Editing Educational Media Foundation

{{short description|American religious broadcaster}}
{{confused|Media Education Foundation}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Educational Media Foundation
| logo = EMF logo 2020 (Air1+K-Love+WTA+Accessmore).png
| type = [[Nonprofit organization|Nonprofit]]
| foundation = 1981
| founder = Bob Fogal
| location_city = [[Franklin, Tennessee]]
| location_country = [[United States]]
| industry = [[Mass media]]
| products = [[Radio broadcasting]]
| homepage = {{url |http://www.emfbroadcasting.com/}}
}}

'''Educational Media Foundation''' (formerly '''EMF Broadcasting''', abbreviated '''EMF''') is an American [[Nonprofit organization|nonprofit]] Christian media ministry based in [[Franklin, Tennessee|Franklin]], a suburb of [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]].

EMF is the parent company of [[K-Love|K-LOVE]] and [[Air1]]—the world's largest [[contemporary Christian music]] [[radio network]]s. As of 2022, EMF directly owns and operates more than 1,000 signals in all 50 U.S. states, [[American Samoa]], [[Puerto Rico]], and the [[District of Columbia]]. The organization is also among the top 10 U.S.-based [[Streaming media|audio streaming]] companies. In 2020, EMF launched AccessMore, a Christian podcast network, and K-LOVE On Demand, a free streaming platform offering live concerts, original programming, and other exclusive content. It also oversees WTA Media, a leader in faith-based films and publishing. 

The programming for Air1 and K-LOVE is distributed by satellite and carried on its own stations, including many low-power FM [[Broadcast relay station|translator]]s and some stations which EMF operates [[Local marketing agreement|on behalf of other owners]].

The president and [[CEO]] of EMF is Todd Woods, named to the position on March 21, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-21 |title=Educational Media Foundation Announces CEO Transition |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230321006016/en/Educational-Media-Foundation-Announces-CEO-Transition |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=www.businesswire.com |language=en}}</ref> Woods replaced Bill Reeves, who held the position from July 15, 2019, until March 21, 2023. Reeves replaced interim president and CEO Alan Mason, who himself succeeded longtime head Mike Novak.<ref name="RBR 2019-07-18">{{cite news |url=https://www.rbr.com/emf-novak-ceo-replace/ |last=Jacobson |first=Adam |title=Meet Mike Novak's Successor At EMF |website=Radio and Television Business Report |publisher=Streamline RBR, Inc. |date=July 18, 2019 |access-date=July 18, 2019 }}</ref>

==Structure==
Educational Media Foundation (EMF) is governed by a board of directors. The current chairman of the board is Donna Ecton.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chairman of the Board |url=https://www.klove.com/about-us/leadership |access-date=July 18, 2019 |publisher=K-Love}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Chairman of the Board |url=https://www.air1.com/about/leadership |access-date=July 18, 2019 |publisher=Air1}}</ref> The current CEO of EMF is Todd Woods.  

The vision for a professional Christian music radio ministry with major-market air talent was an idea KFRC DJ Bob Anthony Fogal had in 1978 that came to fruition on October 15, 1982, when the organization's first signal went on air.

In 1986, Dick Jenkins was named president and CEO of EMF. Mike Novak was next, heading the group from 2008 to 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gospelmusic.org/newsmedia/OMNewswire_detail.aspx?iid=36739&tid=33 |website=GospelMusic.org |title=OMNewswire |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225150745/http://www.gospelmusic.org/newsmedia/OMNewswire_detail.aspx?iid=36739&tid=33 |archive-date=February 25, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.charitynavigator.org/__asset__/studies/2010_CEO_Compensation_Study_Revised_Final.pdf |date=2010 |title=CEO Compensation Study |edition=Revised Final |website=Charity Navigator }}</ref> 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. And on July 15, 2019 Bill Reeves became the CEO of EMF. 

In its first 40 years, EMF has had only four CEOs - Fogal, Jenkins, Novak and Reeves (plus Alan Mason's interim role for the first half of 2019).

EMF's 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.

The organization is a member of the [[Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability]] (ECFA).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ecfa.org/MemberProfile.aspx?ID=9101 |title=Educational Media Foundation |website=Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability }}</ref>

On May 27, 2022, EMF broke ground for its new global headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee, south of Nashville.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://radioink.com/2022/05/31/emf-breaks-ground-on-new-franklin-facility/?vgo_ee=957yMcTlA5M5MS065d33AIvy7T5YEJ8ohjC9vauJg30= |title=EMF Breaks Ground on New Franklin Facility |website=Radio Ink}}</ref>

==Current brands==

===Air1===
{{Main|Air1}}

'''Air1''' is a [[Contemporary worship music|Christian worship music]] format featuring songs that are popular in many [[Contemporary worship|contemporary Christian worship services]]. In 1986, [[KLRD]] began broadcasting [[Christian CHR]]/rock music format from [[Yucaipa, California]], going by the on-air moniker "K-Lord". In 1994, [[KLXD|KXRD]] signed on as a sister station to KLRD.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://air1.com/About/Story.aspx |title=Testimonies of Christ's work, Share your Christian testimony - Air1 - Positive Hits |website=Air1 |access-date=April 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924164318/http://www.air1.com/About/Story.aspx |archive-date=September 24, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> 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 [[Broadcast relay station|FM broadcast translator]]s to spread its reach across much of the country. As of November 2011, the network lists 90 full-power radio stations and 125 translators collectively serving 40 states.  On January 1, 2019, Air1 flipped from its longtime Christian CHR format to Christian worship.

