Following several years of efforts to restore the stations to full service, Civic Media’s WELY/1450 and WELY-FM/94.5 (Ely) will split into separate formats the week of Oct. 19.
The stations announced that WELY and its FM translator, K280AT/103.9, will keep the 1950s to 1970s Oldies playlist that the stations have been running since last year.
Meanwhile, WELY-FM/94.5 will switch to a 1980s and 1990s-based Classic Hits format. WELY-FM had been temporarily simulcasting the Oldies format while work was completed to return the station to permanent operation.
The stations will continue to simulcast local programming including a trading show, Polka music, and “Hometown Happenings.” WELY-FM will carry local sports and the Minnesota Vikings, while “Hometown Radio” (WELY/K280AT) will carry the Minnesota Twins.
The format launch marks the end of a four-year journey: The stations went off the air in late 2022 as the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa sold the stations to Zoe Communications, which later sold them to Civic Media.
Civic returned WELY to the air in spring of 2025, while WELY-FM came back on the air at reduced power in fall of 2025 and completed an upgrade to 35kW/100m (class C2) in spring 2026. WELY Chief Engineer Erick Burnstad discussed the extensive work to return the stations to the air on an episode of the This Week in Radio Tech podcast.
WELY-FM had been stunting earlier this year but began simulcasting with WELY in July to provide coverage of wildfires in the Superior National Forest.
Under its previous ownership, WELY-FM had carried a broad Adult Alternative/Folk format.