Salem Media Group


Salem Media Group, Inc. is an American radio broadcaster, internet content provider, and magazine and book publisher based in Irving, Texas, targeting audiences interested in Christian values and what it describes as "family-themed content and conservative values".
Salem Media Group 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 Audacy for the fifth-largest radio broadcaster.
In addition to its radio properties, the company owns:
  • Salem Radio Network, which syndicates talk, news and music programming 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.
  • Salem Publishing, a publisher of Christian themed magazines.
  • Conservative websites Townhall.com, RedState, Hot Air, and PJ Media, as well as Twitter aggregator Twitchy.
The company was founded by brothers-in-law Stuart Epperson and Edward G. Atsinger III and is a for-profit corporation. This allows it to accept commercial advertising. It was formerly traded on Nasdaq until it was delisted on December 26, 2023, for not meeting exchange requirements; it now trades over-the-counter.

History

In 1974, Atsinger and Epperson 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 City, San Francisco, Portland, Los Angeles and other markets, converting them to Christian talk stations. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, they expanded formats to include contemporary Christian music, news talk, Spanish-language Christian content, and business programming.
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, and sister companies Eagle Financial Publications and Eagle Wellness.
On February 23, 2015, Salem Communications changed its name to Salem Media Group.
In 2015, Salem Media Group expanded their digital platform with acquisitions of several businesses and assets, including DividendYieldHunter.com, Stockinvestor.com; DividendInvestor.com, 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; the Retirement Watch newsletter and website, Retirementwatch.com; 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.
In March 2019, political writer Raheem Kassam and lawyer Will Chamberlain purchased Human Events from Salem Media Group for $300,000.
In early 2021, the company moved most operations from the former main operations city of Camarillo, California to Irving, Texas, the same location of their long-owned radio station KLTY.
On November 8, 2023, Salem exited the Upstate market after it sold WGTK in Greenville, South Carolina and the Earth FM stations to the Educational Media Foundation, resulting in WGTK switching to the K-Love network and WRTH and WLTE switching to Air1 several days before.
In December 2024, it was announced that the company had sold all remaining Christian Contemporary stations to the Educational Media Foundation. The move was intended to help the company repay debt to investors. Educational Media Foundation began operating the stations on February 1, 2025.
In April 2025 Salem Media signed a deal with Donald Trump Jr. and Lara Trump that will see them both become stakeholders in the company. Salem Media acquired a 30 percent stake in MxM News, a mobile news aggregation app that is co-owned by Donald Trump Jr.

Radio stations

Stations are arranged in order by state and city of license.
AM StationsFM Stations

