KRTY-FM Los Gatos has been sold

[davideduardo]

That means that you are an advocate for a non-profit "Christian" broadcast organization to spread hateful right-wing "Christian" propaganda and make a profit at it. So called "religious broadcasters" should not be allowed to profit and not pay hefty taxes on spreading their anti-gay, anti-immigrant, anti-equality messages.

None of the non-profit religious operations "make a profit" as there are no "shareholders" to distribute profits to. All funds that exceed costs are saved for future needs and are not distributed to anyone. That is what regulations require all non-profits... from a labor union to a church to the Red Cross to a museum to do.

That said we are in a country that allows free expression. For example people who believe that immigration should be controlled and regulated are not exclusively evangelical Christians. Recent surveys of Hispanic heritage US citizens shows that there is a higher than the national average feeling among them that immigration should be controlled and limited and highly regulated; most of that group is Catholic or comes from a Catholic heritage.

I've listened to the EMF stations. While I don't like the music at all, I have never heard anything against immigrants or gays or indicating unequal treatment of any group, gender or race.

 

[Miss Tuned]

It really bothers me that you have "non-profit" right-wing religious organizations like EMF be able to go in and buy up commercial broadcast properties so they can have yet an outlet to spread their hateful, right-wing, Christian propaganda as they see fit. Organizations like EMF should be considered "profit" organizations that has to pay full taxes and adhere to all federal broadcasting laws pertaining to broadcast standards.

I'm not a regular listener because I'm not religious myself, but I wouldn't consider EMF to be "spreading hate". Those types of stations tend to be on less prominent platforms, on marginal AMs or even on short-wave. EMF provides content aimed at those for whom their faith is a source of comfort and strength. It doesn't work for me because I wasn't raised in any kind of religion, but who am I to say that's not valid?

The biggest issue I have with religious radio is the number of stations - they tend to spread out to fill any available space. Each faction, church, grouping, whatever seems to want its own station because it believes something slightly different to the one down the road, and it means that the NCE segment of FM in particular is packed with endless slightly different preaching. It was evident in the last NCE licensing round where multiple churches were battling over frequencies in small towns. EMF is at least non-sectarian, it has a generic Christian message and it has two stations and no more.

 

[b-turner]

The thing I keep harping on is the people ticked off about all the religious stations have no room to complain. Every qualified non-profit can own stations if they choose. The complainers do nothing but then complain somebody else got the frequency. If you don't like it, do something other than complain...get together and form a non-profit and apply for frequencies.

 

[b-turner]

sdwulfdawg is a fine example of someone who has no idea about what he is talking about. In fact it's a pure lie. It's hateful.

I never listened to Air1 or Way FM until it played in the store where I work part-time. The station is all music and there is nothing whatsoever even close to what he claims on the air. Obviously an anti-Christian who hasn't bothered to ever listen but makes ignorant remarks when he could know what he dislikes by just listening

What I am bothered about is people who hate out of ignorance. And I am often confused why people are so bothered by people they don't associate with. I'm not bothered by those that don't believe in a God, although I do. I'm just bothered by ignorance and false accusations especially when it is so easy to make remarks with actual knowledge.

 

[JeremyAndrews]

That means that you are an advocate for a non-profit "Christian" broadcast organization to spread hateful right-wing "Christian" propaganda and make a profit at it. So called "religious broadcasters" should not be allowed to profit and not pay hefty taxes on spreading their anti-gay, anti-immigrant, anti-equality messages.

EMF avoids programming any of what you’re describing or anything that would be deemed controversial to the point of drawing anger from some Christians


Simply put, they play music and broadcast the occasional bible verse or snippet from a pastor (Once an hour)

Contemporary Christian, and in the past few years Contemporary Worship music are widely popular genres of music across multiple groups of Christian people who might have different beliefs. Thus they stay as neutral as possible on sensitive subjects. They specifically state on their website that they “Do not endorse political parties, issues, or candidates.”

They may or may not believe certain things or have certain views, but outside of the basic Christianity, they do not broadcast these beliefs.

Others, such as VCY America have become more politically motivated in recent decades and target specific sects of Christianity. Catholic networks like EWTN are almost exclusively Conservative.

 

[ksradiogeek]

That means that you are an advocate for a non-profit "Christian" broadcast organization to spread hateful right-wing "Christian" propaganda and make a profit at it. So called "religious broadcasters" should not be allowed to profit and not pay hefty taxes on spreading their anti-gay, anti-immigrant, anti-equality messages.

Have you *actually* listened to K-Love or Air1? My guess is you likely haven’t. While I’m not a big EMF fan (and am not huge on the church in general), but during the times I have listened, I have NEVER heard any anti-gay/immigrant/equality messages. It’s literally music, a jock, promo for their prayer line, and that’s practically it. I would encourage you to actually spend time listening to either of their stations before making false assumptions and statements.

VCY on the other hand...

