The station, using the call sign WEHP, signed on the air November 9, 2012, stunting with songs including the word "Happy"; at 12p.m. on November 16, 2012, it formally launched its contemporary hit radio format under the branding of "Happi 92.7".[2] The station was originally owned by Rick Rambaldo'a Erie Radio Company;[2] the construction permit had been acquired, under the name First Channel Communications, for $2,068,000 in a May 2011 Federal Communications Commission (FCC) auction, outbidding an entity affiliated with Connoisseur Media.[3] Rambaldo had previously a group of Erie radio stations that was sold to NextMedia in 1999, and subsequently acquired by Connoisseur Media and then iHeartMedia.[4] The WEHP call sign was assigned on May 16, 2012.[5]
In September 2019, Erie Radio Company announced the sale of the station to SJL of Pennsylvania, owner of WICU-TV, for $1.33 million; SJL is a sister company to Lilly Broadcasting, whose holdings in the area include WSEE-TV and three Warren radio stations.[6] Under the terms of the agreement, Erie Radio Company retained the rights to the "Happi" brand, but granted SJL/Lilly a perpetual royalty-free license to use the name.[4] The sale was completed on December 31, 2019,[7] at which point the call sign was changed to WICU (the "-FM" suffix was added on February 13, 2020).[5] On April 1, 2020, WICU-FM began simulcasting in Warren on WICU (1310 AM and 96.7 FM).[8]
In September 2021, WICU-FM relocated its studios to the facilities of WICU-TV and WSEE-TV, up State Street from its original studios.[9]
