KPR

What KPR does

Kansas Public Radio (KPR) is a non-profit public radio station founded in 1952 and operated as a service of the University of Kansas, broadcasting across multiple FCC-licensed FM frequencies in Kansas including KANU 91.5 (Lawrence/Topeka/Kansas City), KPR2 96.1 (Lawrence), KANH 89.7 (Emporia), KANV 91.3 (Junction City/Olsburg), and KANQ 90.3 (Chanute). The station delivers NPR national news, Kansas Statehouse coverage (maintained year-round since 1978), classical music, jazz, and folk programming, plus a growing portfolio of podcasts including 105 Live, Conversations, Retro Cocktail Hour, and Film Music Friday. Distribution extends beyond FM to online streaming, a mobile application, Amazon Alexa skills, and podcast platforms.

KPR operates on a community-supported revenue model in which 97% of the operating budget now derives from listener donations and corporate underwriters, following the elimination of federal public radio funding and University of Kansas cash support. Revenue streams include sustaining memberships, seasonal pledge drives, the One Day One KU annual giving campaign, corporate underwriting, IRA charitable rollovers, planned giving through the Dick Wright Legacy Society, and endowed funds such as the KPR News Fund (approximately $250,000, generating roughly $12,000 annually for local news). The customer base comprises geographically distributed listener-members across central and eastern Kansas, supplemented by corporate underwriters and community partners including the Dole Institute of Politics, Lawrence Public Library, Theatre Lawrence, Lawrence Opera Theatre, and the Audio-Reader Network. KPR shares its Statehouse reporting through the Kansas News Service to extend its content reach across Kansas radio stations and newspapers.

Name

KPR

Legal name

Kansas Public Radio

Website

https://kansaspublicradio.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Non-profit public radio station affiliated with the University of Kansas, broadcasting NPR news, classical music, jazz, and Kansas Statehouse coverage across multiple FM frequencies to Kansas listener-members via listener donations and underwriting.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Radio Broadcasting

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611), Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

National Public Radio Networks & Member Stations (NPR-style) (MPABADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

University/College-licensed Public Broadcasting (TV & Radio) (MPABADAD), Public/Noncommercial Radio Broadcasting (NPR, Community, Campus) (MPAIAEAB), Internet Radio & Streaming Broadcast Stations (Simulcast/Online-only) (MPAIAEAE)

Keywords

• Public radio broadcasting
• NPR affiliate station
• Local news reporting
• Classical music programming
• Community-supported radio

Headquarters

HQ city

Lawrence

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Listener Donations and Membership: KPR operates as a non-profit public radio station with membership programs including sustaining memberships. Listeners contribute financially through pledge drives, with 268 donors contributing $252,803 during One Day One KU 2026 campaign.
2. Underwriting and Sponsorship: Corporate underwriting from sponsors and underwriters. The station offers sponsorship packages through sponsorship.kansaspublicradio.org and event promotion packages.
3. Endowed Funds and Planned Giving: KPR has established endowed funds for news coverage, including the News Fund that grew to $250,000 commitment from Dean Coughenour Trust. Planned giving through IRA charitable rollovers and the Dick Wright Legacy Society.
4. University Support: Previously received cash support from University of Kansas, though this ended. Still operates as a service of the University of Kansas.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Kansas Public Radio is a non-profit public radio network operating two FM stations and multiple translators across Kansas, providing commercial-free NPR news, local Kansas journalism, classical music, jazz, folk, and cultural programming to listeners in Lawrence, Topeka, the Kansas City metro, Emporia, Manhattan, Junction City, Atchison, and Chanute. Distribution is via FM broadcast, live online streaming, mobile apps, Amazon Alexa skills, and on-demand podcasts.

