[2] WLBK broadcasts a mix of news/talk and adult contemporary music formats to DeKalb County, Illinois, and surrounding communities, and was an affiliate of ABC News Radio as of 2023.

[9] This lineup would remain stable through the 1950s with the additions of Russell Pigott of news director and W. Dean Clayton as chief engineer.

[10] Seeking to expand its coverage area and to be able to deliver programming outside its legally mandated daylight-only operation, WLBK applied to the FCC to create an FM sister station to be known as "WLBK-FM".

Concurrent with the launch of the FM station, WLBK received authorization from the FCC to double its own power output from 500 to 1,000 watts.

[14] In 1980, Jerome F. Cerny added chief engineer to his list of duties and resumed his role as the station's general manager.

In 1984, Dianne Leifheit assumed the role of general manager with Jay Burt as news director and Jeff Glass as chief engineer.

In April 1985, WCFL Chicago weekend talent Mark Powell was hired as program director and midday host.

Powell would take a leave of absence in 1986 and run a protest write in effort in the March 1986 GOP congressional primary.

WLBK immediately shifted its programming in 1990 towards a full service all-news radio format mixed in with adult contemporary and oldies music in its lineup.

After more than five decades of continuous ownership, DeKalb Radio Studios, Inc., agreed to sell WLBK to Big City Radio-Chi, LLC, in April 1998.

[22] Weekend programming as of January 5, 2012[update], includes repeats of Dr. Joy Browne, Animal Planet, SportsMap Radio, religious services, plus talk shows about politics, antiques, home improvement, and suicide prevention.