90.9fm KRCL
90.9fm KRCL is a Salt Lake City community radio station (501(c)(3)) founded in 1979 that broadcasts local music, civic engagement, and grassroots activism programming to Utah listeners and global streamers, funded primarily through individual donations and underwriting.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1979
- HeadquartersSalt Lake City, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What 90.9fm KRCL does
90.9fm KRCL is a listener-supported community radio station operating at 90.9 FM in Salt Lake City, Utah, run by the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Listeners' Community Radio of Utah (EIN #87-0322222), founded in 1979. It serves Utah residents and a global streaming audience with community-focused programming including local music discovery, civic engagement content, and grassroots activism coverage. Its signature program, RadioACTive, airs weeknights at 6 PM and is produced by a small paid staff supplemented by volunteer hosts; ancillary offerings include Punk Rock Farmer Friday, Music Meets Activism, and Roundtable Tuesday.
The station distributes its content through a conventional public-radio technology stack: an over-the-air FM broadcast, a live web stream at krcl.org/listen-live, an on-demand archive (KRCL On Demand), and a branded public-radio mobile app published on iOS (App Store) and Android (Google Play). Content is additionally available on YouTube, Spotify, and via RSS. The infrastructure is standard broadcast and digital-publishing plumbing with no proprietary AI, no public API, and no SDK surface; the most distinctive technical asset is the 700+ episode RadioACTive archive that functions as a durable content library and community resource.
KRCL's business model is a nonprofit donation-and-underwriting model rather than a subscription or product pricing model. The primary revenue stream is listener donations and periodic fundraising drives (e.g., Summer Drive 2026 raised $76,589 from 396 listeners over 5 days), supplemented by corporate underwriting sponsorships, federal Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) funding, and grants (e.g., Salt Lake City Mayor's Office ACE Grant). The station also accepts in-kind donations including vehicles and used technology. KRCL is a member of the Rocky Mountain Community Radio (RMCR) coalition, linking its content sharing and infrastructure with 21 non-commercial stations across Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.
90.9fm KRCL firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- 90.9fm KRCL
- Legal name
- Listener's Community Radio of Utah
- Website
- https://krcl.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1979
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- 90.9fm KRCL is a Salt Lake City community radio station (501(c)(3)) founded in 1979 that broadcasts local music, civic engagement, and grassroots activism programming to Utah listeners and global streamers, funded primarily through individual donations and underwriting.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
90.9fm KRCL industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Radio Broadcasting
- NAICS
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611), Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110)
- SIC
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public/Community Local Stations (PBS Member Stations, Community Radio, LPFM) (MPABACAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Community/Low-Power Nonprofit Radio (LPFM/Community Radio) (MPABADAE), Internet Radio & Streaming Broadcast Stations (Simulcast/Online-only) (MPAIAEAE), Radio Streaming & Catch-Up Audio Platforms (MPAIADAJ), News Talk Radio & Current Affairs Stations (MPABAIAI)
Keywords
Where 90.9fm KRCL is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Salt Lake City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
90.9fm KRCL business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Listener Donations and Membership: Primary revenue source through listener donations, membership contributions, and periodic fundraising drives (Radiothon). Example: Summer Drive raised $76,589 from 396 listeners in 5 days.
- Underwriting and Corporate Sponsorships: Business and corporate support through underwriting spots, with tiered benefits for underwriters and sponsors
- Donated Assets: Accepts donated assets including vehicles (cars, trucks, RVs, motorcycles) and technology equipment
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Listener Donation (Variable) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
90.9fm KRCL product offering
Product offeringCore offering
90.9fm KRCL is a listener-supported community radio station that broadcasts at 90.9 FM in Salt Lake City, Utah, delivering music, community affairs, and civic engagement programming. The station distributes content through over-the-air FM broadcast, live web streaming, a mobile app for iOS and Android, and on-demand archives, with flagship programming including the RadioACTive community affairs show airing weeknights at 6 PM.
Product overview
KRCL 90.9fm is a listener-supported community radio station operated by Listeners' Community Radio of Utah, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The station delivers its programming through multiple channels: traditional over-the-air broadcast at 90.9fm in Salt Lake City, Utah; live streaming via krcl.org/listen-live; a mobile app for iOS and Android; and on-demand archives. The core content offering includes the RadioACTive community affairs program, music programming, news features, and event coverage, supported by community engagement initiatives including rallies and resources curation, voter information (Go Vote), and music feature segments.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- RadioACTive: KRCL's community affairs program for grassroots activists, community builders, punk rock farmers and DIY makers and musicians, airing weeknights at 6 PM
Products and services
- KRCL Public Radio App Mobile application for iOS and Android devices enabling listeners to stream KRCL live, access on-demand content, and submit story ideas.
