Scrapbook-Changes |publisher=Rockradioscrapbook.ca |access-date=November 13, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928183522/http://rockradioscrapbook.ca/changes.html |archive-date=September 28, 2011 }}</ref> Mort Crowley was the first disc jockey under the new format, and the first song played was "[[Alley Oop (song)|Alley-Oop]]" by [[The Hollywood Argyles]], four weeks before it debuted on the Hot 100.<ref name="Scrapbook" /><ref>[https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1960-05-30 The Hot 100 for the week of May 30, 1960], ''Billboard''.com. Retrieved August 19, 2018.</ref> The station's [[jingle]]s were sung by the [[Anita Kerr Singers]].<ref name="BB5560" /><ref name="WLS60" />

Ralph Beaudin was the station's president and general manager, and oversaw the station's transformation into a Top 40 station.<ref name="WLS60">Childers, Scott."[http://www.wlshistory.com/WLS60/ WLS The Bright Sound of Chicago Radio]", ''The History of WLS Radio''. Retrieved August 20, 2018.</ref><ref name="BB5560">{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vh8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA11 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|title=Chi's WLS Launches New Program Format|date=May 9, 1960 |access-date=August 20, 2018|page=11 }}</ref><ref name="WLS50th">Childers, Scott."[http://www.wlshistory.com/6050/ WLS' 50th Anniversary of Rock 'n Roll]", ''The History of WLS Radio''. Retrieved August 20, 2018.</ref> Sam Holman was the station's program director and an afternoon DJ.<ref name="WLS60" /><ref name="WLS50th" /> Beaudin and Holman were both brought in from [[KQV]] in [[Pittsburgh]], Pennsylvania.<ref name="BB5560" /><ref name="WLS50th" /> Ed Grennan, an announcer on the station since 1959, was retained as a DJ under the new format.<ref name="WLS60" /><ref>McCann, Tom. "[https://www.chicagotribune.com/2000/08/26/ed-grennan-fixture-of-chicago-radio-tv/ Ed Grennan, Fixture Of Chicago Radio, TV]", ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''. August 26, 2000. Retrieved August 20, 2018.</ref><ref name="BB5560" /><ref>Childers, Scott."[http://www.wlshistory.com/jox/edgrennan.htm Ed Grennan 1922-2000]", ''The History of WLS Radio''. Retrieved August 20, 2018.</ref> Star disc jockey [[Dick Biondi]], a 1998 inductee into the [[National Radio Hall of Fame]], was brought in from [[WDCZ|WEBR]] in [[Buffalo, New York]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.museum.tv/rhofsection.php?page=173 |title=Chicago Museum of Broadcasting History-Dick Biondi Hall of Fame Induction 1998 |publisher=Museum.tv |access-date=November 13, 2011 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604015801/http://www.museum.tv/rhofsection.php?page=173 |archive-date=June 4, 2011 }}</ref><ref name="MRPop">{{cite web|url=http://www.mrpopculture.com/files/May%205%2C%201960.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809162757/http://www.mrpopculture.com/files/May%205%2C%201960.pdf |title=This Week In...May 5, 1960|work=Mr. Pop History|archive-date=August 9, 2011|access-date=August 20, 2018}}</ref><ref name="BB5560" /> Biondi remained on the station until 1963.<ref name="Biro">Biro, Nick. "[https://books.google.com/books?id=aQsEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA4 Biondi Out in Chi, Mulls Other Offers]", ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''. June 1, 1963. pp. 4, 46. Retrieved August 20, 2018.</ref> Other DJs who were brought in for the station's new format included Bob Hale from [[WIRL]] in [[Peoria, Illinois]], Gene Taylor from [[WOKY]] in [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin]], Mort Crowley from [[WADO]] in New York City, and [[Jim Dunbar]] from [[WODT|WDSU]] in [[New Orleans]], Louisiana.<ref name="BB5560" /><ref name="MRPop" />

