 In the mid-1960s, the radio station was purchased by Sheppard Broadcasting of Grand Rapids, Michigan.Following the purchase by Sheppard, the station changed call letters to WLYV (to become closely related to Sheppard's WLAV in Grand Rapids) and on January 1, 1966 changed formats to become Fort Wayne's first Top 40 station under the direction of programming consultant Mike Joseph, who had already successfully programmed stations in New York City, Detroit, and Chicago.The results were dramatic and immediate.