Salem Media Group

Salem Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: SALM; formerly Salem Communications Corporation) is an American radio broadcaster, Internet content provider, and magazine and book publisher based in Camarillo, California, targeting audiences interested in Christian values and what it describes as "family-themed content and conservative values."[2] In addition to its radio properties, the company owns Salem Radio Network, which syndicates talk, news and music programing to approximately 2,400 affiliates; Salem Media Representatives, a radio advertising company; Salem Web Network, an Internet provider of Christian content and online streaming with over 100 Christian content and conservative opinion websites; and Salem Publishing, a publisher of Christian themed magazines. Salem owns 117 radio stations in 38 markets, including 60 stations in the top 25 markets and 29 in the top 10, making it tied with CBS Radio for fifth-largest radio broadcaster.[2] FamilyTalk is a Christian-themed talk format on Sirius XM Radio Channel 131. Additionally, Salem owns conservative websites Townhall.com, RedState, Hot Air, and PJ Media, as well as Twitter aggregator Twitchy.

Salem Media Group, Inc.
Public
Traded asNASDAQ: SALM (Class A)
Russell Microcap Index component
ISINUS7940931048 
IndustryMass media
Commercial radio broadcasting
GenreRadio broadcasting, publishing, internet content provider
FoundersStuart Epperson
Edward Atsinger III
Headquarters
4880 Santa Rosa Road
Camarillo, California
,
United States
Revenue$262.78 million (2018)[1]
Number of employees
1,173 (2019)
Websitesalemmedia.com

The company was founded by brothers-in-law Stuart Epperson and Edward G. Atsinger III and, unlike many Christian broadcasters, is a for-profit corporation. This allows it to buy stations in the commercial radio band which are often higher-powered than those of the FM non-commercial band, and to accept commercial advertising.

History
Former logo of Salem Communications.

In the early 1980s Atsinger (chief executive officer) and Epperson (chairman of the board) combined their radio assets to create Salem Communications. Beginning with stations in North Carolina and California, Atsinger and Epperson purchased station properties in Boston, San Antonio, New York, San Francisco, Portland, Los Angeles and other markets, converting them to Christian talk stations. In the 1990s, they expanded formats to include contemporary Christian music (with most stations under this format branded as "The Fish"),[3] news talk (branded as "The Answer"), Spanish-language Christian content, and business programming.[4]

Many of Salem's stations are licensed to subsidiaries, organized by geographical area and media cluster as the company has acquired new stations and their previous licensees.

Salem Communications Corp acquired Twitter curation site, Twitchy.com. In January 2014, the Company announced the acquisition of the assets of Eagle Publishing, including Regnery Publishing, Human Events, and RedState, as well as sister companies Eagle Financial Publications and Eagle Wellness.[5]

On February 23, 2015, Salem Communications changed its name to Salem Media Group.[6][7]

In 2015, Salem Media Group expanded their digital platform with acquisitions of several businesses and assets, including DividendYieldHunter.com,[8] Stockinvestor.com;[9] DividendInvestor.com,[10] a Spanish Bible mobile app, along with its related website and Facebook properties; the DailyBible mobile app; the Daily Bible Devotion mobile app; and also Bryan Perry's Newsletters.

In 2016, Salem Media Group continued to expand by acquiring the websites ChristianConcertAlerts.com, Historyonthenet.com and Authentichistory.com; as well as Mike Turner's line of investment products, including TurnerTrends.com;[11] the Retirement Watch newsletter and website, Retirementwatch.com;[12] and the King James Bible mobile application. Salem Media Group also acquired Mill City Press from Hillcrest Publishing Group, Inc.

