Educational Media Foundation

Educational Media Foundation
Nonprofit
Industry Mass media
Founded 1981
Headquarters Rocklin, California, United States
Products Radio broadcasting
Website www.kloveair1.com

Educational Media Foundation (formerly EMF Broadcasting, abbreviated EMF) is an American nonprofit organization that operates radio networks broadcasting contemporary Christian music, including Air1 and K-Love. EMF is based in Rocklin, California, a suburb of Sacramento, California.

As of November 2008, EMF directly owns and operates at least 245 radio stations throughout the United States.[1] The programming for Air1 and K-Love is distributed by satellite and carried on its own stations, including a large number of low-power FM translators and some stations which it operates on behalf of other owners.

EMF's President and CEO Mike Novak was named to those positions on October 1, 2007, succeeding Dick Jenkins, the network's founder.[2][3] On June 1, 2018, Novak announced that he would retire from EMF within the next several months after 20 years of service to the organization. He would remain on board until his successor is named.[4][5]

The K-Love Air1 Foundation operates as a fundraising arm of EMF.[6]

Structure

EMF is governed by a board of directors. Members of the board serve four-year terms on a volunteer basis.[7] The current chairman of the board is Darrell Chambliss, the chief operating officer of Waste Connections. The current CEO of EMF is Mike Novak, who announced on June 1, 2018 that he would be retiring within the next few months.[4][5]

To ensure it is accountable to its donors, EMF has enlisted third-party organizations to audit and monitor its finances. The organization is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).[8] Nonprofit watchdog group Charity Navigator has awarded EMF a four-star rating, the highest rating possible, in recognition of its financial performance, accountability, and transparency.[9] In addition, EMF is audited yearly by an independent accounting firm, ensuring accuracy and completeness of its books and records.

Its stations are licensed as non-commercial educational (NCE) radio stations. Funding for Air1 and K-Love comes from listener donations in a manner similar to public radio stations. The majority of donations are made during seasonal pledge drives, usually in the spring and in the fall.

Current brands

Air1 Radio

Air1 is a Christian contemporary hit radio (Christian CHR) radio network in the United States, playing popular songs from Christian rock and similar genres in a manner similar to that of secular top 40 stations. In 1986, KLRD began broadcasting Christian music from Yucaipa, California, going by the on-air moniker "K-Lord". In 1994, KXRD signed on as a sister station to KLRD.[10] In 1995, K-Lord changed its name to "Air1" and began broadcasting via satellite from St. Helens, Oregon. In 1999, Air1 joined Educational Media Foundation, and in 2002, it moved its headquarters to Rocklin, California. Air1 makes use of FM broadcast translators to spread its reach across much of the country. As of November 2011, the network lists 90 full-power radio stations and 125 translators of various power levels reaching 40 states.

K-Love Radio

K-Love is a Christian adult contemporary radio programming service in the United States owned and operated by EMF. As of July 2018, K-Love's programming is simulcast on over 520 FM radio stations and translators in 47 states and one U.S. territory. K-Love reaches about 12 million listeners each week in cities including New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, Seattle, Philadelphia, Nashville, San Antonio, and Denver.[11] It is also the sixth-most streamed online station in the world.[12] The K-Love studios and offices are located in Rocklin, California, near Sacramento.[13] As of November 2009, the morning show broadcasts from Indianapolis, Indiana.

K-Love Classics

K-Love Classics is a Christian music radio programming service in the United States operated by the Educational Media Foundation (EMF) and is heard on FM stations and translators including WAIW in Chicago. Airing Christian music from the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s, the format debuted in June 2018 as an internet-only station but quickly moved to FM radio after a large response to the K-Love Classics format. The format airs music by artists such as Bryan Duncan, Nicole Nordeman, Keith Green, Bob Bennett, Al Denson, Shaun Groves, and The Katinas.

Former brands

Christian Music Planet magazine

Christian Music Planet was a magazine owned and operated by Educational Media Foundation from 2002 until 2007, when it was sold to Salem Communications Corporation.[14]

God's Country Radio

God's Country Radio was a Christian radio network in the United States which launched in 2008. The network aired on a majority of stations owned by Educational Media Foundation and some independent stations.[15] God's Country Radio Network played a blend of Southern Gospel and Christian country music.

In November 2010, God's Country Radio Network ceased operations due to lack of financial support from its listeners sufficient to meet its expenses.[16] It relaunched in January 2011 as an Internet-only broadcaster. After EMF discontinued its affiliation with God's Country Radio Network at that point, most of the affiliate stations flipped to Radio Nueva Vida, a Spanish-language Christian radio network owned and operated by California-based nonprofit organization The Association for Community Education, Inc.

World Wide Worship

World Wide Worship was a radio format that played contemporary worship music. It began in 1999 as an Internet-only station. In 2002, KWRC in Corpus Christi, Texas became the first terrestrial EMF station to broadcast World Wide Worship.[17] However, the format proved unsuccessful and, within a year, it was no longer broadcast on any terrestrial station or online.

References

  1. ↑ "Educational Media Foundation". Streaming Radio Guide.
  2. ↑ "OMNewswire". GospelMusic.org. Archived from the original on February 25, 2012.
  3. ↑ "CEO Compensation Study" (PDF). Charity Navigator (Revised Final ed.). 2010.
  4. 1 2 Venta, Lance (June 1, 2018). "Mike Novak To Retire As EMF CEO". RadioInsight. RadioBB Networks. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
  5. 1 2 "Mike Novak, Long-Time Leader of K-LOVE & Air1 Radio Networks, to Retire as CEO of Educational Media Foundation". San Francisco Business Journal. American City Business Journals. Business Wire. June 1, 2018. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Positive & Encouraging K-LOVE". K-LOVE. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Leadership". KLOVE.com
  8. ↑ "Educational Media Foundation". Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.
  9. ↑ "Charity Navigator - Rating for Educational Media Foundation". Charity Navigator. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Testimonies of Christ's work, Share your Christian testimony - Air1 - Positive Hits". Air1. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  11. ↑ "Fan-based Christian music awards slated". Archived from the original on 2013-02-26.
  12. ↑ Daigle, Paul. "Operation Warm Partners with K-Love and Air1 Radio's Fall Pledge Drive". Retrieved November 1, 2012.
  13. ↑ "History of K-Love". klove.com. Retrieved November 18, 2006.
  14. ↑ "EMF sells Christian Music Planet brand". February 19, 2007.
  15. ↑ "K-Love owner launches God's Country Christian Country radio network". GospelScoop.com. myIchthus Ministry Group. Retrieved March 31, 2009.
  16. ↑ "God's Country Radio Network Goes Off The Air". AllAccess.com. All Access Music Group. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  17. ↑ "HisAir.net NewsChannel Aug '02". HisAir.net. August 2002.
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