Salem Media Group Sells Seven Christian Radio Stations to EMF for $80 Million

Salem Media Group Sells Seven Christian Radio Stations to EMF for $80 Million

By Marcus Delano Thompson

December 31, 2024 at 04:46 AM

Salem Media Group has sold its seven remaining contemporary Christian music radio stations to the Educational Media Foundation (EMF) for $80 million, pending FCC approval.

Salem Media logo

Salem Media logo

The sold stations include:

  • KLTY-FM (Arlington, TX)
  • WFSH-FM (Athens, GA)
  • WFHM-FM (Cleveland, OH)
  • KFSH-FM (La Mirada, CA)
  • KKFS-FM (Lincoln, CA)
  • KBIQ-FM (Manitou Springs, CO)
  • KFIS-FM (Scappoose, OR)

EMF plans to implement its K-LOVE or Air1 Worship Now programming on these stations starting February 1, through a local marketing agreement. EMF currently reaches approximately 18 million weekly listeners through over 1,100 broadcast signals nationwide.

The sale is part of Salem Media Group's strategic plan to eliminate long-term debt. Additional financial arrangements include:

  • $10 million advertising and marketing agreement with EMF
  • Repurchase of $159.4 million in outstanding senior secured notes
  • $40 million Series B convertible preferred stock issuance to WaterStone Foundation
  • Extension of revolver line of credit with Siena Lending Group

"We have made a strategic decision to exit the contemporary Christian music format to pay off all of Salem's long-term debt," stated Edward G. Atsinger, Salem Media Group's executive chairman and co-founder. "EMF has demonstrated over many years a unique ability and dedication to creating and distributing the highest quality Christian music content to its listeners in a positive and encouraging way."

Spotify logo with explicit content warning

Spotify logo with explicit content warning

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