 

[JeremyAndrews]

Have you *actually* listened to K-Love or Air1? My guess is you likely haven’t. While I’m not a big EMF fan (and am not huge on the church in general), but during the times I have listened, I have NEVER heard any anti-gay/immigrant/equality messages. It’s literally music, a jock, promo for their prayer line, and that’s practically it. I would encourage you to actually spend time listening to either of their stations before making false assumptions and statements.

VCY on the other hand...

EMF wouldn't even broadcast a promo for an anti abortion movie until supposedly some large donor threatened to pull their donation. Either that or some backlash they got. That was a couple years ago. Anything controversial is avoided, even things they might agree with. I honestly don't think what they do would work if they did broadcast anything anti gay, anti immigrant, racist, etc messages. They have listeners and likely donors belonging to all of the above groups. I feel they are trying to reach all Christians, and to an extent Non Christians, not just the conservative ones.

Unlike EMF which aims as to have as many people as possible listening, VCY America is a conservative Christian broadcaster speaking to a usually very strict fundamentalist, traditional audience. What you hear on VCY is very specific to what they believe. If they broadcast a message that is anti gay, anti immigrant, or anti this or that, they literally feel the Church is threatened by these things and are using the platform to warn people about it. That's VCY. Been that way for a long time.

EWTN Radio spent much of their time talking about abortion whenever I would come across them. That's the thing more conservative Catholics strongly oppose.

 

[CTListener]

One could argue that sections of the New Testament are exclusionary and discriminatory in themselves. "No one comes to the Father except through me," attributed to Jesus in the Book of John, would seem to preclude entry to the Kingdom of Heaven to anyone not of the faith of which Jesus became the central figure. Hence, all references to Christianity, in prose, poetry and music, could be interpreted by some as hateful.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

It really bothers me that you have "non-profit" right-wing religious organizations like EMF be able to go in and buy up commercial broadcast properties so they can have yet an outlet to spread their hateful, right-wing, Christian propaganda as they see fit. Organizations like EMF should be considered "profit" organizations that has to pay full taxes and adhere to all federal broadcasting laws pertaining to broadcast standards.

That means that you are an advocate for a non-profit "Christian" broadcast organization to spread hateful right-wing "Christian" propaganda and make a profit at it. So called "religious broadcasters" should not be allowed to profit and not pay hefty taxes on spreading their anti-gay, anti-immigrant, anti-equality messages.

That is one of the most .. im not sure what to call it......... idiotic, for starters, and hateful. and it shows you havent listened to KLove nor do you know anything about them.

I fall into the LGBT category of mankind.. and find nothing hateful or propaganda like about EMF. i listen now and then, ive donated in the past... and i know a few people who work there.. smartest nicest people in the business. And yes, they know im gay and dont care

 

[Cityguy76]

Have you *actually* listened to K-Love or Air1? My guess is you likely haven’t. While I’m not a big EMF fan (and am not huge on the church in general), but during the times I have listened, I have NEVER heard any anti-gay/immigrant/equality messages. It’s literally music, a jock, promo for their prayer line, and that’s practically it. I would encourage you to actually spend time listening to either of their stations before making false assumptions and statements.

VCY on the other hand...

Agree I tune in time to time for Air1 music and I find it very smooth calm religious music. I have never heard any negative anti gay/lesbian messages. Now on VCY when it was on 92.7 not sure if there was any but then again they have their own religious beliefs so it wouldn’t be surprising if there was. On a side note we will see what happens when 92.7 returns back on the air. Will it be sold again to VCY...

 

[JeremyAndrews]

I’ve been listening to these networks on and off since 2001. I listened to Air1 a lot in the late 2000s or so when it was rock-based. I was in my early 20s and going through stuff. The entire network felt like it was often an outreach for males going through stuff. They would frequently play crossover songs that could be heard on Mainstream stations. Never felt like I was being judged. They started going more toward pop after 2014-2015, and then Contemporary Worship in 2019 and I tuned out more.

Honestly things started getting rough and I was again listening almost nonstop to Air1 between 2019 and 2022, not because of the music (a lot of Worship music is dull, they had other stuff mixed in until this year which helped) The airstaff felt like friends and I felt better when listening. Less negativity. I think that is their goal. However, the Worship music is getting more boring to me lately. I can’t listen to a lot of it anymore so I have been gravitating more toward K-LOVE when I want to hear CCM. They play a lot of songs Air1 used to. I like a lot of the songs. So I listen. I lean Democrat…The music and hosts simply put me in a better, more positive state of mind.

There is a big difference between the networks though. Air1 still targets a younger audience and they will never get serious anymore. It’s all fun topics. To take your mind off anxiety. When I switched over to K-LOVE I found it gets a lot like Air1 used to. They’ll have the fun topics, but then they’ll run a phoner with someone who is addicted to something and becoming sober, having mental illness, can get really deep. I understand why people listen. They’re going through things and need a sense of hope. Some of them no longer attend Church for one reason or another. This might be their only connection to God. These networks serve their purpose.

