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KDHX

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Coordinates: 38°25′01″N 90°25′59″W / 38.417°N 90.433°W / 38.417; -90.433
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KDHX
Broadcast areaGreater St. Louis
Frequency88.1 MHz (HD Radio)
BrandingKDHX
Programming
FormatAdult album alternative
Community radio
Ownership
OwnerDouble Helix Corporation (sale pending to Gateway Creative Broadcasting)
History
First air date
October 14, 1987; 37 years ago (1987-10-14)
Call sign meaning
"Double Helix"
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID17380
ClassC1
ERP42,000 watts
HAAT225 meters (740 ft)
Links
Public license information
WebcastListen Live
Websitekdhx.org
Former KDHX station building

KDHX (88.1 FM) is a non-commercial radio station in St. Louis. Owned by Double Helix Corporation, the station primarily airs adult album alternative music. It broadcasts from studios on 3524 Washington Blvd. in the Grand Center Arts District, while its transmitter is located on Fairfax Avenue in Arnold, Missouri.

The station previously aired an array of community radio shows, including specialty music, cultural and public affairs programming. KDHX's operations began to decline in the 2020s, following accusations of mismanagement by current and former volunteers of the station, and a resulting decline in revenue from donations. Amid these issues, the station laid off all its volunteer staff in January 2025 and filed for bankruptcy in March, with the station having since been broadcasting on an automated basis with no live programming. After a bidding war between two Christian radio broadcasters, Gateway Creative Broadcasting was awarded the right to purchase the station in an auction conducted by the bankruptcy court.

Programming

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The music heard on KDHX is primarily a roots-based AAA format. Other musical genres include blues, bluegrass, soul, folk, Americana, Latin, indie rock, world music, electronica and hip hop. Also heard are public affairs programs one evening a week and short-form features throughout the broadcast schedule. The on-air DJs were all volunteers chosen by an elected program committee and trained by station staff.

In addition to its on-air activities, KDHX Community Media previously produced a variety of music-oriented events such as Midwest Mayhem and Art Attack as well as collaborations with other community organizations. They included Harvest Sessions at the Tower Grove Farmers Market; Thursdays at the Intersection in Grand Center; the Sheldon Sessions with the Sheldon Concert Hall and SoundWaves with the Pulitzer Arts Foundation. Most of these events halted around 2015, largely due to the resignation of station management.

History

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The station signed on the air on October 14, 1987; 37 years ago (1987-10-14).[2] At the time of KDHX's founding, the frequency 88.1 MHz was occupied by 10-watt, Class D station KHRU-FM, operated by Clayton High School in Clayton, Missouri. It began broadcasting in 1968. KHRU-FM was on the air from 5 to 8 o'clock only on weeknights and only during the school year. The frequency was silent the rest of the week and all summer.

A public corporation, the Double Helix Foundation, was looking for a spot on the St. Louis FM dial to start a community radio station. Double Helix tried to work out a cooperative arrangement with the Clayton School District to share 88.1 FM, but the school district was unwilling to accept a frequency-sharing proposal. Eventually, Double Helix sued in federal court, resulting in a decision that broadcast stations had to "use it or lose it" with regard to frequencies. Stations licensed by the Federal Communications Commission are required to broadcast a minimum number of hours each week. After that decision, the FCC revoked KHRU's license and awarded the frequency to the Double Helix Corporation.

From that point, KDHX began broadcasting most hours of the day with non-commercial programs. A variety of musical genres and talk shows aired. Most of the staff were volunteers.