In October 1960, Art Roberts joined the station as a DJ, having previously worked at [[WWKB|WKBW]] in [[Buffalo, New York]].<ref>Bundy, June. "[https://books.google.com/books?id=MiAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA23 Vox Jox]", ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''. October 17, 1960. p. 23. Retrieved August 20, 2018.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://artroberts.com/ |title=Art Roberts' website |publisher=Artroberts.com |access-date=November 13, 2011 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110128080619/http://artroberts.com/ |archive-date=January 28, 2011 }}</ref> [[Clark Weber]] joined the station as a DJ, remaining with the station until 1969.<ref>Nidetz, Steve. "[https://www.chicagotribune.com/1994/11/13/sunday-mass-looking-again-for-a-tv-station/ Sunday `Mass' Looking Again For A Tv Station]", ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''. November 13, 1994. Retrieved August 19, 2018.</ref> In 1963, Ron "Ringo" Riley joined the station as a DJ, having previously worked at [[WHK (AM)|WHK]] in [[Cleveland]], Ohio.<ref name="WLS60" /><ref name="Biro" /><ref name="Schedule6090" /> Dex Card joined the station in 1964, and hosted the Silver Dollar Survey countdown until 1967, the longest of the show's hosts.<ref name="SDS">Childers, Scott."[http://www.wlshistory.com/WLS60/SDS.htm The WLS Survey]", ''The History of WLS Radio''. Retrieved August 20, 2018.</ref> In 1967, [[Larry Lujack]] joined WLS as a DJ, four months after he had started at the station's top competitor WCFL.<ref name="WLS60" /><ref name="Lujack">{{cite web|url=http://www.radiohof.org/discjockey/larrylujack.html |title=Larry Lujack-Radio Hall of Fame-Inducted 2004 |publisher=Radiohof.org |year=2004 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050113095210/http://www.radiohof.org/discjockey/larrylujack.html |archive-date=January 13, 2005 }}</ref> Lujack returned to WCFL in 1972, but rejoined WLS in 1976, remaining with the station until 1987.<ref name="RockofChicago" /><ref name="Lujack" /> In 1968, a mid-twenty-something Chuck Buell was recruited as the youngest on-air radio personality for a major market contemporary hit music station to date to host the early evening 6&nbsp;p.m. to 10&nbsp;p.m. show. An equally young Kris Eric Stevens soon followed a few months later to follow for the 10&nbsp;p.m. to 2&nbsp;a.m. show. In 1972, [[John Records Landecker]] joined WLS, remaining with the station until 1981.<ref>Kening, Dan. "[https://www.chicagotribune.com/1994/01/11/big-89-star-john-landecker-back-on-the-air-at-wjmk/ `Big 89' Star John Landecker Back On The Air At WJMK]", ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''. January 11, 1994. Retrieved August 22, 2018.</ref><ref>[[Feder, Robert]] "[https://www.robertfeder.com/2015/07/27/legendary-dj-landecker-quits-wls-fm/ Legendary DJ Landecker quits WLS FM]", ''Robert Feder''. Retrieved August 22, 2018.</ref> Landecker returned to WLS in 1986, and remained with the station until its format was changed in 1989.<ref>Freeman, Kim. "[https://books.google.com/books?id=XyQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT25 Vox Jox]", ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''. March 22, 1986. p. 26. Retrieved February 4, 2019.</ref><ref name="RockofChicago" /><ref name="Schedule6090" /><ref>"[https://www.allaccess.com/top40-mainstream/10-questions/archive/15830/10-questions-with-john-records-landecker 10 Questions with ... John Records Landecker]", ''All Access Music Group''. March 19, 2013. Retrieved August 22, 2018.</ref> [[Tommy Edwards (announcer)|Tommy Edwards]] joined the station as production director in 1972, becoming program director one year later, and later becoming a mid-day DJ.<ref name="WLS70">Childers, Scott."[http://www.wlshistory.com/WLS70/ WLS Musicradio]", ''The History of WLS Radio''. Retrieved August 23, 2018.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.edisonresearch.com/home/archives/2003/10/first_look_wrll.php |last=Ross |first=Sean|title=First Look: WRLL Chicago — An Interview with Tommy Edwards|publisher=Edison Research |access-date=August 20, 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061028134213/http://www.edisonresearch.com/home/archives/2003/10/first_look_wrll.php |archive-date=October 28, 2006 }}</ref><ref name="Schedule6090" /><ref>[[Feder, Robert]]. "[https://www.robertfeder.com/2014/09/05/tommy-edwards-signing-off-on-a-legendary-career/ Tommy Edwards signing off on a legendary career]", ''Robert Feder''. September 5, 2014. Retrieved August 23, 2018.</ref> [[Bob Sirott]] joined WLS in June 1973, remaining with the station until December 1979.<ref>"[http://www.wlsam.com/2017/06/09/bob-sirotts-first-broadcast-on-wls-from-june-8-1973-chicago-ribfest-the-bannos-brothers-plus-more-60917/ Bob Sirott's first broadcast on WLS from June 8, 1973, Chicago Ribfest, the Bannos Brothers, plus more!]", WLS. June 9, 2017. Retrieved August 23, 2018.</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Childers |first=Scott |date=2008 |title=Chicago's WLS Radio |location=Charleston, South Carolina |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |page=94 |isbn=9780738561943}}</ref>

