The station signed on the air August 1, 1959.[5] Its call sign was WSOQ and it broadcast on 1220 AM. On that frequency, WSOQ was a daytimer. Due to longer established stations on 1220, WSOQ had to go off the air at sunset each day to avoid interference. The station was owned by Sol Panitz and Harry Winton, and was a Mutual Broadcasting Systemnetwork affiliate.
Over the years, the station used the call letters WEZG, WURS, and WXRA.
In 1991, the station moved to its current frequency. It had attempted to move its spot on the dial since 1980, hoping to find a frequency where it could broadcast around the clock.[6][7][8] A few months later, the station was renamed WNSS. It then became WKRL in 1993, and WTLA in 1995.[9]
Until March 5, 2010, WTLA offered an adult standards format from the "Music of Your Life" network. On that date, it affiliated with ESPN Radio.[10] A local afternoon show, "Disturbing The Peace" was added in May 2010, focusing on Syracuse and New York sports. In January 2011, programs hosted by Mike Bristol (who had previously been heard on AM 620WHEN) were picked up by WTLA.
Actor Daniel Baldwin began hosting a one-hour weekday sports program on WTLA/WSGO in 2017.[11] The show ended in April 2019.[12]