City of license/MarketStationCurrent formatLicensee
Phoenix, AZKKNT 960Conservative talkSalem Communications Holding Corporation
Phoenix, AZKXXT 1010Christian radioSalem Communications Holding Corporation
Phoenix, AZKPXQ 1360Christian radioSalem Communications Holding Corporation
Little Rock, ARKDIS-FM 99.5Christian radioSalem Communications Holding Corporation
Little Rock, ARKDXE 101.1Conservative talkSalem Communications Holding Corporation
RiversideSan Bernardino, CAKTIE 590Conservative talkSalem Communications Holding Corporation
Los Angeles, CAKRLA 870Conservative talkNew Inspiration Broadcasting Co., Inc.
Los Angeles, CAKKLA-FM 99.5Christian radioNew Inspiration Broadcasting Co., Inc.
OxnardVentura, CAKDAR 98.3Christian radioNew Inspiration Broadcasting Co., Inc.
Sacramento, CAKFIA 710Christian radioNew Inspiration Broadcasting Co., Inc.
Sacramento, CAKTKZ 1380Conservative talkNew Inspiration Broadcasting Co., Inc.
San Diego, CAKCBQ 1170Conservative talkNew Inspiration Broadcasting Co., Inc.
San Diego, CAKPRZ 1210Christian radioNew Inspiration Broadcasting Co., Inc.
San FranciscoOakland, CAKTRB 860Conservative talkNew Inspiration Broadcasting Co., Inc.
San FranciscoOakland, CAKFAX 1100Christian radioNew Inspiration Broadcasting Co., Inc.
San FranciscoOakland, CAKDYA 1190Urban gospelNew Inspiration Broadcasting Co., Inc.
San FranciscoOakland, CAKDOW 1220Business talkSCA-Palo Alto, LLC.
San FranciscoOakland, CAKDIA 1640Christian radioNew Inspiration Broadcasting Co., Inc.
Colorado Springs, COKZNT 1460Conservative talkBison Media
Colorado Springs, COKGFT 100.7Christian radioBison Media
Denver, COKNUS 710Conservative talkSalem Media of Colorado, Inc.
Denver, COKRKS 990Christian radioSalem Media of Colorado, Inc.
Denver, COKBJD 1650Spanish ChristianSalem Media of Colorado, Inc.
Denver, COKRKS-FM 100.7Christian radioSalem Media of Colorado, Inc.
Washington, D.C.WWRC 570Conservative talkSalem Communications Holding Corporation
Washington, D.C.WAVA 780Christian radioSalem Communications Holding Corporation
Washington, D.C.WAVA-FM 105.1Christian radioSalem Communications Holding Corporation
OrlandoDaytona Beach, FLWORL 950Conservative talkSalem Communications Holding Corporation
OrlandoDaytona Beach, FLWTLN 990Christian radioSalem Communications Holding Corporation
SarasotaBradenton, FLWLSS 930Conservative talkSalem Communications Holding Corporation
TampaSt. Petersburg, FLWTBN 570Christian radioSalem Communications Holding Corporation
TampaSt. Petersburg, FLWLCC 760Christian radioSalem Communications Holding Corporation
TampaSt. Petersburg, FLWGUL 860Conservative talkSalem Communications Holding Corporation
Atlanta, GAWDWD 590Christian radioSalem Communications Holding Corporation
Atlanta, GAWGKA 920Conservative talkSalem Communications Holding Corporation
Atlanta, GAWNIV 970Christian radioSalem Communications Holding Corporation
Atlanta, GAWLTA 1400Christian radioSalem Communications Holding Corporation
Chicago, ILWIND 560Conservative talkSalem Media of Illinois, LLC
Chicago, ILWYLL 1160Christian radioSalem Media of Massachusetts, LLC
Boston, MAWEZE 590Christian radioSalem Communications Holding Corporation
Boston, MAWROL 950Christian radioSalem Media of Massachusetts, LLC
Detroit, MIWDTK 1400Conservative talkSalem Communications Holding Corporation
Detroit, MIWLQV 1500Christian radioSalem Communications Holding Corporation
MinneapolisSt. Paul, MNKKMS 980Christian radioSalem Communications Holding Corporation
MinneapolisSt. Paul, MNWWTC 1280Conservative talkSalem Media of Massachusetts, LLC
MinneapolisSt. Paul, MNKYCR 1440Business talkSalem Communications Holding Corporation
MinneapolisSt. Paul, MNKDIZ 1570Conservative talkSalem Communications Holding Corporation
New York City, NYWMCA 570Christian radioSalem Media of New York, LLC
New York City, NYWNYM 970Conservative talkSalem Media of New York, LLC
Cleveland, OHWHKW 1220Christian radioSalem Communications Holding Corporation
Cleveland, OHWHK 1420Conservative talkSalem Communications Holding Corporation
Columbus, OHWRFD 880Christian radioSalem Media of Ohio, Inc.
Columbus, OHWTOH 98.9Conservative talkSalem Media of Ohio, Inc.
Portland, ORKPDQ 800Christian radioSalem Media of Oregon, Inc.
Portland, ORKPAM 860Conservative talkSalem Media of Oregon, Inc.
Portland, ORKDZR 1640Regional MexicanSalem Media of Oregon, Inc.
Portland, ORKRYP 93.1Regional MexicanSalem Media of Oregon, Inc.
Portland, ORKPDQ-FM 93.9Christian radioSalem Media of Oregon, Inc.
Philadelphia, PAWFIL 560Christian radioSalem Communications Holding Corporation
Philadelphia, PAWNTP 990Conservative talkSalem Communications Holding Corporation
Pittsburgh, PAWPIT 730Christian radioSalem Communications Holding Corporation
Pittsburgh, PAWPGP 1250Conservative talkSalem Communications Holding Corporation
Pittsburgh, PAWORD-FM 101.5Christian radioSalem Communications Holding Corporation
DallasFort Worth, TXKTNO 620Spanish ChristianInspiration Media of Texas, LLC
DallasFort Worth, TXKSKY 660Conservative talkBison Media
DallasFort Worth, TXKWRD-FM 100.7Christian radioInspiration Media of Texas, LLC
HoustonGalveston, TXKNTH 1070Conservative talkSalem Communications Holding Corporation
HoustonGalveston, TXKKHT-FM 100.7Christian radioSalem Media of Illinois, LLC
San Antonio, TXKSLR 630Christian radioSalem Media of Texas, Inc.
San Antonio, TXKLUP 930Conservative talkSalem Communications Holding Corporation
SeattleTacoma, WAKGNW 820Christian radioInspiration Media, Inc.
SeattleTacoma, WAKKOL 1300Conservative talkInspiration Media, Inc.