Other DJs on WLS during its top 40 era included Joel Sebastian, Gary Gears, J. J. Jefferies, Jerry Kay, Yvonne Daniels,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://radiohof.org/discjockey/ydaniels.html|title=Yvonne Daniels, Radio Hall of Fame |publisher=Radio Hall of Fame |access-date=June 10, 2010 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090315225432/http://radiohof.org/discjockey/ydaniels.html |archive-date=March 15, 2009 }}</ref> [[Brant Miller]], [[Tom Kent]],<ref name="RockofChicago" /> [[Steve King (radio)|Steve King]], Jeff Davis, and Fred Winston.<ref name="WLS60" /><ref name="Schedule6090" /> Some of the production directors responsible for the sound of WLS were Ray Van Steen, Hal Widsten, Jim Hampton, Bill Price and Tommy Edwards.

In the 1960s, WLS was a major force in introducing new music and recording artists. The first US airplay of a record by [[The Beatles]] ("[[Please Please Me (song)|Please Please Me]]") was on Dick Biondi's show on February 8, 1963.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dgsEAAAAMBAJ&q=dick+biondi+cincinnati&pg=PA4 |title=Billboard February 23, 1963 Most Disc Execs Swear By (not at) Chi's Dick Biondi-pages 4 and 8 |date=February 23, 1963 |access-date=November 13, 2011}}</ref><ref name="Invasion">{{Citation | editor-last = Miles | editor-first = Barry | title = The British Invasion: The Music, the Times, the Era | year = 2009 | page = 55 | publisher = Sterling | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=r8xbaIlrUREC&q=biondi+beatles&pg=PA55 | isbn = 978-1-4027-6976-4 | access-date =April 27, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://forgottenhits.com/who_played_the_very_first_beatles_record_in_america|title=Who played the first Beatles record in America?|publisher=Forgotten hits|access-date=April 27, 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100425081910/http://www.forgottenhits.com/who_played_the_very_first_beatles_record_in_america|archive-date=April 25, 2010}}</ref>

WLS was voted by broadcasters nationally as "Radio Station of the Year" in 1967, 1968 and 1969. John Rook was named "Program Director of the Year" in 1968 and 1969 as WLS was estimated attracting 4.2&nbsp;million listeners weekly by Pulse research.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.johnrook.com/johnrookthebig89WLS.htm |title=The big 89-WLS from "Passing Thru" by John Rook |publisher=Johnrook.com |access-date=November 13, 2011 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101119010406/http://www.johnrook.com/johnrookthebig89WLS.htm |archive-date=November 19, 2010 }}</ref>
[[File:WLS Radio Disk Jockeys 1972.JPG|thumb|200px|WLS disk jockeys at a Frisbee promotion, 1972. From left: Bill Bailey, Chuck Knapp, Charlie Van Dyke, Fred Winston and John Records Landecker.]]

