The station began broadcasting in May 1986; 38 years ago (1986-05).[7] The original call sign was WBYG.[1][7] The station was originally owned by Larry Nelson.[8][9] On April 11, 1988, the station's call sign was changed to WAUR.[1] From the late 1980s until 1990 aired a full service format with country music and news, information, and talk programming.[10][11][12] In 1990 the country music was replaced with Oldies, with the station airing full-service format with a strong emphasis on local issues.[13][8][7] It continued to air this format until its sale to the Children's Broadcasting Corporation in 1997.[14][15]
In January 1997, the station was purchased by Children's Broadcasting Corporation for $3.9 million, and it became the Chicago affiliate of the "Radio AAHS" network, airing children's programming.[16][15][17] After Radio AAHS discontinued operations in January 1998, Children's Broadcasting Corporation, began leasing time on its stations until it could find buyers.[18] In February 1998, WAUR, along with the other nine CBC stations, became an outlet for "Beat Radio", which broadcast electronic dance music 12 hours each night.[19][18][20]
In late 1998, the station was sold to Catholic Radio Network, later known as Catholic Family Radio, and it began airing a Catholic oriented talk format.[21][22][23] In late 1999, Catholic Radio Network had entered into an agreement to the station to Saul Acquisition Co. for $4.4 million.[24][25][26] The plans were for the station to be operated by Radio Center for People with Disabilities, with Catholic Family Radio continuing to air temporarily during certain time-slots.[24] However, the sale was never consummated, ownership reverted to Catholic Family Radio, and the station was taken off the air temporarily in spring of 2001.[27]
In spring 2001, Catholic Family Radio entered into a local marketing agreement with Michigan based religious broadcaster Midwest Broadcasting (now known as Christian Broadcasting System),[28] and the station returned to the air broadcasting a religious format.[29][30] The station was branded "Victory 930". In late 2001, Midwest Broadcasting entered into an agreement to purchase the station for $4 million.[31] However, the Radio Center for People with Disabilities filed a challenge with the Federal Communications Commission to block the sale of the station, on the basis that the purchaser was not a member of a minority, and the sale was never consummated.[32]
In 2004, WAUR was sold to Starboard Broadcasting for $3.5 million, and the station began airing its current Catholic format as an affiliate of Relevant Radio.[33][34][35] The station changed its call sign to the current WKBM on June 18, 2014.[1]
