Vintage House

What Vintage House does

Vintage House (legally The Vintage House Show LLC) is a Chicago-based privately held media and cultural organization founded in 2014 that produces editorial, experiential, and educational programming dedicated to preserving the history and culture of House Music. Its core product is The Vintage House Show, a weekly radio program broadcast on WNUR 89.3FM Evanston/Chicago every Wednesday at 10PM with a podcast released every other Thursday via Buzzsprout; since 2015 the show has interviewed over 500 House Music legends, building an extensive archival collection. The company is led by CEO Lauren Lowery (historian and archivist), COO Kevin Mega McFall (recognized as the first House Music publicist), and CCO Lori Branch (pioneer DJ), with a headquarters at 47 West Polk Street, Suite 158, Chicago.

The company operates five product lines on a website-based platform with podcast and radio streaming capabilities plus multicast production for broadcast, live stream, and podcasting: (1) The Vintage House Show radio/podcast, (2) media production services for municipalities, non-profits, and corporations, (3) Vintage House Adventures curating private excursions and corporate events, (4) Vintage House Show Education including Mixology 101 DJ training, and (5) the 'Chicago: Home of House' archival exhibition produced with partners like Navy Pier and Ephipany Center for the Arts. Underlying technology is straightforward: a Wix-hosted website, Buzzsprout for podcast distribution, YouTube for video, WNUR-generated radio broadcast, and GoDaddy PayLinks for merchandise checkout — there is no proprietary software platform, no API, and no AI/ML infrastructure.

Monetization spans diversified revenue streams: professional services fees for contracted media production and event management (municipalities, non-profits, corporations including the City of Chicago/DCASE, Pinterest, and Chicago Public Library), professional services for Vintage House Adventures (private excursions and corporate experiences), advertising/revenue share from radio and podcast, branded merchandise e-commerce, and project-based exhibition work. Pricing for experiences and production services is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The company operates with 1-10 employees, has not raised institutional capital, and distributes through a multi-channel stack that includes WNUR-FM, Buzzsprout, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and earned media placements in the Chicago Sun Times, NPR Throughline, and PBS-WTTW.

Name

Vintage House

Legal name

The Vintage House Show LLC

Website

https://vintagehouseshow.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Vintage House (The Vintage House Show LLC) is a Chicago-based media and cultural organization that produces a weekly WNUR 89.3FM radio show and podcast, contracted media production services, archival exhibitions, private music history excursions, and DJ education programs, all dedicated to preserving House Music history for enthusiasts, municipalities, and corporate clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Music Media Production & Cultural Programming

akta.pro primary industry

Classic/Archive & Nostalgia Broadcast Networks (MPABAAAJ)

Keywords

• House music media
• Music podcast production
• Live event management
• Cultural exhibition curation
• Music history preservation

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including t-shirts and apparel through the organization's e-commerce storefront.
2. Experiences and Adventures: Vintage House Adventures curates exclusive experiences including backstage passes, house history lessons, Chicago music tours, and vetted talent booking for corporate and private events.
3. Media Production Services: Contracted media production work including multicast production (broadcast radio, live stream, podcasting) and live event management/production for municipalities, non-profits, and corporations.
4. Radio and Podcast: Radio show broadcast on WNUR 89.3FM and podcast distribution via Buzzsprout and other podcast channels. Radio airs Wednesdays at 10PM; podcasts release every other Thursday at noon.
5. Exhibitions: Producing archival exhibitions celebrating house music history, such as the 'Chicago: Home of House' exhibition at Navy Pier honoring 40 Years of House Music.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Vintage House (The Vintage House Show) is a Chicago-based media and cultural organization that produces a weekly radio show on WNUR 89.3FM, a podcast, archival exhibitions, curated experiences, and contracted media production services centered on preserving, documenting, and celebrating the history and culture of House Music. The organization archives interviews with House Music pioneers and sells branded merchandise, music education courses, and corporate/private experiences.

