Good Karma Brands

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.

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

251–500 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

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

• Sports media advertising
• Radio network broadcasting
• Digital advertising sales
• ESPN affiliate operations
• Sports marketing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Milwaukee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. 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

Core 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.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• ESPNflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial 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 NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGood 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 EventscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAs 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

Direct 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

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/good-karma-brands

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Good Karma Brands