Carter Broadcast Group
Carter Broadcast Group is a Kansas City-based private radio operator running the Hot 103 Jamz flagship and three additional stations, serving local advertisers targeting African American adults 18-54 with Hip Hop, R&B, and Gospel programming.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1950
- HeadquartersKansas City, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Carter Broadcast Group does
Carter Broadcast Group, Inc. is a privately held, Kansas City-based media company founded in 1950 that owns and operates a portfolio of terrestrial radio stations centered on the Hot 103 Jamz brand (KPRS-FM 103.1). The group operates four wholly owned stations and subchannels spanning Hip Hop/R&B (Hot 103 Jamz), Gospel (KPRT-AM Gospel 1590/106.1), and R&B (K-103.3 HD2 / RNB 106.9 FM), reaching over 325,000 listeners over the air weekly and approximately 75,000 monthly website visits. The company is positioned as the #1 Hip Hop and R&B station in the Kansas City market and the top reach vehicle for African American adults 18-49 and 25-54.
Carter Broadcast Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Carter Broadcast Group
- Legal name
- Carter Broadcast Group, Inc.
- Website
- https://kprs.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1950
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Carter Broadcast Group is a Kansas City-based private radio operator running the Hot 103 Jamz flagship and three additional stations, serving local advertisers targeting African American adults 18-54 with Hip Hop, R&B, and Gospel programming.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Carter Broadcast Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Radio Broadcasting
- NAICS
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611), Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110)
- SIC
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Local Radio Station Groups (Owned & Operated/Station Chains) (MPABACAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Internet Radio & Streaming Broadcast Stations (Simulcast/Online-only) (MPAIAEAE)
Keywords
Where Carter Broadcast Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kansas City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Carter Broadcast Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Radio Advertising: On-air advertising sales to local and regional businesses targeting the station's listener demographic. Revenue generated from spot ads, live reads, and promotional mentions during programming.
- Event Sponsorship: Sponsorship opportunities for station events, concerts, and community initiatives including concert ticket giveaways and branded experiences.
- Digital Advertising & Marketing Services: Database marketing, social media integration, website advertising, and geo-fencing marketing services offered to advertisers seeking digital audience engagement.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | On-Air Advertising Spots |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Carter Broadcast Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Carter Broadcast Group, Inc. owns and operates a cluster of radio stations in the Kansas City market — anchored by Hot 103 Jamz (KPRS-FM 103.1) as a Hip Hop and R&B format — and sells on-air advertising, digital advertising, event sponsorships, and contest-driven promotions to local and regional businesses. It complements broadcast with web/mobile/smart-speaker streaming, organizes music concerts and contests, and runs community initiatives such as the Silence the Violence campaign.
Product overview
Carter Broadcast Group operates a multi-station radio portfolio centered on Hot 103 Jamz (KPRS-FM), Kansas City's premier Hip Hop and R&B station. The group extends its reach through Gospel 1590 AM/106.1 FM and K-103.3 HD2 digital subchannel, providing format diversity. Hot 103 Jamz serves as the flagship brand offering over-the-air broadcasts, streaming via web and mobile apps, smart speaker integration with Alexa and Google Home, and digital engagement through social media and a VIP Club email program. The station features signature programming including morning show Hustle & Shyne In The Morning, midday entertainment via The Mid Day Party, and The Playmaker Show, all reinforcing the station's focus on Kansas City culture, music, and community events.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Hot 103 Jamz (KPRS-FM) Kansas City's #1 Hip Hop and R&B radio station reaching over 325,000 weekly listeners over the air, with approximately 75,000 monthly website visits and streaming via web, mobile apps, and smart speakers. Sold to advertisers seeking access to African American adults 18-54 in the Kansas City metro.
- Gospel 1590 AM / 106.1 FM (KPRT-AM) Gospel music AM/FM radio station operated by Carter Broadcast Group, providing religious and inspirational programming to Kansas City metro listeners and offering advertisers a format-specific audience.
- K-103.3 HD2 (RNB 106.9 FM) HD2 digital subchannel and R&B-formatted radio station providing additional programming diversity within the Carter Broadcast Group portfolio.
- Hot 103 Jamz VIP Club Email subscription membership service providing registered members exclusive updates on Kansas City local happenings, concerts, events, and Hot 103 Jamz station news.
