The station airs a hybrid hot talk and mainstream rock radio format and is owned and operated by iHeartMedia.

It was the next-to-last link in the Rural Radio Network chain of FM stations broadcasting to farmers across upstate New York.

On March 4, 1982, WMIV changed calls to WYLF ("Life 95.1"), operating from studios in a converted house on Route 332 in Farmington, New York and later adding a sales office at 213 E. Commercial Street in East Rochester.

In 1985, Empire sold WYLF to Boston broadcasters Ron Frizzell and Arnold Lerner, operating as the "Finger Lakes Wireless Talking Machine Company".

[3] In February 1993, Rock-It 95 added the syndicated Howard Stern Show to its lineup, bringing the station attention and ratings in the larger Rochester market.

The Nerve's format was originally Modern Rock, featuring music being played by well-known bands such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, The Smashing Pumpkins, Soundgarden, Live, Stone Temple Pilots, as well as alternative music from lesser-remembered artists such as Poe, Veruca Salt, The Refreshments, The Toadies, and many others.

This segment was usually introduced by DJ 'E-Man' with The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion's "Right Place Wrong Time" playing.

Some degree of humor was derived by hearing the serious baritone voice of Bill Lowe give the station's sign off, "95.1/95.5 The Nerve, 'It Just Rocks.'"

Mid-day WHAM talkshow host Bob Lonsberry came over to The Nerve and swapped shifts with e-Man, who went over to the newstalk station, much to the amused chagrin of local listeners.

In February 2004, Howard Stern was dropped from WNVE and other Clear Channel sister stations across the country due to indecency complaints.

While most airshifts were initially automated, "95.1 the Fox" gradually added air personalities, including a voice tracked afternoon shift from Clear Channel Boston DJ Ed McMann.

On April 30, 2012, WFXF rebranded as "95.1 The Brew", with the intent of shifting its playlist to 1970s thru 1980s, and even early 1990s rock, dropping most of the 1960s from its rotation.

[10] As part of the change, iHeart brought in Kimberly and Beck, who were recently at WBZA, to host from 2-7 p.m. weekdays after Brother Wease in the morning.

[9] On August 6, 2020, following Kimberly and Beck's earlier dismissal for making racist comments on the air, WAIO debuted "The Big Show" in the same time slot, featuring comedian Earl David Reed along with former iHeartMedia DJs Megan Carter and Pat McMahon.

Before that, Rizzo was on air at WPLJ in New York as a member of the “Todd Show” and Jeff (also known as Rat) was with iHeartMedia at WIOQ in Philadelphia and WFLZ in Tampa.

They are not without their detractors who feel the show pokes fun at older listeners and that their Top 40 backgrounds are what attracts the younger men and more women than is typical of the hot talk format.

[14] By March 2023, WAIO's weekday schedule consisted of Brother Wease in mornings, DiTullio & Dale in middays, Rizzo & Jeff in afternoons, Rover's Morning Glory in middays and evenings, The Bob & Tom Show and The News Junkie respectively in overnights, and VSiN programming on weekends.