107.7 The Bull

What 107.7 The Bull does

107.7 The Bull is a country music FM radio station (WIBL-FM) broadcasting to Bloomington-Normal, Illinois and the broader Central Illinois market. The station is operated as part of the Great Plains Media station group, which also owns sister stations Magic 99.5, Cities 92.9 FM News-Talk, and 97.9 Bob FM in Bloomington-Normal, plus stations in Lawrence, Kansas and Cookeville, Tennessee. Programming follows a '20 in-a-row' country format with on-air personalities including Big D & Bubba (morning), Glen Cooper (midday, with the station since inception), Chris Murphy (afternoon), and Sam Alex (evening). Distribution spans over-the-air FM broadcast at 107.7, online streaming, native iOS and Android apps, and third-party streaming platforms (TuneIn, Next Radio). Underlying technology is powered by SoCast, providing website, content management, streaming, and event calendar functionality.

The station's product portfolio extends beyond traditional radio into digital engagement products: a Bull Mobile App for live listening and studio interaction, a Weather Text Club SMS subscription service (sponsored by Summers Plumbing Heating Cooling), a Bull Nation email club, the Jim Bob's Tequila Tuesdays weekly podcast, and a Steals & Deals affiliate program offering 50%-off gift certificates to local businesses through Best of Bloomington Normal. The primary revenue model is local and regional advertising sales, executed by a sales-led team of Account Executives selling radio commercials, digital campaigns, and event sponsorships. Secondary revenue comes from affiliate referral commissions on Steals & Deals transactions. Advertising rates are quote-based and not publicly disclosed, and listeners access content free over the air or via free streaming. Customer segments are local/regional SMB advertisers (B2B) and general audience listeners in Central Illinois (B2C). The station is privately held with no public listing or stock exchange presence, and financial data is not publicly disclosed.

Name

107.7 The Bull

Legal name

Great Plains Media

Website

https://1077thebull.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

107.7 The Bull is a country music FM radio station serving Bloomington-Normal and Central Illinois, operated by Great Plains Media. It generates revenue through local SMB advertising sales across radio, digital, and event sponsorship channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Radio Broadcasting

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

Commercial Terrestrial Radio Broadcasting (AM/FM) (MPAIAEAA)

Keywords

• Country radio broadcasting
• Local radio advertising sales
• Fm radio streaming
• Weather alert sms services
• Community radio events

Headquarters

HQ city

Normal

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Advertising Revenue: Primary revenue stream from local and regional businesses purchasing radio airtime and digital advertising placements. The station offers multimedia advertising solutions including radio commercials, digital campaigns, promotions, and events.
2. Steals & Deals Program: Revenue share from discounted gift certificates to local businesses sold through the station's Steals & Deals platform, offering 50% off certificates to local establishments like Harvest Moon drive-in theater.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

107.7 The Bull (WIBL-FM) is a country-music format commercial FM radio station serving Bloomington-Normal, Illinois and surrounding Central Illinois. It delivers free over-the-air broadcast programming built around 20 consecutive country songs per block, complemented by live streaming, native mobile apps, a podcast, SMS weather alerts, an email club, and a local deals affiliate program. Revenue is generated through multimedia advertising sold to local and regional businesses and through affiliate commissions on discounted gift certificates from area merchants.

Product overview

107.7 The Bull is a country music radio station (WIBL-FM) operated by Great Plains Media in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois. The station's primary product is its broadcast radio programming featuring country music and local personalities. Beyond traditional radio, the company offers a suite of digital products including native iOS and Android mobile apps for live listening and studio interaction, podcast content (Jim Bob's Tequila Tuesdays), SMS-based weather alert services (Weather Text Club), and an email marketing club (Bull Nation). Additional offerings include a local deals marketplace (Steals & Deals), contest promotions, and community events such as Seats for Soldiers and Bull On The Streets community appearances. The station also provides a Song Request feature through its mobile app.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Weather Text Club: Free weather alert subscription service providing forecasts via text messaging
• Bull Nation Email Club
• Steals & Deals
• Jim Bob's Tequila Tuesdays Podcast

