This station received its original construction permit from the Federal Communications Commission on December 4, 1990.

[6] From its origins in the early 1990s, the station was created and owned by Al Stroh and the now-defunct Montgomery Broadcast Properties.

In March 1995, the station switched to the popular "Arrow" (All Rock and Roll Oldies) format and changed the calls to WRWO.

The station debuted another new format in late 1998, this time all 1980s music with the slogan "The 80's Channel, Kiss 96.1".

[1] WQKS-FM made yet another format tweak in early 2000 into "Rockin' hits of the 80's, 90's and 70's" with the slogan "Alice 96.1".

On August 26, 2008 WQKS-FM dropped its rockin' hits format for oldies, adopting the moniker "Q 96.1".

WQKS-FM's HD Radio subchannels are transmitted by individual broadcast translator stations in analog format, which also provide their numerical branding.