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, Brandon Tatum, and Charlie Kirk. 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, and stations also take newscast branded by Salem's Townhall.com.
  • 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.

Salem News Channel

Salem News Channel is a 24/7 news television network founded in 2021. In June 2022, it was announced that the network reached an agreement with Innovate Corp. to launched on over-the-air television in 55 markets. The network is also available on watch on the website, the mobile app, Fubo, Sling TV, Apple TV+, Local Now, Xumo, Pluto TV, Google TV, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung TV Plus, and Vizio.

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.

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

Xulon Press is a hybrid publisher owned by the Salem Media Group. In 2007 it claimed to be "the largest publisher of Christian books in North America", claiming more than 3,900 print-on-demand titles published by 2007. As of 2022, the website claimed Xulon Press published over 15,000 unique book titles and that more than a million copies of its books had been printed and sold. Its titles are mainly in the categories of Christian living, theology, church growth, discipleship, Bible studies, fiction, poetry, biographies, and others. For a fixed fee the press will publish an author's finished manuscript in paperback, hard cover, and electronic form. Once published, customers may order the book directly from online retailers, and retailers may order the book through distributors. According to their company contact page, the Xulon Press office is located in Maitland, Florida, United States.
Founded in 2000 by Christian author and publisher Tom Freiling. The company was originally incorporated in Virginia in May 2001 and then moved to Florida in May 2002. The principal "place of business" was still listed as Fairfax, Virginia until 2005, when the physical address was moved to Longwood, Florida. Xulon Press was bought in 2006 and is now a part of Salem Media Group. In 2016, Salem Media bought a Minneapolis, Minnesota, US-based self-publishing company Hillcrest Media and merged it with Xulon Press.

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 support various religious causes, and are noted for their role in spreading politically conservative opinion to areas dependent on radio for current events information. In 2005, Epperson was reported in Time magazine as one of the "25 Most Influential Evangelicals in America". In 2004 he co-chaired "Americans of Faith", a religiously based Republican electoral campaign. Both founders have served on the Council for National Policy, a group of conservative influencers, intellectuals, donors, and former elected officials, and Epperson has served as president of the council. They gave $100,000 to the Bush presidential reelection campaign and $780,000 to the 2000 "California Defense of Marriage Act" ballot measure.
In October 2022, Salem, along with Dinesh D'Souza and True The Vote, was sued by Mark Andrews for defamation in Dinesh D'Souza's film, 2000 Mules, for which Salem was the distributor as well as the publisher of a book of the same name. In the film, D'Souza, without any evidence, falsely accused Andrews of ballot stuffing. In May 2024, Salem pulled the film and book from distribution and apologized to Andrews, claiming they had relied on representations made by D'Souza and True The Vote, and had never intended to harm Andrews. The suit is ongoing.