format. The station maintained the programming for its first 16 years of operation until the money-losing outlet was converted to an automated easy listening format in August 1973. The station donated its classical albums to KSJN and KUOM (770 AM); it also lost many of its sponsors with the change. Ratings remained low as an easy listening station. When Midcontinent Broadcasting, the original owner of the FM, sold the WLOL pair to Bob Liggett of Liggett Broadcasting for $1.55 million in 1978, it sparked a format change. On August 20, Liggett, with a staff of nine new hires, led a flip to adult contemporary as Easy Rockin' FM 100 WLOL, bringing the station into competition with KSTP-FM and WCCO-FM. Ratings rose, but the station remained far off its direct competition. Top 40/CHR era On December 12, 1981, WLOL-FM changed formats again, this time to Top 40/CHR as 99½ WLOL. The ratings effect was quick to take hold; in the spring 1982 Arbitron survey, WLOL-FM more than doubled its performance and vaulted into third place in the Twin Cities, led by the revamped "Hines and Berglund" morning show hosted by John Hines and Bob Berglund. Even while WLOL was surging, a sale was in the works. In 1982, an Indianapolis-based consortium headed by Jeff Smulyan acquired WLOL-FM for $6 million, a record price at the time for a Minnesota radio station. It was the first station purchase for Emmis Communications, which then bought two more stations the next year. The station peaked in the ratings in 1984 with a 9.9 share, closely behind second-place KSTP-FM and well ahead of direct format competitor KDWB. WLOL and KDWB would go on to have a bitter rivalry throughout the 1980s, with WLOL dominating the format in the Twin Cities for the next five years. WLOL was noteworthy for its presentation, by combining typical Top 40 programming philosophies with a local touch. In addition, WLOL relied heavily on unique jingle packages, including the now iconic "Get Me Up!" jingle, which was written by Kyrl Henderson of the now defunct Reel Good Productions, and was distributed to stations across the country. Local artists such as Prince & The Revolution, Morris Day & The Time, Information Society, Alexander O'Neal and The Jets all received support from WLOL. By the late 1980s, the tables were turned. After KDWB updated its on-air presentation in 1988, some listeners felt WLOL