SCMS

What SCMS does

SCMS (Southern Coastal Marketing Services, Inc.) is a privately held, family-owned broadcast equipment distributor founded in 1976 in Pineville, North Carolina. The company serves radio and TV stations across the United States and Latin America, distributing audio, video, RF, and studio technology products from a catalog of more than 600 manufacturers — including flagship partnerships with GatesAir, Wheatstone, Inovonics, Orban, Comrex, Tieline, Aqua Broadcast, Digital Alert Systems, Burk Technology, AudioScience, Yellowtec, and Barix. SCMS's role extends beyond pure transactional distribution into value-added reseller (VAR) functions: the firm provides expert technical consultation, integrated studio and RF facility solutions, and has direct operating experience building thousands of broadcast facilities, antenna/transmitter sites, and studios through prior ownership of broadcast stations.

The business operates a sales-led go-to-market model: 18 sales representatives and broadcast engineers cover defined regional US territories (Mid-South, Southeast, Southern Gulf States, Northeast, Mid-Atlantic) and Latin America, supported by an inside sales team and a dedicated Bradley Broadcast Division for the Mid-Atlantic. Customer acquisition combines regional field sales, trade-show participation (NAB, state broadcaster conventions, AMITRA Mexico), and a self-service e-commerce storefront at scmsinc.com. Revenue streams consist of hardware resales (new equipment, used/closeout/B-Stock) and associated professional services for installation, maintenance, and technical support. Pricing is FOB Origin with Net 30 terms, quantity and promotional discounts, and limited manufacturer warranties; financing is offered through partners Providence Capital Funding and Centra Advantage.

The company has expanded its scope beyond traditional broadcast through two wholly-owned subsidiaries: SoleSource AV Supply (launched 2016, addressing broader Audio/Visual markets) and SoleSource Wireless (broadband, BDA wireless, microwave and radio solutions). Leadership is concentrated in the Cauthen family — Bob Cauthen (President), Matt Cauthen (Vice-President), Ben Cauthen (CFO and Treasurer) — and the firm holds VOSB (Veteran Owned Small Business) certification, positioning it for public-sector broadcast procurement. The company has not raised external capital and operates as a bootstrapped, cash-funded specialty distributor.

Name

SCMS

Legal name

Southern Coastal Marketing Services, Inc.

Website

https://scmsinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SCMS is a family-owned broadcast equipment distributor founded in 1976 that supplies radio and TV stations across the US and Latin America with audio, video, RF, and studio technology products from more than 600 manufacturers, operating through regional field sales and an e-commerce storefront.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Broadcast Equipment Distribution

NAICS

Photographic Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (423410)

SIC

Wholesale-Electronic Parts & Equipment, Nec (5065)

akta.pro primary industry

Consumer Electronics (Audio/Video/TV) Distribution (CRAOACAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Cameras, Imaging & Drones Distribution (CRAOACAH)

Keywords

• Broadcast equipment distribution
• Radio station equipment
• TV station equipment
• Audio video equipment reseller
• RF transmission equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Pineville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: Sales of broadcast, audio, video, lighting, and electronic equipment to radio and TV stations. Includes new equipment, used equipment, and closeout/B-Stock items.
2. Professional Services: Service and customer support for broadcast equipment including installation, maintenance, and technical assistance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

SCMS is a value-added distributor of broadcast equipment, supplying audio, video, RF transmission, and studio infrastructure products to radio and TV stations. The company resells products from more than 600 manufacturers (including GatesAir, Wheatstone, Orban, Comrex, Tieline, Inovonics, Aqua Broadcast, Barix, and Yellowtec), and provides expert technical consultation and service to broadcasters across the US and Latin America. It also operates dedicated broadcast sales divisions such as Bradley Broadcast and subsidiaries covering AV markets (SoleSource AV Supply) and wireless/microwave solutions (SoleSource Wireless).

Product overview

SCMS (Southern Coastal Marketing Services, Inc.) is a family-owned broadcast equipment distributor founded in 1976, offering a comprehensive portfolio of audio, video, and RF equipment from over 600 manufacturers. The core offering includes Wheatstone digital audio consoles (IP-12, IP-16, DMX-16, DMX-8, GSX series) with WheatNet-IP AoIP networking; GatesAir and Aqua Broadcast FM transmitters; Comrex and Tieline IP audio codecs for remote contribution; Orban audio processors; Inovonics monitoring and RDS encoder equipment; Barix IP audio devices; and Yellowtec studio furniture. SCMS also distributes RF equipment including antennas (Jampro, Kathrein), BDI site controllers, Broadcast Electronics STL systems, and Moseley microwave links. The company operates two subsidiaries: SoleSource AV Supply (AV markets since 2016) and SoleSource Wireless (broadband/BDA wireless solutions). All products are distributed through 18 sales representatives and broadcast engineers across the US and Latin America.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SCMS Broadcast Equipment Distribution Services
• SoleSource AV Supply