Product overview

Vintage House operates as a multi-product media and cultural organization centered on preserving and celebrating Chicago House Music. Its core product is The Vintage House Show, a radio program and podcast (launched 2015) that has interviewed over 500 House Music legends on WNUR 89.3FM and major podcast platforms. This is supplemented by three service lines: (1) Media Production Services handling multicast production and live event management for municipalities and corporations; (2) Experiences including Vintage House Adventures (private music history excursions) and Vintage House Show Education (DJ mixology instruction); and (3) Exhibitions featuring the 'Chicago: Home of House' archival exhibition celebrating 40 years of the genre. A merchandise store sells branded apparel.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Vintage House Adventures: Curation of experiences illuminating the artistry and history of House Music and other Chicago-driven Black Music Genres, guiding private excursions with Music Pioneers, Historians and Creatives.
• Vintage House Show Education

Products and services

• The Vintage House Show (Radio & Podcast)

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Navy Pier, ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNavy Pier hosted the 'Chicago: Home of House' archival exhibition celebrating 40 years of House Music, showcasing the genre's origins in Chicago and its evolution to global dominance.
• Ephipany Center for the ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEphipany Center for the Arts collaborated on producing HOME OF HOUSE exhibitions celebrating the history and culture of house music.
• WTTW (PBS Chicago)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Vintage House Show Team collaborated with director Barbara Allen on WTTW produced 'Chicago Stories: House Music, A Cultural Revolution' documentary.
• NPR ThroughlinecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNPR's Throughline Series featured the Vintage House Show team in their exploration of the history and popularity of House Music titled 'Dance Yourself Free'.
• WNUR 89.3FMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership with WNUR-FM, a college radio station at Northwestern University/Evanston, where The Vintage House Show broadcasts weekly and has been a cornerstone programming element for 10 years.
• Old Town School of Folk MusicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExhibitions and research have been produced and exhibited with the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago.
• Northwestern University Dittmar GalleryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExhibitions and research have been produced and exhibited at Northwestern University's Dittmar Gallery.
• The Dance Center at Columbia College ChicagominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExhibitions and research have been produced and exhibited at The Dance Center at Columbia College Chicago.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The FADER: Music and culture magazine with long-form journalism, events, and brand partnerships. Comparable to Vintage House in combining music journalism, cultural storytelling, and live events, though at broader genre scope and larger scale.
• Mixmag: Long-running electronic and dance-music media brand covering house, techno, and adjacent genres via editorial, video, events, and radio. Comparable to Vintage House in editorial focus on house music culture and a multi-channel distribution strategy.
• Resident Advisor: Leading electronic/dance-music media platform combining journalism, event listings, podcasts, and ticketing. Comparable to Vintage House in providing editorial depth around electronic music culture, with a similar blend of editorial content and event services.
• DJ Mag: Global electronic-music publication covering DJs, producers, and dance music culture. Comparable to Vintage House in focusing editorial coverage on house/DJ culture and producing related events and content series.
• Bandcamp Daily: Editorial arm of Bandcamp covering underground and independent music with a preservationist, community-led editorial approach. Comparable to Vintage House in deep-dive editorial storytelling around niche music scenes and a community-led ethos.
• Boiler Room: Global live-streamed music broadcasting and events platform rooted in underground/electronic music culture. Closely comparable to Vintage House in combining broadcast/podcast distribution, cultural storytelling, and live-event curation for a niche electronic-music audience.
• XLR8R: Long-running electronic music publication covering house, techno, and experimental dance music with editorial depth and event coverage. Comparable to Vintage House in niche electronic-music editorial focus and cultural-preservation ethos.

Broad incumbents

• NPR Music: Public radio's music vertical featuring long-form journalism, mini-documentaries, and live performances, including the Throughline series that featured Vintage House. Comparable in format (broadcast + podcast + editorial) and in cultural-preservation storytelling, though at vastly broader scale.
• Complex: Large music, fashion, and culture media brand with editorial, video, and events — Kevin Mega McFall was previously SVP of Business Development at EBONY/JET (sister brands). Comparable in combining music journalism, events, and brand partnerships, though at significantly larger scope and audience.
• Red Bull Music Academy: Global music-culture platform with lecture series, documentaries, and educational programming focused on preserving and advancing music history. Comparable to Vintage House in its archival/educational mission and multi-format (lecture, video, radio) storytelling, though at much larger scale and backed by Red Bull's marketing budget.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtiktok.com/@thevintagehouseshow
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@vintagehouseshow
• Facebookfacebook.com/vintagehouseWNUR
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vintage-house-show
• Instagraminstagram.com/thevintagehouseshow

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Vintage House