KDAY 93.5 FM

What KDAY 93.5 FM does

KDAY 93.5 FM is a Los Angeles-licensed urban contemporary hip-hop and R&B radio station, founded in 1961 and operated since 2013 by Meruelo Media Group as KDAY Radio, LLC. The station broadcasts on 93.5 MHz across the Greater Los Angeles metropolitan area and runs a daypart lineup that includes the KDAY Morning Show with Romeo, Cece Afternoon Ride, Corrie (2:00 PM–6:00 PM), Baka Boyz, The Art Laboe Connection, and DE'AJA. Beyond over-the-air broadcast, KDAY distributes content digitally via its 935kday.com website (powered by SoCast), iOS and Android mobile applications, an embedded ListenLive.co streaming player, on-demand podcasts, and four social channels (Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, YouTube), and produces live event programming such as the Krush Groove concert series.

The core technology stack combines an FCC-licensed FM broadcast at 93.5 MHz with the SoCast digital platform for web streaming, podcast hosting, and content management; Google OAuth is used for site sign-in and reCAPTCHA for bot protection. The product portfolio consists of the core radio broadcast, program modules (named shows), and add-on modules (live streaming, podcasts, events, contests, news/blog content with 105+ pages of original articles featuring artists such as Xzibit, Snoop Dogg, Daz Dillinger, and Havoc).

The business model is advertising-led on both ends. The station monetizes its broadcast and digital inventory through the sale of advertising time and sponsorships to local and national advertisers/agencies, with a documented agency commission structure of up to 15% and 30-day invoice payment terms. A secondary engagement mechanic uses contests and promotional events with defined eligibility windows (60-day repeat-winner restriction; 12-month bar on prizes over $600). The principal customer segments are (i) listeners — adults 18-49 in the LA metro seeking hip-hop/R&B programming, and (ii) advertisers and agencies seeking to reach that demographic via terrestrial radio and digital channels. PCI DSS compliance is maintained for online transactions.

Name

KDAY 93.5 FM

Legal name

KDAY Radio, LLC

Website

https://935kday.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

KDAY 93.5 FM is a Los Angeles hip-hop and R&B radio station operated by Meruelo Media Group, broadcasting on 93.5 MHz and streaming digitally via web and mobile apps. It serves LA-area 18-49 listeners and monetizes through advertising sales to brands and agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Terrestrial Radio Broadcasting

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

Music Radio Networks (Format-Based) (MPABABAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Radio Streaming & Catch-Up Audio Platforms (MPAIADAJ), Internet Radio & Streaming Broadcast Stations (Simulcast/Online-only) (MPAIAEAE), Non-Interactive Digital Radio (Lean-Back Streaming) (MPAIACAB)

Keywords

• Terrestrial radio broadcast
• Hip-hop radio station
• Radio advertising sales
• Live audio streaming
• Music entertainment content

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Advertising Time Sales: The station generates primary revenue through the sale of advertising time on terrestrial radio broadcasts and digital platforms. Rates and discounts are governed by advertising contracts with agencies and advertisers. The Terms of Service outline payment terms of 30 days for invoice settlement.
2. Promotional Events and Contests: The station conducts promotional events, sweepstakes, and prize draws. Contest participation generates engagement and provides prizes to winners. Participants may only win contests once every 60 days, and those winning prizes over $600 are ineligible for 12 months.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

KDAY 93.5 FM is a Los Angeles hip-hop and R&B formatted terrestrial radio station operating on 93.5 MHz, broadcasting a mix of classic and contemporary West Coast hip-hop along with artist interviews and entertainment news. It generates revenue primarily by selling advertising time on its FM broadcast and digital platforms (website streaming, podcasts, mobile apps) to advertisers and agencies seeking access to the LA hip-hop/R&B audience aged 18-49, while also producing live events such as Krush Groove and listener contests.

Product overview

93.5 KDAY is a Los Angeles-based urban contemporary hip-hop radio station operated by Meruelo Media Group. The station offers a core broadcast product (93.5 KDAY Radio Broadcast) complemented by multiple program modules including on-air personalities (KDAY Morning Show w/ Romeo, Cece Afternoon Ride, CORRIE, Baka Boyz, The Art Laboe Connection, DE'AJA). The digital product portfolio extends beyond traditional radio with Live Audio Streaming, Podcasts, Events (such as Krush Groove), Contests, and News Content modules. The station primarily serves the hip-hop and R&B music audience in the greater Los Angeles market.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Named customers4 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

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• SoCastcoreTechnology or IntegrationSoCast provides the digital streaming and content management platform powering KDAY's website, mobile apps, and online radio streaming services. The platform enables live audio streaming, podcast hosting, and website functionality.
• Meruelo Media GroupcoreOthersMeruelo Media Group is the parent company that owns and operates KDAY 93.5 FM along with related stations KPWR, KLOS, KDEY, KWHY, and KBEH. The company also operates Meruelo Television and is involved in casino, hotel, and restaurant ventures.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Cumulus Media / Westwood One: National radio broadcast group with urban/hip-hop programming across major markets; overlaps with KDAY on format and advertiser demand-side audience comparable.
• Emmis Communications: Radio broadcasting group historically associated with urban/hip-hop format leadership (e.g., Hot 97 in NY, Power 106 LA predecessor ownership), directly analogous as a comparator for format-driven urban radio economics.
• iHeartMedia Los Angeles (urban cluster): Large multi-station group with significant LA urban format presence; competes for advertising share at scale and bundles hip-hop inventory across stations and digital platforms (iHeartRadio).
• Audacy (formerly Entercom) urban stations: Multi-station radio operator with urban/hip-hop format stations in major DMAs including LA-adjacent markets; competes for national advertisers seeking urban audience reach.
• Urban One (Radio One): Largest US radio operator focused on African American urban audiences; competes for the same national advertiser budgets targeting Black/hip-hop consumers and represents a benchmark for urban-format portfolio valuation.

Direct peers

• Real 92.3 (KKLQ): LA-market urban/hip-hop formatted FM station; competes for the same advertising dollars and 18-49 hip-hop/R&B listeners as KDAY in the same DMA, making it the most direct external format competitor.
• KPWR Power 106: Fellow Meruelo Media LA hip-hop station (Power 106) operating in the same DMA on a closely adjacent urban format; directly comparable for advertising market share, audience demos, and operational synergies within the parent portfolio.

Emerging players

• Dash Radio: Digital-first, ad-supported hip-hop and R&B streaming platform based in LA; an emerging competitor for hip-hop listener attention and digital ad budgets, complementing KDAY's terrestrial broadcast with comparable music programming.
• SiriusXM Hip-Hop Nation: Satellite/digital hip-hop channel reaching hip-hop listeners nationally via subscription and advertising; competes for hip-hop listenership share and advertiser attention, particularly with younger demos.

Others

• Meruelo Media Group (KLOS, KWHY, KBEH): Parent operating company of KDAY; comparable as a portfolio operator in the same LA DMA offering cross-station ad packaging and shared infrastructure that directly affects KDAY's unit economics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/935kday
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCJbejohjFJ47jDRkYQrDqwg
• Facebookfacebook.com/935kday
• Instagraminstagram.com/935kday
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kday-fm

Compliance1 record

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 KDAY 93.5 FM