Woof Boom Radio

What Woof Boom Radio does

Woof Boom Radio is a privately held local radio broadcasting company headquartered in Muncie, Indiana, operating 16 FCC-licensed radio signals across 7 communities in East Central Indiana and West Central Ohio through five studio and business office locations (Muncie, Anderson, Lafayette, Delphos, Lima). Founded in 2013 by radio industry veteran J Chapman with the purchase of 6 stations from Backyard Broadcasting, the company is positioned around restoring local ownership and programming in mid-sized Midwestern markets. The portfolio includes flagship brands such as WLBC 104.1 FM (2020 IBA Station of the Year, NAB Crystal Award finalist), WERK 104.9 FM, WMUN, WHBU, BLAKE FM, and the Q106-7 Lafayette station, alongside wholly owned digital content properties including The Muncie Journal, 765BusinessJournal.com, Anderson Journal, and 419Sports.com.

The underlying technology stack combines traditional AM/FM broadcasting infrastructure with digital streaming capabilities and a digital marketing services platform offering SEO, reputation management, live chat, geo-framing, retargeting, and social media marketing as bundled add-ons to on-air advertising. Woof Boom generates revenue primarily through on-air advertising sold by Account Executives under rate class codes (Fixed, Moveable, Preemptible) with a 15% agency discount for cash payments, supplemented by professional services revenue from its Digital Marketing Solutions arm. Pricing is custom and quote-based, not publicly disclosed. Customer segments are dominated by local small and medium businesses (auto dealers, jewelry stores, furniture retailers, restaurants, boutiques) with supplemental demand from nonprofits, government agencies, and educational institutions that use the stations for community event promotion and public service announcements. Distribution is via a direct field sales force with dedicated Account Executives across three regional markets.

Ownership remains concentrated among four partners — J Chapman (President), Jeff Chapman, Susan Rodricks (CFO), and Jim Stone (Managing Partner, Lafayette) — with no external institutional, private equity, or venture capital backing disclosed. Growth to date has been driven primarily by station acquisitions (2013 Backyard Broadcasting, August 2017 Childers Media Group, 2017-2018 West Central Ohio cluster, February 2018 WLQQ) rather than equity financing, yielding a three-market, two-state footprint at sub-100 employees.

Name

Woof Boom Radio

Legal name

Woof Boom Radio LLC

Website

https://woofboom.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Woof Boom Radio is a privately held Muncie, Indiana-based local radio broadcaster operating 16 FCC-licensed signals across 7 communities in East Central Indiana and West Central Ohio, selling on-air advertising and bundled digital marketing services to local SMBs, nonprofits, and government clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Local Radio Broadcasting

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210), Media Representatives (541840)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832), Services-Advertising (7310)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Radio Station Groups (Owned & Operated/Station Chains) (MPABACAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Commercial Terrestrial Radio Broadcasting (AM/FM) (MPAIAEAA), Radio Streaming & Catch-Up Audio Platforms (MPAIADAJ), Local News & Weather Stations (MPABACAJ)

Keywords

• Local radio broadcasting
• Radio advertising sales
• Digital marketing services
• AM/FM radio stations
• Community radio networks

Headquarters

HQ city

Muncie

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. On-Air Advertising: Traditional radio advertising sold directly to agencies and advertisers with rate class codes (Fixed, Moveable, Preemptible) and agency discounts of 15% for cash payments
2. Digital Marketing Services: Digital advertising services including SEO, Reputation Management, Live Chat, Geo-framing, Retargeting, and Social Media Marketing offered as add-on to radio advertising for holistic marketing approach
3. Digital Marketing Solutions (Additional Entity): Full-service digital marketing offerings including website traffic driving, form fills, branding and awareness, event attendance, online and in-store sales optimization

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Woof Boom Radio operates 16 local AM/FM radio signals licensed to 7 communities across East Central Indiana and West Central Ohio, selling on-air radio advertising and complementary digital marketing services (SEO, reputation management, geo-framing, retargeting, social media). The company also publishes community news through digital properties including The Muncie Journal, 765BusinessJournal.com, Anderson Journal, and 419Sports.com.