In July 2017, Salem Media Group merged DividendYieldHunter.com and transferred all content into DividendInvestor.com.[13]

In March 2019, political writer Raheem Kassam and lawyer Will Chamberlain purchased Human Events from Salem Media Group for $300,000.[14]

Radio stations and licensees

Salem's radio stations are organized into six categories:

  • Christian talk and teaching, which consists of programs produced and paid for by local and national ministries, with some stations branded as The Mission or The Word. These stations do not accept commercial advertising;
  • Conservative talk, a variant on the News/Talk format, focused around Salem Radio Network's Talk programs (see below). Most of these stations utilize the branding names The Answer or The Patriot, and all accept commercial advertising;
  • Contemporary Christian Music, an advertiser-supported format with such stations branded as The Fish;
  • Spanish-language Christian talk and/or music, utilizing the branding Radio Luz;
  • Business talk, with these stations collectively branded as The Wall Street Business Network;
  • and a grouping of other stations not in one of those five categories.

As of 2020, Salem's radio stations and licensees (with stations arranged by state and market served) are:[15]

AM Stations FM Stations

Bison Media

Market Station Current Format
Colorado Springs KZNT-1460 Conservative talk
KBIQ-102.7 Christian adult contemporary
KGFT-100.7 Christian talk and teaching
Dallas - Fort Worth KSKY-660 Conservative talk

Inspiration Media, Inc.

Market Station Current Format
Seattle - Tacoma KGNW-820 Christian talk and teaching
KLFE-1590 Conservative Talk
KNTS-1680 Spanish Christian Contemporary Music

New Inspiration Broadcasting Co., Inc.

Market Station Current Format
Los Angeles KRLA-870 Conservative talk
KFSH-FM-95.9 Contemporary Christian Music
KKLA-FM-99.5 Christian talk and teaching
Oxnard - Ventura KDAR-98.3 Christian talk and teaching
Sacramento KFIA-710 Christian talk and teaching
KTKZ-1380 Conservative talk
KKFS-103.9 Contemporary Christian Music
San Diego KCBQ-1170 Conservative talk
KPRZ-1210 Christian talk and teaching
San Francisco - Oakland KTRB-860 Conservative talk
KFAX-1100 Christian talk and teaching

Salem Communications Holding Corporation

Market Station Current Format
Phoenix KKNT-960 Conservative talk
KXXT-1010 Christian talk and teaching
KPXQ-1360 Christian talk and teaching
Little Rock KKSP-93.3 Contemporary Christian Music
KDIS-FM-99.5 Christian talk and teaching
KDXE-101.1 Conservative talk
Riverside - San Bernardino KTIE-590 Conservative talk
Sacramento KSAC-FM-105.5 Business talk
Washington, D.C. WWRC-1260 Conservative talk
Miami - Fort Lauderdale WKAT-1450 Spanish Variety
Orlando - Daytona Beach WORL-950 Conservative talk
WTLN-990 Christian talk and teaching
Sarasota - Bradenton WLSS-930 Conservative talk
Tampa - St. Petersburg WTBN-570 Christian talk and teaching
WGUL-860 Conservative talk
WTWD-910 Christian talk and teaching
(simulcasts WTBN)
Atlanta WDWD-590 Christian talk and teaching
WGKA-920 Conservative talk
WNIV-970 Christian talk and teaching
WLTA-1400 Christian talk and teaching
(simulcasts WNIV)
WFSH-FM-104.7 Contemporary Christian Music
Boston WEZE-590 Christian talk and teaching
Detroit WDTK-1400 Conservative talk
WLQV-1500 Christian talk and teaching
Minneapolis - Saint Paul KKMS-980 Christian talk and teaching
KYCR-1440 Business talk
KDIZ-1570 Conservative talk
Cleveland WHKW-1220 Christian talk and teaching
WHK-1420 Conservative talk
Portland, Oregon KFIS-104.1 Contemporary Christian Music
Philadelphia WFIL-560 Christian talk and teaching
WNTP-990 Conservative talk
Pittsburgh WPIT-730 Christian talk and teaching
WPGP-1250 Conservative talk
WORD-FM-101.5 Christian talk and teaching
Greenville, South Carolina WGTK-FM-94.5 Conservative talk
WLTE-95.9 Classic Hits
(simulcasts WRTH)
WRTH-103.3 Classic Hits
Nashville WFFI-93.7 Contemporary Christian Music
WFFH-94.1 Contemporary Christian Music
Houston - Galveston KNTH-1070 Conservative talk
San Antonio KLUP-930 Conservative talk

Inspiration Media of Texas, LLC.

