RadioReference.com
RadioReference.com operates the world's largest community-maintained database of radio frequencies and trunked radio systems, alongside forums, a wiki, and the Broadcastify live audio streaming platform. It serves radio scanner hobbyists, amateur radio operators, and the federal monitoring community via a freemium subscription model with scanner hardware integrations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersSan Antonio, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What RadioReference.com does
RadioReference.com LLC, founded in 1998 and headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, operates the world's largest radio communications data management and media platform. The company's core asset is a community-maintained database of over 224,000 identified frequencies and 7,100 trunked radio systems covering the USA and Canada, supplemented by active forums (tens of thousands of members), a user-contributed wiki with thousands of reference articles, and the Broadcastify live audio streaming service. Users include radio scanner hobbyists, amateur radio operators, a federal monitoring community, public safety observers, and general listeners seeking situational awareness or newsgathering access to live radio feeds.
The platform is built on a freemium model: free access to the database, forums, wiki, and Broadcastify is supported by advertising and serves as the top of funnel, while a paid Premium subscription unlocks enhanced database features, an ad-free experience, and priority support. Additional revenue comes from an affiliate/channel partnership with Scanner Master and a deeper technology integration with Uniden, whose Bearcat scanners (e.g., the SDS150) ship preloaded with the entire RadioReference database and can be programmed by ZIP code or built-in GPS. Developer APIs expose frequency, trunked system, and FCC data programmatically to third-party applications, and the most recent disclosed product initiative is Project Radiant Glow, an AI-powered real-time incident intelligence offering built on top of the platform's live audio and frequency data assets.
Customer-facing surfaces include the database (web), forums, wiki, and Broadcastify, with no native mobile app. Operations are run by a small team (1-10 employees) led by Founder & CEO Lindsay Blanton and Officer Karen E Blanton, with the platform functioning as an independently owned, privately held LLC. Revenue, funding, and ownership details beyond the founder-led structure are not publicly disclosed.
RadioReference.com firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- RadioReference.com
- Legal name
- RadioReference.com LLC
- Website
- https://radioreference.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- RadioReference.com operates the world's largest community-maintained database of radio frequencies and trunked radio systems, alongside forums, a wiki, and the Broadcastify live audio streaming platform. It serves radio scanner hobbyists, amateur radio operators, and the federal monitoring community via a freemium subscription model with scanner hardware integrations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
RadioReference.com industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Radio Communications Data Management
- NAICS
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110), Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611)
- SIC
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Internet Radio & Streaming Broadcast Stations (Simulcast/Online-only) (MPAIAEAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Radio Streaming & Catch-Up Audio Platforms (MPAIADAJ)
Keywords
Where RadioReference.com is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Antonio
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
RadioReference.com business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations
Revenue model
- Premium Membership: Subscription-based premium access providing enhanced database features, ad-free experience, and priority support.
- Live Audio Streaming: Broadcastify platform provides live audio streaming of radio feeds, monetized through premium features and possibly advertising.
- Scanner Hardware Integration: Partnership with Scanner Master to sell scanners pre-loaded with RadioReference database, generating referral/affiliate revenue.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
RadioReference.com product offering
Product offeringCore offering
RadioReference.com operates a radio communications data management platform featuring a comprehensive database of over 224,000 identified frequencies and 7,100 trunked radio systems across the USA and Canada. The platform includes community forums, a collaborative wiki, and the Broadcastify live audio streaming service for monitoring real-time radio feeds. Premium subscriptions and developer APIs provide enhanced access to the underlying frequency and trunked system data.
Product overview
RadioReference.com operates as a unified platform offering multiple interconnected products centered on radio communications data management and media. The core offering is the RadioReference Database—a comprehensive repository of over 224,000 frequencies and 7,100 trunked radio systems—complemented by the Forums for community discussion and the Wiki for collaborative reference content. The Broadcastify Live Audio service provides real-time streaming of radio communications feeds globally. The company also offers Premium subscriptions for enhanced access and Developer APIs for programmatic data access. Together, these products serve scanner enthusiasts, public safety professionals, and radio hobbyists seeking comprehensive radio communications information.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- 224K+ frequencies in database
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use RadioReference.com
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
RadioReference.com technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
RadioReference.com partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Scanner MastercoreScanner Master is the primary retail partner for RadioReference.com, selling scanners pre-loaded with the RadioReference database. The Uniden Bearcat SDS150 featured on the homepage is available through Scanner Master, bundling RR database access for convenient scanner programming.
