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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 (AAA) - Community Radio
Ownership
OwnerDouble Helix Corporation (sale pending to the Educational Media Foundation)
History
First air date
October 14, 1987; 37 years ago (1987-10-14)
Call sign meaning
K Double Helix Corporation
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 an independent, non-commercial, listener-supported community radio station in St. Louis, Missouri. It airs a radio format of adult album alternative (AAA) music, along with cultural and public affairs programming.[2] It is owned by the Double Helix Corporation, with studios and offices on Washington Avenue in Grand Center. Fundraisers are held periodically on the air and on the station's website.

KDHX is a Class C1 FM station. It has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 42,000 watts, broadcasting in FM stereo with RBDS data. The transmitter is on Fairfax Avenue in Arnold, Missouri.[3]

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 are 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).[4] 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, 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 2023, over a dozen volunteer DJs were controversially dismissed by executive director Kelly Wells, citing various reasons. This decision resulted in protests by other volunteers, associate members, and listeners, with many longtime donors withdrawing their financial support to the station.[5]

In February 2024, over 450 local and national musicians signed a letter demanding the resignation of station leadership. The letter stated "We, the musicians of St. Louis (and beyond), say enough is enough."[6][7] At that time, KDHX had lost nearly a third of its donors.[8]

The 990 tax filing for the 2023 tax year stated that donations were $808,378, which is down from the $1,314,351 brought in before the allegations against Wells began.[9]

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.[10]

Amidst the ongoing issues with the current board, on January 31, 2025, Double Helix Corporation laid off all volunteer staff and ceased live broadcasts on KDHX.[11] Double Helix filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on March 10, 2025, revealing that KDHX only had about $7,000 in cash remaining.[12][13] Due to expired insurance, employees could not enter KDHX's studios.[14]

On March 25, 2025, the board of directors approved an agreement to sell KDHX's broadcast facilities to the Educational Media Foundation for $4.35 million, which will result in the station most likely joining its K-Love Christian radio network. KDHX plans 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 EMF had previously avoided attempts to compete with established contemporary 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) to contribute $100,000 in funding to the station.[15][14][16]

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 corporation is independent of any governmental entity and is not affiliated with any religious or educational organization. The KDHX offices and studios are located at 3524 Washington Avenue in Grand Center.[17] 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. ^ KDHX.org/shows
  3. ^ Radio-Locator.com/KDHX
  4. ^ "Stories from the Tower featuring KDHX DJs Steve Pick, Art Dwyer, Pablo Meshugi, Ron Edwards". kdhx.org. KDHX. 2017. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  5. ^ www.STLtoday.com "St. Louis Radio Statio KDHX Fires 10 More Volunteer DJs" Sept. 24, 2023.
  6. ^ Hill, Daniel. "100s of St. Louis Musicians Sign Letter Critical of KDHX Leadership". Riverfront Times. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  7. ^ "Hundreds of St. Louis-area musicians call for KDHX leaders to resign". STLPR. February 28, 2024. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  8. ^ Hill, Daniel. "KDHX Has Lost Nearly One-Third of Its Donors, But All Is A-OK". Riverfront Times. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  9. ^ Hill, Daniel. "KDHX Gave Kelly Wells a Raise Even as Revenue Plummeted". Riverfront Times. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  10. ^ Fenske, Sarah. "Lawsuit targets KDHX board for 'gross abuses of authority'". St Louis Magazine. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  11. ^ Venta, Lance. "With Board Battle & Financial Issues, KDHX Ends Live Programming". radioInsight. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  12. ^ Goodwin, Jeremy (March 10, 2025). "KDHX files for bankruptcy". STLPR. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  13. ^ Neman, Daniel (March 10, 2025). "St. Louis radio station KDHX files for bankruptcy amid continued chaos". St Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  14. ^ a b "St. Louis Pubcaster KDHX To Be Sold To Educational Media Foundation". Insideradio.com. March 26, 2025. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  15. ^ "KDHX Board Agrees To Sell Station To K-Love Inc. As Part Of Bankruptcy Proceeding". RadioInsight. March 25, 2025. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  16. ^ "KDHX will sell broadcast license to K-LOVE chain for at least $4.35M". STLPR. March 26, 2025. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  17. ^ "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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