WCBM

What WCBM does

WCBM is a privately held news-talk radio station headquartered at 1726 Reisterstown Road in Baltimore, Maryland, operating continuously since 1923. The station broadcasts on AM 680 across most of Maryland and FM 99.9 in Harford County, delivering conservative talk programming that combines locally produced shows (Casey & Co., Kim Klacik LIVE, The Rob Carson Show, The Right Side with Nino Mangione) with nationally syndicated content from Salem Radio Network and partners (Sean Hannity, Charlie Kirk, Todd Starnes, Larry Elder). Beyond terrestrial radio, WCBM distributes through a multi-platform digital footprint that includes web streaming, iOS and Android mobile apps with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, smart speaker integration across Alexa, Google Home, and Siri, and podcasts on iTunes, Spotify, and Google Play.

WCBM's underlying technology is conventional AM/FM broadcast infrastructure layered with modern digital distribution. The mobile app, branded product extensions (Buy Local MD advertising service), and smart-speaker skills enable 24/7 streaming access beyond the station's terrestrial signal. The station also maintains an active social presence on Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn, and operates an event portfolio (Taste of the Union, Pints & Politics, Freedom Fest, Gettysburg Battlefield Bus Tour, Kim Klacik Putting Social) that drives community engagement.

WCBM's revenue model is advertising-led, monetized through three channels: (1) traditional local and national spot advertising sold by a dedicated sales team led by Director of Business Development Andy Grimshaw, (2) the Buy Local MD program that formalizes SMB sponsor relationships with approximately 25+ Maryland businesses, and (3) branded event sponsorships and ticketing. Customer segments are bifurcated between local Maryland SMB advertisers and national brand advertisers reaching the Baltimore metro audience; the station has no public pricing or contract disclosures and no disclosed revenue, funding, or ownership structure beyond its independently held Maryland corporation, WCBM Inc.

Name

WCBM

Legal name

WCBM Inc

Website

https://wcbm.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1923

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

WCBM is a privately held Baltimore-based news-talk radio station broadcasting on AM 680 and FM 99.9, serving Maryland with conservative talk programming, syndicated national shows, digital streaming, mobile apps, podcasts, and event-based engagement for local advertisers and listeners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Radio Broadcasting

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611), Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110), Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations (5161)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

News/Talk Radio Networks (MPABABAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Commercial Radio Networks (National/Regional) (MPABABAA), Talk/News/Sports Radio Networks & Syndication (MPAIAEAG)

Keywords

• News talk radio
• Radio broadcasting
• Advertising sales
• Conservative talk programming
• Audio streaming

Headquarters

HQ city

Pikesville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Advertising Sales: WCBM generates primary revenue through selling advertising spots to local Maryland businesses and national advertisers reaching the Baltimore metro area and statewide audience. The 'Buy Local MD' program specifically connects local enterprises with the station's engaged listenership.
2. Event Sponsorships: The station generates revenue through branded events including Taste of the Union, Pints & Politics, Freedom Fest, Gettysburg Battlefield Bus Tour, and Kim Klacik Putting Social. Events feature sponsors and ticket sales.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

WCBM is a news-talk radio station broadcasting on 680 AM and 99.9 FM, serving the Baltimore metropolitan area and streaming globally online. It delivers conservative talk programming, local news, political commentary, sports coverage, and specialty shows, supported by digital products including a mobile app, online streaming, podcasts, and smart speaker integration. Revenue is generated primarily through on-air advertising sales to local Maryland businesses and event sponsorships.

Product overview

WCBM is a news-talk radio station operating on 680 AM and 99.9 FM (Harford County), serving the Baltimore metropolitan area and streaming worldwide. The company offers a unified media platform combining traditional radio broadcasting with digital products including a mobile app (iOS/Android), online streaming, podcasts (available on iTunes, Spotify, and Google Play), and smart speaker integration (Alexa, Google Home, Siri). The programming portfolio includes local shows (Casey & Co., Kim Klacik LIVE, The Rob Carson Show, The Right Side with Nino Mangione) and syndicated national programs (Sean Hannity, Charlie Kirk, Todd Starnes, Larry Elder). Additional offerings include sports coverage (Stein on Sports), specialty programs (You Auto Know, All About Real Estate, Safe Retirement Solutions, Dr. Wally on Sleep Apnea, The Outdoorsman Radio Show), a local business advertising service (Buy Local MD), and hosted events (Pints and Politics, Taste of the Union, Kim Klacik Putting Social, Freedom Fest, Gettysburg Battlefield Bus Tour).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• All About Real Estate: Real estate program hosted by Margaret Rome airing Sundays at noon
• The Outdoorsman Radio Show
• Stein on Sports
• Dr. Wally on Sleep Apnea
• Safe Retirement Solutions
• Casey & Co.
• Kim Klacik LIVE
• The Rob Carson Show
• The Todd Starnes Show
• The Charlie Kirk Show
• The Right Side with Nino Mangione
• You Auto Know
• Save Our State

