WBEZ
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1944
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
WBEZ firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- WBEZ
- Legal name
- Chicago Public Media, Inc.
- Website
- https://wbez.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1944
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
WBEZ industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Radio Broadcasting
- NAICS
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611)
- SIC
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)
- akta.pro primary industry
- National Public Radio Networks & Member Stations (NPR-style) (MPABADAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Talk/News/Sports Radio Networks & Syndication (MPAIAEAG), Network-Affiliated Local Radio Stations (News/Talk/Sports Syndication Affiliates) (MPABACAF), Local Radio Station Groups (Owned & Operated/Station Chains) (MPABACAC)
Keywords
Where WBEZ is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
WBEZ business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Membership/Donations: WBEZ is primarily funded through listener donations and membership contributions. Donors of any amount are considered members and receive benefits including thank you gifts, event access, and NPR+ access for high-tier donors.
- Corporate Sponsorship/Underwriting: WBEZ sells underwriting announcements to businesses. These are factual, descriptive, informative, objective, and direct messages read by on-air hosts that conform to public broadcasting guidelines.
- Planned Giving/Bequests: Donors can establish planned gifts through wills, trusts, charitable gift annuities, or beneficiary designations. Members of the Legacy Society receive special recognition and engagement opportunities.
- Vehicle Donations: WBEZ accepts vehicle donations as a way to support the station, which qualify as tax-deductible contributions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Basic Membership - Any donation amount |
| Subscription | Annual | Leadership Circle ($1,200-$2,499) |
| Subscription | Annual | WBEZ Next ($2,500-$4,999) |
| Subscription | Annual | Amplifier Circle ($5,000+) |
| Subscription | Monthly | NPR+ Premium Access |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
WBEZ product offering
Product offeringCore offering
WBEZ is a member-supported NPR-affiliated public radio station broadcasting on 91.5 FM in Chicago, operated by Chicago Public Media, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. It delivers local and national news, talk shows, podcasts (including the Peabody Award-winning Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!), newsletters, and digital content across radio, streaming, website, and mobile platforms to Chicagoland audiences.
Product overview
WBEZ is Chicago's NPR-affiliated public radio station (91.5 FM) operated by Chicago Public Media, a nonprofit news organization. The organization operates a multiplatform ecosystem comprising the flagship WBEZ 91.5 FM radio station, the Urban Alternative NPR station Vocalo 91.1 FM, and distributes content across podcasts (including the Peabody Award-winning Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! and Curious City), newsletters (The Rundown), and digital platforms. Premium membership includes NPR+ access for sponsor-free listening and bonus content. The organization also partnered with Grist and Inside Climate News to create the Lead Pipe Check Tool for environmental reporting.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Vocalo: Urban Alternative NPR station at 91.1 FM, serving as the nation's first Urban Alternative NPR station
- Wait Wait… Don't Tell Me!
- The Rundown
- Curious City
- In the Loop with Sasha-Ann Simons
- Say More with Mary Dixon & Patrick Smith
Products and services
- WBEZ 91.5 FM
- Vocalo 91.1 FM
- Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!
- Curious City
- NPR+ Premium Access
- Lead Pipe Check Tool
- WBEZ Membership Program
- Corporate Sponsorship/Underwriting
Quantifiable outcome
- 86% of listeners take action in response to a public radio sponsorship message
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use WBEZ
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
WBEZ technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
WBEZ partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- GristcoreWBEZ partnered with Grist and Inside Climate News to create an interactive tool allowing Chicago residents to check whether their homes have lead service lines. The tool is based on Chicago Department of Water Management data submitted to the Illinois EPA.
- Inside Climate NewscoreWBEZ partnered with Grist and Inside Climate News to create an interactive tool allowing Chicago residents to check whether their homes have lead service lines.
- NPRcoreNPR is a partner organization that shares programming with WBEZ. WBEZ is Chicago's premier NPR affiliate, distributing NPR national news programming and co-producing shows like Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!
- Chicago Sun-TimescoreChicago Public Media (WBEZ's parent) plans to acquire the Chicago Sun-Times in a merger to create a new nonprofit journalism organization. The deal aims to secure the future of the Sun-Times and strengthen local news in Chicago.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
WBEZ competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- NPR (National Public Radio): NPR is the national network that distributes programming to and partners with WBEZ. As a strategic partner and content syndicator, NPR is the broader incumbent in the same space; it operates nationally while WBEZ operates the Chicago local affiliate function, and they co-produce flagship content like Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!.
