Loud Media

What Loud Media does

Loud Media is a privately held, family-owned multimedia company that owns and operates a portfolio of 11 FM and AM radio stations across five U.S. markets: Knoxville TN, Albany/Saratoga Springs NY, Burlington/Plattsburgh VT/NY, Wilmington DE, and Fort Collins CO. The company was formed in 2020 through the merger of Border Media LLC (Ricki Lee) and A&J Radio LLC (Aaron Ishmael), and is co-led by both founders as CEOs. Stations span a range of formats including active rock, alternative, classic hits, oldies, classic hip hop and R&B, and variety, with sub-brands such as Star Radio, Lake FM, JUMP Radio, GREG FM, and WSNJ ('Wilmington's Rock Station').

The company's core technology combines traditional over-the-air FM/AM broadcasting with digital distribution via station websites, iOS and Android mobile apps, and Amazon Alexa smart speaker integrations. All station sites are powered by Aiir, a radio website CMS co-founded by Ricki Lee. Loud Media holds FCC broadcast licenses for its stations and routinely files with the Commission for transfers of control and new station launches. The portfolio is actively managed through acquisitions (e.g., Blount Broadcasting 2022, Pine Tree Broadcasting 2020), divestitures (e.g., WLGR to Sticks Media 2024, WNYV to North Country Public Radio 2023), and format rebrandings (Lake FM 2024, Saratoga's Star Radio return 2025, GREG FM launch 2026).

Loud Media's business model is primarily advertising-driven: it sells integrated local marketing solutions combining radio airtime, digital streaming, mobile, and social to SMB and mid-market advertisers in each market, supported by Account Executives in Knoxville TN and Saratoga Springs NY. A secondary revenue stream consists of premium subscription services (newsletters and RSS feeds) processed via recurring credit card billing, with pro-rated refund terms disclosed in the company's Terms of Use. The company is privately held with no institutional investors, has not raised external funding rounds, and operates with a headcount in the 11-50 range.

Name

Loud Media

Legal name

Loud Media LLC

Website

https://loudmedia.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Loud Media is a family-owned multimedia company operating 11 FM/AM radio stations across 5 U.S. markets (Knoxville, Saratoga Springs/Albany, Burlington/Plattsburgh, Wilmington, Fort Collins), selling integrated local advertising and digital streaming services to SMB advertisers and listeners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Local Radio Broadcasting

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Radio Station Groups (Owned & Operated/Station Chains) (MPABACAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Internet Radio & Streaming Broadcast Stations (Simulcast/Online-only) (MPAIAEAE), Music Radio Networks (Format-Based) (MPABABAF)

Keywords

• Local radio broadcasting
• Digital audio streaming
• Radio advertising sales
• Multi-market radio operations
• FCC broadcast licensing

Headquarters

HQ city

Plattsburgh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Local Advertising & Sponsorships: The primary revenue stream is local advertising sold directly to businesses in each market. Loud Media markets integrated media solutions combining radio airtime with digital marketing, serving as the go-to-market pitch across all markets. Advertisements, sponsorships, and co-promotions with third parties are prominently featured across all Loud Media platforms.
2. Premium Subscription Services: Loud Media offers subscription-based premium services including newsletters and RSS feeds. Users pay membership fees for premium content access. The company collects credit card information and processes recurring subscription charges.
3. Digital & Streaming Platform: Revenue generated through connected listening platforms and online streaming where digital advertising and audience metrics are sold to local and national advertisers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Loud Media acquires, operates, and rebrands local FM/AM radio stations across multiple U.S. markets, distributing content via traditional broadcast, online streaming, mobile apps, and smart speakers. The company sells integrated local advertising and marketing solutions to SMBs in each market, and offers premium subscription content (newsletters, RSS). Its portfolio of 11 stations spans Active Rock, Alternative, Classic Hits, Oldies, Classic Hip Hop & R&B, and Variety formats in Knoxville, Albany/Saratoga Springs, Burlington/Plattsburgh, Wilmington, and Fort Collins.