Quantifiable outcome
- Reaches over 325,000 consumers over the air weekly
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Carter Broadcast Group
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Carter Broadcast Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration10 records
Feature2 records
Carter Broadcast Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Carter Broadcast Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Alpha Media: A privately held multi-market radio operator with stations across the US. Operates as a comparable regional broadcaster, though without Carter's specific African American urban-format leadership position.
- iHeartMedia: The largest US radio broadcaster with hundreds of stations across formats and markets, including a presence in Kansas City. While not urban-focused, iHeart's multi-market scale and digital audio platform (iHeartRadio) compete for the same ad dollars and listener occasions.
- Cumulus Media: A large multi-market US radio operator with stations across formats including urban and hip-hop. Operates stations in the Kansas City market and competes for advertising share across multiple formats.
- Beasley Media Group: A publicly traded multi-market radio operator with stations in mid-sized US markets. Comparable as a regional radio group operator but generally without the urban-format specialization that defines Carter's positioning.
- Townsquare Media: A mid-market-focused radio broadcaster operating stations in small and mid-sized US markets with a digital advertising arm (Townsquare Interactive). Comparable as a regional station group, though Carter is more format-specialized.
- Audacy: A major US radio broadcaster (formerly Entercom/CBS Radio) operating stations in multiple markets and the Audacy digital streaming platform. Competes with Carter for both listeners and local/regional advertiser budgets in the KC market.
Direct peers
- Urban One: The largest African American-owned broadcast operator in the US, with TV One, Reach Media, and a portfolio of urban-format radio stations directly comparable to Carter's Hot 103 Jamz franchise. Both target African American listeners with Hip Hop, R&B, and Gospel formats.
- Emmis Communications: An Indianapolis-based radio broadcaster historically known for urban and format-leading stations (e.g., Hot 97 in New York via LMA). Operates as a smaller, format-focused radio group similar in scale and philosophy to Carter Broadcast Group.
Emerging players
- Salem Communications: A US radio broadcaster specializing in Christian and conservative talk formats. Comparable as a niche-format radio group operator, and Salem's Christian-format experience overlaps with Carter's Gospel 1590/106.1 positioning.
Regional players
- Bonneville International: A privately held, family/values-driven radio broadcaster primarily operating in the western US markets. Comparable as a values-oriented, privately held regional radio group operator, though geographically distinct from Carter's KC focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Carter Broadcast Group social profiles
Digital presenceCarter Broadcast Group compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Carter Broadcast Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Carter Broadcast Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Carter Broadcast Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
Carter Broadcast Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Carter Broadcast Group 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 Carter Broadcast Group
What does Carter Broadcast Group do?
Carter Broadcast Group, Inc. owns and operates a cluster of radio stations in the Kansas City market — anchored by Hot 103 Jamz (KPRS-FM 103.1) as a Hip Hop and R&B format — and sells on-air advertising, digital advertising, event sponsorships, and contest-driven promotions to local and regional businesses. It complements broadcast with web/mobile/smart-speaker streaming, organizes music concerts and contests, and runs community initiatives such as the Silence the Violence campaign.
Is Carter Broadcast Group a public or private company?
Carter Broadcast Group is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Carter Broadcast Group founded?
Carter Broadcast Group was founded in 1950. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Carter Broadcast Group based?
Carter Broadcast Group is headquartered in Kansas City, United States, in the North America region.
How does Carter Broadcast Group make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Radio Advertising is the primary driver. The others are event Sponsorship and digital Advertising & Marketing Services.
Who are Carter Broadcast Group's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Alpha Media, iHeartMedia, Cumulus Media, Beasley Media Group, Townsquare Media and Audacy. Direct peers are Urban One and Emmis Communications. Salem Communications is listed as an emerging player. Bonneville International is listed as a regional player.
Does Carter Broadcast Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Carter Broadcast Group.
What industry is Carter Broadcast Group in?
Carter Broadcast Group's product category is Radio Broadcasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABACAC, Local Radio Station Groups (Owned & Operated/Station Chains), with a secondary code of MPAIAEAE, Internet Radio & Streaming Broadcast Stations (Simulcast/Online-only). Its NAICS code is 51611 and its SIC code is 4832.