Market Station Current Format
Dallas - Fort Worth KTNO-620 Spanish Christian
KLTY-94.9 Contemporary Christian Music
KWRD-FM-100.7 Christian talk and teaching

Reach Satellite Network, Inc.

Market Station Current Format
Nashville WBOZ-104.9 Contemporary Christian Music

Salem Media of Massachusetts, LLC.

Market Station Current Format
Chicago WYLL-1160 Christian talk and teaching
Louisville WFIA-900 Christian talk and teaching
(sale pending to Word Media Group)
Boston WROL-950 Christian talk and teaching
Minneapolis - Saint Paul WWTC-1280 Conservative talk
New York City WMCA-570 Christian talk and teaching
Cleveland WFHM-FM-95.5 Contemporary Christian Music

Salem Media of Colorado, Inc.

Market Station Current Format
Denver - Boulder KNUS-710 Conservative talk
KRKS-990 Christian talk and teaching
KBJD-1650 Spanish Christian
KRKS-FM-100.7 Christian talk and teaching

Salem Media of Hawaii, Inc.

Market Station Current Format
Honolulu KHNR-690 Conservative talk
KGU-760 Classic Country
KHCM-880 Chinese
KAIM-FM-95.5 Contemporary Christian Music
KHCM-FM-97.5 Country
KGU-FM-99.5 Christian talk and teaching
KKOL-FM-107.9 Classic Hits

Salem Media of Illinois, LLC.

Market Station Current Format
Chicago WIND-560 Conservative talk
Houston - Galveston KKHT-FM-100.7 Christian talk and teaching

Salem Media of Kentucky, Inc.

Market Station Current Format
Louisville WGTK-970 Conservative talk
(sale pending to Word Media Group)
WFIA-FM-94.7 Christian talk and teaching
(sale pending to Word Media Group)

Salem Media of New York, LLC.

Market Station Current Format
New York City WNYM-970 Conservative talk

Salem Media of Ohio, Inc.

Market Station Current Format
Columbus, Ohio WRFD-880 Christian talk and teaching
WTOH-98.9 Conservative talk

Salem Media of Oregon, Inc.

Market Station Current Format
Portland, Oregon KPDQ-800 Christian talk and teaching
KPAM-860 Conservative talk
KDZR-1640 Conservative talk
KRYP-93.1 Regional Mexican
KPDQ-FM-93.9 Christian talk and teaching

Salem Media of Texas, Inc.

Market Station Current Format
San Antonio KSLR-630 Christian talk and teaching

Salem Media of Virginia, Inc.

Market Station Current Format
Washington, D.C.
(Northern Virginia)		 WAVA-780 Christian talk and teaching
WRCW-1250 Conservative talk
(simulcasts WWRC)
WAVA-FM-100.7 Christian talk and teaching

SCA-Palo Alto, LLC.

Market Station Current Format
San Francisco - Oakland KDOW-1220 Business talk

Salem Radio Network
Main article: Salem Radio Network

Salem Radio Network is a satellite radio network serving general market News/Talk stations and Christian-formatted stations through affiliate partnerships serving more than 2,700 radio stations. The five major divisions are SRN Talk, SRN News, Salem Music Network, Salem Media Reps and Vista Media Reps and SRN Satellite Services.

