106.5 The Arch

What 106.5 The Arch does

106.5 The Arch (legal entity Hubbard Radio St. Louis, LLC, DBA "106.5 The Arch," FCC call sign WARH-FM) is an FM radio station headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, and operated as a subsidiary of Hubbard Broadcasting, a privately held family-owned media company. Founded in 1965, the station broadcasts a classic rock and variety format under the tagline "All About The Variety" to the St. Louis metropolitan area and parts of Illinois, with programming spanning weekday drive-time shows (The Courtney Show 6-10am, TJ 10am-2pm, Donny 2-6pm, Greg Beharrell 7pm-midnight) and 80s/90s weekend blocks. The station is staffed by 11-50 employees and serves primarily St. Louis-area commuters, classic rock enthusiasts aged 25-54, and community members seeking local news, traffic, and event information.

The core technology stack is a regulated FM broadcast at 106.5 MHz augmented by a multi-channel digital distribution footprint: a native mobile app on iOS and Android (built on the Jacapps platform, package com.jacapps.warhfm) offering live streaming, user profiles, listening-rewards tracking, song/artist pages, and alarm-clock functionality; an Amazon Alexa voice skill for hands-free listening; HTML5 web streaming at 1065thearch.com; and podcast distribution on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. A secondary HD2 digital sub-channel, "The Breeze," carries an adult-contemporary format. The mobile app embeds Nielsen's audience-measurement SDK, enabling contribution to market-research ratings that underpin ad-rate negotiations.

106.5 The Arch generates revenue exclusively through advertising and sponsorships, with no listener subscription or paywall. Revenue streams include on-air commercials, digital advertising across web and app inventory, sponsored content segments (e.g., The Courtney Show Podcast sponsors Dobbs Tire & Auto Centers, Salt + Smoke BBQ, First Community, Chaney Windows and Doors), and contest-driven promotional spend (e.g., the $80,000 Courtney's Cash giveaway). Tickets for concert/event prizes are fulfilled via Ticketmaster, Live Nation, MetroTix, and the MLB Ballpark App, but the station itself does not transact in ticketing revenue. The go-to-market motion is direct-to-consumer for listeners (free over-the-air and digital access) and B2B sales to local and regional advertisers for revenue capture. Customer concentration is distributed across multiple SMB sponsors with no single enterprise anchor.

Name

106.5 The Arch

Legal name

Hubbard Radio St. Louis, LLC

Website

https://1065thearch.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

106.5 The Arch is a St. Louis FM radio station (WARH-FM) owned by Hubbard Broadcasting, broadcasting classic rock and variety music to the local metro via 106.5 FM, mobile apps, Alexa, and podcasts, monetized through advertising and sponsored contests.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

St Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Advertising & Sponsorships: Radio station generates revenue through advertising sales, including on-air commercials, digital advertising on website and mobile app, and sponsored content segments. Sponsors include local businesses such as Dobbs Tire & Auto Centers, Salt + Smoke BBQ, First Community, and Chaney Windows and Doors.
2. Contest and Event Revenue: Promotional contests driving listener engagement, with prizes including concert tickets and cash giveaways such as the $80,000 Courtney's Cash contest

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

106.5 The Arch is a St. Louis FM radio station broadcasting classic rock and variety music on WARH-FM 106.5. The station distributes content across multiple platforms including FM radio, website streaming, iOS and Android mobile apps, an Amazon Alexa voice skill, and a podcast network. Its programming features dayparted live shows plus weekend specialty blocks dedicated to 80s and 90s music, supplemented by on-demand podcasts and a listener rewards program tied to concert and event ticket giveaways.

