STAR 99.1

What STAR 99.1 does

STAR 99.1 (legal entity Pillar Ministries, Inc., EIN 23-7075340) is a listener-supported Christian radio station operating since 1931 from Zarephath, New Jersey, broadcasting on 99.1 FM under FCC license WAWZ. The station serves the New Jersey and New York metropolitan area with a 75+ mile radius coverage footprint, delivering 24/7 uplifting and encouraging contemporary Christian music and faith-based content. Its product surface includes the flagship FM broadcast, a mobile application with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, a Smart TV app across Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, and Google TV, and an Alexa voice skill. Sub-brands include FLO Positive Hip Hop (Christian Hip Hop stream) and STAR Gospel, both extending format reach into genre-specific audiences. Supporting platforms include the Prayer Wall community feature, Music Team listener-feedback program, The Jesus Table digital faith platform, Community Calendar, STAR Cares and Local Feels podcasts, and STAR Digital Strategies (a digital marketing services arm).

The business model is a hybrid of listener donations and local advertising, structured as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit ministry. Donation streams include one-time gifts, the HOPE Team monthly recurring donor program at a $39/month minimum, vehicle donations, stock donations, and planned giving/legacy gifts. Advertising revenue is generated through direct sales to local businesses in NJ, NY, and PA seeking access to STAR's engaged audience, of which over 70% are married homeowners, 70% earn above $75K annually, and 78% have attended college; advertiser relationships include long-tenured accounts such as MediShare (since 2018) and Fellowship Home Loans (over 20 years). Go-to-market is community-led, relying on events, prayer community, donor programs, and grassroots listener engagement rather than traditional sales cycles. Pillar Ministries operates a broader Pillar Media portfolio including stations in Cincinnati (WAKW/STAR 93.3) and Denver (KPOF, KSRC/STAR 101.5, KFCO/FLO 107.1), positioning STAR 99.1 within a multi-station nonprofit media ministry rather than as a standalone operation.

Name

STAR 99.1

Legal name

Pillar Ministries, Inc.

Website

https://star991.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2026

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

STAR 99.1 is a listener-supported 501(c)(3) Christian radio station broadcasting uplifting contemporary Christian music across the NJ/NY metro on 99.1 FM, monetized through listener donations and local advertising while operating within the multi-station Pillar Ministries nonprofit media network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Christian Radio Broadcasting

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAIAEAF

Religious Radio Broadcasting

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Music & Audio (Recording, Publishing, Streaming)/Radio & Audio Broadcasting (Terrestrial, Satellite, Digital Radio)

Keywords

• Christian radio broadcasting
• Contemporary Christian music
• Listener-supported radio
• Faith-based media programming
• Community event broadcasting

Headquarters

HQ city

Zarephath

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Listener Donations: Primary revenue source through one-time gifts and monthly recurring donations (HOPE Team program at $39/month minimum). Listeners financially support the station as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit ministry.
2. Advertising: Local business advertising sold directly to advertisers who want to reach STAR's loyal, value-aligned audience of over 70% married homeowners earning $75k+ annually
3. Vehicle Donation Program: Donor can donate vehicles as an alternative giving method
4. Planned Giving / Legacy Gifts: Bequests and estate planning options allowing donors to include STAR 99.1 in wills
5. Stock Donations: Donors can contribute appreciated stocks directly to avoid capital gains taxes while supporting the station

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

STAR 99.1 (WAWZ FM) is a listener-supported Christian radio station broadcasting 24/7 uplifting contemporary Christian music and faith-based programming across the New Jersey and New York Metro area via over-the-air FM, mobile apps, smart speakers, smart TVs, and automotive platforms. The station is operated by Pillar Ministries, Inc. as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and is financially sustained through listener donations and local business advertising. Supporting offerings include the Prayer Wall community platform, Music Team listener-feedback program, faith-based podcasts, a community events calendar, and digital marketing services for local advertisers.

Product overview

STAR 99.1 is a community-supported Christian radio station (WAWZ FM, Zarephath, NJ) operated by Pillar Ministries. The core offering is 24/7 radio broadcast of uplifting and encouraging Christian music and content. The station operates multiple branded audio streams including the main STAR 99.1 FM Radio, FLO Positive Hip Hop, and STAR Gospel. Access points include the STAR 99.1 Radio App (iOS/Android with CarPlay and Android Auto support), Smart TV App, and Alexa voice skill. Supporting offerings include a Music Team listener-feedback program, the Prayer Wall community feature, The Jesus Table digital faith study platform, a Community Calendar of local events, STAR Cares and Local Feels podcasts, STAR Digital Strategies marketing services, and the HOPE Team monthly donor program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FLO Hip Hop: Christian Hip Hop stream/service under STAR 99.1 brand
• STAR Gospel