  • SRN Talk produces general market News/Talk shows featuring nationally syndicated hosts Hugh Hewitt, Mike Gallagher, Dennis Prager, Sebastian Gorka, Larry Elder, and Dan Profit. It also produces Christian market programming featuring The Eric Metaxas Show.
  • SRN News is a news source for conservative and Christian radio serving over 2,000 affiliates.[16]
  • The Salem Music Network has three satellite offerings – Contemporary Christian, Praise and Southern Gospel.
  • Salem Media Reps specializes in Christian, family-themed and conservative media, radio, online, print and mobile.
  • SRN Satellite Services provides satellite distribution and production services to over 70 organizations and ministries.

The satellite feed for Salem's general market programming can be heard on the CRN Digital Talk Radio Networks, on CRN3.[17]

Salem Publishing

Salem's flagship publication, CCM Magazine, was in the Christian music industry for more than 25 years. Salem no longer prints CCM Magazine, but it still exists in an online-only format. Other magazine publications include Singing News Magazine, which discusses happenings involving the Southern gospel community.[18]

Salem Author Services

Under the umbrella of Salem Author Service are Xulon Press, Mill City Press and the websites Bookprinting.com, Bookediting.com, Publishgreen.com and Libertyhill.com.

Xulon Press is a self-publishing digital publisher of books targeting a Christian audience.[19] They use print on demand technologies that store books electronically and print them only as they are ordered. Xulon was founded by Christian author and publisher Tom Freiling and was acquired by Salem in 2006.[20]

Salem Español Online

Salem owns a collection of Spanish language sites that provide a variety of Christian and family-friendly resources online. A few of those sites are CristoTarjetas.com; ElsitioCristiano.com; BibliaVida.com and LuzMundial.com.

Political activities

The founders of Salem Communications supports various religious causes. In 2005, Epperson was reported in Time magazine as one of the "25 Most Influential Evangelicals in America".[21] In 2004 he co-chaired "Americans of Faith", a religiously based Republican electoral campaign. Both founders have served on the Council for National Policy. They gave $100,000 to the Bush presidential reelection campaign and $780,000 to the 2000 "California Defense of Marriage Act" (Proposition 22) ballot measure.[22]

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References
  1. "Salem Media Group Company Profile". Craft. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
  2. "About Us - Salem Media Group". salem.cc.
  3. "Contemporary Christian Music - Station Formats - Salem Media Group". salem.cc.
  4. "History - Salem Media Group". salem.cc.
  5. "SALM acquisition of Twitchy.com". Archived from the original on 2014-03-25.
  6. Salem rebrands to Salem Media Group – Radio Ink Magazine Archived 2015-09-24 at the Wayback Machine
  7. "Salem Communications Corporation renamed to Salem Media Group". Radioandmusic.com. 23 February 2015.
  8. "Salem Media Group Announces Acquisition of DividendYieldHunter.com". Cision PR Newswire. November 2, 2015. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  9. "StockInvestor.com - Salem Media Group". salemmedia.com.
  10. "Salem Media Group Announces Acquisition of DividendInvestor.com".
  11. "Salem Media Group Announces Acquisition of Mike Turner's Line of Investment Products". Cision PR Newswire. October 27, 2016. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  12. "Salem Media Group Announces Acquisition of Bob Carlson's Retirement Watch Newsletter". Cision PR Newswire. April 4, 2016. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  13. "Welcome Dividend Yield Hunter Readers". Dividend Investor. July 11, 2017. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  14. Wemple, Erik (1 March 2019). "Breitbart alum to resuscitate Human Events". The Washington Post. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  15. "Station Lists - Salem Media Group". salemmedia.com.
  16. "SRN – About Us". November 14, 2017. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  17. "Salem Radio Network - Salem Media Group". salem.cc.
  18. Salem Publishing – Salem.cc
  19. "Xulon Press - Salem Media Group". salemmedia.com.
  20. "Salem Communications Announces an 8.8% Increase in Second Quarter 2006 Total Revenue - Salem Media Investor Center". investor.salemmedia.com.
  21. "Stuart Epperson – The 25 Most Influential Evangelicals in America". Time. February 7, 2005. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  22. "A Higher Frequency". Mother Jones. Retrieved December 10, 2011.
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