United Stations Radio Networks

What United Stations Radio Networks does

United Stations Radio Networks (USRN) is a New York-based radio programming syndicator founded in 1994 and operating as a division of parent company Gemini XIII. The company produces and distributes dozens of format-specific radio programs to thousands of commercial radio station affiliations across the United States, spanning CHR/Hot AC, Country, Rock/Talk, Urban, Classic Hits, and Adult Hits formats. Its programming portfolio includes daily daypart shows (The Kannon Show, LIVELINE, Broadway and Friends, The TJ Show, Lex & Terry, The Kidd Kraddick Morning Show), weekend shows (Open House Party, Sammy Hagar's Top Rock Countdown, Time Warp, Absolutely 80s), daily short-form features (AccuWeather, Little Known Legends of Sports, Get the Led Out vignettes), and format brands (Bob FM, Hank FM). USRN also operates Boomsite.fm, a subscription prep platform that consolidates five previously separate prep brands (Pulse, Nineball, Universal Comedy Network, Spark, InstaGuest) plus the InstaGuest guest booking service for radio producers.

USRN's business model combines three revenue streams: (1) recurring syndication and prep service subscriptions to affiliate stations, (2) advertising sales through the Key United joint venture with Key Networks (formed October 2024), and (3) barter and cash programming packages for format brands. The company delivers content to affiliates via FTP, digital download, Mr. Master AIM, and Dropbox systems, and extends distribution to podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Geographically, USRN primarily serves U.S. markets with select international reach (Canada, UK) via The TJ Show.

Key United, led by Charles Steinhauer (COO of Gemini XIII) and Ron Russo (President of Sales, Key Networks), unifies USRN and Key Networks' ad sales forces across offices in New York, Dallas, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Orlando, expanding USRN's advertising market reach without merging production operations. USRN maintains a stable headcount of 51-100 employees and is privately held under Gemini XIII. Recent product launches (Boomsite.fm, LIVELINE) and direct-broadcast pilots (TJ98.7 in NYC powered by Radio.Cloud) suggest an active strategic posture, though financial performance and revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

United Stations Radio Networks

Legal name

Gemini XIII

Website

https://unitedstations.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

United Stations Radio Networks (USRN), founded 1994 and owned by Gemini XIII, is a New York-based radio programming syndicator that produces and distributes format-specific shows, prep services (Boomsite.fm), and content to thousands of commercial radio station affiliates across the U.S., with advertising sales handled through the Key United joint venture with Key Networks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Radio Programming Syndication

NAICS

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

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

Radio Network Distribution & Programming Services (Syndicators, Format Providers) (MPAIAEAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Radio Program Syndication (Talk, Music, Sports) (MPABAMAE), Radio Content Production & Studios (On-air Production, Imaging, Jingles) (MPAIAEAL), Syndicated Radio Programming Networks (Shows & Features) (MPABABAJ)

Keywords

• Radio programming syndication
• Show prep services
• Radio network advertising
• Format-specific broadcasting
• Radio content distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Radio Programming Syndication: Syndication of radio shows and programming to affiliate stations across the country. Programming includes daily daypart shows, weekend shows, and short-form content across multiple formats including CHR/Hot AC, Country, Rock/Talk, Urban, and Classic Hits.
2. Show Prep Services (Boomsite.fm): Subscription-based prep platform providing spoken-word content including news, sports, lifestyle, music, entertainment, gossip content, comedy features, audio clips, and guest booking services to radio producers.
3. Advertising Sales: Combined sales force through Key United joint venture generates advertising revenue by selling to national advertisers seeking to reach radio audiences across USRN and Key Networks affiliate stations.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

United Stations Radio Networks (USRN) produces and distributes format-specific radio programming to thousands of commercial radio station affiliates across the United States. The company syndicates daily daypart shows, weekend shows, and short-form content across formats including CHR/Hot AC, Country, Rock/Talk, Urban, Classic Hits, and Adult Hits. USRN also operates Boomsite.fm, a comprehensive subscription-based show prep platform that consolidates five prep brands (Pulse, Nineball, Universal Comedy Network, Spark, InstaGuest) providing spoken-word content, guest booking, and production services to radio producers.

