EMF and Gateway Creative Broadcasting have officially announced the planned launch of Gateway’s Christian Rhythmic “Boost Radio” on 97.5 W248BB/97.9 WCKL-HD3 Chicago on or around March 31.
The station is currently stunting with 90s Dance/House Music as “Chicago’s Dance House” mimicking the “95.5 Jams” stunt ran on 95.5 KXBS St. Louis prior to its launch as “Boost” in January.
EMF and Gateway will also launch the “Boost” brand in Fayetteville NC and Pittsburgh PA later this spring on signals to be announced.
Rocklin, California based Educational Media Foundation and St. Louis, Missouri based Gateway Creative Broadcasting are teaming up to syndicate Gateway’s BOOST RADIO brand. BOOST is built around Pop, Hip Hop and Hope, with core artists like Lecrae, NF, Tori Kelly, and KB.
EMF CEO Bill Reeves says “EMF is excited to partner with Sandi and her team on this BOOST expansion. Christian radio is a powerful tool we are passionate about. We’re excited to partner here and to expand to serve more audiences with programming tailored just for them.”
EMF, parent of K-LOVE and Air1, will simulcast BOOST on signals in Chicago, Pittsburgh and Fayetteville, North Carolina. BOOST president Sandi Brown says “Our shared passion is to reach more people for Christ. We’re excited to team up with EMF to take BOOST beyond St. Louis. This is unchartered territory, and we couldn’t be more grateful.”
BOOST is positioned as a Christian Rhythmic Music outlet, similar to the mainstream Rhythmic Pop format, with shows and DJ’s featuring Christian Hip Hop, Pop and more to younger, multicultural demographics underserved by conventional Christian radio.
Chicago’s BOOST is due to sign on by March 31st as BOOST 97.5, and on the HD3 of K-LOVE at 97.9 FM. Pittsburgh and Fayetteville will join the BOOST RADIO network later this spring.
Original Report 3/18: Educational Media Foundation’s 97.5 W248BB/97.9 WCKL-HD3 Chicago is currently running a loop stating “Coming soon to 97.5, something different, a boost if you will.”
W248BB had been airing EMF’s “Air 1” network along with 94.3 WAWE Glendale Heights IL via WCKL-HD2. A listener who reached out to EMF was told that the translator will begin running a version of the Christian Rhythmic “Boost Radio” format based at Gateway Creative Broadcasting’s 95.5 KXBS Bethalto IL/St. Louis. A representative from that station was unable to confirm or deny publicly.
