Good Karma Brands
Good Karma Brands is a Milwaukee-based media company that operates ESPN-affiliated digital, radio, podcast, and event properties across 8 US markets, monetizing primarily through advertising sales to national brand partners and agencies.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersMilwaukee, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Good Karma Brands does
Good Karma Brands, LLC is a private media and marketing company headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that operates as the "Official Operating Partner" for ESPN Digital, the exclusive operator of the ESPN Radio Network, and the operator representing the ESPN Events collegiate portfolio (including the Boca Raton Bowl since 2014). The company runs 8 local ESPN-affiliated brands across Beaver Dam, Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles, Madison, Milwaukee, New York, and West Palm Beach, and operates local news brands WTMJ, 95.3 WBEV, and Daily Dodge, with 550+ teammates company-wide.
Its core product surface spans digital audio and content, over-the-air radio, a podcast lineup of more than 40 shows, and live sports event representation. Underlying the portfolio is a multi-market, multi-format inventory model — broadcast radio stations, digital ESPN assets, podcast on-demand slots, and event sponsorships — packaged and sold as integrated audience solutions rather than discrete media buys.
The business model is anchored in advertising sales. The company monetizes its audience reach by selling to two named customer segments: Brand Partners (advertisers and agencies, primarily national) and Sports Fans (the underlying consumer audience that drives the media value). GKB Brandworks functions as the dedicated advertising and brand partnership sales division. The company is privately held with no disclosed funding rounds, investors, or revenue figures, and has been recognized as a Best Place to Work by Front Office Sports, Sports Business Journal, and USA TODAY.
Good Karma Brands firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Good Karma Brands
- Legal name
- Good Karma Brands, LLC
- Website
- https://goodkarmabrands.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Good Karma Brands is a Milwaukee-based media company that operates ESPN-affiliated digital, radio, podcast, and event properties across 8 US markets, monetizing primarily through advertising sales to national brand partners and agencies.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Good Karma Brands industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sports Media & Marketing
- NAICS
- Media Buying Agencies (541830)
- SIC
- Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sports OTT Aggregators & Bundling Services (MPAKAOAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Virtual MVPDs (Live TV Streaming Bundles) (MPABAHAE)
Keywords
Where Good Karma Brands is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Milwaukee
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices8 records
Markets served
Good Karma Brands business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Advertising & Marketing Services: Revenue generated through advertising sales on ESPN digital platforms, radio network, and local broadcast stations. The company offers customized media and marketing solutions for brand partners seeking to reach sports fans.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels3 records
Good Karma Brands product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Good Karma Brands sells customized advertising and marketing solutions to brand and agency partners by leveraging its exclusive operating partnerships with ESPN Digital, the ESPN Radio Network, 8 local ESPN stations across major U.S. markets, and ESPN Events' collegiate sports portfolio. It also reaches sports fans and news consumers directly through local radio brands WTMJ, 95.3 WBEV, and the Daily Dodge platform, plus 40+ ESPN-branded podcasts.
Product overview
Good Karma Brands is a media and marketing company that operates as a portfolio of radio, digital, and event properties. The core offerings include ESPN Digital (as Official Operating Partner), the ESPN Radio Network & Podcasts, and multiple local ESPN stations across major US markets. Additionally, the company operates local news radio brands (WTMJ, WBEV, Daily Dodge), represents collegiate sporting events including the Boca Raton Bowl and Tundra Trio, and offers brand partnership services through GKB Brandworks. The company connects with fans through audio, video, digital, and live events across sports and news content.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ESPN Local Brands: Regional ESPN radio stations and digital operations including ESPN Beaver Dam, ESPN Chicago, ESPN Cleveland, ESPN Los Angeles, ESPN Madison, ESPN Milwaukee, ESPN New York, and ESPN West Palm
- GKB Brandworks
- WTMJ
- 95.3 WBEV
- Daily Dodge
Products and services
- ESPN Digital Official Operating Partner for ESPN Digital, executing local DMA (Designated Market Area) strategies for brand and agency partners utilizing Connected TV, Short Form Video/Pre-Roll, and Premium Display advertising products.
- ESPN Radio Network & Podcasts The biggest sports radio network in the US, offering 24/7 sports talk with news and expert analysis. Exclusive home of MLB and NBA national radio broadcasts with a podcast lineup of 40+ shows hosted by popular ESPN talent.
- GKB Brandworks Brand partnership and advertising solutions service for partners seeking to connect with sports fans through integrated audio, video, digital, and event channels.
- Play-by-Play Sports Coverage Play-by-play relationships with major sports teams and coverage of collegiate events including kickoff games, bowl games, basketball events, and the Boca Raton Bowl.
- Boca Raton Bowl Collegiate football bowl game represented by Good Karma Brands since its inception in 2014, part of ESPN Events.
- Tundra Trio College basketball event represented by Good Karma Brands as part of ESPN Events.
- WTMJ (620AM) News radio station (620AM) based in Milwaukee providing live broadcast news and sports content.
- 95.3 WBEV FM radio station providing live broadcast news and sports content.
- Daily Dodge News platform providing coverage of local news and sports.
- Children's Radiothon Community fundraising event for children's causes.