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GatesAircoreTechnology or IntegrationKey manufacturer partner for FM transmitters and broadcast equipment including FAX3KINT low power transmitters and Flexiva GX series transmitters ranging from 5kW to 10kW.
• WheatstonecoreTechnology or IntegrationMajor manufacturer partner for digital audio consoles including IP-12, IP-16, DMX-16, DMX-8, and GSX series broadcast consoles using WheatNet-IP protocol.
• InovonicscoreTechnology or IntegrationPartner for broadcast monitoring equipment including RDS encoders (732, 703, 704), FM/RDS SiteStreamer+, and triple tuners for AM/FM/NOAA.
• OrbancoreTechnology or IntegrationManufacturer partner for audio processors including OPTIMOD 5750 FM & DAB+/HD Radio processor and OPTIMOD 5950 audio processor.
• ComrexcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartner for IP audio codecs including BRIC-Link III, ACCESS NX portable stereo, and field portable codecs.
• TielinecoreTechnology or IntegrationPartner for IP audio codec solutions including ViA field portable and Gateway-4 multichannel IP codec.
• Aqua BroadcastcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorQuality broadcast equipment manufacturer for FM transmitters including COBALT C-300 (300W) and COBALT C-1000 (1000W) used by broadcasters worldwide.
• Digital Alert SystemscoreTechnology or IntegrationAward-winning DASDEC series of Emergency Messaging Devices for EAS (Emergency Alert System) compliance.
• Burk TechnologycoreTechnology or IntegrationPartner for remote control and monitoring equipment including PLUS-X EM32 monitors and ARC Plus Touch remote control systems.
• AudioSciencecoreTechnology or IntegrationPartner for PCI Express broadcast sound cards including ASI5810 linear sound card and ASI5740 broadcast sound card.
• YellowteccoreTechnology or IntegrationPartner for studio furniture and microphone arms including m!ka mounting systems, MMS poles, and monitor arms.
• RØDE MicrophonesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPromotion offering free RØDE WS6 windscreen with purchase of any RØDE NTG shotgun microphone.
• BarixcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartner for IP audio encoder/decoder solutions including Exstreamer 500 and Exstreamer 110.
• Zoom CorporationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor for field recorders including Zoom F2-BT ultra compact Bluetooth-enabled portable field recorder.
• 305 BroadcastminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for NAB Show 2026 in Las Vegas, NV.
• SoleSource AV SupplycoreOthersSubsidiary of SCMS Inc. established in 2016 as expansion into AV (audio-visual) markets.
• SoleSource WirelesscoreOthersSubsidiary of SCMS Inc. focusing on Broadband and BDA wireless, plus microwave and radio solutions.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Mouser Electronics: Mouser is a major global electronic component distributor that supplies parts into broadcast OEMs and engineering buyers. It is a broader-scale incumbent vs. SCMS's specialist broadcast focus.
• B&H Photo Video: B&H is one of the largest US pro photo, video, and broadcast equipment retailers with a much broader footprint and consumer-leaning assortment, competing with SCMS on pro video/camera procurement for stations and studios.
• Sweetwater: Sweetwater is a leading US pro audio equipment retailer with strong pro audio consoles, microphones, and studio categories that overlap with parts of SCMS's audio processing and broadcast console offering.
• Guitar Center (and Musician's Friend): Guitar Center is a large US retailer of musical instruments, pro audio, and broadcast-adjacent gear. While broader than SCMS, it serves overlap with the pro audio segment of broadcast studios.

Direct peers

• Markertek: Markertek is a US distributor specializing in professional audio, video, and broadcast equipment with an e-commerce catalog similar to SCMS, addressing overlapping studio and production customers.
• BSW (Broadcast Supply Worldwide): BSW is a long-standing US-based broadcast equipment distributor serving radio and TV stations with audio, video, and RF gear. It is the closest head-to-head competitor to SCMS in dealer-based broadcast equipment distribution.
• Parts Express: Parts Express is a US electronic components and audio distribution specialist that has expanded into broadcast gear, overlapping with SCMS on audio/broadcast equipment distribution to professional and prosumer buyers.
• Full Compass Systems: Full Compass is a US pro audio, video, lighting, and broadcast equipment retailer/distributor with a comparable multi-vendor catalog and dealer-based fulfillment model targeting broadcast and production buyers.
• Alliance Corporation: Alliance Corporation is a US distributor focused on wireless, RF, broadband, and broadcast infrastructure components, directly comparable to SCMS and its SoleSource Wireless subsidiary.

Others

• Production Resource Group (PRG): PRG is a large-scale provider of broadcast and production technology and services. While its core business is production/rental rather than B2B equipment distribution, it intersects with SCMS's broadcast and AV buyer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://www.scmsinc.com
• Xx.com/scmsinc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries2 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 SCMS