WEOL-FM assumed a separate identity on December 8, 1965, when it switched its call sign to WBEA, with a mostly automated beautiful music and easy listening format.

Many of the area's top broadcast talents made a stop at WBEA and WEOL early in their careers, including Dick Conrad, Jeff Baxter, David Mark, Ronnie Barrett, Ron Penfound, Jim Mehrling, Rick Martyn and Bob Tayek.

Despite garnering a cult following in the area and a significant increase of record sales within the genre attributed to WCZR,[5] lackluster ratings and the sudden success of KTWV in Los Angeles's launch wound up precipitating a format change.

[12] WNWV still shared studio operations with WEOL in downtown Elyria, but also opened up a separate sales office located in the Cleveland suburb of Rocky River.

[20] From the late 1990s until 2008, WNWV's airstaff consisted of: Tom Murphy in morning drive; Mark Ribbins in middays; Richard Greer in afternoons; Joan Kelly, Desiray McCray, and eventually Michelle Chase in evenings; Starr D'Avril in overnights; news/traffic reporter Mike Kessler (later known as Mike Gallagher); and weekend hosts Harvey Zay, Mark Sanders, Grace Roberts, Lisa Jeffries, Carmen Kennedy, Frank Macek, Carolyn Carr and Nathan Pope; and syndicated shows hosted by Dave Koz, Ramsey Lewis and Chris Dechant.

[21] Other personalities included Dan Steinberg,[22] Lisa Danevich, Sandy Bennett, Larry Adams, Sarah Greer, Cody Brooks, Mark McQuire, Kathy Gudell, Tracey Brich Murphy, Jen Kaminski, Greg Yocum, Tammy Frizzel, Pat Allen and Andrea Morris.

[23] In 2003, WNWV became the first station in the Cleveland market to broadcast in the new HD Radio digital format, as well as one of a handful in the country to make the initial switch; WCLV in Lorain was the second.

[29] That December 28, after stunting with the sound of a clock ticking for 12 hours, WNWV switched to adult album alternative (AAA) branded as "Boom!

On October 13, 2011, Elyria-Lorain Broadcasting Co. sold WNWV to the Akron-based Rubber City Radio Group for $6.5 million, a deal completed that December 16.

At the same time, mysterious billboards began appearing in the Cleveland area bearing the hashtag #WhoIsJeny,[46] with cryptic social media accounts on Twitter and Instagram set up for the campaign.

"[51] It was ultimately revealed that the #WhoIsJeny campaign was viral marketing for a new format on WNWV,[52] with Rubber City having registered a trademark for "107.3 JENY" that December 23.

[53] WNWV dropped the Christmas music format and "Wave" branding on December 30, switching to a temporary simulcast of Akron-market sister station WQMX.

[60][61] Local personalities included Kathy Vogel and Kris Drew (mornings), Cherise Richards (midday), and Ben McKee (afternoons).

[64] Local personalities include Ryan Lang & Brady Marks (mornings), Carrie Danger (afternoons), Aaron Lux (evenings), with Steffany Nicole and DJ Nivens on weekends.