Salem Media Group has announced that it is exiting the Christian Contemporary Radio business by selling seven of its stations to Educational Media Foundation (EMF). EMF, a nonprofit organization and the second-largest radio broadcaster in the United States, operates the prominent Christian music networks K-LOVE and Air1.

The stations being acquired by EMF include “104.7 The Fish” WFSH-FM Athens/Atlanta GA, “95.5 The Fish” WFHM Cleveland, 102.7 KBIQ Manitou Springs/Colorado Springs, 94.9 KLTY Dallas, “95.9 The Fish” KFSH La Mirada/Los Angeles, “104.1 The Fish” KFIS Scoppoose/Portland, and “103.9 The Fish” KKFS Lincoln/Sacramento. Among these, KLTY in Dallas is a particularly surprising purchase. As the leading Adult Contemporary Christian Music station in the country, KLTY has long dominated local ratings, boasts the largest audience in its genre, and has been highly profitable. Starting in February, it will transition to either K-LOVE or Air1 programming.

The $80+ million deal has elicited shock within the industry, not only due to the hefty price tag but also because of the abrupt loss of hundreds of local jobs, including some of the field's most notable on-air talent. This move represents another significant setback for local Christian radio, one that many argue will have lasting repercussions.

EMF has faced criticism for its consolidation of Christian radio, which narrows the variety of artists and genres featured while often eliminating local programming entirely. This trend has profound implications for the Christian music industry as record labels must contend with increasingly limited playlists, resulting in homogenous content across the country. The reduction in local talent and promotional teams further hinders grassroots growth and passion for Christian music on a community level, fueling the discovery of Christian music on other platforms like social media, and sites like NewReleaseToday. 

The explosive growth of artists like Josiah Queen and Forrest Frank is showcasing the hunger for Christian music discovery before radio even had time to react. Both artists have blown apart Christian sales records to date, largely fueled by discovery away from Christian radio. 

Earlier this year, a Rolling Stone editorial on EMF's expansion sparked debate, though it was criticized for inaccuracies such as referencing "Christian Rock" -- a genre that K-LOVE does not play and that Air1 abandoned in favor of an all-worship format in 2019. Despite these missteps, the article highlighted EMF's strategy of acquiring stations nationwide and converting them to Christian programming, thereby significantly increasing the presence of Christian contemporary music on the airwaves.

Currently, EMF's networks reach approximately 18 million listeners weekly, solidifying their dominance in the Christian radio landscape.