---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001193125-21-362574"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "SALM"
cik: "0001050606"
company_name: "SALEM MEDIA GROUP, INC. /DE/"
filed_at: "2021-12-20T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-27T23:33:19.002206+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "positive"
materiality_score: 0.75
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Salem Media Group names David Santrella CEO, David Evans COO; Atsinger becomes Executive Chairman

## Summary
- Edward Atsinger III transitions from CEO to Executive Chairman effective Jan 2, 2022; annual salary $1M.
- David Santrella promoted to CEO (was President of Broadcast Media); base salary $661k in 2022, escalating.
- David Evans promoted to COO (was President of Digital Media and Publishing); base salary $661k plus performance incentives.
- Stuart Epperson Sr. resigns as Chairman, becomes Chairman Emeritus (observer); Stuart Epperson Jr. joins Board.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001193125-21-362574
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: SALM
- cik: 0001050606
- company_name: SALEM MEDIA GROUP, INC. /DE/
- filed_at: 2021-12-20T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: positive
- materiality_score: 0.75
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1050606/000119312521362574/0001193125-21-362574-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1050606/000119312521362574/d274105d8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-21-362574
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-21-362574.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-21-362574.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Edward G. Atsinger III changed role as Executive Chairman at SALEM MEDIA GROUP, INC. /DE/.
  - Action: transitioned
  - Role: Executive Chairman
  source text: Effective January 2, 2022, Edward G. Atsinger III, the Company’s current Chief Executive Officer, will transition to the newly created role of Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1050606/000119312521362574/0001193125-21-362574-index.htm
- Executive change
  David Santrella was appointed as Chief Executive Officer at SALEM MEDIA GROUP, INC. /DE/.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer
  source text: the Company announced the appointment of David Santrella as Chief Executive Officer
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1050606/000119312521362574/0001193125-21-362574-index.htm
- Executive change
  Stuart W. Epperson, Jr. was appointed as Director at SALEM MEDIA GROUP, INC. /DE/.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Director
  source text: Stuart W. Epperson, Jr. will join the Board, filling the vacancy created by Mr. Epperson, Sr.’s resignation.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1050606/000119312521362574/0001193125-21-362574-index.htm
- Executive change
  David Evans was appointed as Chief Operating Officer at SALEM MEDIA GROUP, INC. /DE/.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Chief Operating Officer
  source text: and David Evans as Chief Operating Officer
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1050606/000119312521362574/0001193125-21-362574-index.htm
- Executive change
  Stuart W. Epperson, Sr. resigned as Chairman of the Board at SALEM MEDIA GROUP, INC. /DE/.
  - Action: resigned
  - Role: Chairman of the Board
  source text: Stuart W. Epperson, Sr., the Company’s current Chairman of the Board, will resign from the Board and transition to the position of Chairman Emeritus.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1050606/000119312521362574/0001193125-21-362574-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.