Pledge drives are painful to listen to though. They have a third party help run them. Dunham & Company. Usually 2 weeks twice a year. Air1 started doing them more frequently since the format change. Usually one week every few months.

 

[sdwulfdawg]

Have you *actually* listened to K-Love or Air1? My guess is you likely haven’t. While I’m not a big EMF fan (and am not huge on the church in general), but during the times I have listened, I have NEVER heard any anti-gay/immigrant/equality messages. It’s literally music, a jock, promo for their prayer line, and that’s practically it. I would encourage you to actually spend time listening to either of their stations before making false assumptions and statements.

VCY on the other hand...

Yes, I have and my comment was very much considered and thought through for some time.

 

[sdwulfdawg]

sdwulfdawg is a fine example of someone who has no idea about what he is talking about. In fact it's a pure lie. It's hateful.

I never listened to Air1 or Way FM until it played in the store where I work part-time. The station is all music and there is nothing whatsoever even close to what he claims on the air. Obviously an anti-Christian who hasn't bothered to ever listen but makes ignorant remarks when he could know what he dislikes by just listening

What I am bothered about is people who hate out of ignorance. And I am often confused why people are so bothered by people they don't associate with. I'm not bothered by those that don't believe in a God, although I do. I'm just bothered by ignorance and false accusations especially when it is so easy to make remarks with actual knowledge.

No, I am not "anti-Christian" and actually belong to a very large, mainstream, worldwide religious denomination.

 

[sdwulfdawg]

EMF does a totally non-political Christian music format. It does not proselytize for any church and simply provides music that fits the broad spectrum of Christians.

They follow all "federal broadcasting laws" and are very diligent in doing so, including high technical standards and superior equipment.

EMF does not make a "profit" as all income is spent on its operations. So they would pay no income taxes in any case.

Professional Certified Public Accountant firms make sure that the numbers are cooked "all right" to make sure they "don't make a profit." The business of America is business, nothing about what is "right or wrong" as so many U.S citizens are indoctrinated into thinking from the time they enter first grade.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

Yes, I have and my comment was very much considered and thought through for some time.

I call BS..... because i know people who are against what EMF does and havent ever said something liek you. I've listened and found no issue with what theyre talking about. You have a clear bias, chip on your shoulder and pre concieved notions

PLEASE, point to 3 cases. .with examples where EMF has spewed hatred, bigotry and propaganda?

 

[michael hagerty]

That means that you are an advocate for a non-profit "Christian" broadcast organization to spread hateful right-wing "Christian" propaganda and make a profit at it.

He didn't say he was a big advocate for any particular non-profit.

The largest non-profit broadcasters in the country are PBS and NPR. Pacifica, which is about as far left on the spectrum as you can get, is a non-profit broadcaster.

As David and others noted, EMF does non-political music formats.

 

[davideduardo]

Professional Certified Public Accountant firms make sure that the numbers are cooked "all right" to make sure they "don't make a profit." The business of America is business, nothing about what is "right or wrong" as so many U.S citizens are indoctrinated into thinking from the time they enter first grade.

There is no such thing as a profit to a non-profit company by definition. Any surplus has to be used, eventually, by the organization in accordance with it charter.

 

[michael hagerty]

In fact, I'm going to add one other thing here.

As some of you may know, I spent the first 49 years of my career working at for-profit radio and TV stations---everything from the poorest mom-and-pops to major chains like Journal, Belo, Bonneville, Nationwide, Hearst-Argyle, Emmis, Scripps and iHeart. For the last two years, I've been working at an NPR member station.

During those first 49 years, time and time again, I saw needed equipment purchases delayed or cancelled, promotion budgets slashed, health insurance options degraded, staffers underpaid and when they inevitably quit, replaced by people making even less---or simply not replaced, exacerbating what was already too few people doing too many things.

All of that was in the name of maintaining a set profit margin---a percent of revenue that in the early days might have been considered a reasonable profit, but in the last 30 or more years, has become so large a percentage as to virtually ensure that you can't spend the money needed to run a station well and treat your employees right.

It doesn't help that manager bonuses depend on delivering or increasing that margin each year.

All of that evaporates in a non-profit environment. You may or may not have all the money to do the things you want or need to do---that's just life. But you're not in that situation because you're protecting 30% of revenue as a minimum profit margin, plus the boss' bonus.

 

[michael hagerty]

There is no such thing as a profit to a non-profit company by definition. Any surplus has to be used, eventually, by the organization in accordance with it charter.

In some cases, that surplus is donated to another non-profit company that needs the funds.

 

[davideduardo]

In some cases, that surplus is donated to another non-profit company that needs the funds.

Yes, and that is frequent when a non-profit decides to cease operation, such as when a founder retires or passes.

In a number of states, transferring to another non-profit requires such action to be in the bylaws of the donating entity I am told.