The Stranger
The Stranger is a Seattle-based alternative weekly newspaper founded in 1991 covering news, arts, music, food, sports, and LGBTQ+ culture, operating under Noisy Creek with subscriptions, local advertising, donations, merchandise, and event ticketing revenue streams.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1991
- HeadquartersSeattle, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What The Stranger does
The Stranger is a Seattle-based alternative weekly newspaper founded in 1991, covering local news, arts, music, food and drink, sports, and LGBTQ+ culture through both digital and print editions. It is legally organized as Index Newspapers, LLC and operates as a member of the Noisy Creek network of alternative publications, which acquired the company in 2025 alongside the Portland Mercury, Chicago Reader, EverOut events platform, Savage Love column, and Bold Type Tickets ticketing service. The company self-describes as "Seattle's Only Newspaper" and reaches readers through free print distribution at Seattle venues (bars, coffee shops, bookstores, record stores), a paid print subscription tier ($10/month or $100/year) bundled with VIP event access and ticket giveaways, a free digital website at thestranger.com, and a portfolio of email newsletters (Slog AM, Arts + Culture, Pop Loser, Stranger Suggests, Weekend Guide, and others). The underlying technology stack is WordPress-based Newspack CMS, and the company maintains social media presence on Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and TikTok.
The Stranger's revenue model is diversified across five streams: print and digital subscriptions, advertising sold to Seattle-area local businesses (restaurants, bars, venues, theaters, arts organizations, retailers), tax-deductible donations through the Fund for Alternative Journalism (fiscally sponsored by Panorama Global), branded merchandise sold through a Shopify store, and ticketing transaction fees via the owned Bold Type Tickets / Stranger Tickets platform. Customer segments are two-sided: Seattle general readers on the consumer side, and Seattle local businesses on the advertising side. The company is privately held by Noisy Creek, Inc., has 51-100 employees, and operates from headquarters at 1101 East Pike St., Suite 300, Seattle, with a secondary listed address at 800 Maynard Ave S, Suite 200, Seattle. No mobile app, public API, or AI/ML capabilities are disclosed in the source data. The leadership team includes Publisher Tracey Cataldo and Editor in Chief Hannah Murphy Winter, with editorial, advertising, marketing, production, art, and video production functions represented.
The Stranger firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Stranger
- Legal name
- Index Newspapers, LLC
- Website
- https://thestranger.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1991
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- The Stranger is a Seattle-based alternative weekly newspaper founded in 1991 covering news, arts, music, food, sports, and LGBTQ+ culture, operating under Noisy Creek with subscriptions, local advertising, donations, merchandise, and event ticketing revenue streams.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Stranger industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Alternative Weekly Newspaper
- NAICS
- Book Retailers and News Dealers (45921)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Alternative/Independent Newsweeklies & Opinion Press (MPAJADAH)
Keywords
Where The Stranger is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seattle
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
The Stranger business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Print and Digital Subscriptions: Monthly and annual subscription plans offering print delivery of monthly issues plus VIP access to exclusive Stranger events, ticket giveaways, and surprise perks.
- Advertising: Digital advertising, newsletter advertising, social media advertising, and print advertising sold to local Seattle businesses including restaurants, bars, venues, theaters, arts organizations, and retailers.
- Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible donations through the Fund for Alternative Journalism, a fiscally sponsored project of Panorama Global, supporting public-interest journalism.
- Merchandise Sales: Sale of Stranger branded merchandise including tote bags and other items through the Shopify store.
- Ticketing: Ticket sales through Bold Type Tickets platform for events.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Monthly subscription - $10/month |
| Subscription | Annual | Annual subscription - $100/year (save $20) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
The Stranger product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Stranger is a Seattle-based alternative weekly newspaper that publishes original local journalism, arts and culture coverage, music criticism, food and drink reviews, sports content, and syndicated columns (notably Savage Love) across a free print edition distributed at Seattle venues and a digital edition at thestranger.com. It complements its editorial offering with email newsletters, an integrated event discovery platform (EverOut), an in-house ticketing service (Bold Type Tickets / Stranger Tickets), and branded merchandise sold through Shopify.
Product overview
The Stranger is a Seattle-based alternative weekly newspaper operating as a single unified media product within the Noisy Creek network. The core offering is its editorial content spanning news, arts, culture, music, sports, and specialized columns such as Savage Love (sex/relationships advice) and Free Will Astrology. The product portfolio includes digital and print editions, email newsletters (Slog AM, Arts + Culture, Pop Loser, Stranger Suggests, and more), the EverOut events discovery platform, Bold Type Tickets ticketing service, and merchandise sold via Shopify. The company also produces podcasts and video content.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- EverOut: Seattle's most popular and trusted source of event information in the region.
- Savage Love
- Bold Type Tickets
- Stranger Tickets
Products and services
- The Stranger (Alternative Weekly Newspaper) Seattle-based alternative weekly newspaper delivered in print and digital editions to general readers, covering local news, arts and culture, music criticism, food and drink, sports, and LGBTQ+ topics including the syndicated Savage Love column.
