The format shift made 105.9 as the DC market's only classic rock station, though WBIG-FM broadcast a lighter "classic hits" format. On September 17, 2009, the station changed its call letters to WVRX. On July 7, 2010, WVRX added a local morning drive program with Washington/Baltimore radio veterans Kirk McEwen and Mike O'Meara called Kirk and Mike. WMAL-FM (2011–present) Citadel merged with Cumulus Media on September 16, 2011. Three days later, on September 19, 2011, at noon, the station flipped to a simulcast of co-owned talk station WMAL. With a media market as concerned with news and politics as Washington, management believed the AM station's news/talk format would be strengthened by simulcasting on the powerful FM signal of 105.9. Additionally, simulcasting on FM filled in a significant gap in the AM station's nighttime coverage; WMAL must power down to 2,700 watts at sundown. The last songs on "105.9 The Edge" were "The Song Is Over" by the Who and "Hello, Goodbye" by the Beatles. The station filed a request to change its call sign to WMAL-FM, which became official on September 26, 2011. On June 13, 2019, it was announced that WMAL would switch to ESPN Radio on July 1, 2019, leaving the news/talk format exclusive to WMAL-FM. In April 2020, WMAL took the #1 spot in the ratings for the first time since the fall of 1986, beating competitors WAMU and WTOP-FM, while achieving a 10% audience share. The figure counts WMAL's history on 630 AM, then its transfer to FM, not the ratings on 105.9 FM at the time. References External links WMAL Online Smooth Jazz 105.9 HD2 Karen Leggett WMAL audio tapes at the University of Maryland Libraries MAL-FM Cumulus Media radio stations Talk radio stations in the United States Radio stations established in 1962 Westinghouse Broadcasting 1962 establishments in Virginia Former subsidiaries of The Walt Disney Company News and talk radio stations in the United States