WLS also produced the weekly Silver Dollar Survey<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oldiesloon.com/il/wlsyear.htm|title=WLS Surveys|access-date=July 7, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719053523/http://www.oldiesloon.com/il/wlsyear.htm|archive-date=July 19, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://las-solanas.com/arsa/surveys.php?lidx=0&lttl=724&lcnt=20&srt1=chartweek&srt2=tsc_psv%20DESC&vqry=wls|title=ARSA Survey Search: WLS (starting with the first survey, on October 14, 1960 survey)|access-date=April 30, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308144929/http://las-solanas.com/arsa/surveys.php?lcnt=20&lidx=0&lttl=724&srt1=chartweek&srt2=tsc_psv%20desc&vqry=wls|archive-date=March 8, 2016}}</ref> from October 14, 1960, to December 22, 1967, broken by the Silver Beatle Survey on February 21, 1964, and the Super Summer Survey from May 5, 1967, to August 25, 1967. The survey nominally contained 40 current song listings, except for occasional weeks when it contained fewer current listings, usually 20, plus a special listing of some of the greatest oldies. From September 18, 1964, through December 25, 1964, the survey consisted of the top 30 pop hits, followed by the top 10 R&B hits. Thereafter, the survey changed its name numerous times (89 WLS Hit Parade, 89 WLS Chicagoland Hit Parade, WLS Musicradio 89, etc.).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://user.pa.net/~ejjeff/wlssurv.html|title=Jeff Roteman's WLS Website – WLS Survey Page|access-date=March 12, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100721030759/http://user.pa.net/~ejjeff/wlssurv.html|archive-date=July 21, 2010}}</ref> Starting with the July 20, 1970, survey, the number of listings dropped from 40 to 30, then varying from 25 to 40 starting June 26, 1972, then dropping to 15 by March 9, 1974, then increasing to a high of 45 by the end of 1975. No "take home" surveys were printed from March 13, 1972, through July 16, 1973 (these were limited to one poster-size weekly survey displayed at record shops).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wlshistory.com/new/surveylistings.htm|title=List of WLS Surveys 1971 through 1986|access-date=March 12, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120505152333/http://www.wlshistory.com/new/surveylistings.htm|archive-date=May 5, 2012}}</ref> The year-end listing was the 20 greatest hits of the year for each year from 1963 through 1966, increased to 89 from 1967 onward.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wlshistory.com/big89/|title=The WLS Big 89 Countdown!|access-date=March 12, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305061831/http://www.wlshistory.com/big89/|archive-date=March 5, 2012}}</ref>

[[File:WLS 1975 logo.png|200px|thumb|WLS 1975 logo]]
Like many AM radio stations of the seventies, WLS edited many of the songs they played into a more "radio-friendly" or "radio edit" (a term still used today) format, usually 3–4 minutes in length. Other special editions of some Top 40 songs exclusively made for their broadcasting were done by the musicians themselves or sometimes by the WLS audio engineers. An example of these included [[Reunion (band)|Reunion]]'s 1974 song "[[Life Is a Rock (But the Radio Rolled Me)]]". Reunion changed the song's lyrics from "Life is a rock but the radio rolled me" to "Life is a rock/WLS rolled me".<ref name="LifeisaRock">"[http://chicagoradioandmedia.com/multimedia/audio/3149-life-is-a-rock-wcfl-a-wls-versions 'Life Is A Rock' – WCFL & WLS Versions]", ''Chicagoland Radio and Media''. March 7, 2013. Retrieved August 19, 2018.</ref> A similar version was made for competitor [[WCFL (AM)|WCFL]].<ref name="LifeisaRock" /> Another "WLS-only" version was a combination of [[Captain and Tennille]]'s "[[Love Will Keep Us Together]]" and "Por Amor Viviremos", which featured alternating English and Spanish vocals.<ref>"[https://www.metv.com/stories/captain-tennille-scored-the-song-of-the-summer-40-years-ago Captain & Tennille scored the song of the summer 40 years ago]", [[MeTV]]. August 12, 2015. Retrieved August 19, 2018.</ref>

By the mid-1970s, WLS became conservative about introducing new songs, and many record promoters referred to the station as the "World's Last Station" to add new releases for airplay,<ref>Denver, Joel. "[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1980s/1984/RR-1984-08-03.pdf Chicago's Five-Way Battle]", ''[[Radio & Records]]''. August 3, 1984. Retrieved August 19, 2018.</ref> usually only after the songs had reached the top 10 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]]. However, in 1974, the station started playing the track "[[Lady (Styx song)|Lady]]" by the Chicago band [[Styx (band)|Styx]] from an older album of theirs, resulting in other stations around the country adding the song and making the track Styx' first national Top 40 hit.<ref>Van Matre, Lynn. "[https://www.chicagotribune.com/2000/05/28/the-sweet-smell-of-success-march-16-1975/ The Sweet Smell Of Success March 16, 1975]", ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''. May 28, 2000. Retrieved August 23, 2018.</ref>