=== AccessMore ===
In 2020, EMF launched a Christian podcast network. 

===K-LOVE===
{{Main|K-Love}}

'''K-LOVE''' is a [[Christian adult contemporary]] radio programming service in the United States owned and operated by EMF as their flagship service. As of October 2022 K-LOVE's programming is [[simulcast]] on over 600 [[FM broadcasting|FM]] [[radio station]]s and [[broadcast translator|translators]] in 50 states and three US territories. K-LOVE reaches about 12 million listeners each week in cities including [[New York City]], [[Chicago]], [[Los Angeles]], [[Seattle]], [[Philadelphia]], [[Nashville]], [[San Antonio]], [[Boston]] and [[Denver]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Fan-based Christian music awards slated |url=http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=39758 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130226023321/http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=39758 |archive-date=2013-02-26}}</ref> It is also the sixth-most streamed online station in the world.<ref>{{cite web |last=Daigle |first=Paul |title=Operation Warm Partners with K-Love and Air1 Radio's Fall Pledge Drive |url=http://www.pr.com/press-release/447937 |access-date=November 1, 2012}}</ref> The K-LOVE studios and offices are located in [[Franklin, Tennessee|Franklin]], [[Tennessee]], a suburb of [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]].

=== K-LOVE Classics ===
{{Main|K-Love Classics}}

'''K-LOVE Classics''' was a Christian music radio programming service in the United States operated by EMF and was heard on full-powered FM stations and translators, including [[WLWX (FM)|WAIW]] in [[Chicago]]. Airing Christian music from the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s, the format debuted in June 2018 as an [[Internet radio|Internet-only station]] but quickly moved to terrestrial radio after a massive response. The format aired music by artists such as [[Bryan Duncan]], [[Amy Grant]], [[Keith Green]], Petra, [[Michael W. Smith]], [[Point of Grace]], and [[4 Him]].

On November 2, 2020, K-LOVE Classics ceased its broadcast online, and the terrestrial stations that had formerly aired K-LOVE Classics began airing the seasonal brand ''K-LOVE Christmas''.  On January 1, 2021, K-LOVE Classics came back in some fashion with two separate streams online and the terrestrial stations:  K-LOVE 90s and K-LOVE 2000s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=EMF Shuts Down K-Love Classics |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/201114/emf-shuts-down-k-love-classics/ |access-date=2020-11-09 |website=RadioInsight |language=en-US}}</ref> In honor of its 40th birthday, in 2022, K-LOVE launched a series of decade-specific streams covering music from the '70s, '80s, '90s, 2000s, 2010s.

=== K-LOVE On Demand ===
In 2020, EMF launched a free streaming platform offering live concerts, original programming, and other exclusive content.<ref>{{Cite web |title=K-LOVE On Demand |url=https://k-emf.vhx.tv/browse |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=K-LOVE On Demand}}</ref>

==Former brands==

===''Christian Music Planet'' magazine===
{{Main|Christian Music Planet}}

'''''Christian Music Planet''''' was a magazine owned and operated by Educational Media Foundation from 2002 until 2007, when it was sold to [[Salem Communications|Salem Communications Corporation]].<ref>{{cite news |title=EMF sells Christian Music Planet brand |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2007/02/19/story11.html |date=February 19, 2007 }}</ref>

===God's Country Radio===
{{Main|God's Country Radio Network}}

'''God's Country Radio''' was a [[Christian radio|Christian]] [[radio network]] in the [[United States]] which launched in 2008. The network aired principally on stations owned by Educational Media Foundation and also on some independent stations.<ref name="EMF">{{cite web
|url=http://gospelscoop.com/Entertainment/K_Love_owner_launches_Gods_Country_Christian_Country_radio_network |title=K-Love owner launches God's Country Christian Country radio network |website=GospelScoop.com |publisher=myIchthus Ministry Group |access-date=March 31, 2009 }}</ref>  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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/83258/god-s-country-radio-network-goes-off-the-air |title=God's Country Radio Network Goes Off The Air |website=All Access |publisher=All Access Music Group |access-date=April 6, 2018 }}</ref> 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|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.<ref>{{cite web |title=HisAir.net NewsChannel Aug '02 |website=HisAir.net |url=http://www.hisair.net/news/news.aug.02.htm |date=August 2002 }}</ref> However, the format proved unsuccessful and, within a year, it was no longer broadcast on any terrestrial station or online.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{official}}

{{K-LOVE}}
{{Air 1}}

[[Category: Mass media companies established in 1981]]
[[Category:1981 establishments in California]]
[[Category:Radio broadcasting companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Christian mass media in the United States]]
[[Category:Companies based in Placer County, California]] <!-- previously -->
[[Category:Companies based in Franklin, Tennessee]]
[[Category:Educational Media Foundation| ]]
[[Category:Non-profit organizations based in the United States]]
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