Variety KDHX (88.1)/St. Louis, known for its live, local music and specialty shows, is set to be acquired by Educational Media Foundation (EMF), the parent company of K-LOVE and Air1, following a bankruptcy filing. The sale, reported by St. Louis Public Radio, involves the station’s license and broadcast tower, and is priced at a minimum of $4.35 million, potentially rising to $4.8 million if completed quickly. Approval from a bankruptcy court judge is pending, with a three-week window for creditors to raise objections.

The decision to sell was disclosed in a statement on KDHX’s website and further detailed in a subsequent media briefing via Zoom. Gary Pierson, President of the KDHX board, expressed that the sale was a difficult but necessary step to secure the future of the organization. “We’ve tried to do the right thing and put the organization in a position where it could have a future,” Pierson stated.

The news has been met with disappointment from many in the station’s community, including former DJ Steve Pick, who lamented the loss as a blow to the St. Louis music and arts scene. Pick, also a member of the activist group LOVE of KDHX, voiced frustration over the board’s reluctance to engage with concerned parties seeking to prevent the sale.

KDHX’s financial struggles came to a head with its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing earlier this month, naming EMF as its debtor-in-possession lender. This position made EMF the principal creditor and positioned it favorably for acquiring the station’s broadcast license. The station’s debts total approximately $2 million, with significant liabilities stemming from a 2013 relocation and various internal credits, including a notable amount owed to Executive Director Kelly Wells.

Educational Media Foundation is known for its wide network of K-LOVE and Air1 formats that feature syndicated Christian music content.