- The Stranger in Print (Print Subscription) Monthly print subscription delivering the physical newspaper to subscribers' homes, available at $10/month or $100/year, including VIP access to exclusive Stranger events, ticket giveaways, and surprise perks.
- EverOut Seattle's comprehensive event discovery platform and calendar covering live music, arts, food, and cultural events in the region, integrated with The Stranger's editorial content.
- Bold Type Tickets (Stranger Tickets) Ticketing platform that sells tickets to concerts, shows, and events at various Seattle venues, owned and operated by The Stranger as part of the Noisy Creek network.
- Savage Love Dan Savage's internationally syndicated LGBTQ+ focused sex and relationships advice column, distributed via The Stranger and on its own platform, including the Savage Lovecast podcast and Hump film festival.
- Stranger Merch Store Shopify-based online store selling Stranger-branded merchandise including tote bags, apparel, and accessories to readers and donors.
Companies that use The Stranger
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The Stranger technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Stranger partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Noisy CreekcoreParent company and network operator for The Stranger. Noisy Creek is a startup publisher focused on restoring alternative weeklies. The Stranger is a proud member of the Noisy Creek network, with The Stranger's copyright held by Index Newspapers LLC, d.b.a. The Stranger under Noisy Creek ownership.
- Portland MercurycorePortland-based alternative weekly newspaper and sibling publication within the Noisy Creek network of alternative publications.
- EverOutcoreSeattle's comprehensive events platform and calendar integrated with The Stranger's editorial content. The platform also extends to Chicago. Part of the Noisy Creek network.
- Savage LovecoreDan Savage's internationally syndicated sex advice column and brand including Savage Lovecast podcast and Hump film festival. Operated under The Stranger and Noisy Creek network.
- Bold Type TicketssupportingTicketing platform owned and operated by The Stranger for selling tickets to events at various Seattle venues.
- NewspacksupportingWordPress-based content management platform powering The Stranger's website and digital publishing infrastructure.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Stranger competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Phoenix New Times: Major-market alternative weekly covering Phoenix with the same editorial categories and ad-supported subscription hybrid model. Comparable scale and audience scope.
- LA Weekly: Long-established Los Angeles alternative weekly covering arts, music, food, and local news. Comparable in scope, format, and target reader to The Stranger.
- Chicago Reader: Recently acquired by Noisy Creek (2026) and converted to monthly; serves Chicago's alternative news, arts, and culture audience under the same parent. Closest functional analog in a different market.
- Portland Mercury: Sister alternative weekly newspaper within the Noisy Creek network, serving Portland with the same editorial-advertising-ticketing model. Most directly comparable peer as a sibling publication.
- Austin Chronicle: Independent alternative weekly in Austin covering news, arts, music, and food with a similar irreverent editorial voice. Directly comparable product and audience profile.
- Willamette Week: Long-running independent alternative weekly serving Portland, covering news, arts, music, and politics. Comparable editorial format, revenue mix, and local-market positioning to The Stranger.
- Washington City Paper: Alternative weekly covering Washington DC's local news, arts, and culture scene. Same editorial model and ad-supported subscription hybrid revenue approach.
- Nashville Scene: Alternative weekly serving Nashville with news, arts, and culture coverage. Same alt-weekly format serving a single major metro with similar revenue mix.
- The Pitch: Kansas City alternative weekly covering local news, arts, and culture. Same alt-weekly editorial model and local advertising dependence.
- Riverfront Times: St. Louis alternative weekly with comparable editorial mix (news, arts, music, food) and single-metro local advertising revenue model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Stranger social profiles
Digital presenceThe Stranger financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Stranger leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
The Stranger funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Stranger M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Stranger
What does The Stranger do?
The Stranger is a Seattle-based alternative weekly newspaper that publishes original local journalism, arts and culture coverage, music criticism, food and drink reviews, sports content, and syndicated columns (notably Savage Love) across a free print edition distributed at Seattle venues and a digital edition at thestranger.com. It complements its editorial offering with email newsletters, an integrated event discovery platform (EverOut), an in-house ticketing service (Bold Type Tickets / Stranger Tickets), and branded merchandise sold through Shopify.
Is The Stranger a public or private company?
The Stranger is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was The Stranger founded?
The Stranger was founded in 1991. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is The Stranger based?
The Stranger is headquartered in Seattle, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Stranger make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Print and Digital Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are advertising, donations and Contributions, merchandise Sales and ticketing.
Who are The Stranger's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Phoenix New Times, LA Weekly, Chicago Reader, Portland Mercury, Austin Chronicle, Willamette Week, Washington City Paper, Nashville Scene, The Pitch and Riverfront Times.
Does The Stranger have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Stranger.
What industry is The Stranger in?
The Stranger's product category is Alternative Weekly Newspaper. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJADAH, Alternative/Independent Newsweeklies & Opinion Press. Its NAICS code is 45921.