Companies that use Good Karma Brands
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Good Karma Brands technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Good Karma Brands partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- ESPNflagshipOfficial Operating Partner for ESPN Digital. The company executes local DMA strategies for brand and agency partners utilizing the full portfolio of ESPN Digital Products including Connected TV, Short Form Video/Pre-Roll, and Premium Display. Also serves as the exclusive operator for ESPN Radio Network and represents ESPN Events collegiate event portfolio.
- ESPN Radio NetworkcoreGood Karma Brands is the exclusive operator of ESPN Radio Network, the biggest sports network in the US. This includes MLB and NBA national radio broadcast rights and 40+ podcast shows.
- ESPN EventscoreAs a partner of ESPN Events, Good Karma Brands represents their collegiate events across the country, including four early-season college football kickoff games, 17 college bowl games, nine college basketball events, and a college softball event. They have represented the Boca Raton Bowl since its inception in 2014 as well as the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl, Cure Bowl, ESPN Events Invitational, and Shriners Childrens Hospital Clearwater Invitational.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Good Karma Brands competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Audacy: Audacy is one of the largest US radio broadcasters with a significant sports content portfolio (including CBS Sports Radio and local sports stations). It is a direct comparable to Good Karma Brands in operating sports-flavored radio stations, monetizing local audiences through advertising, and competing for the same brand-advertiser dollars.
- Cumulus Media: Cumulus Media operates a large national footprint of AM/FM stations including sports talk formats and Westwood One sports network distribution. Direct comparable to GKB as a multi-market radio broadcaster monetizing sports content and national sports rights through local and national ad sales.
- Townsquare Media: Townsquare Media operates local radio stations across mid-sized US markets with strong sports and local-content focus. Directly comparable to GKB in operating regional/local radio stations monetized through local ad sales and digital extensions.
- Beasley Media Group: Beasley Media Group operates a portfolio of AM/FM radio stations across multiple US markets including sports formats. Direct peer to GKB in multi-market radio broadcasting and local digital advertising sales.
- Hubbard Radio: Hubbard Radio is a privately held US radio broadcaster operating stations in multiple markets, including sports content. Comparable to GKB in operating a multi-market radio portfolio with local sales and digital extensions.
- Salem Communications: Salem Communications (now Salem Media Group) operates a nationwide portfolio of radio stations including news, talk, and sports formats. Comparable to GKB in running multi-market radio stations monetized through advertising, particularly in news/talk and sports verticals.
Broad incumbents
- iHeartMedia: iHeartMedia is the largest US radio broadcaster and podcast operator, with national scale and iHeartRadio's digital platform. It is a broad incumbent peer — same business model (radio + digital audio advertising) as GKB, but with materially greater geographic reach and a wider non-sports portfolio.
- SiriusXM: SiriusXM is a satellite and streaming audio entertainment company with substantial sports content (including sports talk channels). It is a broad incumbent peer to GKB in monetizing sports audio content, though via subscription/satellite rather than local broadcast ad sales.
- ESPN (Disney): ESPN — GKB's most important partner — is the underlying content brand whose digital, radio, and event properties GKB operates. While not a commercial competitor (they are contractual partners), ESPN's strategic direction (DTC pivot, content investment) directly determines GKB's product roadmap and revenue ceiling.
Regional players
- Tegna: Tegna operates local TV stations and digital platforms across the US, monetized through advertising sales to brands and agencies. Adjacent peer to GKB — same local-market ad sales motion — though Tegna is in broadcast TV rather than radio/audio.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Good Karma Brands social profiles
Digital presenceGood Karma Brands financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Good Karma Brands leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Good Karma Brands funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Good Karma Brands 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 Good Karma Brands
What does Good Karma Brands do?
Good Karma Brands sells customized advertising and marketing solutions to brand and agency partners by leveraging its exclusive operating partnerships with ESPN Digital, the ESPN Radio Network, 8 local ESPN stations across major U.S. markets, and ESPN Events' collegiate sports portfolio. It also reaches sports fans and news consumers directly through local radio brands WTMJ, 95.3 WBEV, and the Daily Dodge platform, plus 40+ ESPN-branded podcasts.
Is Good Karma Brands a public or private company?
Good Karma Brands is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Good Karma Brands founded?
Good Karma Brands was founded in 1997. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Good Karma Brands based?
Good Karma Brands is headquartered in Milwaukee, United States, in the North America region.
How does Good Karma Brands make money?
One revenue line is on record: advertising & Marketing Services.
Who are Good Karma Brands's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Audacy, Cumulus Media, Townsquare Media, Beasley Media Group, Hubbard Radio and Salem Communications. Broad incumbents are iHeartMedia, SiriusXM and ESPN (Disney). Tegna is listed as a regional player.
Does Good Karma Brands have an API?
No public API is recorded for Good Karma Brands.
What industry is Good Karma Brands in?
Good Karma Brands's product category is Sports Media & Marketing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKAOAB, Sports OTT Aggregators & Bundling Services, with a secondary code of MPABAHAE, Virtual MVPDs (Live TV Streaming Bundles). Its NAICS code is 541830 and its SIC code is 7311.