[2] The station began broadcasting as WSNE, or West, South, North n' East per the original owner on October 13, 1961.
In 1989, Howard Rowe and Associates sold WHNE to Lanier Broadcasting, Inc., run by Amy Rives McCollum, in a $225,000 transaction.
In October 1991, two employees of the station called a news conference to go public with allegations that they had been pressured to favor the Cumming city council and mayor in their reporting,[10] prompting the resignation of the news director and public service director[11] and leading the mayor to reveal that he had business dealings with owner Rives McCollum as part of a real estate company.
By this time, the station was known as "Mountains Lake Radio", airing a primarily news/talk format with an evening block of gospel music, as well as other typical features including a tradio program and Sunday church services.
[8] The change in direction was not only earning money but also national prestige: the Gavin Report crowned WMLB Americana station of the year in 1997.