The station changed formats and call letters in the autumn of 1986, switching to classic hits with the motto "Classic Hits 104.1, The All New WHTT". The station was one of the first to take the "classic hits" name in the United States, and did so due to the lack of a classic rock station in Buffalo after WGRQ (96.9 FM) switched to adult contemporary music. In May 1989, after 96.9 FM (which had the WRLT call letters at the time) went back to classic rock as WGRF, WHTT became an oldies music outlet playing hits from the 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s with the on air branding "Oldies 104".