- KRCL Live Stream Real-time audio broadcast of KRCL's radio programming available globally via the station website at krcl.org/listen-live.
- KRCL On Demand Archive of previously broadcast RadioACTive episodes and other recorded content available for streaming at the listener's convenience.
- RadioACTive KRCL's community affairs program featuring grassroots activists, community builders, punk rock farmers, and DIY makers and musicians, broadcast weeknights at 6 PM.
Quantifiable outcome
- Summer Drive 2026: Raised $76,589 from 396 listeners in 5 days
Companies that use 90.9fm KRCL
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
90.9fm KRCL technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
90.9fm KRCL partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Rocky Mountain Community Radio (RMCR)coreKRCL is a member of the Rocky Mountain Community Radio coalition, a collaboration of 21 non-commercial radio stations in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. The coalition has been collaborating for over 40 years, sharing news reports and stories that connect communities across the Western Slope.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
90.9fm KRCL competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- KCRW: Santa Monica-based community/public radio station with local music discovery, news, and culture programming. Comparable in listener-supported nonprofit model, multi-channel digital distribution, and niche cultural programming to KRCL.
- KEXP: Seattle-based listener-supported non-commercial radio station with deep local music programming and strong digital streaming/app presence. Closely comparable in mission, funding model (donations + underwriting), and audience profile to KRCL.
- WXPN: Philadelphia-based public radio station from the University of Pennsylvania with strong local music programming (e.g., World Cafe) and listener membership support. Comparable in mission, member-supported revenue model, and music discovery focus.
- WFMU: Jersey City-based listener-supported freeform community radio station with grassroots volunteer programming and on-demand archives. Highly comparable in nonprofit, volunteer-driven, and freeform programming model to KRCL.
- Pacifica Radio: Listener-supported nonprofit radio network emphasizing grassroots activism, progressive community affairs programming, and volunteer-driven shows. Closely comparable in activist programming model to KRCL's RadioACTive format.
- KUT 90.5: Austin-based public radio station operated by University of Texas, offering news, music, and local programming with listener-supported funding. Directly comparable in nonprofit public radio operations and multi-channel distribution to KRCL.
Regional players
- Colorado Public Radio: Colorado-based public radio network and RMCR coalition member serving Denver and statewide audiences. Comparable as a regional public radio operator in the same coalition as KRCL, though with larger scale and broader programming.
- KGNU: Boulder, Colorado-based independent community radio station and fellow RMCR coalition member. Comparable in volunteer-driven community programming model and Rocky Mountain region audience; serves an adjacent but separate geography.
Broad incumbents
- NPR: National public radio network whose programming is distributed through member stations including KRCL-adjacent public broadcasters. Comparable as the broader public radio ecosystem KRCL operates within, though at vastly larger scale and national scope.
- KSL / Bonneville International: Salt Lake City-based commercial broadcasting operation owned by Bonneville International, dominating local radio advertising in KRCL's home market. Comparable as a local radio competitor competing for the same SLC audience and underwriting dollars, though serving mass-market rather than community niches.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
90.9fm KRCL social profiles
Digital presence90.9fm KRCL compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
90.9fm KRCL financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
90.9fm KRCL leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
90.9fm KRCL funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
90.9fm KRCL 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 90.9fm KRCL
What does 90.9fm KRCL do?
90.9fm KRCL is a listener-supported community radio station that broadcasts at 90.9 FM in Salt Lake City, Utah, delivering music, community affairs, and civic engagement programming. The station distributes content through over-the-air FM broadcast, live web streaming, a mobile app for iOS and Android, and on-demand archives, with flagship programming including the RadioACTive community affairs show airing weeknights at 6 PM.
Is 90.9fm KRCL a public or private company?
90.9fm KRCL is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was 90.9fm KRCL founded?
90.9fm KRCL was founded in 1979. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is 90.9fm KRCL based?
90.9fm KRCL is headquartered in Salt Lake City, United States, in the North America region.
How does 90.9fm KRCL make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Listener Donations and Membership is the primary driver. The others are underwriting and Corporate Sponsorships and donated Assets.
Who are 90.9fm KRCL's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are KCRW, KEXP, WXPN, WFMU, Pacifica Radio and KUT 90.5. Regional players are Colorado Public Radio and KGNU. Broad incumbents are NPR and KSL / Bonneville International.
Does 90.9fm KRCL have an API?
No public API is recorded for 90.9fm KRCL.
What industry is 90.9fm KRCL in?
90.9fm KRCL's product category is Community Radio Broadcasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABACAG, Public/Community Local Stations (PBS Member Stations, Community Radio, LPFM), with a secondary code of MPABADAE, Community/Low-Power Nonprofit Radio (LPFM/Community Radio). Its NAICS code is 51611 and its SIC code is 4832.