Product overview

106.5 The Arch is a St. Louis-based radio station owned by Hubbard Radio, operating as a classic rock and variety station. The core product is the FM radio broadcast at 106.5, complemented by digital distribution channels including a native mobile app (iOS/Android), an Amazon Alexa voice skill, and on-demand podcast content. The station's programming includes live shows: The Courtney Show (morning drive, 6-10am), TJ (midday, 10am-2pm), Donny (afternoon drive, 2-6pm), and Greg Beharrell (evenings, 7pm-midnight), plus specialty weekend blocks dedicated to 80s and 90s music. The station produces several podcasts including The Courtney Show Podcast, Hits Differently (Taylor Swift), and the Last Minute Blues Podcast. A secondary station stream called The Breeze HD2 offers adult contemporary music. The station operates a listening rewards program where users earn prizes based on tracking listening hours. Ticket distribution services connect winners to various event venues through Ticketmaster, Live Nation, MetroTix, and other platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 106.5 The Arch (Main Radio Station)
• The Breeze HD2
• 106.5 The Arch Mobile App Native mobile application for iOS and Android enabling live radio streaming, personalized listener profiles, song and artist favoriting, listening-time tracking, rewards accumulation, and an alarm clock function.
• 106.5 The Arch Alexa Skill Amazon Alexa voice skill enabling hands-free streaming of 106.5 The Arch via the command 'Alexa, open one oh six five the arch', and supporting song information queries such as 'Alexa, ask one oh six five the arch what song is playing?'.
• The Courtney Show Podcast On-demand podcast adaptation of the station's morning show, featuring extended content, guest interviews, and daily blog-style posts, distributed via website and major podcast platforms.
• Hits Differently: A Taylor Swift Podcast Dedicated Taylor Swift podcast hosted by Ryan and Molly, featuring music analysis, news updates, easter eggs, and pop culture discussions about Taylor Swift's discography.
• Last Minute Blues Podcast St. Louis Blues hockey-focused podcast hosted by Donny Fandango, Alex Ferrario, and Jeremy Rutherford, providing analysis and fan-viewpoint commentary for local hockey fans.
• Where Are My Tickets? (Ticket Distribution Service) Digital ticket distribution and management system for concert and event prize fulfillment, supporting multiple ticket platforms including Ticketmaster, Live Nation, MetroTix, Enterprise Center Account Manager, and MLB Ballpark App for St. Louis Cardinals games.
• Listening Rewards Program Listener engagement rewards program that tracks listening hours and allows members to redeem accumulated points for prizes such as concert tickets to artists like Journey, Billy Idol, Jerry Seinfeld, Train, and cash giveaways.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hubbard Radio St. Louis, LLCcoreOthersParent company owning and operating the station. Hubbard Broadcasting is a major radio broadcasting company with multiple station holdings.
• Dobbs Tire & Auto CentersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of The Courtney Show Podcast. Local tire and auto service provider serving the St. Louis market since 1976.
• Salt + SmokeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of The Courtney Show Podcast. Award-winning BBQ restaurant offering delivery, catering, and shipping services.
• Chaney Windows and DoorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor providing text line for The Courtney Show. Missouri-based windows and doors company.
• First CommunityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Thursday Night Delight featuring Yacht Rock Revue event. Financial institution offering savings and loan services.
• Rockwood School DistrictminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of 80s Weekend programming. Missouri school district currently hiring bus drivers and food service workers.
• Foundation Recovery SystemsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of 80s and 90s Weekend programming. Addiction recovery services provider in St. Louis area.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Alpha Media: Alpha Media operates a portfolio of over 200 US radio stations across mid-sized markets, monetized through on-air advertising, digital, and live events. Comparable as a broadcaster with a similar classic rock / variety format mix and reliance on local sponsor relationships.
• Townsquare Media: Townsquare Media operates a portfolio of FM radio stations concentrated in mid-sized US markets together with digital, live events, and e-commerce monetization. Directly comparable as a smaller-scale radio operator pursuing the same combination of local on-air advertising and digital extension revenue.
• iHeartMedia: iHeartMedia is the largest US terrestrial radio operator with hundreds of FM/AM stations and the iHeartRadio digital platform; directly comparable as a multi-station, ad-supported, multi-format broadcaster that has expanded into podcasts, mobile apps, and live events — the same business model 106.5 The Arch operates at a single-station scale.
• Audacy (formerly Entercom): Audacy is a major US radio broadcaster with a heavy portfolio of FM music and sports stations plus a leading podcast network. Directly comparable as a multi-station competitor with overlapping ad-sales, podcast, and live-event monetization on similar classic rock and variety formats.
• Beasley Media Group: Beasley Media Group is a US radio broadcaster with a multi-station portfolio spanning classic hits, rock, and country formats, monetized via local advertising and digital. Comparable as a similarly sized multi-station operator competing for the same local ad dollars in markets like St. Louis.
• Cumulus Media: Cumulus Media operates one of the largest US radio station portfolios, monetizing through spot advertising, digital, and podcast distribution. Comparable to 106.5 The Arch as a competing mid- to large-market FM operator with the same advertiser- and content-driven business model.
• Salem Communications / Salem Media Group: Salem Media Group operates US radio stations and digital platforms focused on talk, Christian, and conservative formats with complementary podcast and publishing assets. Comparable as a multi-station operator pursuing similar on-air sponsorship, digital, and podcast monetization strategies.

Others

• Hubbard Broadcasting: Hubbard Broadcasting is the family-owned parent company of Hubbard Radio St. Louis, LLC, which owns 106.5 The Arch along with other TV and radio stations. Comparable as the corporate owner that sets strategy, allocates capital, and centralizes operations for the subject station.

Direct peers

• Saga Communications: Saga Communications is a smaller-scale US radio broadcaster operating clusters of FM and AM stations in mid-sized markets with a focus on local advertising sales. Closely comparable to 106.5 The Arch as a similarly-sized, single-station-equivalent in revenue dependence and operational profile.

Emerging players

• TuneIn: TuneIn is a global streaming audio platform carrying thousands of radio stations and podcasts, including local US broadcasters such as 106.5 The Arch. Comparable as a digital distribution and aggregation layer for the same station content, competing for incremental advertiser and listener reach beyond FM.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/1065thearch

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

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 106.5 The Arch