WERS 88.9 FM

What WERS 88.9 FM does

WERS 88.9 FM is a non-profit public radio station operated by Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts, broadcasting continuously on the 88.9 FM frequency since 1949. The station distributes content through over-the-air FM broadcast, an HD2 digital subchannel branded ERS+ (Boston's Black Experience / Hip-Hop and R&B), 24/7 online streaming via its website, and a dedicated mobile app. Core programming centers on alternative, indie, and local music, supplemented by specialty shows such as The Secret Spot (R&B/Soul, nightly 10 PM–2 AM), Chagigah Radio (Jewish music), Wicked Local Wednesday (local Boston artists), Mornings with George Knight, and Afternoons with Parker, plus in-studio Live Mix sessions featuring visiting artists and a student-written music blog.

Name

WERS 88.9 FM

Legal name

WERS 88.9 FM

Website

https://wers.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

WERS 88.9 FM is a non-profit college radio station operated by Emerson College in Boston, broadcasting alternative, indie, and local music on FM, HD2, and 24/7 online streaming to listeners supported primarily through donations and memberships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Radio Broadcasting

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

University/Educational Local Stations (College Radio, Campus TV) (MPABACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Internet Radio & Streaming Broadcast Stations (Simulcast/Online-only) (MPAIAEAE), Radio Content Production & Studios (On-air Production, Imaging, Jingles) (MPAIAEAL)

Keywords

• Community radio broadcasting
• Music discovery programming
• Live in-studio sessions
• Listener-supported nonprofit radio
• College radio station

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Listener Donations and Membership: WERS runs on listener support through donations and membership programs. Listeners can become members by donating, receiving benefits in return.
2. Underwriting and Sponsorship: Corporate sponsorship and underwriting opportunities for businesses to support programming. Contact Associate Director of Underwriting & Corporate Support.
3. Real Estate and Planned Giving: The station accepts real estate donations and planned giving contributions as alternative donation methods.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

WERS 88.9 FM is a non-profit college radio station operated by Emerson College that broadcasts at 88.9 FM in Boston with 24/7 online streaming. It delivers eclectic, alternative, indie, and locally-focused music programming through scheduled on-air shows, in-studio live artist sessions, and the ERS+ HD2 Hip-Hop/R&B subchannel. The station is listener-supported via donations, memberships, underwriting sponsorships, and planned giving programs.

Product overview

WERS 88.9 FM is Boston's UnCommon Radio, a college radio station operated by Emerson College. The station offers a unified radio experience combining over-the-air FM broadcast at 88.9 FM with 24/7 live streaming. Core offerings include music programming (Morning Show with George Knight, Afternoons with Parker, The Secret Spot nighttime R&B/Soul show, Wicked Local Wednesday local music showcase, Chagigah Jewish music program), in-studio live sessions with visiting artists, a dedicated mobile app, and sister station ERS+ on HD2 for Hip-Hop/R&B. Additional content includes the Pick of the Week feature, Vault of Soul series, music blog with reviews and interviews, and a concert calendar. The station is listener-supported through donations, memberships, and planned giving programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 88.9 FM Radio Broadcast Over-the-air FM radio broadcast at 88.9 MHz serving the Boston metropolitan area with eclectic, alternative, and locally-focused music programming under an FCC non-commercial public radio license.
• Live Streaming 24/7

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Fierce Urgency of Now FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 September 2020Five-day community festival hosted by City Awake program of Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. WERS participated in discussions on Black radio's impact in Boston.
• Emerson CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWERS is operated by and affiliated with Emerson College in Boston. The station serves as a training ground for Emerson students pursuing media careers. College provides institutional support, facilities, and student workforce.
• ERS+ (HD2)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWERS' sister station on HD2 Radio streaming at WERSPlus.org, focused on Boston's Black Experience and Hip-Hop/R&B content, distinct from main station programming.
• City Winery BostonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Boston music venue where WERS conducts artist interviews and performances, such as MC LYTE interview before her August 2025 show at the venue.
• Paramount CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoston theater venue where WERS hosted its 70th Birthday Party event featuring Nick Lowe and Adia Victoria in November 2019.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• WMBR 88.1 FM (MIT): MIT's student-run college radio station operating on a similar FM frequency in Cambridge. Directly comparable as a peer academic radio station with student programming, eclectic music, and 24/7 streaming.
• WHRB 95.3 FM (Harvard Radio Broadcasting): Harvard's student-run radio station in Cambridge. Comparable as a Boston-area college radio with similar student staffing, classical/alternative programming mix, and live in-studio performance tradition.
• WZBC 90.3 FM (Boston College): Boston College's student-run radio station broadcasting in the Boston market. Direct peer as another non-commercial college station with eclectic, non-mainstream programming and a similar operational model.
• WFMU 91.1 FM: Long-running listener-supported freeform radio station in New Jersey. Highly comparable as a non-commercial, community-funded station emphasizing eclectic programming, listener donations, and curated music discovery.
• KEXP 90.3 FM: Seattle-based listener-supported non-commercial radio station known globally for music discovery and live in-studio sessions. Directly comparable mission, listener-supported revenue model, and live-session programming format.
• WFMU (Listener-Supported Freeform) / XPN 88.5 (WXPN): University of Pennsylvania's WXPN is a non-commercial member-supported radio station with adult album alternative and music discovery programming, comparable as another university-affiliated eclectic music station with listener-supported funding.

Broad incumbents

• WBUR 90.9 FM: Boston's flagship NPR news/talk public radio station. Comparable as a listener-supported, non-commercial broadcaster in the Boston market, though focused on news rather than music discovery.
• GBH 89.7 FM (WGBH): Boston's major public broadcasting station covering radio and TV. Comparable as a long-established non-commercial broadcaster in the same market, though primarily news and cultural programming rather than alternative music.
• KCRW 89.9 FM: Santa Monica-based public radio station known for eclectic music programming and live sessions. Comparable as a long-established non-commercial station with strong brand in music discovery, though larger scale and broader programming.
• The Current (89.3 The Current / Minnesota Public Radio): Minnesota Public Radio's music-focused station. Comparable as a public/non-commercial station emphasizing indie and alternative music discovery with a regional broadcast footprint similar in scale to WERS.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/WERS889FM
• Facebookfacebook.com/wers889
• Instagraminstagram.com/wers889
• Xx.com/wers889

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 WERS 88.9 FM