91.3 KBCS

What 91.3 KBCS does

91.3 KBCS is a non-profit community public radio station licensed to Bellevue College, a Washington State public institution of higher education, headquartered in Bellevue, Washington. Founded in 1973, the station broadcasts on FM at 91.3 MHz from a transmitter located on Cougar Mountain at 1,400 feet above sea level, providing signal coverage to over 4 million potential listeners across the Puget Sound region including Seattle, Tacoma, and surrounding communities. The station operates with a small paid staff of 1-10 employees supplemented by a large volunteer base of on-air DJs and off-air contributors.

The station's core product is a curated programming schedule combining locally-produced music shows (Roots, Rock, and Soul with Iaan Hughes; Indie Basement; The DUBside) and syndicated public affairs programming (Democracy Now!, Thom Hartmann Program, Reveal, The Pulse, Alternative Radio). Distribution channels include the FM broadcast signal, web streaming via Radio Rethink, dedicated iOS and Android mobile applications, and third-party platforms (Apple Music, TuneIn). Supporting infrastructure includes Spinitron for playlist tracking and Raiser's Edge for donor management.

KBCS operates as a non-profit public radio station with no consumer subscription fees. Revenue is generated through three primary streams: individual listener donations (largest source, including monthly sustaining gifts, vehicle donations, and securities transfers), business sponsorship packages (on-air underwriting, digital advertising, event sponsorship), and grants or support from area non-profits and governmental organizations. The station operates under the Institutional Advancement division of Bellevue College, with development infrastructure provided by the Bellevue College Foundation and content partnerships extending to PRX for national syndication and Madinah Slaise Media for original local video content.

Name

91.3 KBCS

Legal name

91.3 KBCS

Website

https://kbcs.fm

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

91.3 KBCS is a non-profit public radio station licensed to Bellevue College, broadcasting on 91.3 MHz to over 4 million listeners across the Seattle-Tacoma Puget Sound region with diverse music and progressive public affairs programming, funded primarily by listener donations and business sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Radio Broadcasting

NAICS

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

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

University/College-licensed Public Broadcasting (TV & Radio) (MPABADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Internet Radio & Streaming Broadcast Stations (Simulcast/Online-only) (MPAIAEAE), News Talk Radio & Current Affairs Stations (MPABAIAI)

Keywords

• Community radio broadcasting
• Public radio station
• Music programming
• Public affairs news
• Nonprofit media

Headquarters

HQ city

Bellevue

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Listener Donations: Individual listener contributions are the largest source of funding, including one-time donations, monthly sustaining donations, vehicle donations, IRA qualified charitable distributions, stock/securities donations, and donor-advised fund contributions.
2. Business Sponsorship: Corporate sponsorship packages include on-air underwriting messages, digital logo and campaign display on website, newsletter, and app, and event sponsorship. Tax-deductible as non-profit.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

91.3 KBCS is a non-profit public radio station licensed to Bellevue College that broadcasts diverse music programming (roots, rock, soul, jazz, world, folk, blues, Americana, hip-hop, electronic) and progressive public affairs content over FM at 91.3 MHz to the Puget Sound region. It also distributes its programming worldwide via live webstream, iOS and Android mobile apps, Apple Music, and TuneIn. Content is free to listeners and funded through listener donations and business sponsorships.

