The station began operating in 1998 under the call letters WWND-FM, and carried a smooth jazz format as "102.9 the Wind". This setup was very similar in nature to one carried out by another station, WNND-FM 103.9 (now WNNL) from 1990 to 1996. In February 2001, the station began an all-1980s format as "Star 102.9", with new call letters, WWMY, following shortly thereafter. Goldsboro country station WKIX 96.9 soon joined the new WWMY in a simulcast as WYMY, simulcasting WWMY with 100,000 watts to points east of Raleigh as "Star 96-9 and 102-9".