During the 1970s WLS ran a Sunday night music interview program called "Musicpeople".<ref>"[http://www.wlshistory.com/WLS70/musicpeople.htm Musicpeople]", ''The History of WLS Radio''. Retrieved August 20, 2018.</ref><ref>"[https://books.google.com/books?id=dwkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT7 Vox Jox]", ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''. November 16, 1974. p. 45. Retrieved August 21, 2018.</ref>

In 1984, [[Steve Dahl]] and [[Garry Meier]]'s program was moved to WLS from WLS-FM, over the objections of the duo, who attempted to have their contract declared invalid.<ref>McCormick, Moira. "[https://books.google.com/books?id=liQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA12-IA2 Dahl, Meier Back On Air At WLS-AM]", ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''. October 20, 1984. p. 14. Retrieved August 23, 2018.</ref><ref name="RockofChicago" /> Nevertheless, Dahl and Meier drew higher ratings on WLS than they had on WLS-FM.<ref>[[Zorn, Eric]]. "[https://www.chicagotribune.com/1985/04/18/dahl-meier-pull-wls-am-up-to-7th-in-ratings/ Dahl, Meier Pull WLS-AM Up To 7th In Ratings]", ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''. April 18, 1985. Retrieved August 23, 2018.</ref><ref name="RockofChicago" /> Dahl and Meier left WLS in 1986, returning to WLUP.<ref>McCormick, Moira. "[https://books.google.com/books?id=RSQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA15 Chicago's 'Bad Boy' Returning to WLUP]", ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''. February 1, 1986. p. 15. Retrieved August 23, 2018.</ref><ref>Terry, Clifford. "[https://www.chicagotribune.com/1986/02/20/dahl-meier-wls-just-dont-match/ Dahl-Meier, WLS Just Don't Match]", ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''. February 20, 1986. Retrieved August 23, 2018.</ref>

Well into the 1980s, WLS continued as a mainstream Top 40 formatted station.<ref name="BCYearbook1985">''[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1985/B-Radio-AL-to-MT-BC-YB-1985.pdf Broadcasting/Cablecasting Yearbook 1985]'', [[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting/Cablecasting]], 1985. p. B-80. Retrieved August 19, 2018.</ref> However, beginning in 1985, the station would begin to undergo major changes. In January 1985, the station began airing ''Sex Talk'' on Sunday nights, hosted by Phyllis Levy, a sex therapist.<ref>Anderson, Liz. "[https://www.chicagotribune.com/1985/09/11/sex-is-her-business/ Sex Is Her Business]", ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''. September 11, 1985. Retrieved August 19, 2018.</ref> By 1987, WLS was airing [[adult contemporary]] music, liberally laced with [[oldies]] and [[Traditional pop|standards]], with talk programming at night.<ref name="RockofChicago" /><ref name="Schedule6090">Childers, Scott."[http://www.wlshistory.com/jox/schedule.htm The WLS Schedule: 1960-1990]", ''The History of WLS Radio''. Retrieved August 19, 2018.</ref><ref name="BCYearbook1988">''[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1988/B-Radio-Ala-Mt-1988-YB.pdf Broadcasting/Cablecasting Yearbook 1988]'', [[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting/Cablecasting]], 1988. p. B-85. Retrieved August 19, 2018.</ref> During the 1980s, Les Grobstein was hired as the first and only full-time Sports Director of WLS and broke the story of Cubs manager [[Lee Elia]]'s famous tirade on April 29, 1983, after a loss to the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]], which included 54 profanities.

