Educational Media Foundation announced today it plans on moving its headquarters from the Sacramento suburb Rocklin CA to Nashville.
While a new location has yet to be finalized, EMF intends to move members of their content divisions into their existing Nashville offices and temporary spaces. The company already originates the “K-Love” morning show, portions of “Air1, promotions, AccessMore podcast division, live events, and their WTA Media film/book production division from Nashville.
EMF intends to grow the Nashville staff in phases over the next three years through relocating existing employees and making new local hires.
Educational Media Foundation (EMF) – parent company to K-LOVE and Air1 radio networks, AccessMore podcasts and WTA Media – will establish over the next three years a new global headquarters in the Nashville region, the heart of the contemporary Christian entertainment industry.
“After much prayer, extensive discussion and research, the EMF Board and leadership team are in unanimous agreement that relocating our headquarters to the Nashville area will position us to fulfill our mission of creating compelling media that inspires and encourages audiences to have a meaningful relationship with Christ,” said EMF CEO Bill Reeves. “This move will enable us to better serve our audiences and deepen our relationships with faith-focused artists, content creators and the recording, film and publishing industries as we continue to broaden our media offerings through radio, film, streaming, live events, books and more.”
EMF has been growing its Tennessee presence over the last several years. It recently expanded its studio, from which the K-LOVE morning show and Air1 programs now broadcast, and its promotions, AccessMore podcasting, live events and WTA Media teams have offices in the area already. Members of EMF’s content division will begin moving into the existing offices and temporary space this summer.
Currently based in Rocklin, California, with additional offices in major markets throughout the U.S, EMF’s global headquarters staff will grow in multiple phases over the next three years, both from relocating employees and local hiring. A new permanent campus is to be constructed; the exact location is yet to be finalized.
“We are proud to welcome EMF headquarters to Tennessee,” said Gov. Bill Lee. “Our state is home to some of the top music, media and entertainment companies, and EMF will be a respected addition to this important sector. We thank EMF for its investment in Middle Tennessee, which will strengthen our reputation as a leader in the music industry.”
Progress and change are nothing new for EMF as it implements its strategy of becoming a diversified, multi-platform content creator and distributor in the faith space. In just the past two years, the ministry:
- Acquired WTA Media to expand into film financing/marketing and book publishing
- Financed multiple films (partially or in full)
- Launched the AccessMore podcast network with nearly 7 million downloads in less than a year
- Launched a new video platform, K-LOVE On Demand
- Expanded live events capability
- Established EMF Publishing and signed multiple authors to K-LOVE Books
- Surpassed 1,000 radio signals, adding 76 net new signals
- Continued to minister to its audiences by praying for more than a million prayer requests
“The State of Tennessee, the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development and the Tennessee Valley Authority have been outstanding partners as we considered, and now pursue, this exciting new chapter in the life of EMF,” Reeves said. “The Nashville area is the right place for us to be.”
“TVA and Middle Tennessee Electric congratulate Educational Media Foundation’s decision to locate in Middle Tennessee,” said TVA Senior Vice President of Economic Development John Bradley. “Helping to foster high quality jobs in the Valley is central to TVA’s mission of service, and we celebrate EMF’s business success in the Valley.”
EMF is in the final stages of selecting land locations, architects and building developers.
