While the station is licensed to Shelbyville, Indiana, its studios are located on Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis.

The transmitter, according to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), is located in the 7000 block of East Southport Road on the southeast side of Indianapolis.

WLHK also carries Indiana University men's basketball, in the event of programming conflict on WFNI.

With help from Chief Engineer Bob Hawkins, the late Tim McKee was the first voice heard on the new FM 97 WENS.

Other early weekend talent included Jerry Walker, Kevin Dugan, Wendi Ney and Jennifer Carr.

The show was produced and choreographed by Rick Cummings through 1995, then by Jennifer Casse-Holt and Emmis Production Director Scott Robinson (aka, McElroy) until 2008.

"Skyconcert" was also broadcast by tape delay on Indianapolis television at first, then live on WTHR, then WISH, garnering strong viewership.

Once Program Director Rick Cummings became more involved with the growth of Emmis Broadcasting, Ron Jordan was hired for morning drive.

Tragically, McKee died of a heart attack just three days before the second annual WENS "Skyconcert" in late August 1984.

Later, McKee's grieving fiancée confirmed that it was Larson's compassionate response to her call that allowed her to keep her emotions in check during that first difficult hour after Tim's passing.

Grey's first move as PD was to shift Chuck Larson, by then starring in weekends for Randy Michaels at WLW Cincinnati, to late nights.

Taylor left to return to Boston late in 1986, and was replaced on the "Night Lite" show by Eric Garnes.

Dennis Jon Bailey crossed the street from legendary Indy AM radio station WIRE, to join Patrick in morning drive.

Cook first worked early evenings, then middays, and contributed greatly to the growth of station's award-winning production effort.

Once Coop finally left the station, Smith moved to co-hosting duties on "Night Lite," and was replaced in overnights by Don Carson.

As the 1980s ended, WENS on-air staffers included "John and Jerry in the Morning," Operations Director Joel Grey and Music Director Alan Cook in middays, APD Bernie Eagan in afternoons, Eric Garnes and Stephanie Smith on "Night Lite" and Don Carson in overnights.

Other 1980s weekend talent at WENS included Kevin Calabro, Mike Ivers, Ellen K, now morning drive at KOST-FM Los Angeles and Darryl Parks, formerly of WLW Cincinnati.

Scott Fischer joined news director Audrey Rochelle on the WENS morning show in the fall of 1990.

Previous WENS morning show producers had included Howard Schrott, Kevin Burris and Kay Feeney.

The one major change made by Knight was the fall 1992 replacement of news director Audrey Rochelle with Ann Craig.

Ken Hayes had left as traffic anchor in the mid-1990s and was replaced by Paul Poteet in mornings and Rich McDonald in afternoons.

His role on the WENS morning show was filled by midday talent John Cinnamon, joining his wife Ann Craig.

In 1999, Bernie Eagan had begun hosting the "Friday Night Retro Show," an early effort at 1980s intensive music programming.

Real 97.1 featured Ernie and Angela in the morning, along with Ann Duran in middays, Monique and the Man in afternoons, and the syndicated Alan Kabel show at nights.

Near the end of Real 97–1, Emmis added sister CHR WNOU Radio Now 93.1 morning show "Wank and O'Brien," moving Ernie Mills to nights.

The new format, dubbed "Hank FM", accompanied the station's new call letters, WLHK, and its new slogan "[We/He] Plays Anything Country."

The "Wank and O'Brien" morning show and Ernie Mills in afternoons were the only elements of the old WENS to remain after the change.