WWOZ

What WWOZ does

WWOZ 90.7FM is a nonprofit community public radio station headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, broadcasting on 90.7 FM across the metropolitan area and simulcasting worldwide via live internet streaming. Founded in 1980, the station specializes in New Orleans and Louisiana music traditions — jazz, blues, R&B, Cajun, Zydeco, brass bands, and second-line culture — programmed by volunteer show hosts with deep local expertise and editorial independence from commercial advertising. Its product portfolio centers on a continuous live audio broadcast, extended by a two-week on-demand archive, native mobile apps for iOS, Android, and BlackBerry, live video streaming through Facebook and YouTube, podcasts, and supplemental content properties including the Livewire community music calendar and the Groovapedia music encyclopedia.

The underlying technology stack combines over-the-air FM broadcast with HD-compatible HLS streaming, web-based playback (primary and secondary streams), and a CMS-driven website that integrates show schedules, program archives, community event calendars, and curated historical content. Mobile applications extend streaming reach across device platforms, and live event broadcasting extends radio coverage into venues and festivals. The station relocated to larger flagship studio facilities on the fifth floor of the Jax Brewery building in May 2024, signaling investment in operational capacity.

WWOZ's business model is nonprofit and community-supported, with revenue drawn from annual listener memberships (Guardians of the Groove), seasonal pledge drives featuring thank-you gifts, one-time Brass Pass sales bundled with full-year memberships that grant multi-day Jazz Fest access and Hospitality Tent entry, corporate sponsorships, broadcast licensing arrangements with ASCAP/BMI/SESAC/SoundExchange, and planned giving. Customer segments include individual listener-members, Jazz Fest attendees, local musicians seeking airplay and promotional coverage, and local business sponsors seeking audience association with authentic New Orleans culture. The flagship operating partnership is with the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, supplemented by relationships with the Voodoo Experience, Louisiana Music Factory, Jazz & Heritage Foundation, and Shell Oil-sponsored school field trips.

Name

WWOZ

Legal name

WWOZ 90.7FM

Website

https://wwoz.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

WWOZ 90.7FM is a nonprofit community radio station in New Orleans that broadcasts Louisiana music traditions — jazz, blues, R&B, Cajun, Zydeco, and brass bands — to local FM listeners and a global streaming audience, supported by memberships, Brass Pass sales, sponsorships, and volunteers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Radio Broadcasting

NAICS

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

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

Public/Community Local Stations (PBS Member Stations, Community Radio, LPFM) (MPABACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Local Radio Station Groups (Owned & Operated/Station Chains) (MPABACAC), Music Radio Networks (Format-Based) (MPABABAF)

Keywords

• Community radio broadcasting
• New Orleans music
• Public radio station
• Live music streaming
• Cultural programming

Headquarters

HQ city

New Orleans

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Donations: Annual membership contributions from listeners who support the station as 'Guardians of the Groove'. Members receive benefits including Guardian card for discounts at partner businesses, access to exclusive content, and promotional items during pledge drives.
2. Brass Pass Sales: Sale of Brass Passes providing unlimited access to all eight days of Jazz Fest plus membership benefits and access to WWOZ Hospitality Tent. A portion of proceeds supports the station directly.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Sponsorship revenue from businesses supporting the station, its events, and programming. Includes hospitality tent sponsorships at events like Jazz Fest and Voodoo Experience.
4. Broadcast Licensing: Operating under licenses from ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, SoundExchange/RIAA and Digital Millennium Copyright Act provisions for webcast content.
5. Pledge Drive Donations: Seasonal membership drives featuring live performances and special programming to encourage listener donations, with thank-you gifts for contributors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

WWOZ operates a nonprofit community public radio station broadcasting continuous New Orleans and Louisiana music programming on 90.7 FM, simulcast worldwide via live internet streaming, mobile apps, and live event broadcasts. The station is supported by listener-member donations, Brass Pass sales for the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and corporate sponsorships, with programming managed by a mix of staff and volunteer show hosts focused on local music preservation and promotion.

Product overview

WWOZ is a public radio station broadcasting on 90.7 FM in New Orleans, operating as a single unified product offering centered on live and streaming radio programming. The station's core offering is its continuous radio broadcast, which is distributed simultaneously via live streaming through the station's web player (Primary Stream and Two-Week Archive). Supporting the broadcast, WWOZ offers a portfolio of related products and membership perks: the Brass Pass (a Jazz Fest ticket-and-membership bundle), the Livewire Music Calendar (a community events aggregator), Groovapedia (a music encyclopedia wiki), School Groove (youth music education programming), the 'OZone monthly email newsletter, podcasts of select shows, and the Takin' It to the Streets multi-platform cultural coverage program. The station also provides mobile applications for iOS, Android, and BlackBerry, and maintains a member discount program branded as Guardian of the Groove. The station's live event broadcasts extend its radio coverage to major local festivals including Jazz Fest and French Quarter Fest.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• WWOZ Live Radio Broadcast Continuous 24/7 radio broadcast on 90.7 FM featuring New Orleans jazz, blues, R&B, Cajun, Zydeco, brass band, and related cultural programming, simulcast worldwide via live streaming. Designed for listeners, members, and the New Orleans diaspora community.
• Live Streaming Player Web-based audio player enabling listeners worldwide to tune in to live WWOZ broadcasts with primary and secondary stream options, designed for global audiences and diaspora listeners.
• Two-Week Stream Archive On-demand archive of WWOZ broadcasts accessible for two weeks after airing, allowing listeners to hear previously aired shows and songs.
• Brass Pass Premium WWOZ product bundle that provides unlimited eight-day access to the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival plus a full year of WWOZ membership, with entry to the WWOZ Hospitality Tent, WiFi access, same-day re-entry to Jazz Fest, and full transferability. Non-refundable.
• Guardian of the Groove Membership and Member Discounts Annual WWOZ membership program offering a Guardian of the Groove card that provides discounts at local New Orleans businesses, along with access to exclusive content and promotional items during pledge drives.
• WWOZ Mobile Applications Native mobile applications for iPhone, Android, and Blackberry enabling listeners to tune in to WWOZ broadcasts on mobile devices. Available via the Apple App Store and Google Play.
• 'OZone Monthly Newsletter Monthly email newsletter providing WWOZ station updates, event highlights, membership drives, and New Orleans music news to subscribers via online registration.
• WWOZ Podcasts Podcast recordings of select WWOZ shows and performances available for on-demand listening outside of live broadcast hours.
• Live Event Broadcasts Live radio broadcast coverage of New Orleans music events and festivals including the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and French Quarter Fest, extending the station's broadcast to festival grounds.

