102.1 fm

[K.M. Richards]

I find it interesting that religious broadcasting appears to make enough money to keep the bills paid.

And not just on the radio ... I did a scan of all the television digital subchannels here in L.A. and found at least a dozen 24/7 religious channels there as well (and that's not counting all the TBN-owned ones that they run on their own KTBN/40).

However, back to EMF (and Calvary Chapel, and the rest): I know how they could be brought to a dead halt, but it would require an act of Congress and a determined FCC. First, eliminate the allowance of main studio waivers to any entity other than accredited educational institutions; second, disallow translators unless the station being rebroadcast is in the same or an adjacent market, with no daisy chains of translators relaying other translators; third, require that any new acquisitions by a non-commercial broadcaster already be non-commercial stations; and fourth, create a sunset date for any grandfathered operations that do not meet these new criteria.

However, I expect the following to happen long before any of that: First, pigs will fly. Second, hell will freeze over. Third, the sun will begin rising in the West. Fourth, the calendar will be revised to have two Fridays per week.

In other words, on the twelfth of never (and that's a long, long time if you believe the song by Johnny Mathis).

 

[davideduardo]

Ah, here we go again - another great music format killed by Christian music broadcast over a satellite dish with no local personalities. This is just what makes me mad about EMF - trying to destroy well-known stations (think KHJK Houston, KMCQ Seattle, WCCC Hartford) just to make another dollar.

EMF is a non-profit organization whose goal is to spread the word of their faith. It is not out to make money; they use the money that comes in that is in excess of expenses to buy more stations or otherwise expand the ministry.

KPRI will be missed in the San Diego market - and there were tons of listeners throughout the country via their online stream.

The problem is that the station was hovering around 22nd in ratings and losing ground in revenues. Those listeners outside San Diego did nothing except increase the expenses unnecessarily.

Just like with CBS, iHeart and Cumulus, EMF has taken over dozens of stations throughout the country, just to make a profit. And I thought EMF was a non-profit...

It is a non-profit. What makes you think its motivations are to make a profit?

Obviously, a non-profit wants to take in enough money to pay for operations. And if they get additional income, it allows them to expand. In this, case, to bring their message to more people. If you listen, the two formats are beautifully done and are really examples of good radio. The fact that it is not locally originated in each market is not a disadvantage in this case... it is a definite plus.

Hopefully someone in San Diego can revive the AAA format soon.

Who in the world would want to be 22nd in a competitive market?

 

[davideduardo]

Amen and I mean AMEN!!! LOL
It wasn't that long ago that KPRI cracked the Top 10 in 6+ and certainly did well in their target demo.

Taking a 6-month average, the station is around 20th and in no discreet sales demo is it above 15th. Revenue was declining.

Just reflective of the audiences that are attracted by plastic and redundant pop music.

That's personal opinion. Some of us like pop music because it is fun and singable and so many other things; many of those that like CHR pop probably think most AAA music is harsh and annoying. See how a stereotype sounds when it is pointed at you?

Glad the rest of America still has some radio programming worth listening to.

Not very many people in SD were listening to KPRI. On the other hand, some of the better EMF signals get really good ratings and serve an audience that was otherwise not well served in San Diego.

 

[stan]

And yet EMF is just bad radio, but allegedly non profit.

I'd like nothing better than for the Feds to declare EMF's non profit status to be invalid and for their stations to be forfeited for other independent broadcasters to claim. EMF is just evil and you know that, David.

 

[joelr]

While EMF did try to program KOBC 90.7 in Joplin and WQFL 100.9 locally shortly after acquiring them, I'm pretty sure that didn't last more than a couple of years. By the time the devastating 2011 tornado hit Joplin, KOBC was running the national feed.

EMF at least tried operating studios outside of Sacramento. I don't know if they still do, however. EMF also had studios in Kansas City and Indianapolis. The morning show on K-Love moved to Indy after EMF got WKLU 101.9, and some of the Air 1 programming was produced in KC.

The morning shows for both K-LOVE and Air1 are still based out of Indy.

 

[joelr]

While EMF did try to program KOBC 90.7 in Joplin and WQFL 100.9 locally shortly after acquiring them, I'm pretty sure that didn't last more than a couple of years. By the time the devastating 2011 tornado hit Joplin, KOBC was running the national feed.

EMF at least tried operating studios outside of Sacramento. I don't know if they still do, however. EMF also had studios in Kansas City and Indianapolis. The morning show on K-Love moved to Indy after EMF got WKLU 101.9, and some of the Air 1 programming was produced in KC.

