kmfm
kmfm is a local commercial radio station in Kent, UK, broadcasting music, news, and travel on DAB and eight FM frequencies via app, streaming, and TV, serving Kent residents and local advertisers as part of KM Media Group.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersRochester, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What kmfm does
kmfm is a local commercial radio station operating across Kent, UK, owned by KM Media Group Limited (itself owned by Iliffe Media Ltd). It broadcasts music, news, weather, travel, and competition content on DAB Digital Radio and eight FM frequencies covering Thanet, Canterbury, Dover/Folkestone, Ashford, West Kent, Medway, and Maidstone, with live weekday programming from 06:00 to 22:00 and reduced weekend hours. Its flagship on-air products include 'kmfm Breakfast with Rob & Numi', 'Getting You Home with Ben Pearce', and the weekly 'Kent Top 40' chart countdown compiled from Radiomonitor data.
Beyond linear radio, kmfm distributes content via a free iOS/Android smartphone app, online streaming, smart speakers (Amazon Alexa, Google Home), and kmfm TV on Freeview channel 7 and Virgin Media channel 159. Adjacent products include The Kent Podcast Studios (a B2B podcast production service), podcasts such as 'The Hit List Podcast', and the free kmfm Listener Club (VIP) loyalty program. Underlying technology is largely third-party SaaS: Aiir CMS powers the website, Fonix Mobile handles the 60099 SMS shortcode for listener interactions and competitions, and LiveRamp enables cross-channel advertising.
kmfm generates revenue primarily through local radio advertising and sponsorship targeted at Kent-based SMBs, supplemented by premium-rate SMS competition fees and ancillary services such as podcast studio rentals. The station competes on local relevance and multi-platform reach rather than national scale; its parent group operates adjacent Kent media assets (KentOnline, KMTV, regional print titles) that provide cross-promotion and shared sales inventory.
kmfm firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- kmfm
- Legal name
- KM Media Group Limited
- Website
- https://kmfm.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- kmfm is a local commercial radio station in Kent, UK, broadcasting music, news, and travel on DAB and eight FM frequencies via app, streaming, and TV, serving Kent residents and local advertisers as part of KM Media Group.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
kmfm industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Local Commercial Radio Broadcasting
- NAICS
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611), Sound Recording Studios (512240), Other Sound Recording Industries (51229)
- SIC
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Talk/News/Sports Radio Networks & Syndication (MPAIAEAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Radio Content Production & Studios (On-air Production, Imaging, Jingles) (MPAIAEAL), Podcast Hosting, Distribution & Listening Platforms (BPAMAJAD), Podcast Networks & Studio Platforms (MPAIADAC)
Keywords
Where kmfm is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rochester
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
kmfm business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Advertising: kmfm generates primary revenue through advertising, offering local businesses targeted radio advertising opportunities across Kent
- Premium rate text competitions: Some competitions have premium rate charges for SMS entries, generating revenue per text message
- Sponsorship: Branded content and sponsorship opportunities for station programming and events such as The Kent Podcast Studios
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free tier - Standard listening |
| Freemium | Monthly | VIP Listener Club membership |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Text competition entries |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels6 records
kmfm product offering
Product offeringCore offering
kmfm operates a local commercial radio station broadcasting Kent-focused music, news, weather, and traffic programming across DAB Digital Radio, 8 FM frequencies covering Kent sub-regions, online streaming, a mobile app, and smart speakers. It also offers a professional podcast recording service (The Kent Podcast Studios) and on-demand podcasts, while selling advertising and sponsorship to local businesses.
Product overview
kmfm is a local commercial radio group operating across Kent, UK, broadcasting via multiple FM frequencies, DAB Digital Radio, internet streaming, smartphone app, and smart speakers. The core offering is live radio programming including music, news, travel, weather, and competitions. Supporting products include The Kent Podcast Studios (professional podcast production service), the kmfm app for mobile listening, podcasts such as 'The Hit List Podcast', and the Listener Club VIP loyalty program. Notable shows include kmfm Breakfast with Rob & Numi, Getting You Home with Ben Pearce, and the weekly Kent Top 40 chart countdown. The station also offers advertising and sponsorship opportunities for businesses.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- The Kent Podcast Studios: Professional broadcast studio offering simple and affordable podcast recording services.
Products and services
- kmfm Radio Broadcasting Local commercial radio station broadcasting across Kent on 8 FM frequencies, DAB Digital Radio, online streaming, smartphone app, and smart speakers, delivering music, news, travel updates, weather, competitions, and Kent-focused programming to adult listeners.
- kmfm Mobile App Free smartphone application for iOS and Android that allows listeners to stream kmfm live, access podcasts, and receive updates on the go.
- The Kent Podcast Studios Professional podcast production service offering broadcast studio facilities for recording, mixing, and production of podcasts for individuals and businesses in Kent.