Product overview

United Stations Radio Networks (USRN) operates as a legacy broadcast syndication network and leading show prep service provider under parent company Gemini XIII. The company's product portfolio centers on Boomsite.fm, a comprehensive prep platform that consolidates five prep brands (Pulse, Nineball, Universal Comedy Network, Spark, and InstaGuest) providing information, audio, comedy, conversation starters, listener interaction, web and social content, and guest booking services. USRN produces and distributes dozens of format-specific radio programs including daily daypart shows (The Kannon Show, LIVELINE, Broadway and Friends, The TJ Show, Lex & Terry, The Kidd Kraddick Morning Show, The Chubb Rock Show, Harddrive Radio, Bob FM, Hank FM), daily short-form features (Get the Led Out Vignettes, Absolutely 80s Spotlights, Little Known Legends of Sports, Accuweather), and weekend programming (Sammy Hagar's Top Rock Countdown, Time Warp, Absolutely 80s, Carol Miller's Get the Led Out, Rick Jackson's Country Classics, LiveLine Party Songs Weekend, Rewind with Gary Bryan, Open House Party, Sonrise, RetroMix, Acoustic Storm, New Wave Nation, Diggin' In Tha Crates). Additional services include InstaGuest guest booking, Phantom Producer, Production on Demand, and Total Sports Prep. USRN also partnered with Key Networks to form Key United, a joint sales venture for expanded advertising market reach.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Key United: Joint sales venture with Key Networks that unites the strengths of both companies and expands the network's reach and capabilities for the advertising market.
• Boomsite.fm

Products and services

• Boomsite.fm A comprehensive prep platform that consolidates five distinct prep brands providing spoken-word content including information, audio, comedy, conversation starters, listener interaction, web and social content, and guest booking services for radio shows, streams, and podcasts.
• The Kannon Show Daily 5-hour CHR/Hot AC afternoon/evening show hosted by Mike 'Kannon'.
• LIVELINE A 100% LIVE listener-driven Top 40 and Hot AC night show featuring listener phone calls, contests with prizes, star-studded interviews, and live song requests targeting the 18-49 demographic.
• Broadway and Friends A nationally syndicated 4-hour Country/Classic Country morning show featuring hosts Jerry Broadway, Becca Walls, Mitch English, and T Wall.
• The TJ Show A 4-hour omnichannel daily production functioning as a radio show, podcast, and digital content hub, distributed via broadcast radio, podcast, YouTube, and social media.
• Lex & Terry A nationally syndicated Rock/Talk morning radio program in national syndication since 1997.
• The Kidd Kraddick Morning Show One of the most-listened-to contemporary morning shows in America, syndicated by YEA Networks and heard on more than 65 Top 40 and Hot AC radio stations.
• The Chubb Rock Show A 4-hour Classic Urban Radio Show featuring Hip Hop icon Chubb Rock, offering the best blend of hits, listener interactive features, celebrity guests, and sports segments.
• Harddrive Radio An influential extreme rock radio show since 1996, hosted by award-winning Lou Brutus, including daily HardDrive XL night programming.
• Bob FM A popular variety-driven radio format brand playing the best of the 80s, 90s and beyond, with a library of over 1,100 titles. Features turn-key format, custom imaging, and personality-driven presentation.
• Hank FM An Adult Hits country format brand playing legends of country music with over 1,000 tested titles. Offers programming packages available for cash and barter.
• Get the Led Out - Vignettes Daily 60-second features based on historical events related to Led Zeppelin, hosted by rock radio personality Carol Miller.
• Absolutely 80s - Spotlights Up-tempo 80's 5-7 minute vignettes hosted by original MTV VJ Nina Blackwood, featuring brief stories or artist interviews.
• Little Known Legends of Sports Daily one-minute feature offering amusing trivia and oddities from sports, hosted by Matt Vasgersian, MLB NETWORK anchor.
• AccuWeather Weather reporting service in partnership with AccuWeather, providing reports with proprietary features such as AccuWeather RealFeel temperature and MinuteCast for hyper-local precipitation forecasting.
• Time Warp A classic rock radio show journeying through the 60s, 70s, and 80s, featuring a unique 'you-are-there' production style, hosted by Bill St James.
• Absolutely 80s A 3-hour weekend show featuring up-tempo 80s music hosted by original MTV VJ Nina Blackwood.
• Carol Miller's Get the Led Out A 1-hour weekend radio series saluting Led Zeppelin, including fully produced hours and five daily short features.
• Rick Jackson's Country Classics A country music show delivering music from the greatest stars in country music history, presented with colorful stories and information.
• Rewind with Gary Bryan A classic hits show delivering 3-5 hours of weekly programming, blending the biggest hits with exclusive interviews and pop quizzes.
• Open House Party The original weekend party show featuring exclusive access to superstar guests, hit-driven content with mixes, and extensive on-air and online listener interaction.
• Sammy Hagar's Top Rock Countdown A 2-hour weekly show where Sammy Hagar counts down favorite party songs and bands.
• Diggin' In Tha Crates A 2-hour hosted weekend mix show featuring classic Hip Hop and R&B from the 80s to 2000s, produced and hosted by Chubb Rock.
• InstaGuest Guest booking service providing one-on-one phone interviews with actors, musicians, newsworthy people, one-off requests, and local celebrities for radio programming.
• Production on Demand On-demand radio production service for radio content creation.
• Total Sports Prep Sports-related prep content service for radio stations.

