96.1 The Rocket

What 96.1 The Rocket does

96.1 The Rocket is a classic rock formatted FM radio station (callsign WRKH) broadcasting at 96.1 MHz across the Gulf Coast region, covering Pensacola FL, Mobile AL, and Biloxi MS. The station is owned and operated by iHeartMedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: IHRT), a publicly traded U.S. media conglomerate headquartered in Texas. Programming includes on-air personalities (Lynch, Maria Milito, Ken Dashow, Big Rig, Marc 'The Cope' Coppola), traffic and weather updates, local news, sports coverage (including the South Alabama Jaguars), and community event promotion (Mardi Gras, Operation: Stormwatch).

The station's technical footprint combines a traditional FM broadcast signal with digital streaming through the iHeartRadio mobile app and a branded website (961therocket.iheart.com). The product surface extends beyond live radio to include an on-demand podcast portfolio hosted on iHeartRadio (Tighten Up, Rock Almanac, iHeartRadio Gulf Coast Focus, The Uncle Henry Show, The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe), recently-played and top-songs tracking features, a local events calendar, and Ticketmaster integration for promoted concert ticketing. The FCC broadcast license is held in compliance with no pending regulatory applications as of July 2026.

The business model is single-stream advertising revenue. Content is free to listeners; monetization occurs through a dedicated advertising sales channel targeting local and national advertisers seeking access to the Gulf Coast audience across Pensacola, Mobile, and Biloxi. The station operates as a regional asset within iHeartMedia's larger radio network, with headcount reported at 11-50 employees. No consumer pricing, subscription tier, or direct listener monetization is present.

Name

96.1 The Rocket

Legal name

iHeartMedia, Inc.

Website

https://961therocket.iheart.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

96.1 The Rocket is a classic rock FM radio station serving the Gulf Coast region from Pensacola FL to Mobile AL to Biloxi MS, broadcasting at 96.1 MHz and streaming via the iHeartRadio platform, owned by iHeartMedia and monetized through local and national advertising.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Radio Broadcasting

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110), Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

Commercial Terrestrial Radio Broadcasting (AM/FM) (MPAIAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Local Radio Station Groups (Owned & Operated/Station Chains) (MPABACAC)

Keywords

• Classic rock radio
• FM broadcasting
• Music streaming
• Regional radio station
• Podcast distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Mobile

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Advertising Revenue: The station generates revenue through advertising, with a dedicated page for businesses to advertise on the station. Advertisers can reach the Gulf Coast audience across Pensacola FL, Mobile AL, and Biloxi MS.

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

96.1 The Rocket is a regional classic rock formatted FM radio station broadcasting at 96.1 frequency to the Gulf Coast region spanning Pensacola FL, Mobile AL, and Biloxi MS. The station delivers classic rock music programming, hosted talk shows with on-air personalities, local news, weather, traffic reports, sports coverage (including the South Alabama Jaguars), community event coverage (Gulf Coast Mardi Gras), and a portfolio of podcasts distributed through the iHeartRadio platform.

Product overview

96.1 The Rocket is a classic rock radio station serving the Gulf Coast region. The station operates as part of the iHeartRadio network, offering a unified platform consisting of its FM radio broadcast (96.1 FM), the iHeartRadio mobile application for streaming, and a portfolio of local podcasts including The Uncle Henry Show, The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe, Tighten Up, Rock Almanac, and iHeartRadio Gulf Coast Focus. The station complements its radio programming with music tracking features (Recently Played, Top Songs), a local events calendar, and various contest and promotional programs. Ticketing for promoted concerts is handled through Ticketmaster integration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 96.1 The Rocket Radio Broadcast Classic rock formatted 24/7 radio station broadcast on 96.1 FM, serving the Gulf Coast region from Pensacola FL to Mobile AL to Biloxi MS. Features on-air personalities including Lynch, Maria Milito, Ken Dashow, Big Rig, and Marc 'The Cope' Coppola, alongside local news, weather, traffic, sports coverage, and community event programming.
• iHeartRadio Mobile App Streaming Mobile and web streaming service for 96.1 The Rocket and other iHeartMedia radio stations, enabling global on-the-go listening to classic rock programming beyond the FM broadcast footprint.
• The Uncle Henry Show Podcast Podcast distributed on the iHeartRadio platform, featuring discussions on topics relevant to the Gulf Coast audience.
• The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe Podcast Podcast hosted by Mike Rowe, available through iHeartRadio and associated with the 96.1 The Rocket station.
• Tighten Up Podcast Podcast featured on iHeartRadio Gulf Coast, focusing on rock music content for the Gulf Coast audience.
• Rock Almanac Podcast Podcast covering rock music history and news, available on the iHeartRadio platform alongside 96.1 The Rocket programming.
• iHeartRadio Gulf Coast Focus Podcast Local Gulf Coast-focused podcast covering regional news and events, distributed through iHeartRadio.
• Contests and Promotions Station-run contests and promotional giveaways including concert ticket giveaways (Black Jacket Symphony performing Def Leppard, Train and Barenaked Ladies at The Wharf), merchandise bundles, the 250K USA Giveaway, and the Dog Days of Summer Photo Contest. Used as audience engagement and advertiser sponsorship opportunities.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• iHeartMedia, Inc. iHeartMedia is the parent company of 96.1 The Rocket and the largest U.S. radio broadcaster, operating hundreds of AM/FM stations and the iHeartRadio digital platform — directly comparable as the network owner and capital allocator behind the station.
• Audacy, Inc. Audacy is a top-tier U.S. radio operator with stations in major and mid-sized markets and a streaming/podcast platform; directly comparable as a competing terrestrial-plus-digital audio broadcaster with overlapping advertiser base.
• Cumulus Media: Cumulus Media operates a large portfolio of AM/FM stations across the U.S. and Westwood One syndicated content, making it a direct competitor in local-market ad sales and content syndication for 96.1 The Rocket.
• Cox Media Group: Cox Media Group operates radio and TV stations in multiple U.S. markets, including the Gulf Coast region, putting it in direct competition for local advertisers in the Mobile–Pensacola–Biloxi corridor.
• Salem Communications: Salem is a U.S. radio broadcaster with a national footprint of AM/FM stations and complementary digital media, comparable in operating model to 96.1 The Rocket within the broader radio industry.

Regional players

• Townsquare Media: Townsquare Media operates clusters of radio stations in mid-sized and secondary U.S. markets — comparable to 96.1 The Rocket in targeting Gulf Coast / regional audiences with locally programmed formats.
• Beasley Media Group: Beasley is a mid-market U.S. radio operator running stations in similar-sized markets to Mobile/Pensacola, with comparable ad-sales economics and format-driven competition.
• Saga Communications: Saga operates FM/AM stations in mid-sized U.S. markets with formats similar to classic rock and adult contemporary, making it a comparable regional broadcaster for ad-share and station-economics benchmarking.
• Alpha Media: Alpha Media operates radio station clusters across the U.S. with formats including classic rock and talk, making it a direct competitor for both listeners and advertisers in similar mid-sized markets.
• Good Karma Brands: Good Karma Brands operates radio station clusters in mid-sized U.S. markets with strong local sports and event tie-ins, making it structurally comparable to 96.1 The Rocket's locally programmed, event-driven model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/961therocket
• Facebookfacebook.com/961therocket

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about 96.1 The Rocket