- kmfm Advertising and Sponsorship Advertising and sponsorship opportunities for businesses including radio spot ads, online advertising, branded content, and event sponsorships to reach the Kent audience through kmfm's multi-platform broadcast and digital channels.
- kmfm Listener Club (VIP) Free listener loyalty programme offering members exclusive access to celebrity interviews, podcasts, prizes, and a voucher store, requiring registration with name, email, date of birth, postcode, and mobile number.
Companies that use kmfm
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
kmfm technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration9 records
AI capability1 record
Feature3 records
kmfm partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Aiir LtdcoreAiir Ltd provides the website CMS (Content Management System) for kmfm.co.uk, powering the station's online presence. Aiir acts as a data processor for data submitted via the kmfm website.
- Fonix Mobile LimitedcoreFonix Mobile Limited provides the 60099 SMS shortcode platform used for kmfm's text message interactions, including competition entries, dedications, and listener messages. Fonix acts as a data processor.
- KM Media Groupcorekmfm is owned and operated by KM Media Group, a multimedia company producing media products across Kent including KentOnline, KMTV, and various print publications. kmfm is part of a network including The Kent Podcast Studios.
- KentOnline Networkcorekmfm is part of the KentOnline Network, a group of local websites operated by KM Media Group including kentonline.co.uk, kentjobs.co.uk, kmfm.co.uk and others, providing cross-promotion and content sharing opportunities.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
kmfm competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Audioboom: Audioboom is a podcast hosting and monetisation platform; relevant to kmfm's The Kent Podcast Studios business as both a competing distribution channel and a potential partner for podcast monetisation.
Broad incumbents
- Global Radio: Global is the UK's largest commercial radio operator (Heart, Capital, Classic FM, LBC, Smooth); its Heart Kent station is kmfm's most direct local competitor and its national brands compete for the same Kent advertisers.
- Smooth Radio: Smooth Radio is Global Radio's national easy-listening commercial station, competing for older Kent listeners and overlapping with kmfm's 'biggest hits' adult-pop audience.
- Bauer Media Audio UK: Bauer Media UK operates a portfolio of national and regional commercial radio stations (Absolute, Kiss, Magic, Greatest Hits Radio), competing with kmfm across format segments and national ad buying cycles.
- Magic Radio: Bauer Media's Magic is a national commercial music station with an adult contemporary format; it competes for the same Kent over-35 listeners and the same local ad budgets that kmfm targets.
- Capital (Global Radio): Capital is Global Radio's flagship national commercial pop station, sharing kmfm's pop/hits format and advertiser base but at national scale — competing for the same youth and family listener demographic.
Direct peers
- Greatest Hits Radio Kent: Greatest Hits Radio Kent is Bauer Media's local commercial station in Kent with a music-led format that competes head-to-head with kmfm for older demographic listeners and local ad budgets.
- BBC Radio Kent: BBC Radio Kent is the public-service local station covering the same Kent geography with news, music, and travel — directly competing for Kent listeners and share-of-ear with kmfm.
- Heart Kent: Heart Kent is Global Radio's commercial pop-music station broadcasting across the same Kent geography as kmfm, with a similar CHR format and overlapping local advertisers as its core customer base.
Emerging players
- KMFM (other sister brands under Iliffe Media): Other radio/audio brands within the Iliffe Media / KM Media Group portfolio overlap with kmfm in resources and Kent audience, creating internal portfolio competition for ad spend and talent.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
kmfm social profiles
Digital presencekmfm financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
kmfm leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
kmfm subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries14 records
kmfm funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
kmfm M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about kmfm
What does kmfm do?
kmfm operates a local commercial radio station broadcasting Kent-focused music, news, weather, and traffic programming across DAB Digital Radio, 8 FM frequencies covering Kent sub-regions, online streaming, a mobile app, and smart speakers. It also offers a professional podcast recording service (The Kent Podcast Studios) and on-demand podcasts, while selling advertising and sponsorship to local businesses.
Is kmfm a public or private company?
kmfm is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was kmfm founded?
kmfm was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is kmfm based?
kmfm is headquartered in Rochester, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does kmfm make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Advertising is the primary driver. The others are premium rate text competitions and sponsorship.
Who are kmfm's main competitors?
Audioboom is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Global Radio, Smooth Radio, Bauer Media Audio UK, Magic Radio and Capital (Global Radio). Direct peers are Greatest Hits Radio Kent, BBC Radio Kent and Heart Kent. KMFM (other sister brands under Iliffe Media) is listed as an emerging player.
Does kmfm have an API?
No public API is recorded for kmfm.
What industry is kmfm in?
kmfm's product category is Local Commercial Radio Broadcasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAEAG, Talk/News/Sports Radio Networks & Syndication, with a secondary code of MPAIAEAL, Radio Content Production & Studios (On-air Production, Imaging, Jingles). Its NAICS code is 51611 and its SIC code is 4832.