Gospel Music Association Awards Salem Communications' Fish Radio Format

John W. Styll, GMA President, said, "We congratulate The Fish and are proud of the contributions this new radio format has made and will continue to make towards furthering our shared goal of increasing the impact of Christian and gospel music."

The Impact Award is presented to the non-artist individual or organization that has made the most significant contribution to the gospel music industry. The recipient of the honor this year is The Fish Radio Stations. Salem Communications launched the first Fish radio station, specifically formatted for contemporary Christian music in Los Angeles in 2000. In just three years, the number of Fish stations has grown to 14, including stations in Los Angeles, Dallas-Fort Worth, Atlanta, Portland, Chicago, San Francisco, Cleveland, Sacramento, Milwaukee, Louisville, Nashville and Honolulu. These Fish stations bring contemporary Christian music to more people in the nation than any other group.

Past honorees include Sandi Patty, Amy Grant, Dan Harrell and Michael Blanton, Jars of Clay, SoundScan, CCLI, CCM Communications, the Gaither "Homecoming Series," the "WoW" series, NARM and Chordant Distribution Group.

In accepting the award, Chuck Finney, National Program Director for the Fish, commented, "We are humbled and honored by the GMA's recognition of the Salem Fish music stations and their impact over the past three years. It's exciting for those of us involved with the Fish stations on a day-to-day basis to have the opportunity to bring this uplifting, positive music to so much of America."

Salem Communications Corporation, headquartered in Camarillo, California, is the leading U.S. radio broadcaster focused on religious and family themed programming. Upon the close of all announced transactions, the company will own and operate 89 radio stations in 36 radio markets, including 57 stations in the top 25 markets. In addition to its radio properties, Salem owns the Salem Radio Network, which syndicates talk, news and music programming to over 1,500 affiliated radio stations; Salem Radio Representatives, a national sales force; Salem Web Network, the leading Internet provider of Christian content; and Salem Publishing, a leading publisher of contemporary Christian music trade and consumer magazines.

Released April 22, 2003