104.3 THE PARTY
104.3 The Party (WCBH) is a Cromwell Media-owned FM radio station in Mattoon, Illinois, broadcasting music, the syndicated Kidd Kraddick Morning Show, and local news to Central Illinois listeners via FM, web, mobile apps, and Alexa, and selling radio and digital advertising to local SMBs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersMattoon, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What 104.3 THE PARTY does
104.3 The Party (legal call sign WCBH) is a local FM radio station broadcasting on 104.3 MHz from Mattoon, Illinois, serving Mattoon, Charleston, Effingham, and surrounding communities in Coles County and East Central Illinois. The station is a subsidiary of Cromwell Radio Group (Cromwell Media), which operates a four-station cluster in the region alongside 101.3 WMCI, 92.1 The Axe, and Victory 103.9. Its programming combines music with the nationally syndicated Kidd Kraddick Morning Show, entertainment news, local news and sports coverage, weather, community event calendars, and listener promotions such as the Bagel Baby Contest and a fireworks calendar.
The station's technical platform consists of traditional over-the-air FM broadcast plus digital distribution layers: website streaming hosted on the SoCast platform (with embedded players, news/blog content, and weather), native iOS and Android mobile applications, and an Amazon Alexa skill for smart-speaker listening. Content categories include live radio streaming, entertainment and local news reporting, sports coverage, an events calendar with community submissions, a closings-and-delays alert service, and an SMS Text Club for promotions and concert ticket announcements.
The business model is advertising-based. Revenue streams comprise traditional radio spot advertising sold to local businesses, digital advertising packages spanning display, geo-targeting/geofencing, email, video, social media (Facebook, Instagram, Messenger), over-the-top/CTV video, site retargeting, and keyword search marketing, plus event and content sponsorships. Pricing is quote-based with multi-year contract cadences available, and the go-to-market is sales-led, supported by community-led content marketing aimed at building local listener engagement in the Mattoon–East Central Illinois footprint.
104.3 THE PARTY firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- 104.3 THE PARTY
- Legal name
- WCBH
- Website
- https://1043theparty.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- 104.3 The Party (WCBH) is a Cromwell Media-owned FM radio station in Mattoon, Illinois, broadcasting music, the syndicated Kidd Kraddick Morning Show, and local news to Central Illinois listeners via FM, web, mobile apps, and Alexa, and selling radio and digital advertising to local SMBs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
104.3 THE PARTY industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Local Radio Broadcasting
- NAICS
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110)
- SIC
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Local Radio Station Groups (Owned & Operated/Station Chains) (MPABACAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Network-Affiliated Local Radio Stations (News/Talk/Sports Syndication Affiliates) (MPABACAF), Internet Radio & Streaming Broadcast Stations (Simulcast/Online-only) (MPAIAEAE)
Keywords
Where 104.3 THE PARTY is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mattoon
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
104.3 THE PARTY business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Radio Advertising: Traditional radio advertising spots sold to local businesses targeting the Mattoon and Central Illinois listening audience. Advertisers can reach tens of thousands of weekly listeners through various ad placements and time slots.
- Digital Advertising: Digital advertising services including website display ads, geo-targeted campaigns, email marketing, social media advertising (Facebook, Instagram, Messenger), video advertising, over-the-top TV (OTT), site retargeting, and keyword-based search marketing. Multiple Cromwell Media stations provide cross-platform reach.
- Sponsorships: Event and content sponsorships including contests, concert calendars, fireworks events, and community programs. Sponsors receive brand visibility across radio, website, and social media platforms.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Radio Advertising - quote-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
104.3 THE PARTY product offering
Product offeringCore offering
104.3 The Party (legal call letters WCBH) is a local FM radio station at 104.3 MHz that broadcasts music, entertainment news, local news, sports updates, and community information to Mattoon, Charleston, Effingham, and surrounding Central Illinois communities. The station sells radio and digital advertising packages to local businesses and supplements on-air broadcasts with live audio streaming on its website, native iOS/Android mobile applications, and an Amazon Alexa skill.
Product overview
104.3 The Party is a local radio station operated by Cromwell Radio Group, broadcasting from Mattoon, Illinois to Central Illinois communities. The station offers a unified media platform consisting of live radio broadcasting with real-time streaming via its website, mobile applications for iOS and Android, and Amazon Alexa integration. The station's content portfolio includes music programming, the syndicated Kidd Kraddick Morning Show, entertainment news coverage, local news and sports reporting, community events calendars, and a text club messaging service for promotions and listener engagement. Additional services include closings and delays alerts, fireworks and concert calendars, and comprehensive radio and digital advertising solutions for local businesses.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- 104.3 The Party Radio Broadcasting Local radio station broadcasting music, entertainment news, local news, sports updates, and community information to the Mattoon, Illinois area and surrounding communities in Central Illinois. Targeted at general consumer listeners in the region.
- Live Radio Streaming Real-time audio streaming of the station's broadcast delivered through the station website, mobile applications, and smart speaker devices including Amazon Alexa. Targeted at consumer listeners outside the FM broadcast range.
- 104.3 The Party Mobile App Native mobile applications for iOS and Android that enable users to listen to live radio, view entertainment news, access local news, check event calendars, and receive station promotions. Targeted at consumer listeners on the go.
- Entertainment News Coverage Daily entertainment news coverage including celebrity news, music releases, concert announcements, pop culture reporting, and celebrity interviews. Targeted at consumer listeners and readers.
- Local News and Sports Local news, sports updates, community events coverage, weather information, and breaking news for the Central Illinois region including Mattoon, Effingham, Charleston, and surrounding areas. Targeted at consumer listeners in the coverage region.
