K-LOVE parent company EMF buys competitor radio station The Fish (94FM)

Melonee Hurt, Nashville Tennessean
·2 min read

Amid relocating its corporate headquarters from California to Franklin, Educational Media Foundation, the parent company of contemporary Christian radio networks K-LOVE and Air1, has agreed to purchase Salem Media Group-owned competitor Nashville radio station The Fish (WFFH/94 FM.)

Educational Media Foundation agreed to the purchase of a total of four radio stations currently owned by Salem. The stations are in Nashville and Honolulu, Hawaii, and operate in a contemporary Christian format.

Blessing Offor performs with the Covenant School choir at the K-Love Fan Awards at the Grand Ole Opry on May 28, 2023; Nashville, TN, USA; Mandatory Credit: Sarah White-The Tennessean
Blessing Offor performs with the Covenant School choir at the K-Love Fan Awards at the Grand Ole Opry on May 28, 2023; Nashville, TN, USA; Mandatory Credit: Sarah White-The Tennessean

A company spokesperson said they expect the transition to be finalized within approximately 90 days.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to grow and keep Christian music flowing over these frequencies,” EMF CEO Todd Woods said in a statement. “These additions increase our coverage in our home market of Nashville and extend to a new audience in Hawaii, aligning with our mission to use media to reach people for Christ.”

This move is not the first purchase by EMF of Salem radio stations.

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In 2023, Salem announced it would sell Greenville, S.C.'s  94.5 The Answer, along with two additional radio signals. EMF reportedly paid $6.7 million to replace the current content on those stations with K-LOVE and Air1 formats.

EMF's new corporate headquarters is located in the Berry Farms development in Franklin and is slated to be 170,000 square-feet. It will include six floors where broadcast facilities, podcast and video production studios, and a worship center will be housed. The company is scheduled to move into its new facility in July.

Representatives from Salem Media Group haven't responded to request for comment, but this story will be updated as additional details about the plans for the purchased stations becomes available.

Melonee Hurt covers music and music business at The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK — Tennessee. Reach Melonee at mhurt@tennessean.com, on X @HurtMelonee or Instagram at @MelHurtWrites.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: K-LOVE, Air1 parent company EMF buys competitor radio station The Fish