Direct peers
- WNYC (New York Public Radio): WNYC is New York City's flagship NPR member station, operating multiple radio signals, podcasts (Radiolab, On the Media, Freakonomics Radio), and a digital news operation. It is the most direct large-market analog to WBEZ in terms of NPR-affiliation, multi-platform distribution, podcast syndication, and member-supported nonprofit structure.
- KQED (San Francisco): KQED is the San Francisco Bay Area's public broadcaster, operating both NPR radio and PBS television stations with a member-supported model and award-winning journalism (KQED News). Comparable to WBEZ as a multi-platform public media organization combining radio, digital, and local investigative journalism in a major U.S. metro.
- WGBH (Boston) / GBH: GBH (formerly WGBH) is Boston's public broadcaster, producing both radio (NPR-affiliated) and television (PBS) content including Frontline and American Experience. Comparable to WBEZ as a major-market nonprofit public media organization with combined broadcast, podcast, and digital journalism operations.
- Minnesota Public Radio / American Public Media: Minnesota Public Radio operates a statewide network of NPR stations and produces national programming through American Public Media (APM Reports, Marketplace). Comparable to WBEZ as an NPR member station operator with both local-market broadcast and nationally syndicated programming capabilities.
- WBUR (Boston University Radio): WBUR is Boston's NPR member station, operating a major-market newsroom with podcasts (Here & Now) and a member-supported funding model. Comparable to WBEZ as a large-market, university-affiliated (though now independent), NPR-affiliated public radio station with national content syndication.
- LAist / KPCC (Southern California Public Radio): LAist (formerly KPCC) is the NPR member station for the Los Angeles market, offering news, podcasts, and member-supported programming. It is directly comparable to WBEZ as a major-market, multi-platform public radio station with strong local journalism and recurring membership model.
- WHYY (Philadelphia): WHYY is the Philadelphia region's NPR and PBS member station, producing local journalism, podcasts, and member-supported programming. Comparable to WBEZ as a mid-to-large market public broadcaster combining radio, digital news, and a member-funded revenue model with strong local-news focus.
Emerging players
- ProPublica: ProPublica is a national nonprofit investigative journalism organization that produces award-winning reporting distributed through partner newsrooms including public radio stations. Comparable to WBEZ's investigative journalism function (e.g., Curious City) as a nonprofit, member-supported investigative news outlet operating in the same public-service journalism category.
Regional players
- Chicago Tribune: The Chicago Tribune is the other major daily newspaper serving the Chicago metropolitan area alongside the Chicago Sun-Times (now part of Chicago Public Media/WBEZ). Comparable to WBEZ's local-news function post-Sun-Times merger as a Chicago-based news outlet competing for the same audience, advertisers, and journalism talent pool.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks1 record
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
WBEZ social profiles
Digital presenceWBEZ financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
WBEZ leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
WBEZ subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
WBEZ funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
WBEZ M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about WBEZ
What does WBEZ do?
WBEZ is a member-supported NPR-affiliated public radio station broadcasting on 91.5 FM in Chicago, operated by Chicago Public Media, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. It delivers local and national news, talk shows, podcasts (including the Peabody Award-winning Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!), newsletters, and digital content across radio, streaming, website, and mobile platforms to Chicagoland audiences.
Is WBEZ a public or private company?
WBEZ is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was WBEZ founded?
WBEZ was founded in 1944. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is WBEZ based?
WBEZ is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does WBEZ make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Membership/Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorship/Underwriting, planned Giving/Bequests and vehicle Donations.
Who are WBEZ's main competitors?
NPR (National Public Radio) is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are WNYC (New York Public Radio), KQED (San Francisco), WGBH (Boston) / GBH, Minnesota Public Radio / American Public Media, WBUR (Boston University Radio), LAist / KPCC (Southern California Public Radio) and WHYY (Philadelphia). ProPublica is listed as an emerging player. Chicago Tribune is listed as a regional player.
Does WBEZ have an API?
No public API is recorded for WBEZ.
What industry is WBEZ in?
WBEZ's product category is Public Radio Broadcasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABADAB, National Public Radio Networks & Member Stations (NPR-style), with a secondary code of MPAIAEAG, Talk/News/Sports Radio Networks & Syndication. Its NAICS code is 51611 and its SIC code is 4832.