JOY FM Wins KDHX Auction, Faces Legal Challenge

RADIO ONLINE | Sunday, June 1, 2025 | 3:09pm CT

JOY FM

JOY FM has won the bidding war for embattled community radio station KDHX (88.1) in St. Louis, placing a final offer of $8.75 million during a bankruptcy court auction Friday. The Des Peres-based Christian music broadcaster, formally known as Gateway Creative Broadcasting Inc., edged out national competitor K-LOVE, which submitted a top bid of $8.5 million.

The sale includes KDHX's FCC license, broadcast tower, and remaining assets. The auction was part of KDHX's Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, filed in March following a year-and-a-half of internal upheaval at the station.

"It went very smoothly," said bankruptcy attorney Robert E. Eggmann, who added that JOY FM's proposal was "in the best interest of the bankruptcy." He noted the winning bid was more than double K-LOVE's original offer when the sale process began.

However, the deal is not yet final. A coalition of former KDHX volunteers and community members known as LOVE of KDHX plans to object. The group, which had hoped to reorganize the station under local, community-focused leadership, says it was unable to raise the necessary funding but will present arguments in court.

"We think we have very good and persuasive arguments for why this sale should not happen," said Roy Kasten, a member of the coalition and former volunteer DJ. "We remain committed to a community plan to reorganize KDHX as a station that serves the St. Louis region and beyond."

Objections must be filed by 5pm Tuesday, with a court hearing set for June 9 to determine whether the sale is in the station's best interest. Even if approved, the FCC licensing transfer could take six months or longer.

Both JOY FM and K-LOVE had agreed to support the continuation of KDHX's diverse musical programming through high-definition and online streams. KDHX Board President Gary Pierson called the auction "another step toward securing the financial future of the organization" and said the station remains committed to its mission of "building community through media."