- UnidencoreUniden integrates the RadioReference database directly into their Bearcat scanner products, allowing users to program scanners by location or ZIP code. The SDS150 and other models feature built-in RR database access.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
RadioReference.com competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- FlightAware: FlightAware operates a community-driven real-time flight tracking platform with crowdsourced ADS-B data feeding commercial and consumer use cases. It mirrors RadioReference's model of community-submitted real-world signal data powering a public-facing database plus premium features.
- ADS-B Exchange: ADS-B Exchange runs the world's largest community-fed unfiltered ADS-B flight tracking network. It is a direct structural analog to RadioReference's crowdsourced radio frequency database with live data feeds and commercial API monetization.
- MarineTraffic: MarineTraffic is a community-driven vessel tracking platform built on crowdsourced AIS receiver data. Like RadioReference, it combines a global crowdsourced database with live streaming, premium subscriptions, and developer APIs.
Broad incumbents
- iHeartMedia: iHeartMedia is the largest US terrestrial radio broadcaster and operates the iHeartRadio streaming platform. Relevant as the dominant incumbent in the radio listening space against which any internet-radio extension of Broadcastify must compete for audience and ad budgets.
- TuneIn: TuneIn is a large internet radio and audio streaming aggregator offering live news, sports, talk, and music stations globally. Comparable to RadioReference's Broadcastify arm as a broader radio/audio streaming incumbent with overlapping live-audio value proposition.
Emerging players
- Streema: Streema is an online directory and streaming platform for radio stations worldwide. It overlaps with RadioReference on the live-audio directory side, though it focuses on licensed broadcasters rather than public-safety and trunked system feeds.
Others
- Uniden: Uniden manufactures the Bearcat line of police scanners that integrate the RadioReference database natively. As a hardware OEM partner rather than a competitor, Uniden is the technology integration counterpart that embeds RadioReference's data into physical devices.
- Scanner Master: Scanner Master is the primary retail partner that sells Uniden Bearcat scanners pre-loaded with the RadioReference database. Not a direct competitor but a critical channel partner and adjacent player in the scanner hardware ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
RadioReference.com social profiles
Digital presenceRadioReference.com financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
RadioReference.com leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
RadioReference.com funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
RadioReference.com 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 RadioReference.com
What does RadioReference.com do?
RadioReference.com operates a radio communications data management platform featuring a comprehensive database of over 224,000 identified frequencies and 7,100 trunked radio systems across the USA and Canada. The platform includes community forums, a collaborative wiki, and the Broadcastify live audio streaming service for monitoring real-time radio feeds. Premium subscriptions and developer APIs provide enhanced access to the underlying frequency and trunked system data.
Is RadioReference.com a public or private company?
RadioReference.com is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was RadioReference.com founded?
RadioReference.com was founded in 1998. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is RadioReference.com based?
RadioReference.com is headquartered in San Antonio, United States, in the North America region.
How does RadioReference.com make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Premium Membership is the primary driver. The others are live Audio Streaming and scanner Hardware Integration.
Who are RadioReference.com's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are FlightAware, ADS-B Exchange and MarineTraffic. Broad incumbents are iHeartMedia and TuneIn. Streema is listed as an emerging player. Others are Uniden and Scanner Master.
Does RadioReference.com have an API?
Yes. RadioReference.com offers developer APIs for access to their frequency database and related data. The APIs section is available at https://support.radioreference.com/hc/en-us/sections/18844392648852-Developers. Specific API capabilities, authentication methods, rate limits, and technical documentation details are not specified in the available source material.
What industry is RadioReference.com in?
RadioReference.com's product category is Radio Communications Data Management. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAEAE, Internet Radio & Streaming Broadcast Stations (Simulcast/Online-only), with a secondary code of MPAIADAJ, Radio Streaming & Catch-Up Audio Platforms. Its NAICS code is 516110 and its SIC code is 4832.