In 2013, KDHX relocated from its original studios on Magnolia Avenue to a renovated building in the Grand Center Arts District, which would house a coffee shop and 125-seat concert venue on its ground floor. It was christened the Larry J. Weir Center for Independent Media in honor of the station's former operations manager, who had died in 2010.[3]

Decline, bankruptcy

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In 2014, the station fell behind on its payroll taxes due to expenses amassed from the construction of its new studios. In 2015, executive director Beverly Hacker was dismissed, and half of KDHX's board resigned. At this time, Hacker was succeeded by station employee Kelly Wells.[4] By 2018, the station had amassed at least $2.3 million in debt.[5] In July 2019, Wells faced allegations of sexual harassment, and of the mistreatment of African-American employees.[5] Station veterans had also criticized her "top-down" management, a lack of input in its operations, and a large amount of staff turnover.[6][7]

In February 2023, KDHX released several volunteer DJs, including long-time host Tom "Papa" Ray; he told the Riverfront Times that he had come into conflicts with management, stemming initially from the station's decision to not acknowledge the death of veteran personality John McHenry, and other issues such as its non-participation in the Music at the Intersection festival. Ray described the current management as being "180 degrees opposite of the intentions, desires and profile that the founders of this radio station wanted".[6][4]

In September 2023, 10 more DJs were controversially dismissed by the station, while two more stepped down in solidarity. Wells publicly stated that most of the dismissals were of DJs who had objected to moves by KDHX to adopt diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies in response to the prior harassment allegations. Some of the dismissed DJs accused KDHX of having actually removed them for raising concerns regarding the station's management. This decision resulted in protests by other volunteers, associate members, and listeners, with many longtime donors withdrawing their financial support to the station.[8][6]

In February 2024, over 450 local and national musicians signed a letter demanding the resignation of station leadership, citing that KDHX had "divorc[ed] itself from the St. Louis community" with its "poor management decisions".[9][10] At that time, KDHX had lost nearly a third of its donors.[11] The 990 tax filing for the 2023 tax year stated that donations were $808,378, which was down from the $1,314,351 brought in before the allegations against Wells began.[12] Following the legal agreement that seated two new board members, both were suspended during their first board meeting. After this, and an analysis of financial records, a lawsuit was filed against the remaining members of the board for "gross abuses of authority".[13]

Amidst the ongoing issues with the current board, in December 2024 Double Helix reached an agreement to sell KDHX to Gateway Creative Broadcasting—owner of contemporary Christian music station KLJY—for $5.2 million.[14] On January 31, 2025, Double Helix Corporation laid off all volunteer staff and ceased live programming on KDHX, stating that the station would carry "previously recorded programming". Board president Gary Pierson attributed the cuts to "recent disparagement campaigns and senseless lawsuits" that have "severely impacted fundraising".[15]

Double Helix filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on March 10, 2025, revealing that KDHX only had about $7,000 in cash remaining.[16][17] Due to expired insurance, employees could not enter KDHX's studios.[18] Double Helix requested the naming of K-Love Inc.—a subsidiary of the Educational Media Foundation (EMF)—as a debtor in possession creditor, and negotiated a $400,000 loan.[19][14]

On March 25, 2025, despite the previous Gateway deal,[14] the board of directors approved an agreement to sell KDHX's broadcast facilities to EMF for $4.35 million, which would result in the station most likely joining its K-Love Christian radio network. KDHX planned to continue operations as an internet radio station afterward. St. Louis is one of the few markets where the EMF does not currently have a station, with Radio Insight noting that the organization no longer avoided entering markets that already had established Christian music stations (in this case, KLJY). Double Helix stated that the sale would also result in a cost savings of $500,000 in maintenance expenses. Double Helix declined an offer by the supporter group League of Volunteer Enthusiasts of KDHX (LOVE of KDHX)—which consists of DJs and other staff who had been laid off by Double Helix[14]—to contribute $100,000 in funding to the station.[20][18][21]

On April 5, 2025, the station briefly carried K-Love programming.[22] On April 15, 2025, it was reported that Gateway had made a $5.5 million counter-offer, and requested that the bankruptcy court launch a bidding process for the station.[19] On May 15, 2025, the bankruptcy court authorized an auction of the station and its assets, scheduled for May 30.[14] The auction would be won by Gateway with a bid of $8.75 million. LOVE of KDHX announced its intent to file an opposition to the sale.[23]

Double Helix Corporation

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Double Helix Corporation is a community media organization governed by a 15-member Board of Directors. It is a 501(c)3 non-profit arts and educational organization with a mission to create community through media. The Double Helix Corporation was formed after the demise of KDNA, a countercultural community-radio station that operated in St. Louis's Gaslight Square district in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The KDHX offices and studios are located at 3524 Washington Avenue in Grand Center.[24] its tower is located in the northern part of Jefferson County. The corporation is independent of any governmental entity, and is not affiliated with any religious or educational organization.