Product overview

91.3 KBCS is a public radio station (licensed to Bellevue College) offering a unified portfolio centered on FM broadcast radio, live webstreaming, and mobile applications. The core offering combines traditional FM transmission (91.3 MHz, reaching 4+ million listeners across the Puget Sound) with digital distribution via webstream, Android app, and iPhone app. Programming spans music shows (Roots, Rock, and Soul with Iaan Hughes; Roots, Rock, + Soul Evening Mix; Indie Basement) and news/public affairs programs (Democracy Now!; Thom Hartmann Program; The Pulse; Reveal Weekly; Alternative Radio). Supporting offerings include Madinah in the Market (video series), the KBCS Community Resource Calendar, KBCS Presents concert events, and comprehensive fundraising programs. The station also maintains integrations with Apple Music, TuneIn, VLC, Radio Rethink (streaming), Spinitron (playlist management), and Raiser’s Edge (donor CRM).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 91.3 KBCS FM Radio Broadcast Free FM radio broadcast at 91.3 MHz transmitted from Cougar Mountain at 1,400 feet elevation, delivering diverse music and progressive public affairs programming to more than 4 million listeners across Seattle, Tacoma, Bellevue, and surrounding Puget Sound communities.
• KBCS Webstream Live internet radio streaming service accessible worldwide via web browser through the Radio Rethink player and direct stream URL, providing global access to KBCS programming for listeners outside the Puget Sound FM coverage area.
• KBCS Mobile App (Android) Dedicated Android application providing mobile access to the KBCS live stream and programming for listeners on Android smartphones and tablets, available via the Google Play Store.
• KBCS Mobile App (iPhone) Dedicated iOS application providing mobile access to the KBCS live stream and programming for iPhone and iPad users, available via the Apple App Store.
• Roots, Rock, and Soul with Iaan Hughes Weekday afternoon music program airing 1-5 PM, featuring a curated mix of roots, rock, and soul music ranging from timeless classics to modern recordings, hosted by Music Director Iaan Hughes.
• Democracy Now! Daily global independent news program produced by Democracy Now!, hosted by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez, featuring breaking news headlines and in-depth interviews with people on the front lines of pressing social and political issues.
• Madinah in the Market Editorial video series produced in partnership with Madinah Slaise Media featuring interviews with Pike Place Market artisans and vendors, distributed by KBCS as part of its local cultural programming.
• KBCS Presents Concert Series Event sponsorship and promotion of live music concerts featuring roots, Americana, and folk artists, presented at Tractor Tavern in Seattle and supporting local and touring musicians.

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Radio RethinkcoreTechnology or IntegrationRadio Rethink provides the live streaming player and web tuner functionality for KBCS, enabling worldwide web access to the station's broadcast content.
• Bellevue CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKBCS is a public service at Bellevue College, operating as the college's community radio station with administrative support from the institution and connection to the Bellevue College Foundation for fundraising.
• Bellevue College FoundationcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerThe Bellevue College Foundation provides development infrastructure including database management (Raiseré’s Edge), donor relations, and fundraising support for KBCS’s individual giving program.
• Madinah Slaise MediacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContent partnership for the Madinah in the Market series, an editorial video series featuring artisans and vendors at Pike Place Market, distributed by KBCS and Madinah Slaise Media.
• Tractor TavernminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTractor Tavern is a Seattle music venue that partners with KBCS for concert presentations. KBCS presents multiple artist events at the venue, promoting local and touring musicians.
• PRX (Public Radio Exchange)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPRX provides syndicated programming including Reveal, The World of Music, and other public radio content distributed through the PRX network to KBCS.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• iHeartMedia: Largest U.S. commercial radio broadcaster with extensive Puget Sound market presence; relevant broad incumbent for competitive audio advertising dynamics even though KBCS occupies the non-commercial niche.
• NPR (National Public Radio): National public radio network that supplies core news and talk programming carried by KBCS; relevant peer for understanding member-station economics, underwriting standards, and content distribution dynamics.
• WNYC / New York Public Radio: Major-market listener-supported public radio group operating WNYC-FM and WNYC-AM, comparable in programming philosophy (NPR news, talk, diverse music) and listener-supported revenue model, though at much larger scale.

Direct peers

• KUOW Puget Sound Public Radio: Seattle-based public radio station and NPR member serving the same Puget Sound market as KBCS, with overlapping listener demographics and competing for the same listener donations and corporate underwriting pool.
• Pacifica Radio Network: Listener-supported public radio network with progressive news/talk programming; comparable to KBCS in mission, non-commercial model, and reliance on volunteer programmers.
• KNKX: Tacoma-Seattle public radio station with jazz, news, and talk programming on FM 88.5, overlapping with KBCS in coverage area, NPR-affiliated news content, and listener-supported revenue model.
• WAMU 88.5 American University Radio: University-licensed public radio station (American University) with NPR news, talk, and music programming, analogous to KBCS's Bellevue College license structure and community-station operating model.
• KEXP-FM: Seattle community public radio station with a similar diverse, music-forward format and listener-supported model; competes directly with KBCS for music-loving audiences and underwriting dollars in the Puget Sound region.

Others

• Public Radio Exchange (PRX): Public radio distribution network and content syndicator that supplies KBCS with Reveal and other programs; comparable as a public-radio ecosystem enabler and a relevant peer for understanding content sourcing economics.

Regional players

• Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB): Regional public radio and TV network in the Pacific Northwest with comparable listener-supported model, NPR programming, and educational/institutional affiliation, though serving a different primary geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@KBCSRadio
• Facebookfacebook.com/KBCSBellevueSeattle
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kbcs
• Instagraminstagram.com/kbcs
• Xx.com/kbcs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 91.3 KBCS