WLLN signed on in 1979 under the ownership of now-Congressman Bob Etheridge (D-2nd) and his family. The station aired a middle-of-the-road music format along with community-oriented news and features. In 1991, Etheridge, by this time the state superintendent of public instruction, sold the station to Foundations Bible College in nearby Dunn. Foundations instituted a format of sacred music and ministry. In 1999, the school sold the station to Estuardo Valdemar Rodriguez, who took the format all-Spanish. WLLN operates during the day with 5,000 watts from a three-tower directional array off US 401 south of town, but cuts their power dramatically at night.