Also, we did local break-ins on KOBC during the week after the tornado. I know because I spent a week in Joplin interviewing folks and doing reports for the local station and also on the network. Our public affairs segment that Sunday night was with the school superintendent discussing the fate of the rest of the school year and what the schools were going to do in the future. The high school and some other schools were destroyed.

 

[davideduardo]

And yet EMF is just bad radio, but allegedly non profit.

I'd like nothing better than for the Feds to declare EMF's non profit status to be invalid and for their stations to be forfeited for other independent broadcasters to claim. EMF is just evil and you know that, David.

Why is it evil? They have a message of faith, through a music format that quite likely brings joy and comfort to many. You may not agree with their method of evangelizing, but there is nothing illegal about it.

 

[Gregg.]

I find it disappointing that a local San Diego Adult Alternative station is now the latest conquest of K-Love. Let's remember that EMF also own 96.1 licensed to Campo. That station airs the alternate EMF format known as Air 1. To me they sound the same, although I've read that Air 1 is more Contemporary, while K-Love is more Hot AC in its Contemporary Christian music.

You gotta hand it to these Contemporary Christian musicians and producers. The songs sound a lot like Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran, even if the subject matter is how great Jesus is, rather than how great love is. I don't understand how people, even if they're religious, want to listen to a radio format where all the songs can only talk about one subject.

I also don't understand how KPRI declined in its ratings. Many years ago, the transmitter was moved from North San Diego County, much closer to the city limits, similar to most of the full power FM stations licensed to San Diego. So the signal wasn't the problem. As mentioned above, KPRI did enjoy a ratings surge a year or two ago, moving into the top 10 for a short time. I assume as an Adult Alternative station, its audience was 25-54. As other AAA stations, it was never going to be #1 (once in a while KBCO Denver goes to #1, rare in this format). But AAA consistently delivers a high-income 25-54 audience that can keep the advertisers happy and the bills paid. Although I guess if EMF comes to the owner of a single station in a large market, they make a cash offer that's hard to turn down. Same thing happened last year in Hartford CT. An owner has been running 106.9 WCCC for decades as a Rock station. I sure he's had offers before and turned them down. But along comes EMF and now WCCC is K-Love 24/7.

EMF has been buying up full power FM signals in some large markets around the country. Their fundraising must be amazing that they're able to secure enough cash to buy full power FM stations in San Diego and Philadelphia without blinking an eye. While I don't like the format, when I've heard K-Love and Air 1 for a few minutes, everything sounds very slick and professional. I'm sure most people don't realize its a national format, with no local DJs.

 

[praiselightmedia]

EMF is just evil and you know that...

That's really offensive and immature.
There is something to be said for pure unadulterated bullying...especially when it comes to passively attacking others.

 

[stan]

What's offensive is organizations abusing their non profit status to build a conglomerate with tax advantages over others, and buying up stations and translators to shove the same pap onto communities that don't want them there.

 

[hotpatrick2004]

Reminds me of how kiss 102.7 got rid of rick dees. No warning no nuttin i put on the radio in march of 2004 and it was ricks last show and didnt announce a successor at the time but clear channel knew. That was very abrupt no warning to listeners.

Seems like for the most part if you reach a certain age and your onair talent on kiss los angeles they put you on one of there sister stations if they even keep u

I never quite understood why they kept ellen k since she had been associated with rick for so long?

 

[K.M. Richards]

Reminds me of how kiss 102.7 got rid of rick dees. No warning no nuttin i put on the radio in march of 2004 and it was ricks last show and didnt announce a successor at the time but clear channel knew. That was very abrupt no warning to listeners.

Seems like for the most part if you reach a certain age and your onair talent on kiss los angeles they put you on one of there sister stations if they even keep u

I never quite understood why they kept ellen k since she had been associated with rick for so long?

The sale of KPRI to EMF has nothing whatsoever in common with Rick Dees leaving KIIS. It isn't even the same market. You're waaaaaay off-topic here, Patrick.

Why don't you have the moderator delete this post and you can start a thread on the Los Angeles board to discuss Rick?

 

[K.M. Richards]

What's offensive is organizations abusing their non profit status to build a conglomerate with tax advantages over others, and buying up stations and translators to shove the same pap onto communities that don't want them there.

While I draw the line on calling EMF "evil" (you're entitled to your opinion, but I agree that the way your phrased it was more bullying than opining), what I find offensive about the EMF empire is that they have unfairly taken advantage of FCC rules allowing them to have main studio waivers and translators "rebroadcasting" stations hundreds of miles away to force their way into every possible gap they can find.

Yes, their programming is slick and professional, and it's less offensive to me than stations which run paid preachers back-to-back all or most of the day, but they're still tilting the playing field in their favor. If I wanted to do the same thing with a commercial-based format, I'd have to follow the same rules that they exploit as a non-commercial broadcaster.