Products and services

• WCBM News-Talk Radio (680 AM / 99.9 FM) News-talk radio station serving the Baltimore metropolitan area with news coverage, political commentary, local sports, and syndicated conservative talk programming.
• WCBM Online Stream High-quality online audio streaming available through the WCBM website, allowing listeners worldwide to access live broadcasts.
• WCBM Mobile App (iOS/Android) Mobile application for iOS and Android providing live radio streaming, on-demand shows and podcasts, breaking news alerts, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto support, and interactive text-to-studio capability.
• WCBM Podcasts On-demand podcast versions of popular WCBM shows distributed via iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, and wcbm.com.
• Smart Speaker Integration Voice-activated listening through Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple Siri devices for hands-free access to WCBM broadcasts.
• Buy Local MD Advertising Program Local business advertising program featuring sponsored content from local Maryland businesses, connecting advertisers with WCBM's engaged listenership.
• Freedom Fest Annual freedom-themed celebration event featuring patriotic entertainment and community activities.
• Pints and Politics Annual political discussion event featuring light hors d'oeuvres, cash bar, and live debate on Maryland and national political issues hosted by Sean Casey and Del. Nino Mangione.
• Taste of the Union Annual event combining Italian cuisine with Maryland political discussion, featuring panel discussions with local politicians.
• Kim Klacik Putting Social Golf putting event hosted by Kim Klacik featuring competition, prizes including a round of golf with Kim Klacik, and community networking.
• Gettysburg Battlefield Bus Tour with Rob Carson Educational bus tour to Gettysburg Battlefield led by Rob Carson, combining history and conservative discussion.

Named customers2 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

Integration13 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Salem Radio Network / National Syndicated ShowscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWCBM airs nationally syndicated conservative talk programs including The Sean Hannity Show, The Charlie Kirk Show, The Todd Starnes Show, and syndicated overnight programming from Red Eye Radio. These programs are sourced from national networks.
• Fox 45 (WBFF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStation features Fox 45 weather authority for traffic and weather reports on the 3s within morning programming Casey & Co., providing local weather integration.
• Turf Valley ResortminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue partner for the annual Kim Klacik Putting Social event, providing golf course facilities for the station's community event.
• Local Maryland Business SponsorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBuy Local MD program features sponsored businesses including American Bullion, Audiology Associates, Badger Contracting, Lorien Health Services, and approximately 25+ other local businesses advertising on WCBM.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• WCAO 600 AM (Upstream): Baltimore-market AM radio station (iHeartMedia) carrying relevant local and syndicated content; competes for the same local ad dollars and listener share in the Baltimore MSA.
• WBAL NewsRadio 1090 AM / 97.9 FM: Direct Baltimore-market news/talk radio competitor on AM with FM simulcast, owned by Hearst. Targets the same Baltimore MSA advertisers and conservative-leaning news audience as WCBM.
• WNST 1570 AM: Locally programmed Baltimore AM sports/talk station; competes for local talk and sports audiences and Baltimore SMB advertising dollars that WCBM also targets.

Regional players

• WYPR 88.1 FM: Baltimore public radio station (NPR affiliate) competing for news-talk listenership in the same MSA. Different noncommercial model and ideological slant, but addresses the same audience needs.
• WTOP 103.5 FM (Washington, DC): Dominant Washington DC all-news station. Mid-Atlantic regional news-format benchmark that competes for the same advertisers evaluating Maryland/DC buys as WCBM.
• WMAL 105.9 FM (Washington, DC): DC-area conservative talk station owned by Salem Media; the closest large-market analog to WCBM in format, syndication stack, and business model within the broader mid-Atlantic region.
• WTNT 730 AM (Washington, DC): Washington, DC-market news/talk AM owned by Urban One. Comparable conservative-leaning talk format and advertising model in the adjacent DC market, useful for regional ad buys.

Broad incumbents

• iHeartMedia Baltimore cluster: National multi-format radio operator (publicly traded) with multiple Baltimore AM/FM signals. Competes broadly for the same local ad budgets and digital audio ad inventory as WCBM, but with vastly larger scale.
• Salem Communications (Salem Media Group): National owner of conservative and Christian talk radio stations; both supplies syndicated programming to WCBM and operates similar-format AM stations that compete in adjacent markets.
• Cumulus Media / Westwood One: Large multi-format US radio operator with Baltimore-area properties and a national talk/news syndication footprint (Westwood One) that intersects directly with WCBM's distribution and content model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WCBM680
• Facebookfacebook.com/WCBM680
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wcbm-radio
• Instagraminstagram.com/wcbm680

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 WCBM