In 1978, WZZK changed formats and became Birmingham's first FM country music station, challenging long-time market leader WYDE. Initially, the new WZZK was automated, with no live studio announcers. The station began adding announcers in 1980 and began to assert itself in the Birmingham area. By 1982, the success of WZZK forced WYDE to drop the country music it had aired since 1963. Throughout most of the 1980s and 1990s, WZZK was ranked no lower than #3 in the Birmingham Arbitron ratings, despite challenges from first WQUS, then from WBMH, later WIKX. Neither station made a significant impact; in fact, the parent company of WZZK bought WIKX in 1991 and changed its format.