Prior to December 31, 2011, when statewide video franchise legislation sunsetted the city's cable franchise ordinance, Double Helix Corporation managed the public and community access television stations for the City of St. Louis.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for KDHX". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "Stories from the Tower featuring KDHX DJs Steve Pick, Art Dwyer, Pablo Meshugi, Ron Edwards". kdhx.org. KDHX. 2017. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  3. ^ "A Peek Inside KDHX's New Home in Grand Center | St. Louis Magazine". www.stlmag.com. March 28, 2013. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
  4. ^ a b Krull, Ryan. "Tom 'Papa' Ray Speaks Out After KDHX Firing". Riverfront Times. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
  5. ^ a b "Turmoil At KDHX: Allegations Of Discrimination, Harassment And Financial Troubles". STLPR. July 3, 2019. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
  6. ^ a b c "KDHX fires 10 more volunteer DJs as leaders try to assert control over station in turmoil". STLPR. September 22, 2023. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
  7. ^ Hill, Daniel. "KDHX's Push for Diversity Dogged By Firings, Furloughs and Resignations". Riverfront Times. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
  8. ^ Neman, Daniel (September 24, 2023). "St. Louis radio station KDHX fires 10 more volunteer DJs". STLtoday.com. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
  9. ^ Hill, Daniel. "100s of St. Louis Musicians Sign Letter Critical of KDHX Leadership". Riverfront Times. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  10. ^ "Hundreds of St. Louis-area musicians call for KDHX leaders to resign". STLPR. February 28, 2024. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  11. ^ Hill, Daniel. "KDHX Has Lost Nearly One-Third of Its Donors, But All Is A-OK". Riverfront Times. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  12. ^ Hill, Daniel. "KDHX Gave Kelly Wells a Raise Even as Revenue Plummeted". Riverfront Times. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  13. ^ Fenske, Sarah. "Lawsuit targets KDHX board for 'gross abuses of authority'". St Louis Magazine. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  14. ^ a b c d e Berger, Eric (May 15, 2025). "Judge allows Christian broadcasters to bid on KDHX license, tower". Current. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
  15. ^ Berger, Eric (February 4, 2025). "St. Louis' KDHX dismisses all volunteer hosts". Current. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
  16. ^ Goodwin, Jeremy (March 10, 2025). "KDHX files for bankruptcy". STLPR. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  17. ^ Neman, Daniel (March 10, 2025). "St. Louis radio station KDHX files for bankruptcy amid continued chaos". St Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  18. ^ a b "St. Louis Pubcaster KDHX To Be Sold To Educational Media Foundation". Insideradio.com. March 26, 2025. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  19. ^ a b "Owner of 99.1 JOY FM makes bid to buy KDHX for $5.5 million". STLPR. April 15, 2025. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
  20. ^ "KDHX Board Agrees To Sell Station To K-Love Inc. As Part Of Bankruptcy Proceeding". RadioInsight. March 25, 2025. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  21. ^ "KDHX will sell broadcast license to K-LOVE chain for at least $4.35M". STLPR. March 26, 2025. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  22. ^ "Christian radio station broadcasts signal on KDHX frequency ahead of planned sale". STLPR. April 5, 2025. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
  23. ^ "Christian broadcaster JOY FM wins KDHX auction, but opponents plan to object". STLPR. May 31, 2025. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
  24. ^ "Home - KDHX".
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38°25′01″N 90°25′59″W / 38.417°N 90.433°W / 38.417; -90.433

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