The station went on the air as KZZA on July 22, 2003. Three days later, the station changed its call sign to WUSP, and on March 5, 2008, to WRCW.[3] The call sign became WLJY on September 16, 2013.[4] with the format change from oldies as "Kool Gold 105.5" to an adult contemporary format as "Y105.5".[5] WLJY became WIRI on May 1, 2021.
On June 23, 2021, WIRI flipped to classic country as "Country Legends 24/7".[6]
On August 3, 2022, it was announced that Civic Media would acquire WIRI, along with sister station WFHR and its translator, W248DE.[7] The purchase, at a price of $886,000, was consummated on October 3, 2022.