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Key NetworkscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2024USRN and Key Networks unified their sales forces into a joint venture called Key United, combining two leaders in national radio network sales and syndication. Both companies continue to produce, market, and distribute audio programming independently while sharing the combined sales organization. The joint venture is led by Charles Steinhauer (COO of Gemini XIII) and Ron Russo (President of Sales, Key Networks) with offices in New York City, Dallas, Los Angeles, Chicago, Orlando and key markets nationwide.
• Gemini XIIIcoreOthersUnited Stations operates under parent company Gemini XIII. The integration of Gemini XIII's digital expertise with the established operations of USRN provides services for a robust multi-platform content ecosystem.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• TuneIn: Internet radio streaming aggregator and podcast distribution platform. Comparable in multi-platform audio distribution though operates in digital-only channels versus USRN's broadcast syndication model.

Direct peers

• Premiere Networks: iHeartMedia-owned radio syndication network distributing nationally syndicated shows (Ryan Seacrest, Glenn Beck, Elvis Duran) to thousands of affiliate stations. Closest direct competitor to USRN with comparable format breadth and affiliate scale.
• Westwood One: Major US radio network and syndicator (owned by Cumulus Media) distributing news, talk, sports, and music programming to affiliate stations. Directly comparable to USRN in syndication model and advertiser sales representation.
• Compass Media Networks: Independent radio syndicator distributing nationally syndicated programming and offering network advertising sales. Comparable mid-sized competitor serving similar commercial radio affiliate market.
• Key Networks: Independent radio syndicator and USRN's JV partner in Key United. Distributes programming to affiliate stations and shares sales infrastructure with USRN through the joint venture.
• Sun & Fun Media: Radio syndication company focused on weekend and specialty programming. Comparable to USRN's weekend programming portfolio and distribution model.

Broad incumbents

• Cumulus Media: Second-largest US radio broadcaster (owns Westwood One) operating 400+ stations. Competes with USRN as both a customer (affiliate) and competitor through its syndication division.
• iHeartMedia: Largest US radio broadcaster (owns Premiere Networks and iHeartPodcasts) with 850+ stations. Major USRN customer and competitor across broadcast and digital audio.
• Audacy: Major US radio broadcaster and podcast publisher (formerly Entercom/CBS Radio) operating 200+ stations. Both affiliate customer and emerging competitor in podcast syndication.

Regional players

• Salem Communications: US radio broadcaster focused on Christian and conservative talk formats, with syndication arm (SRN). Adjacent peer in syndicated talk/news radio with overlapping customer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/unitedstations
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@tjpodcast/featured
• TikToktiktok.com/@radiotj
• Instagraminstagram.com/tjpodcast
• Facebookfacebook.com/unitedstationsradio
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/united-stations-radio-networks

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about United Stations Radio Networks