- Text Club Messaging Service SMS-based text club allowing subscribers to receive station updates, song request handling, concert ticket announcements, and promotional messages via mobile text. Targeted at consumer listeners who opt in.
- Kidd Kraddick Morning Show Nationally syndicated morning radio show featuring hosts J-Si, Kellie Rasberry, Big Al, Ana, and Part-Time Justin, providing entertainment news and celebrity coverage. Targeted at consumer listeners in the morning drive-time.
- Radio and Digital Advertising Advertising services including traditional radio spots, digital advertising (display ads, geo-targeting, retargeting), video advertising, Over-The-Top TV advertising, email marketing, social media advertising, and graphic design services. Targeted at local small to medium-sized businesses seeking reach in Central Illinois.
Quantifiable outcome
- 45% of Americans trust advertisements heard on radio
Companies that use 104.3 THE PARTY
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
104.3 THE PARTY technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
104.3 THE PARTY partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Cromwell Radio Group (Cromwell Media)core104.3 The Party operates as WCBH, a subsidiary station of Cromwell Radio Group. Cromwell Media owns and operates multiple radio stations in Central Illinois including 101.3 WMCI, 92.1 The Axe, Victory 103.9, and KKMS, providing cross-promotional opportunities and shared advertising sales teams.
Scale indicators3 records
Expansion highlights4 records
104.3 THE PARTY competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Saga Communications: U.S. radio broadcaster operating station clusters in small and mid-sized markets, focused on local content and local ad sales. Comparable as a broad incumbent whose cluster-based small-market strategy mirrors Cromwell Media's approach with 104.3 The Party.
- Beasley Media Group: Mid-size U.S. radio broadcaster operating AM/FM clusters in small and mid-sized markets. Comparable as a broad incumbent with a similar cluster-based small-market local advertising strategy to Cromwell Media's 104.3 The Party.
- Cumulus Media: Major U.S. radio operator running AM/FM station clusters in mid-size and small markets across the country. Comparable as a broad incumbent whose cluster economics and local SMB advertising model mirror Cromwell Media's structure with 104.3.
- Salem Communications: U.S. radio broadcaster specializing in small and mid-sized markets across news/talk and faith-based formats. Broad incumbent comparable to 104.3 as a multi-station operator monetizing local ad inventory in similar-sized markets.
- Townsquare Media: Operates radio station clusters in small and mid-sized U.S. markets with a strong emphasis on local content, digital advertising, and events. Directly comparable business model to 104.3 as a small-market cluster broadcaster monetizing through local ad sales.
- Audacy: Major U.S. radio operator (formerly Entercom/CBS Radio) operating station clusters plus the Audacy streaming app. Broad incumbent competing for the same local advertising and listener attention as 104.3 The Party in Central Illinois.
- iHeartMedia: Largest U.S. radio broadcaster with hundreds of local stations plus the iHeartRadio streaming platform and multi-platform ad sales. Comparable as a broad incumbent competing for the same local and national advertising budgets as small-market broadcasters like 104.3 The Party.
Direct peers
- WMCI 101.3 (Cromwell Media): Sister station under Cromwell Media in the same Mattoon cluster serving Central Illinois with a country format. Directly comparable as a sister local broadcast operation sharing sales, back-office, and audience geography with 104.3 The Party.
- 92.1 The Axe (Cromwell Media): Fourth Cromwell Media station in the Mattoon four-station cluster with a classic-rock-leaning format. Closest peer given identical parent ownership, shared sales team, and overlapping Central Illinois listener base.
- Victory 103.9 (Cromwell Media): Another Cromwell Media sister station in the Central Illinois cluster, operating as a local radio brand in the same Mattoon market. Comparable because it shares ownership, sales infrastructure, and geographic audience with 104.3.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
104.3 THE PARTY social profiles
Digital presence104.3 THE PARTY financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
104.3 THE PARTY leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
104.3 THE PARTY funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
104.3 THE PARTY 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 104.3 THE PARTY
What does 104.3 THE PARTY do?
104.3 The Party (legal call letters WCBH) is a local FM radio station at 104.3 MHz that broadcasts music, entertainment news, local news, sports updates, and community information to Mattoon, Charleston, Effingham, and surrounding Central Illinois communities. The station sells radio and digital advertising packages to local businesses and supplements on-air broadcasts with live audio streaming on its website, native iOS/Android mobile applications, and an Amazon Alexa skill.
Is 104.3 THE PARTY a public or private company?
104.3 THE PARTY is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was 104.3 THE PARTY founded?
104.3 THE PARTY was founded in -1.
Where is 104.3 THE PARTY based?
104.3 THE PARTY is headquartered in Mattoon, United States, in the North America region.
How does 104.3 THE PARTY make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Radio Advertising is the primary driver. The others are digital Advertising and sponsorships.
Who are 104.3 THE PARTY's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Saga Communications, Beasley Media Group, Cumulus Media, Salem Communications, Townsquare Media, Audacy and iHeartMedia. Direct peers are WMCI 101.3 (Cromwell Media), 92.1 The Axe (Cromwell Media) and Victory 103.9 (Cromwell Media).
Does 104.3 THE PARTY have an API?
No public API is recorded for 104.3 THE PARTY.
What industry is 104.3 THE PARTY in?
104.3 THE PARTY's product category is Local Radio Broadcasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABACAC, Local Radio Station Groups (Owned & Operated/Station Chains), with a secondary code of MPABACAF, Network-Affiliated Local Radio Stations (News/Talk/Sports Syndication Affiliates). Its NAICS code is 516110 and its SIC code is 4832.