The station started as WWIL-FM in 1959. Until 1972, and after a call letter change to WSRF-FM in 1968, the station carried a beautiful music format. In 1972, the station flipped to an album rock format, branded as WSHE. Following its purchase by Paxson Communications in April 1996, WSHE dismissed all airstaff, dropped the rock format after 24 years, and began a 36-hour stunt loop of playing "Changes" by David Bowie, "Change" by Candlebox, and "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" by R.E.M., while promoting a change to come at 1:03 p.m. on May 2. At that time, the station adopted a Modern AC format, first as "The New 103.5", then as "Planet Radio" with new callsign WPLL. The first song as "The New 103.5"