===Talkradio era===
[[Image:WLS890.png|thumb|WLS logo for its early Talk Radio years.]]
In June 1989, WLS announced it was going all-talk by the end of the summer.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Feder |first1=Robert |title=Radio stars will fall as WLS turns to 'hot talk' format |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-3949029.html |access-date=April 30, 2018 |newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times |date=June 22, 1989 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911154631/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-3949029.html |archive-date=September 11, 2016}}</ref> Rumors were that the change was to happen September 1. Air personalities were becoming more talk-intensive anyway and midday talk was added as well. But quietly, with no warning, on August 23, 1989, at 7&nbsp;pm, WLS stopped playing music altogether.<ref name="RockofChicago">Childers, Scott."[http://www.wlshistory.com/WLS80/ WLS AM Stereo 89 – The Rock of Chicago]", ''The History of WLS Radio''. Retrieved August 19, 2018.</ref><ref name="SmithTop4080">Smith, Ronald P. (2002). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=3R9zwFeHI5kC&pg=PR11 Chicago Top 40 Charts 1980-1990]''. p. xi. Retrieved August 19, 2018.</ref> Phil Duncan was the last DJ to play music on WLS, and as Duncan finished up his show, a voice in the back of the studio (that of then-WYTZ DJ Steven Craig) was heard saying "Goodnight!" (Craig unknowingly (and unofficially) became the last live voice on Musicradio WLS.) Appropriately, the last song was "[[Just You 'n' Me]]" by [[Chicago (band)|Chicago]].<ref name="RockofChicago" /><ref name="SmithTop4080" /> WLS then became a [[talk radio|talk]] station, with [[Sally Jesse Raphael]] as its first host.<ref name="RockofChicago" /> In the beginning of the talk format, WLS featured high-rated talk talents from around the country, such as [[Bob Lassiter]] from [[Tampa Bay]], Stacy Taylor from San Diego and the station's biggest hit, Rush Limbaugh out of New York.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Feder |first1=Robert |title=WLS-AM tries to talk its way out of radio 'wasteland' |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-3960090.html |access-date=April 30, 2018 |newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times |date=September 7, 1989 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911154638/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-3960090.html |archive-date=September 11, 2016}}</ref> After a few years, however, Lassiter, Taylor and some of their other national hosts were dropped in favor of more local hosts. [[Jay Marvin]] also had several stints on WLS, where he was one of the few liberal voices on its political talk shows, which had mostly conservative viewpoints. The station served as the "flagship" broadcast outlet for the Sunday night, national political talk show, ''[[Beyond the Beltway]] with Bruce DuMont''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wlsam.com/goout.asp?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.beyondthebeltway.com |title=Bruce DuMont-Beyond the Beltway |publisher=WLS Radio 890AM |access-date=January 15, 2011 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110211044200/http://www.wlsam.com/goout.asp?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.beyondthebeltway.com |archive-date=February 11, 2011 }}</ref>

By 1992, WLS had such low ratings that ABC's national management was planning on flipping the station to a satellite-fed country format (management went so far as to distribute an all-staff memo and hosts being told they were about to be let go). However, in what was described as an "eleventh hour decision", ABC canceled the planned format change due to convincing from local management. Throughout the 1990s, ratings began to grow, with the station occasionally ranked in the Top 10.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wlshistory.com/WLS90/|title=WLS Talkradio 89 – The Talk Of Chicago|website=wlshistory.com|access-date=April 30, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027235030/http://www.wlshistory.com/WLS90/|archive-date=October 27, 2017}}</ref>

On Memorial Day, 2007, WLS took a cue from sister station [[WABC (AM)|WABC]] and ran a special day of musical programming, "The Big 89 Rewind", featuring live visits from Larry Lujack, Tommy Edwards,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reelradio.com/ram/beg2.ram?lltewls052807-0800.rm~0:00.0~46:25.1 |title=audio file-Lujack and Edwards-"The Big 89 Rewind" May 28, 2007 |publisher=Reelradio.com |access-date=November 13, 2011}}</ref> Fred Winston, Chris Shebel, Jeff Davis, John Records Landecker, Tom Kent, and other DJs, sounders, and airchecks from the Musicradio era.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Imh-HiSPaDE |title=YouTube video of Big 89 Rewind-2007 |via=YouTube |date=August 2, 2007 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140612074852/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Imh-HiSPaDE |archive-date=June 12, 2014 }}</ref> The broadcasts re-aired on Independence Day 2007, and there was a new Rewind in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jnl8_tdEtA8 |title=YouTube video of WLS Rewind 2008 |via=YouTube |date=September 11, 2008 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140612074722/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jnl8_tdEtA8 |archive-date=June 12, 2014 }}</ref>