Product overview

Kansas Public Radio (KPR) operates as a unified public radio broadcasting platform offering multiple channels and digital services. The core offering consists of KPR (KANU) and KPR2, broadcasting on multiple FM frequencies across Kansas (91.5 FM Lawrence/Topeka, 89.7 FM Emporia, 99.5 FM Manhattan, 91.3 FM Junction City, and others). The station provides diverse programming including news services (Daily Headlines, Statehouse Bureau reporting since 1978), music programming (classical, jazz, folk), and podcasts (105 Live, Conversations, Retro Cocktail Hour). Digital services include live streaming, Amazon Alexa integration for smart speaker listening, Retro Cocktail Radio streaming, and community-focused content through the KPR News Fund endowed reporting program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Retro Cocktail Radio: KPR's streaming vintage/exotic music channel featuring retro cocktail lounge music programming
• Dick Wright Legacy Society

Products and services

• KPR (KANU) Radio Broadcasting

Quantifiable outcome

• Statehouse Bureau Chief coverage since 1978
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Public Radio (NPR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKPR is an NPR affiliate, carrying NPR News programming and content. This is KPR's primary national news content partnership, providing access to NPR's national and international news coverage.
• University of Kansas / KU EndowmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKPR operates as a service of the University of Kansas. KU Endowment administers KPR's endowed funds including the News Fund and planned giving programs. The One Day One KU annual giving campaign is a KU-wide fundraising initiative.
• Kansas News ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKPR shares its Statehouse reporting free through the Kansas News Service, helping radio stations and newspapers across Kansas keep their communities informed about state government.
• Lawrence Public LibraryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKPR partners with Lawrence Public Library for the 780 Songwriters Circle series and other community programming events.
• Dole Institute of PoliticsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKPR's 105 Live concert series partners with the Dole Institute of Politics on the University of Kansas campus for live music recordings and events.
• Theatre LawrenceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKPR's Conversations program features interviews with Theatre Lawrence directors and performers, promoting local theater productions.
• Lawrence Opera TheatreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKPR's Conversations program covers Lawrence Opera Theatre performances and features interviews with directors.
• Audio-Reader NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKPR provides a link to the Audio-Reader Network (reader.ku.edu), a service for people who are blind or have print disabilities, operated by the University of Kansas.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• WBUR: Boston-area major-market NPR member public radio station owned by Boston University. Larger and more diversified than KPR, but directly comparable as a university-affiliated NPR station with news, classical programming, and listener-supported revenue model.
• WNYC: New York Public Radio, a major-market NPR member organization operating WNYC-FM and WNYC-AM with extensive news, classical, and jazz programming. Significantly larger than KPR but comparable as an NPR-affiliated, listener-supported public radio broadcaster with similar programming mix.

Direct peers

• KUNC: Northern Colorado NPR member public radio station with community-supported funding, news, classical, and jazz programming. Comparable to KPR in NPR-affiliate operations, listener-supported model, and regional Plains/Rockies audience.
• KBIA: University of Missouri-licensed NPR member public radio station serving central Missouri. Comparable to KPR as a university-affiliated NPR affiliate with similar staff scale, regional news coverage, and listener-supported funding.
• KOSU: Oklahoma State University-licensed NPR member public radio station. Closely comparable to KPR as a university-affiliated NPR affiliate with statehouse reporting, classical/jazz programming, and listener-donor support model.
• KMUW: Wichita-based NPR member public radio station serving south-central Kansas. Highly comparable to KPR in scale, NPR affiliation, regional Kansas focus, listener-supported model, and mix of news/classical/jazz programming.
• High Plains Public Radio (HPPR): Multi-state community public radio network serving western Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Texas panhandle. Comparable to KPR in NPR-style news/classical programming and community-supported model across rural Great Plains markets.
• KCUR: Kansas City-area NPR member public radio station operated by the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Comparable to KPR as a university-affiliated NPR affiliate with regional news, classical, and jazz programming in the Kansas region.
• NET Radio (Nebraska Public Media): Nebraska's statewide public radio/TV network with NPR affiliation, listener-supported model, and deep state-government and rural community coverage. Comparable in statewide public-radio footprint and agricultural-state news focus.
• Iowa Public Radio: Statewide public radio network serving Iowa with NPR news, classical, and jazz programming. Comparable to KPR in multi-station regional network structure, listener-supported funding, and statewide coverage of state-government affairs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/KPRInfo
• Facebookfacebook.com/KansasPublicRadio
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kansas-public-radio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries5 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 KPR