Quantifiable outcome

• Seven journalism award nominations from Press Club of New Orleans across six categories for 2025 content
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, minor and secondary.

• New Orleans Jazz & Heritage FestivalflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 April 2026WWOZ serves as official radio broadcaster for the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, operating Brass Pass sales and the WWOZ Hospitality Tent at the festival grounds. The partnership provides exclusive premium access products and hospitality services for festival attendees while generating significant revenue and listener engagement.
• Louisiana Music FactorycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 17 April 2026Brass Pass pickup location partnership during French Quarter Fest (April 17-19), allowing pass holders to collect their festival passes at Louisiana Music Factory store location.
• Jazz & Heritage FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Brass Pass distribution operations and joint support of Louisiana music and cultural heritage. The foundation presents Jazz Fest and receives portion of Brass Pass proceeds.
• Shell Oil CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerShell Oil sponsors school field trips to Jazz Fest, providing complimentary tickets to students from public, charter, and parochial schools who demonstrate academic and behavioral excellence.
• Voodoo Experience FestivalsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerWWOZ provides live broadcasts and hospitality tent operations at Voodoo Experience festival in City Park. Partnership includes Vespa scooter raffle promotions and vendor sponsorship support.
• Local Business Sponsors (Semolina, Zea Rotisserie, New Orleans Rum)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal restaurants and food businesses sponsor WWOZ hospitality tents at festivals, receiving promotional visibility in exchange for food donations and sponsorship contributions.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• KEXP 90.3 FM Seattle: Listener-supported public radio station with a music-discovery mission and deep streaming/digital presence. Operates a comparable model—community-funded, volunteer DJs, streaming-first, live in-studio sessions—and is widely cited as a benchmark for music-focused public radio fundraising and digital engagement.
• WXPN 88.5 FM (Philadelphia): University of Pennsylvania-licensed public radio station with music-discovery programming and live sessions. Comparable to WWOZ in nonprofit public radio model, music format specialization, live in-studio performances, and streaming/digital distribution strategy.
• WBGO 88.3 FM (Newark): Public radio station dedicated primarily to jazz, with live event broadcasts and member support. Comparable to WWOZ as a nonprofit, format-specific (jazz) public radio station focused on a single music tradition with strong listener-donor engagement.
• WFMU 91.1 FM (Jersey City): Independent, freeform, listener-supported community radio station. Comparable to WWOZ in its nonprofit status, volunteer-driven programming, premium placed on DJ autonomy, and reliance on member drives rather than underwriting; often cited as a comparable operating model.
• KCRW 89.9 FM (Santa Monica): Santa Monica College-licensed public radio station known for music, culture, and live in-studio performances. Closely comparable to WWOZ in its nonprofit listener-supported model, eclectic music programming, live event broadcasts, and emphasis on streaming and podcasts.
• WWNO 89.9 FM (New Orleans Public Radio): The New Orleans area's primary NPR member station, operating as a nonprofit public radio in the same market as WWOZ. While WWNO focuses more on news/talk, it competes for the same listener-member base, donor pool, and underwriting sponsorships in the New Orleans metro.

Others

• WWOZ Cleveland (WCSB 89.3 FM Cleveland State): Community/college radio station operating with a freeform, volunteer-driven music programming model. Comparable to WWOZ in the nonprofit/volunteer structure and music-focused format, though not in the New Orleans market or jazz-specific.

Regional players

• Jazz FM (London): UK-based commercial jazz radio station with live sessions and music-event partnerships. Comparable to WWOZ as a jazz-focused radio brand with live broadcast programming and event partnerships, but operating in a different geography under a commercial rather than nonprofit model.
• WTUL 91.5 FM (New Orleans Tulane): Tulane University-licensed college/community radio station operating in the New Orleans market. Comparable to WWOZ as a local community radio outlet in the same geography with similar volunteer-driven format programming, though smaller and college-affiliated.

Broad incumbents

• KUT 90.5 FM (Austin): Major-market public radio station operated by the University of Texas with a mixed news/music format. Comparable to WWOZ as a nonprofit listener-supported public radio station with a focus on local cultural coverage and event partnerships, but with broader programming scope.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wwoz_neworleans
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/wwozneworleans
• Facebookfacebook.com/wwozneworleans
• Instagraminstagram.com/wwoz_neworleans
• Pinterestpinterest.com/wwoz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wwoz-90-7-fm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

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 WWOZ