WELS-FM

WELS-FM
Kinston, North Carolina;
Broadcast area	Wilson and Goldsboro
Frequency	102.9 MHz
Branding	Praise 102.9
Programming
Format	Gospel music
Ownership
Owner	Curtis Media Group; (Eastern Airwaves, LLC);
Sister stations	WWMC, WFMC, WGBR, WIKS, WMGV, WSFL-FM, WNCT, WMJV
History
First air date	1971
Technical information
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	20409
Class	A
ERP	3,000 watts
HAAT	90 meters (300 ft)
Transmitter coordinates	35°17′03″N 77°39′53″W / 35.28417°N 77.66472°W
Links
Public license information	Public file; LMS;

WELS-FM (102.9 MHz), also known as Praise 102.9, is an American radio station licensed to serve the community of Kinston, North Carolina, United States. The station is owned by Curtis Media Group, via licensee Eastern Airwaves, LLC., and broadcasts a gospel music format targeting eastern North Carolina.

WELS-FM also features news programming from North Carolina News Network.

History

For many years, WELS-FM aired a gospel music format, simulcast with their AM sister station (1150 AM). On February 14, 2013, after an ownership change, the station changed to classic hits as "102.9 WELS". The AM station switched to a news/talk format.

On June 27, 2017, WELS-FM changed their format from classic hits to beach music, as Beach, Boogie and Blues, simulcasting WNCT (1070 AM) in Greenville.^[2]

On May 1, 2023, WELS-FM flipped back to gospel music as Praise 102.9.

Translators

In addition to the two originating stations WELS and WNCT, Beach, Boogie and Blues is relayed by an additional three FM translators to expand its broadcast area. The translators are fed by WIKS-HD2.