From its inception until 2007 the FM flagship of the American Broadcasting Company (ABC), the station went on the air on May 4, 1948 as WJZ-FM under a Construction Permit. The station adopted the WABC-FM call letters and was issued a license on May 18, 1953. After featuring a progressive rock format since 1969, WABC-FM became WPLJ on February 14, 1971 and was a successful AOR (Album Oriented Rock ) station until early 1983, when a hit radio format was phased in. The station briefly became WWPR on 12/17/87 before switching back to WPLJ on December 21, 1988. A Top 40 or Hot AC format was heard on the station since June 30,1983.

   Disney/ABC completed its sale of WPLJ to Citadel Broadcasting on June 12, 2007. Citadel was acquired by Cumulus Media in September, 2011.

   Cumulus sold WPLJ to Educational Media Foundation (EMF) in February, 2019 and the WPLJ dj`s signed off the air at 7 pm on May 31, 2019. EMF broadcasts a non-commercial Christian music format, branded as K-Love.