The station signed on the air on May 5, 1950; 74 years ago (1950-05-05).[3] Its original call sign was WPIN. It was a daytimer, powered at 1,000 watts and required to go off the air at sunset. It was owned by Florida West Coast Broadcasters with studios in the Royal Palm Hotel.
For most of its early history, the station was WWBA (referring to Tampa Bay). In the 1960s and 70s, it simulcast a beautiful music format with its sister station WWBA-FM 107.3 (now WXGL).[4] They played quarter hour sweeps of instrumental cover versions of popular adult songs, as well as Broadway and Hollywoodshow tunes.