Christians on the air

Feb. 18, 2002 12 AM PT

Karen S. Kim

NORTHWEST GLENDALE -- Glendale-based KKLA Communications Group hasn’t

spent much time since it was established in 1990 just sitting back and

idling.

The Christian radio network, which just changed its name to Salem

Communications Corp. to reflect its corporate parent, is constantly

changing, growing and modifying its programs.

“I truly believe that complacency can be your worst enemy,” said Dave

Armstrong, vice president and general manager of Salem. “If you’re not

constantly looking at ways to find tune, you’re really not listening to

your market.”

The group, which began with just KKLA-FM (99.5), a Christian talk

radio station, has taken on four more sister stations over the last six

years.

Now, talk radio station KRLA-AM (870), Christian contemporary music

station KFSH-FM (95.9), San Bernardino’s KRLA station KRLH-AM (590) and

foreign-language station KXMX-AM (1190) all broadcast from Glendale.

The network’s 12 studios and offices occupy about 11,000 square feet

of space on the fifth floor of 701 N. Brand Blvd. A state-of-the-art

studio is being constructed on the floor for KFSH and will be ready to

open in April.

And Armstrong is hoping The Fish’s new studio will make a splash.

The console will be shaped like a fish and embedded with seashells,

the shelves will be shaped like fish or shells, the glass walls will give

the room the appearance of a fish bowl and one wall might possibly double

as an aquarium. And the studio will be bigger than usual so that visiting

bands can play live on the radio.

“We think it will be a destination for artists when they’re in the

L.A. area,” Armstrong said. “I think that in our business, you need to do

things that make you stand out. We thought, ‘As long as we’re going to

build this studio, we might as well make it something people will talk

about.”’

The group also has seven Internet music stations under the umbrella of

Christian Pirate Radio. Armstrong said KKLA was the first radio station

in L.A. to broadcast over the Internet, in 1995.

For more information, visit www.kkla.com, www.thefish959.com,