Product overview

Loud Media is a family-owned multimedia company operating a portfolio of 11 radio stations across 5 markets in the Northeastern United States and Tennessee. The company operates as a collection of individual radio station brands spanning multiple formats (active rock, alternative, classic hits, oldies, classic hip hop/R&B, and variety), each with its own identity, website, and streaming presence. Stations are available via traditional FM/AM broadcast, online streaming, and mobile apps for iOS and Android. The portfolio includes WVLZ, WATO, WKVL, WKCE, WTLT (JUMP), WGAP (GREG FM), WSSV (Star Radio/Lake FM), WABY, WJMP (JUMP), WSNJ, and KJMP (JUMP). The company also provides local marketing and advertising services to help businesses leverage radio's local influence.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lake FM: Classic hits radio format playing '70s, '80s and '90s music, serving Saratoga Springs, Glens Falls and Lake George areas.
• Lake FM Network
• Saratoga's Star Radio
• 95.1 WSNJ (Wilmington's Rock Station)
• GREG FM

Products and services

• 93.7 WVLZ

Quantifiable outcome

• 11 stations across 5 markets
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

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

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• YEA Media Group / YEA NetworkscoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 2 June 2026Loud Media licenses the innovative GREG FM radio format from YEA Media Group for use on 105.9 WGAP in Knoxville TN. The format is built around syndicated radio personality Greg Beharrell's humor, storytelling, and unique perspective, combining music, entertainment, comedy, and unexpected content. Loud Media describes this as a distinctive brand that stands apart in the crowded media landscape.
• Sticks MediaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 18 November 2024Loud Media sold WLGR (93.5 Lake FM), licensed to Warrensburg NY, to Sticks Media LLC of Kansas City, Missouri. The acquisition is pending FCC approval with expected close by Q1 2025. Sticks Media is a media company offering radio station management and consultation services.
• North Country Public Radio (NCPR) / St. Lawrence UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 November 2023Loud Media sold WNYV FM (Whitehall NY) to North Country Public Radio, a broadcast service of St. Lawrence University, while simultaneously acquiring W247BJ Glens Falls NY from NCPR. This reciprocal exchange demonstrates a collaborative approach to optimizing broadcast coverage in the Saratoga Springs/Glens Falls area.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Townsquare Media: Townsquare Media is a publicly traded operator of ~320 radio stations concentrated in small and mid-sized U.S. markets, plus local digital and event businesses. It is the most directly comparable peer to Loud Media's small-market, multi-format, local-advertising-led model.
• Alpha Media: Alpha Media operates over 200 radio stations across mid-sized U.S. markets, focusing on local content and SMB advertising. Its portfolio strategy and reliance on local field sales closely mirror Loud Media's go-to-market.
• Pacific Media Group: Pacific Media Group owns and operates a portfolio of radio stations across smaller U.S. markets, often acquiring stations from retiring owners. Its roll-up model and small-market focus are highly comparable to Loud Media's M&A approach.
• Beasley Media Group: Beasley Media Group operates radio stations across multiple U.S. markets with a focus on local programming and community engagement. It is a comparable small-to-mid-market radio operator with similar diversification across formats.

Broad incumbents

• Cumulus Media: Cumulus Media operates hundreds of radio stations across the U.S. and a national sales network through Westwood One. It competes in some of Loud Media's markets and serves as a benchmark for national-versus-local radio advertising dynamics.
• Audacy: Audacy (formerly Entercom/CBS Radio) is a top-three U.S. radio operator with major-market concentration and a significant podcast and digital audio business. Its multi-platform strategy overlaps with Loud Media's but targets much larger markets.
• iHeartMedia: iHeartMedia is the largest U.S. radio operator with ~860 stations and a national digital audio platform. It competes with Loud Media in shared markets but operates at vastly greater scale and with programmatic ad-tech capabilities.

Others

• Aiir: Aiir is a radio-specific website and CMS platform whose CEO/co-founder Ricki Lee is also co-founder/co-CEO of Loud Media. It is an internal technology partner rather than a direct competitor, but illustrates Loud Media's vertical integration into radio publishing technology.

Emerging players

• Saga Communications: Saga Communications is a family-influenced operator of radio stations across mid-sized U.S. markets, emphasizing localism and operational discipline. Its size, geographic spread, and local-first philosophy are similar to Loud Media's positioning.
• Salem Communications: Salem Communications (now Salem Media Group) operates a portfolio of radio stations with a niche focus on talk, news, and faith-based formats. While not a format match for Loud Media, its multi-market small-to-mid-portfolio operator profile is structurally comparable.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/loudmediahq

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries6 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 Loud Media