KVRX

What KVRX does

KVRX is the student-run radio station at the University of Texas at Austin, operating on 91.7 FM under the legal and administrative umbrella of Texas Student Media. Founded through a student task force in 1986 and broadcasting since 1988 (originally as KTSB on cable before adopting the KVRX call letters and launching FM operations in November 1994), the station shares its 91.7 FM frequency with KOOP Radio under an FCC-approved time-share agreement — KOOP broadcasts during daytime hours while KVRX airs from 7PM–9AM on weekdays and 10PM–9AM on weekends. KVRX also provides 24/7 online streaming through its website and a Chrome browser extension, extending its reach from Austin to a global online audience.

The station's product portfolio spans FM and online radio broadcasting, the KVRX Podcast Network (82 episodes distributed via Spotify and Google Podcasts), album reviews, blog content (concert reviews, DJ picks, artist interviews), programming schedules, and Local Live in-studio performance events. Core technology consists of FM broadcast infrastructure and standard web streaming, with no proprietary AI, ML, or advanced digital products. The station organizes local showcases, in-studio performances, and artist interviews to support the Austin music scene, positioning itself with the motto 'None of the hits, all of the time' to emphasize underground, experimental, and locally-rooted music discovery.

KVRX is structured as a non-profit educational operation rather than a commercial enterprise. It does not sell advertising; instead, it derives any operating revenue from corporate underwriting opportunities (contact routed via [email protected]) and listener donations through the University of Texas giving portal. The organization is staffed by more than 200 volunteer student DJs drawn from across UT Austin, supported by an extensive roster of student department leads covering music, programming, operations, production, digital, graphics, video, and sports. There are no external investors, venture capital backers, or private equity involvement indicated in the available data.

Name

KVRX

Legal name

Texas Student Media

Website

https://kvrx.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

KVRX is a student-run, non-commercial radio station at the University of Texas at Austin, broadcasting underground music on 91.7 FM (nights/weekends via FCC time-share with KOOP) and via 24/7 online streaming, podcast network, and YouTube. It serves UT Austin students and the Austin music community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Radio Broadcasting

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

Public/Community Local Stations (PBS Member Stations, Community Radio, LPFM) (MPABACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community/Low-Power Nonprofit Radio (LPFM/Community Radio) (MPABADAE), Non-Interactive Digital Radio (Lean-Back Streaming) (MPAIACAB)

Keywords

• Student radio station
• Non-commercial radio
• Community radio broadcasting
• Underground music radio
• Campus radio station

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Underwriting/Advertising: Corporate underwriting opportunities for businesses, contact at [email protected]
2. Donations: Listener donations via University of Texas giving portal (give.utexas.edu)

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

KVRX is a student-run, non-commercial radio station at the University of Texas at Austin that broadcasts underground, alternative, and local Austin music on 91.7 FM during nighttime hours (via an FCC time-share arrangement with KOOP radio) and streams 24/7 online. It also produces the KVRX Podcast Network (distributed on Spotify and Google Podcasts), publishes album reviews and blog content, and organizes in-studio live performances and showcases for the Austin music scene.

Product overview

KVRX is a student-run radio station at the University of Texas in Austin operating on 91.7 FM (nights and weekends) with 24/7 online streaming. The station offers a portfolio of products including FM radio broadcasting, live web streaming, a podcast network (KVRX Podcast Network with 82 episodes on Spotify and Google Podcasts), album reviews, blog content, programming schedules, and local live music events. The station's core mission is underground music discovery and local artist support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• KVRX 91.7 FM Radio Broadcasting Student-run FM radio station broadcasting underground and alternative music on 91.7 FM in Austin during nighttime hours (7PM-9AM weekdays, 10PM-9AM weekends), sharing the frequency with KOOP radio under an FCC time-share arrangement.
• KVRX Live Stream 24/7 online audio streaming of KVRX programming available worldwide via kvrx.org and a Chrome browser extension, allowing listeners outside the Austin FM broadcast area to tune in continuously.
• KVRX Podcast Network On-demand podcast series featuring artist interviews, live show recordings, album reviews, and other station content, distributed through Spotify and Google Podcasts to reach audiences beyond traditional radio.
• KVRX Local Live Performances and Events In-studio live performances, artist interviews, and local Austin music showcases organized by KVRX to promote independent musicians and engage the Austin music community, produced by the Production Department.

Quantifiable outcome

• Growing station from small task force to over 200 student DJs

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KOOP RadiocoreTechnology or Integration · 21 July 1993FCC-approved time-share agreement to share frequency 91.7 FM. KOOP broadcasts during daytime hours, KVRX broadcasts at night (7PM-9AM weekdays, 10PM-9AM weekends). Both stations are non-commercial community/campus radio operations.
• Texas Student Media (TSP/TSM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization overseeing all UT Austin student media including KVRX, The Daily Texan, Cactus Yearbook, TSTV, and other outlets. TSP Board formally incorporated KTSB (now KVRX) as part of TSM on September 17, 1987.
• SpotifyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPodcast distribution platform for KVRX Podcast Network content
• Google PodcastsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPodcast distribution platform for KVRX Podcast Network content
• YouTubeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVideo platform for KVRX live performances and station content including Local Live sessions
• University of Texas at AustincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional home providing studio space, administrative structure, and student population for DJ recruitment. Station began as effort by Student Radio Task Force working with students, faculty, and central administrators.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• WRVU 91.1 FM: WRVU is Vanderbilt University's student-run radio station in Nashville, comparable to KVRX in its student-operated structure, non-commercial educational broadcast model, and emphasis on alternative programming.
• WXYC 89.3 FM: WXYC is the student-run radio station at UNC Chapel Hill, one of the earliest college freeform radio stations in the US. It directly parallels KVRX's student-run model, FCC-licensed FM broadcasting, and underground music positioning.
• WFMU 91.1 FM: WFMU is a long-running freeform, listener-supported non-commercial radio station in New Jersey, comparable to KVRX in its non-commercial status, underground/freeform programming approach, and reliance on donations and underwriting for funding.
• KOOP Radio: KOOP is KVRX's direct co-broadcaster on 91.7 FM via FCC-approved time-share, with KOOP broadcasting daytime hours and KVRX at night. Both are non-commercial community/campus radio stations in Austin, making KOOP the closest comparable peer in operations, model, and audience.

Others

• The Daily Texan: The Daily Texan is a sibling publication under Texas Student Media, KVRX's parent organization. While not a radio peer, it shares the same institutional ecosystem, governance structure, and non-commercial student media mission.
• TSTV: TSTV is UT Austin's student-run television station, also under Texas Student Media. It is comparable to KVRX as a sibling student media operation sharing governance, funding structure, and volunteer-driven content model.

Regional players

• KUTX 98.9: KUTX is Austin's public radio station focused on music discovery and emerging artists, operated by KUT News. It shares the Austin listener base and alternative-music positioning with KVRX but operates at a larger scale under the Austin NPR affiliate umbrella.

Emerging players

• KEXP 90.3 FM: KEXP is a non-commercial radio station in Seattle known for its deep-curation of indie, alternative, and underground music, with strong podcast and YouTube distribution. It is comparable to KVRX in alternative-music focus and volunteer-driven culture, though at significantly larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kvrx
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/KVRXAustin
• Facebookfacebook.com/kvrxaustin
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kvrx-fm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 KVRX