Salem Media is shuffling its St. Louis operations.
Conservative Talk “1260 The Answer” WSDZ Belleville IL has moved to 1380 KXFN/105.3 K287BY St. Louis replacing Health/Wellness Talk “1380 The Pulse“.
That move will clear the way for the launch of Gospel “Praise 95.1” on Monday, October 23 on WSDZ and 95.1 K236CS St. Louis. Positioned as “The St. Louis Gospel Experience”, the move gives a direct format competitor to Church of God In Christ’s “Jubilee 690” KSTL and iHeartMedia’s “Hallelujah 1600” KATZ.
The new format will be led by former 104.9 KMJM-FM/1600 KATZ program director Darrel Eason.
-Salem Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: SALM), announced today that it will launch a contemporary urban gospel radio station on Monday, October 23. The station will be called Praise 95.1, “The St. Louis Gospel Experience” and will be heard on WSDZ 95.1 FM and 1260 AM.
The station will be programmed by legendary St. Louis program director Darrel Eason who formerly programmed Majic 104.9 and Hallelujah 1600.
The new urban gospel format is the first to be placed on an FM signal in St. Louis by a major broadcast group. The format will feature urban gospel contemporary hits throughout the day with artists such as Travis Greene, Tamela Mann, Kirk Franklin, Mary Mary, Marvin Sapp, and Tasha Cobbs. Praise 95.1 will also carry a select group of local and national Christian teaching programs after 7pm.
“We believe this is a continuation of Salem’s mission to serve the Christian community through uplifting music and teaching from local churches,” says Greg Lhamon, Vice President and General Manager. “Based on conversations with many in the St. Louis area, the community has been waiting to enjoy gospel on the FM dial.”
The wait is over. The new Praise 95.1 officially launches at Midnight, October 23, 2017.