Local San Diego rock radio station KPRI announced Monday it had been sold to the Educational Music Foundation, a nonprofit group specializing in adult contemporary Christian music.
KPRI co-owner Robert Hughes posted a video to the station's Facebook page, explaining that the station's business model was no longer viable.
"Large, Wall Street-funded corporations control most of the stations here," he wrote. "They use centralized programming to cut costs. They’re even starting to automate the sale of advertising to cut costs even more."
"Each of these factors has made it harder and harder for an independent broadcaster like us to survive," he added.
KPRI was a charming and weird independent radio station that made me scratch my head. Sad to see it go in favor of syndicated programming.
— Stephen Kallao (@stephenkallao) September 28, 2015EMF operates K-LOVE, a programming service carried by hundreds of stations across the country, reaching millions of listeners. Local programming like that of KPRI is significantly more expensive.
Several KPRI listeners voiced sadness and anger over the sale.
"KPRI was a charming and weird independent radio station that made me scratch my head," said user Stephen Kallao. "Sad to see it go in favor of syndicated programming."
Hughes encouraged KPRI fans to share their favorite memories of the station, and pleaded that those who work at other independent radio stations not be discouraged by the news. He appeared visually emotional in his video, at times struggling to speak without crying.
"In my career, I've been fortunate to work at some really amazing radio stations all across the country," he said. "But this has been my favorite job."