Product overview

Woof Boom Radio is a privately held local radio broadcasting company that operates 16 radio signals across 7 communities in East Central Indiana and West Central Ohio. The company offers a portfolio of radio stations (including WLBC, WERK, WMUN, WHBU, MAX, BLAKE FM, WLQQ/Q106-7, and Ohio stations FUN 107.1, 931 The Fan, 1049 The Eagle, WCIT, and 921 The Frog) alongside digital marketing solutions (SEO, reputation management, live chat, geo-framing, retargeting, and social media marketing). The company also publishes digital news content through The Muncie Journal, 765BusinessJournal.com, Anderson Journal, and 419Sports.com. The portfolio represents a combination of traditional AM/FM radio broadcasting with digital content and marketing services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Muncie Journal: Online publication focusing on economic development, education, and quality of life in Delaware County, Indiana.
• Digital Marketing Solutions

Products and services

• Local Radio Broadcasting (16 signals / 7 communities)
• Digital Marketing Solutions
• The Muncie Journal (MuncieJournal.com)
• 765BusinessJournal.com
• 419Sports.com
• Anderson Journal

Quantifiable outcome

• Radio reaches 93% of people each week according to Nielsen research
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Ivy Tech Community College Anderson CampusminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor for Anderson Journal Winter Warmup coat collection drive for Anderson Christian Center
• YMCAs of Madison CountyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting sponsor for Anderson Journal Winter Warmup coat collection drive
• Relay For Life Delaware CountyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity event sponsorship with station and staff participation
• All-American Chevrolet in MuncieminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for Cash For Christmas event, providing funds for deserving individuals
• Bendle Lawn EquipmentminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPrimary sponsor for BLAKE Summer Startup program awarding teens with lawn care business opportunities
• Greater Lafayette CommerceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLiza Grandy serves as Ambassador for the organization

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Midwest Communications: Midwest Communications is a privately held operator of ~30+ radio stations concentrated in the Upper Midwest. Comparable to Woof Boom in multi-station small-market model and family-owned character, but operates in different (WI/MI/MN) geographies without direct market overlap.
• Neuhoff Communications: Neuhoff Communications is a privately held, family-owned broadcaster operating radio stations across Central Illinois with a local-first positioning and integrated digital services. Comparable to Woof Boom in ownership structure and small-market focus, though geographically separate.

Broad incumbents

• Salem Media Group: Salem Media Group operates radio stations nationally with a heavy news/talk and Christian format mix similar to Woof Boom's WMUN and WCIT news/talk positions. Larger and publicly traded, but overlapping format and local-advertising positioning.
• Cumulus Media: Cumulus Media is one of the largest US radio broadcasters with ~400 stations across many markets including small markets overlapping Woof Boom's Indiana/Ohio geographies. A broad incumbent providing competitive context for small-market pricing and audience dynamics.
• iHeartMedia: iHeartMedia is the largest US radio broadcaster with ~860 stations and a national digital audio platform. Operates in Woof Boom's markets as a broad incumbent and represents the structural competitor (national scale + iHeartRadio app) that small-market independents must navigate.

Direct peers

• Townsquare Media: Townsquare Media operates ~300 radio stations concentrated in small and mid-sized markets across the US, with a similar multi-format local-first positioning and integrated digital marketing. Comparable business model to Woof Boom at greater scale.
• Alpha Media: Alpha Media operates ~200+ radio stations primarily in small and mid-sized US markets, with a multi-station group structure closely analogous to Woof Boom's 16-signal model. Both serve SMB advertisers with bundled on-air and digital solutions in non-top-50 markets.
• Forever Media: Forever Media is a privately held, family-owned operator of radio stations in small Pennsylvania, Maryland, and West Virginia markets — a structurally similar small-market multi-station broadcaster with deep community ties, mirroring Woof Boom's local-control positioning.
• Cromwell Group: Cromwell Group is a privately held, family-owned operator of radio stations across Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee small markets. Closely comparable to Woof Boom in footprint (overlapping Indiana geography), scale, and SMB advertiser focus.
• Beasley Media Group: Beasley Media Group operates a portfolio of radio stations across multiple US markets with a mix of small and mid-market presence. Comparable to Woof Boom as a multi-station group serving local advertisers, though Beasley is publicly traded and larger.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/woof-boom-radio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries4 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 Woof Boom Radio