===Cumulus ownership===
[[File:WLS (AM) logo.png|175px|thumb|2012 logo]]
ABC-owned radio stations which were not affiliated with [[ESPN Radio]] or [[Radio Disney]], including WLS, were sold to [[Citadel Broadcasting]] on June 12, 2007, with Citadel licensing the name ABC Radio for 2 years after the sale.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://corporate.disney.go.com/news/corporate/2006/2006_0206_radio.html |title=Disney-February 6, 2006-ABC Radio To Merge With Citadel Broadcasting |publisher=Disney |access-date=November 13, 2011 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709041911/http://corporate.disney.go.com/news/corporate/2006/2006_0206_radio.html |archive-date=July 9, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://corporate.disney.go.com/news/corporate/2007/2007_0613_abcradiomerger.html |title=Disney June 12, 2007-Disney and Citadel Announce Completion of ABC Radio Merger |publisher=Disney |access-date=November 13, 2011 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718215816/http://corporate.disney.go.com/news/corporate/2007/2007_0613_abcradiomerger.html |archive-date=July 18, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Feder |first1=Robert |title=Over and out; ABC ends 47-year run as new owners take over legendary radio stations |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-7467336.html |access-date=April 30, 2018 |newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times |date=June 13, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180128132823/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-7467336.html |archive-date=January 28, 2018}}</ref> Citadel was acquired by Cumulus Media on September 16, 2011.<ref name="abj-citadelcumulus">{{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|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924082952/http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2011/09/16/cumulus-now-owns-citadel-broadcasting.html|archive-date=September 24, 2011}}</ref>

Cumulus Media terminated its affiliation with overnight radio program ''[[Coast to Coast AM]]'' on many of its stations, including WLS. In the spring of 2012, it began airing its own ''[[Red Eye Radio]]''.

Longtime morning show hosts Don and Roma Wade retired in December 2012. They had been off the air since October due to Don Wade's cancer treatments. On September 6, 2013, Don Wade died of a brain tumor.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2013/09/09/longtime-radio-host-don-wade-dies-at-72/|title=Longtime radio host Don Wade dies at 72|author=Smith, Mitch|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=September 9, 2013|access-date=January 19, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131193220/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-09-09/news/chi-don-wade-dead-20130908_1_radio-host-radio-show-morning-show-host|archive-date=January 31, 2017}}</ref>

Cumulus radio stations made a break with ABC at the end of 2014, when they no longer carried [[ABC News Radio]]. WLS and most Cumulus news/talk stations began running [[Westwood One News]] on January 1, 2015. (Westwood One is a Cumulus subsidiary.) This lasted until August 30, 2020, when Westwood One shuttered its news service, and as of August 31, 2020, the station is once again affiliated with ABC News Radio.

In January 2017, WLS and WLS-FM moved from its 190 N. [[State Street (Chicago)|State Street]] studios to its new studios in [[NBC Tower]] on North Columbus Drive in [[Streeterville]].<ref>[[Feder, Robert]]. "[https://www.robertfeder.com/2015/11/18/cumulus-media-moving-to-nbc-tower/ Cumulus Media moving to NBC Tower]", ''Robert Feder''. November 18, 2015. Retrieved August 19, 2018.</ref><ref>Greenhouse, Mark. "[https://www.radiomagonline.com/industry/cumulus-emphasizes-style-in-the-windy-city Cumulus Emphasizes Style in the Windy City]", ''[[Radio (magazine)|Radio]]''. January 18, 2018. Retrieved August 19, 2018.</ref> In addition, the station became the new affiliate of [[NBC News Radio]]. On January 2, 2017, the station added the on-air team of [[Bob Sirott]] and [[Marianne Murciano]] from [[WGN (AM)]]; the former marking his return to WLS for the first time since 1980.<ref>[[Feder, Robert]]. "[https://www.robertfeder.com/2016/12/19/wls-hires-sirott-murciano-middays/ They're back: WLS hires Sirott & Murciano for midday show]", ''Robert Feder''. December 13, 2016. Retrieved August 19, 2018.</ref> However, Sirott and Murciano were cut from the station's lineup, beginning January 1, 2018.<ref>[[Feder, Robert]]. "[https://www.robertfeder.com/2017/12/13/sirott-murciano-cut-new-wls-talk-lineup/ Sirott & Murciano cut from new WLS talk lineup]", ''Robert Feder''. December 13, 2017. Retrieved August 19, 2018.</ref>

