Originally founded in 1981 as WUTA, it broadcast from Jarman Auditorium with a low-power 10-watt signal. The station was shut down by staff in 1984, only to come back on the air the following year as WLCX, broadcasting still at 10 watts on 90.1 FM. In 1993 the station began a series of moves, finally settling in Hiner G17 as its near permanent home. During its moves it could be found in the top floor of Hiner, then the Ruffner building in the old President’s Office. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, many people in Farmville complained of being unable to receive a signal from an NPR affiliate in downtown. At the same time, WLCX was looking to reach audiences outside of Longwood College. In 2001, with the help of WMRA in Harrisonburg, Virginia, WLCX's programming was expanded to 24 hours (with the addition of NPR programming and classical music). At the same time, an FCC Class A license was granted, allowing the station to increase its signal to its present 250 watts and move its frequency to 91.3 MHz. In 2002, in preparation for the transition from a college to a university, the station changed its call letters to WMLU. WMLU also regularly hosts two concerts at Longwood: "Battle of the Bands" in October as part of the university's Oktoberfest activities, when student-run bands compete for money prizes and Bandfest at Spring Weekend every April. Bandfest 2004 was the largest student-run college concert in Virginia. Such artists as Something Corporate, Andrew W.K., Regina Spektor, Saul Williams, Nada Surf, The Fray, and Mute Math have performed at Bandfest over the years, which began in 1993. Starting in 2004 WMLU began the on-campus DJ-ing service, "WMLU Remotes" which was eventually turned into a Board position because of the amount of requests the station received. Trivia Night was also established the same year. In 2007 WMLU added to its broadcasting capabilities a 24 hour web-stream available through the station’s website. Sports was reactivated in 2008.