Tropical music and other Spanish language programming, which had been featured in some capacity on 1380 AM throughout its history, became the station's primary format in 1998 as WDLW via a local marketing agreement with the Cleveland-based Latino Media Group.
Owned by Lorain Community Broadcasting Corporation, this station signed on as WLRO, fully replacing WWIZ after two and a half years of silence on 1380 AM.
[3][4] Lorain Community prevailed against two other applicants for a replacement license[5] in a bidding process which began in 1966, one year before WWIZ signed off.
[9] At launch, WLRO initially had a combined middle of the road and full-service format, with an emphasis on community news, and operated from 6 a.m. to sunset.
Ethnic programming on Sundays included the Ecos Latinos Hispanic music show hosted by Miguel Berlingeri, The Polka Express with Jimmy Bryda and The Friendly Promoter Club with Matty Bright.
[14] On February 12, 1990, Jon Veard sold WRKG to Victory Radio, Inc. headed by Vernon Baldwin, who was also the owner of WZLE (104.9 FM).
[15] WRKG's format changed to country gospel during the day with personalities Terry Lee Goffee and Teri Drda, with Hispanic music played in the evening and overnight hours.
[22] During the Cleveland Indians' 1998 season, the team produced Spanish-language broadcasts for 12 games over a three-station network, with WDLW serving as the flagship.
[28][29] Technical upgrades were made to the air signal, and WDLW's studios were moved from the Antlers Hotel to WOBL's studio/transmitter facility in Oberlin; by coincidence, the call sign became an initialism for Doug and his wife, Lorie Wilber.
[33] Both WDLW and WOBL were sold to Gary and Renee Tollett on March 1, 2021, for an undisclosed amount after Doug Wilber announced a pending retirement.