====Sports====
On June 23, 2015, WLS announced that the station had picked up broadcasting rights for [[Chicago White Sox]] baseball starting with the 2016 season. In addition, WLS had also picked up broadcasting rights for [[Chicago Bulls]] basketball, beginning with the 2016-17 [[NBA]] season.<ref name="robert-feder">{{cite web|last1=Feder|first1=Robert|date=July 16, 2015|title=Double play: WLS signs radio deals for White Sox, Bulls|url=http://www.robertfeder.com/2015/07/16/double-play-wls-signs-radio-deals-for-white-sox-bulls/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160530161416/http://www.robertfeder.com/2015/07/16/double-play-wls-signs-radio-deals-for-white-sox-bulls/|archive-date=May 30, 2016|access-date=May 30, 2016|website=robertfeder.com}}</ref> Due to Cumulus's January 2018 [[Chapter 11]] bankruptcy, the carriage rights were terminated in the filing. The Bulls moved to [[WSCR]], taking effect immediately at the start of February, while the White Sox shifted to [[WGN (AM)|WGN]] several weeks later.<ref>{{cite web|title=WGN Inks Multiyear Rights Deal With Chicago White Sox.|url=http://www.insideradio.com/free/wgn-inks-multiyear-rights-deal-with-chicago-white-sox/article_3cf9cd54-121a-11e8-b77f-4ffcba68bbe3.html|access-date=April 30, 2018|website=insideradio.com|date=February 15, 2018 }}</ref>

In the 2015–16 season, WLS carried [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish]] [[college football]] and basketball games.<ref name="Notre Dame Basketball">{{cite web|title=Notre Dame Basketball|url=http://www.wlsam.com/Article.asp?id=2059402|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110302013954/http://www.wlsam.com/Article.asp?id=2059402|archive-date=March 2, 2011|access-date=January 15, 2011|publisher=WLS Radio}}</ref><ref name="Notre Dame Football">{{cite web|title=Notre Dame Football|url=http://www.wlsam.com/Article.asp?id=1904382|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110208210548/http://www.wlsam.com/Article.asp?id=1904382|archive-date=February 8, 2011|access-date=January 15, 2011|publisher=WLS Radio}}</ref> In 2016, Notre Dame moved to [[WMVP]].<ref name="Notre Dame Basketball"/><ref name="Notre Dame Football"/>

In 2023, WLS became the home for [[NASCAR]], as the Chicago affiliate station for the [[Motor Racing Network]], airing [[NASCAR Cup Series]] races, as well as both of the first [[NASCAR]] Chicago Street Races, The Loop 121 Xfinity Race and The Grant Park 220 Cup Race.

In 2023, WLS also became the affiliate station for the [[Chicago Fire FC|Chicago Fire]] [[MLS]] team.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wlsam.com/2023/04/26/chicago-fire-games-to-air-on-wls/|title=Chicago Fire Games to Air on WLS|access-date=May 13, 2023|date=April 26, 2023|publisher=WLS Radio}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|WLS (AM)}}
* {{Official website|https://www.wlsam.com/}}
{{AM station data|73227|WLS}}
* {{Cite web|url=https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=81917 |title=History Cards for WLS |publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]}} (covering 1927-1979) ([[Wikipedia:WikiProject Radio Stations/History Cards|Guide to reading History Cards]])<!--Converted from {{FCC letter}}-->

==Further reading==
* {{URL|https://www.fybush.com/sites/2004/site-041001.html|Chicago's Legendary WLS: Part I, The Studios}} (2004)
* {{URL|https://www.fybush.com/sites/2004/site-041015.html|Chicago's Legendary WLS: Part II, The Transmitter}} (2004)
* {{URL|https://hdl.handle.net/1903.1/50819|Irma Glen collection}} at [[University of Maryland Libraries]]
* {{URL|https://archives.lib.umd.edu/repositories/2/resources/604|WENR-KYW station collection}} at University of Maryland Libraries

{{Chicago Radio}}
{{Cumulus Media}}
{{News/Talk Radio Stations in Illinois}}
{{Clear Channel AM}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1924 establishments in Illinois]]
[[Category:Clear-channel radio stations]]
[[Category:Cumulus Media radio stations]]
[[Category:Former subsidiaries of The Walt Disney Company]]
[[Category:News and talk radio stations in the United States]]
[[Category:Radio stations established in 1924]]
[[Category:Radio stations in Chicago|LS]]