That, pure and simple, is abuse, and it hastens the demise of terrestrial radio as a mass entertainment medium.

And I'm a Christian. I can't imagine what a non-believer makes of it all.

 

[davideduardo]

Reminds me of how kiss 102.7 got rid of rick dees. No warning no nuttin i put on the radio in march of 2004 and it was ricks last show and didnt announce a successor at the time but clear channel knew. That was very abrupt no warning to listeners.

It's been the industry norm for about 6 decades to, save special situations, not let talent back on the air after termination. That's based on too-numerous-to-count instances of the wrong things being said.

It is also the industry practice to not discuss internal hiring and firing with the general public.

And formats change often with new owners. Nothing different here, except that apparently you don't like the new format.

 

[davideduardo]

What's offensive is organizations abusing their non profit status to build a conglomerate with tax advantages over others, and buying up stations and translators to shove the same pap onto communities that don't want them there.

So let's take a different situation. The National Geographic Society covers its expenses with its magazine and other ongoing projects.

It has money left over, and that money lets is publish books and underwrite expeditions.

And then there may be more money left over. That lets them create a cable channel. They sell DVDs and more books. More money is left over.

So they use some to do their own human genome project and to finance other research on our planet and its plants and animal life.

There is no difference between this example and EMF, which does well liked listener supported radio programs. EMF uses surplus revenue to create more outlets for its radio programming. They use a portion of their income to increase their reach... that is the purpose of just about every evangelizing ministry. Why do you think this is wrong?

Is the Red Cross wrong in wanting to take its relief and disease control efforts to the most remote corners of the world? Is the Red Cross a "conglomerate" for wanting to reach as many of those in need as they can?

In fact, EMF's growth and outreach is only wrong if you are a bigot.

 

[K.M. Richards]

In fact, EMF's growth and outreach is only wrong if you are a bigot.

I'll politely disagree with you, my friend, and refer you to my post #33 in this thread.

 

[davideduardo]

I'll politely disagree with you, my friend, and refer you to my post #33 in this thread.

I don't think we disagree at all.

EMF is making use of a regulation that enables them to feed translators from out of market.

I don't think the FCC should ever have created those rules that permit such operation.

Those rules go back to when out-of-market translators were able to bring service to remote communities by rebroadcasting stations from nearby bigger cities.

The FCC should have required a set of tests based on number of local services, distance from market whose signals were being imported, etc. They should have required local ownership in the community where the translator was to be located and limited the ownership of translators that brought in out of market signals, commercial or otherwise.

I fear that horse is out of the barn, though.

Just think of all the AMs that really need translators that can not find an available channel because the various organizations such as EMF have sucked them all up.

 

[crainbebo]

Up in Seattle, we had KMCQ 104.5 (Classic Hits/Oldies) bought out by EMF to place K-LOVE in the Seattle area. NOT KNOWING that Spirit 105.3 KCMS had a loyal audience, some that have listened for many many years. Crista Ministries (which owns KCMS, KCIS-630 and KWPZ-106.5 Lynden/Bellingham) is a LOCAL, great service to the community for safe, family-friendly Christian music. K-LOVE and Air 1 may be the same, but placing translators in every city in America just to make more dollars is a HUGE problem. I wish the FCC would look into EMF. They DEFINITELY don't seem non-profit to me.
Translators should only be used for a purpose where a station cannot be heard in that area, and needs a translator station to rebroadcast. KAWZ/CSN is just the same thing. It has no use outside of 89.9 Twin Falls, ID, but they have over 400 translators throughout the country, in areas hundreds and hundreds of miles away from Twin Falls. It's a spiraling mess and unfortunately it seems that there is almost no solution to this problem. Add LPFM, and HD hash and forget hearing anything but the strongest locals in most areas.

 

[xmusicmatt]

EMF at least tried operating studios outside of Sacramento. I don't know if they still do, however. EMF also had studios in Kansas City and Indianapolis. The morning show on K-Love moved to Indy after EMF got WKLU 101.9, and some of the Air 1 programming was produced in KC.

They still do - The morning shows for both Air1 and KLove originate out of Indianapolis. Indianapolis also serves as a backup studio site in the situation something happens to Rocklin so they can stay on the air with programming.

 

[semoochie]

I don't think non-profit status should be given to anyone other than a legitimate educational service. That could include certain music formats, not available otherwise, including Classical, Jazz and very little else. I have no problem with Salem Broadcasting because they have to play by the rules but to allow a single company hundreds to thousands of repeaters, with absolutely no local or even regional service, is just deplorable and extremely unfair to everyone else! Even the legitimate educational outlets don't cover the entire country with no local content.