Products and services

• 107.7 & 92.1 The Bull (Country Radio Broadcast) Free over-the-air and online-streamed country music radio broadcast serving Bloomington-Normal, Illinois and surrounding Central Illinois. Delivers music programming plus local content (weather, news, contests, community events) to adult listeners in the DMA.
• Bull Mobile App (iOS) Native iOS application providing live stream listening, celebrity/music news updates, contest entry, and studio-text features to listeners of 107.7 The Bull.
• Bull Mobile App (Android) Native Android application providing live stream listening, celebrity/music news, contest participation, and studio connectivity features to 107.7 The Bull listeners.
• Jim Bob's Tequila Tuesdays Podcast Weekly on-demand podcast airing Tuesdays at 3:15 PM, featuring the station character El Bandido and tequila-themed commentary, extending The Bull's content library beyond live broadcast.
• Weather Text Club Free SMS-based weather alert subscription delivering weekday forecasts at 7 AM, weekend forecasts at 9 AM, and 24/7 storm and road condition alerts to subscriber mobile phones.
• Steals & Deals Local deals program offering half-off gift certificates (typically 50% off face value) to area merchants including restaurants, entertainment venues, and services, delivered through a partnership with Best of Bloomington Normal and generating affiliate revenue share for the station.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Great Plains MediacoreOthersParent company owning and operating 107.7 The Bull along with sister stations Magic 99.5, Cities 92.9 FM, and 97.9 Bob FM in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois. Great Plains Media also operates stations in Lawrence, Kansas and Cookeville, Tennessee.
• CEFCUminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal credit union sponsoring the annual Seats for Soldiers event supporting VFW Local 454. CEFCU provides promotional support and donations for the veteran fundraising initiative organized by 107.7 The Bull and sister stations.
• Miller LiteminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBeer brand sponsoring the annual Seats for Soldiers event to support Central Illinois veterans through VFW Local 454. Provides marketing support and brand association for the community fundraising event.
• Vision Point Eye CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal eye care provider sponsoring the annual Seats for Soldiers veteran support event. Participates alongside sister stations Magic 99.5, Cities 92.9, 97.9 Bob FM in the 9th annual fundraiser.
• Four Seasons Health ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal fitness center providing sponsorship support for the Seats for Soldiers veteran fundraising event. Contributes to the community partnership effort with 107.7 The Bull and sister stations.
• Jimmy John'sminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSandwich restaurant serving as text line sponsor for Seats for Soldiers donations. Listeners can text 'SEATS' to (309) 862-1070 to donate. Provides a convenient donation channel for the veteran support event.
• VFW Local 454coreOthersLocal Veterans of Foreign Wars post serving as the beneficiary of the annual Seats for Soldiers fundraiser. The event aims to raise $25,000 with all proceeds supporting Central Illinois veterans from all military branches.
• Harvest Moon Drive-in TheaterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal Twin Drive-in Movie Theatre in Gibson City, IL featured in the Steals & Deals program. The station promotes 50% off offers on admission, popcorn, and drinks, driving customers to this local entertainment venue.
• Best of Bloomington NormalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal deals platform through which 107.7 The Bull promotes discounted gift certificates to local businesses. The partnership enables the Steals & Deals program offering half-off certificates to area establishments.
• Gill St. Sports Bar & RestaurantminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal restaurant in Normal, IL partnering with 107.7 The Bull for Afternoon Rush Hour Trivia contest. Winner receives $25 gift card. Station promotes the establishment through contest engagement and on-air mentions.
• Cornbelters Baseball (Corn Crib Stadium)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal minor league baseball team hosting the Seats for Soldiers 36-hour broadcast event at Corn Crib stadium in Normal, IL. Venue partnership enables the annual veteran support fundraiser.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Saga Communications: Operates radio stations in small and mid-sized U.S. markets with a focus on local advertising. Highly comparable to Great Plains Media's operating footprint in secondary markets with similar station cluster economics.
• Beasley Broadcast Group: Owns and operates radio stations in mid-sized U.S. markets with growing digital audio extensions. Comparable as a regional/small-market commercial radio operator with similar GTM motion toward local advertisers.
• Emmis Communications: Operates radio stations in select U.S. markets including country and urban formats. Comparable as a small-to-mid-market terrestrial radio broadcaster focused on local advertising sales.
• Lotus Communications: Private radio broadcaster operating stations in multiple U.S. markets including the Midwest. Comparable as a privately-held multi-market radio operator with similar scale to Great Plains Media.
• Townsquare Media: Operator of approximately 320 radio stations concentrated in small and mid-sized U.S. markets, with local digital, events, and e-commerce monetization. Closely comparable to Great Plains Media's multi-market, multi-station small-market strategy with diversified digital revenue streams.
• Pattison Media (Pattison Broadcast Group): Canadian-based broadcast group operating radio stations including in smaller markets. Closely comparable as a multi-station group operator using SoCast-powered digital platforms — same tech stack as 107.7 The Bull — with similar multi-channel monetization.

Broad incumbents

• iHeartMedia: Largest U.S. radio broadcaster with hundreds of FM/AM stations plus digital platforms like iHeartRadio. Directly comparable to 107.7 The Bull as a commercial terrestrial radio operator monetizing through local advertising, but at vastly greater scale and with national digital reach.
• Salem Communications: Multi-format radio broadcaster with news/talk and country properties in mid-sized markets. Comparable in operating model as a multi-market radio station group serving local advertisers with broadcast and digital extensions.
• Cumulus Media: Second-largest U.S. radio broadcaster operating hundreds of AM/FM stations across mid-sized and small markets, very similar profile to Great Plains Media. Directly comparable business model of local ad sales across multi-station clusters in secondary markets.
• Audacy (formerly Entercom/CBS Radio): Major U.S. radio operator with extensive local station portfolio and the Audacy digital streaming platform. Comparable as a multi-station commercial radio broadcaster serving local and regional advertisers, with growing digital and podcast extensions.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/1077thebull
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCNzUZI5Ke0zP-xF0xgQo1IA
• Facebookfacebook.com/1077TheBull
• Instagraminstagram.com/1077thebull
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/great-plains-media-bloomington-il

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 107.7 The Bull