Products and services

• STAR 99.1 FM Radio Broadcast 24/7 FM radio broadcast on 99.1 frequency reaching a 75+ mile radius across New Jersey and the New York Metro area, airing contemporary Christian music, on-air personalities, and faith-based programming for adult and family listeners.
• STAR 99.1 Radio Mobile App Mobile application for iOS and Android delivering STAR 99.1 streaming, recently played songs, Prayer Wall access, contests, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration for commuters.
• FLO Positive Hip Hop Dedicated streaming sub-brand offering positive Christian Hip Hop music for listeners seeking Kingdom-focused hip hop content.
• STAR Gospel Dedicated gospel music streaming sub-brand providing gospel music programming ('His Glory, Our Praise') for listeners seeking gospel content.
• STAR 99.1 Smart TV App Smart TV application available on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and Google TV enabling at-home listening and visibility into currently playing on-air content.
• STAR 99.1 Alexa Skill Voice assistant skill for Amazon Alexa-enabled devices allowing listeners to stream STAR 99.1 via the spoken command 'Alexa, open STAR Ninety Nine One.'
• Music Team Listener Program Private website and listener program that lets members rate songs and provide feedback shaping what airs on the station; members receive free music, exclusive gear, concert tickets, and backstage passes.
• STAR Cares Podcast Public affairs podcast hosted by Michael Leach covering issues affecting listeners and the broader community.
• Local Feels Podcast Podcast distributed through STAR 99.1 featuring local content and storytelling relevant to the New Jersey and New York Metro area audience.
• Prayer Wall Online community platform allowing STAR 99.1 listeners to submit prayer requests and pray for one another, building a faith-based support network.
• The Jesus Table Faith-driven digital movement offering Bible studies and resources guiding people in their faith journey, with text-message updates for participants.
• Community Calendar Free community events calendar featuring local Christian and family-friendly events in the tri-state area, including the annual Enchanted Evening Daddy Daughter Dance.
• STAR Digital Strategies Digital marketing service for local businesses offering website development, search engine optimization, and digital campaign management alongside STAR 99.1 advertising partnerships.
• HOPE Team Monthly Donor Program Monthly recurring donor program with a $39/month minimum contribution supporting the station; donors receive a welcome kit as a thank-you gift.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 70% of listeners are married homeowners; 70% earn over $75k/year; 78% have attended college
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Pillar Ministries / Pillar MediacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPillar Ministries is the parent organization of STAR 99.1 FM. Pillar Media operates multiple Christian radio stations including WAWZ/STAR 99.1 (New Jersey), WAKW/STAR 93.3 (Cincinnati), KPOF (Denver), KSRC/STAR 101.5 (Denver), and KFCO/THE NEW FLO 107.1 (Denver Christian Hip Hop). STAR 99.1 is a ministry of Pillar Ministries, EIN 23-7075340, dedicated to encouraging people into a growing relationship with Jesus through media.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• K-LOVE (Educational Media Foundation): K-LOVE is the largest contemporary Christian music radio network in the US, operating hundreds of signals nationwide with digital and app streaming. It is directly comparable to STAR 99.1 in format (uplifting CCM), listener-supported model and digital extensions, though at much larger national scale.
• Air1 (Educational Media Foundation): Air1 is a sister Christian radio brand to K-LOVE under Educational Media Foundation, airing positive alternative Christian music. It competes for the same faith-seeking listener demographic and runs a similar listener-donation / multi-platform distribution model.
• WAY-FM Media Group: WAY-FM operates a network of contemporary Christian music radio stations across multiple US markets with companion streaming apps. It is a direct peer in format, multi-market structure, and nonprofit/ministry orientation.
• Moody Radio: Moody Radio is a nonprofit broadcaster of Christian music, teaching and programming distributed via radio stations, online streaming and apps. It directly mirrors STAR 99.1's 24/7 uplifting Christian programming and listener-supported ministry model.
• Bott Radio Network: Bott Radio Network is a Christian radio network operating multiple stations and streams across the US Midwest and beyond. It overlaps with STAR 99.1 on faith-based radio format, multi-market syndication, and listener/donor support revenue model.

Broad incumbents

• Salem Media Group: Salem is the largest US operator of Christian and conservative-talk radio stations, with national scale, digital assets and podcast networks. It is a broad incumbent with overlapping Christian-radio operations and significantly larger resources than STAR 99.1.
• EWTN Radio: EWTN operates a global Catholic-affiliated broadcast radio network and streaming apps. While faith-aligned, it differs in denomination; it is a broad incumbent for religious-audio distribution at a much larger scale.
• iHeartMedia: iHeartMedia is the largest US terrestrial radio operator with hundreds of stations and the iHeartRadio digital platform. It is a broad incumbent in the same broadcasting category as STAR 99.1, though predominantly secular format and for-profit.

Emerging players

• 3ABN Radio: 3ABN Radio is a smaller Christian radio and audio streaming ministry focused on faith content. It is comparable to STAR 99.1 as a nonprofit religious broadcaster with digital streaming, but operates at a smaller scale and broader Christian lineup.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC5JVXO4B3liXApMkUbSxG1g
• Facebookfacebook.com/share/1AQor7MCTZ/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Instagraminstagram.com/upliftingstarradio
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/star991

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries5 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 STAR 99.1