The station, now known as "Country 103.5", had mediocre ratings in their first few months at its new frequency. In 1989, when Westwood One launched Pirate Radio, a CHR/Rock format, on KQLZ 100.3 Los Angeles, rumors were that if the format worked out well there 103.5 in New York would switch soon after. The format did well initially there but ratings tanked quickly there so consideration for that format change was ended by the spring of 1990. Rumors of other format changes continued still. Even though rumors of a format change were always existent at the station, the country format remained. In 1993, the station would be sold to Broadcast Partners, whom were committed to keeping Country on WYNY. As a country station, Jim Kerr would be the station's morning show host from 1990 to 1993, while their airstaff included Dan Daniel, Randy Davis, Bill Rock, Ray Rossi, Lisa Taylor, Charlie Berger and Susan Browning.