Radio Veteran Mike Blakemore Joins KeepTheFaith™ Media Networks as Senior Consultant
NASHVILLE, TN (FEBRUARY 05, 2025) – KeepTheFaith™ Media Networks, the leading provider of premium family-friendly syndicated radio programming to CCM, Country, and Adult Contemporary stations, is proud to announce that veteran radio programmer Mike Blakemore has joined the team as Senior Consultant. Blakemore, who most recently served as VP of the CCM Format for Salem Media Group, brings more than 17 years of leadership experience in Christian radio. In his dual role, he has also served as Program Director for WFSH-FM “The Fish” in Atlanta, one of the nation’s top Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) stations, which was recently sold to Educational Media Foundation. In 2023, Radio Ink recognized Mike as one of the Best Program Directors in America across all formats.
In his new role, Blakemore will work alongside David Sams, co-founder and CEO of KeepTheFaith™ Media Networks and co-creator/executive producer John Frost, to expand KeepTheFaith’s programming reach and digital footprint both domestically and internationally. Currently, KeepTheFaith’s lineup of syndicated shows is heard on hundreds of affiliate stations across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K., with further expansion into additional English-speaking countries on the horizon.
“There’s only one Mike Blakemore,” said David Sams. “He is the finest programmer in all of radio. Everything he touches turns to gold. In Atlanta, WFSH was a consistent ratings winner. He was so successful that Salem promoted him to VP overseeing all of their Contemporary Christian Music stations.I personally saw what he was able to do with his fellow programmers across the country. He’s a team leader, a visionary, a ‘let’s make it happen’ kind of guy. KeepTheFaith’s mantra is ‘The Home of Contagious Encouragement,’ and Mike embodies that in every way.”
Blakemore’s impact on inspiring, family-friendly radio is well recognized, including his pivotal role in launching KeepTheFaith with Penny, a show that quickly became a ratings leader in Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, and other major markets. John Frost, a longtime consultant for WFSH and other Salem stations and KeepTheFaith co-creator/executive producer, added, “I’ve worked with Mike on many levels for over two decades, and what I experienced was something special. He has a secret weapon—his intuition. His ability to identify talent, craft engaging content, and make things happen is unmatched. Case in point: Penny. Mike saw something extraordinary in her and helped build a KeepTheFaith show around her. The results? A ratings juggernaut.”
Blakemore himself is eager to dive in. “KeepTheFaith is in a league of its own,” said Blakemore. “The production quality is unmatched, the content is deeply engaging, and the on-air talent is the best in the industry. In Atlanta, KeepTheFaith programming was so successful that we aired 62 hours per week. The six-hour Sunday morning block with Keith Stevens and Donna Cruz was a ratings powerhouse, and KeepTheFaith with Penny in the evenings performed so well that it was expanded to all of Salem’s CCM stations before being syndicated nationwide. In Dallas, KeepTheFaith with Frank Reed was #1 across the board. I’m excited to roll up my sleeves and help grow KeepTheFaith’s programming, both on terrestrial radio and across new digital streaming channels to expand our global reach.”
Blakemore is entering into the first of several planned strategic consulting agreements. He will be personally represented by David Sams, who also represents top news anchors, prominent radio personalities, and leading media executives nationwide. With a 50-year track record in media, Sams has been instrumental in TV and radio syndication, launching some of the most iconic shows of all time, including Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy!, and The Oprah Winfrey Show during his tenure at King World.
In 1995, he created the KeepTheFaith brand, starting with the groundbreaking TV infomercial KeepTheFaith: The Quest for Love, Happiness, and Purpose. The program became the best-selling Christian music TV compilation in history, earning platinum certification from the RIAA and helping to double sales of Christian music that decade through over 16,000 airings of the 30-minute infomercial on broadcast and cable TV. Sams is highly selective when it comes to who he represents. “Time is valuable, and I don’t have the patience to represent anyone who isn’t at the top of their game,” he said. “Mike is in that elite league.”
Over the past 14 years, KeepTheFaith’s syndicated programming slate has been a dominant force in 19 of the top 20 U.S. markets, reaching as many as 2 million weekly listeners with an AQH of 664,700. David Sams, John Frost, and Joe Battaglia serve as executive producers, with Denise Payne as Vice President and General Manager.
