94.5 WKTI, Milwaukee (1980s-2001)

Unused bumper sticker from 2001, sheet measures approximately 20 cm by 8.2 cm.
Front side: background: blue; 94.5 WKTI logo, slogan.
Back side: Bombay Bicycle Club promo/discount coupon.

Unused bumper sticker from 1989, sheet measures approximately 22 cm by 7.4 cm.
Front side: background: blue; 94FM WKTI logo.
Back side: Bumper to Bumper promo, WKTI logo.

Unused bumper sticker from the early 1980s, sheet measures approximately 28.8 cm by 7.5 cm.
Front side: background: red; WKTI 94FM logo.
Back side: brown.


WKTI-FM was a radio station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin broadcasting at 94.5 MHz.

In 1974, WTMJ-FM (previous WKTI-FM call letter) changed to a stand-alone automated Top 40 format with the nickname 'I-94' (named after the main east-west interstate highway that runs through Milwaukee). To correspond with the new brand, management wanted to change the call sign from WTMJ-FM to a pattern of 'W??I', but could not agree on the middle two letters. Then station manager Jack Lee wanted WWWI, but DJs were not comfortable about using the tongue-twisting call letters on-air. Finally, a sales manager suggested two letters from Katie, his wife's name . So, the call sign was changed to WKTI (for "KaTIe").

I-94 called itself "nonstop stereo rock," and was automated until 1981. WKTI experienced steady ratings and growth for many years until about 1999, when WXSS-FM began to compete for WKTI's predominantly female audience with music from younger artists. Because WKTI had a popular morning show of more than 15 years, and longtime listener familiarity with its on-air staff, management did not want to start over with a complete reset of the station to compete with WXSS. As a result, slow adjustments were made to WKTI's playlists towards the Hot AC format to attract new and younger listeners.

Starting in late 2005, WKTI began to adopt the Adult Top 40 format to compete with WXSS. However, the station continued to play music from several of its heritage artists. In September 2006, the station no longer voiced out the "W" in its call sign, and the branding changed to 94-5 'KTI, Milwaukee's Hit Music Channel.

On November 6, 2008, Journal Broadcast Group general manager Steve Wexler stepped in to introduce listeners to a complete makeover for 94.5 FM. The station launched a new adult hits format, branded as "The New 94.5 Lake FM."

One week after the redesign, on November 13, 2008, the FCC approved the station's call letter change to WLWK-FM, with the Journal warehousing the WKTI calls on its adult standards station in the Knoxville, Tennessee market (the former WQBB).
*source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WLWK-FM.