In November 2020, the then-WXBN flipped to hot adult contemporary, assuming the hot adult contemporary format and "WINC-FM" (pronounced "Wink FM") branding previously heard on the Winchester-based 92.5 frequency (which was in the process of being sold to the Educational Media Foundation).[6][7] The station would take over the WINC-FM legacy callsign on December 29, 2020.[1]
On April 30, 2021, Centennial Broadcasting announced it was selling WINC-FM and sister station WZFC to Fairfax, Virginia-based Metro Radio, Inc. for $225,000.[8][9] Fellow sister station WINC was not included in the sale.[8][9] Allen B. Shaw, Centennial's president and CEO, said in a May 2021 interview with The Winchester Star that Metro Radio, Inc. had had insured Shaw "they do not intend to" change the format of WINC-FM and WZFC.[10] Shaw further said Metro thought WZFC's format was "probably the best format for the Winchester market" for ad revenue.[10]
On June 30, long-time morning show host Barry Lee signed off after 37 years at the station.[11] Hours later, long-time afternoon host Paula Kidwell would also sign off.[12] The sale of WINC-FM and sister WKDV-FM was completed the same day.[13]
WINC-FM was acquired by funeral home operator Darrin Jones, through his Euclid Avenue Properties, effective December 12, 2022.[4] Following the sale's completion, on December 16, 2022, WINC-FM began stunting with Christmas music, ahead of an announcement to be made on January 5, 2023, at 10:55 a.m.[14] At that time, the station relaunched its hot adult contemporary format from a new Winchester studio; Metro Radio had operated the station from Fairfax, with the intent of serving Leesburg.[15] WINC-FM is operated in conjunction with its former AM sister station, which had been sold in the interim to Todd Bartley's Colonial Radio Group of Williamsport and renamed WZFC; the arrangement saw the AM station reclaim its former WINC call sign.[15]
