What Kane FM does

Kane FM is a non-profit community radio station headquartered in Guildford, Surrey, UK, broadcasting on 103.7 FM and streaming online via its own web player and a Mixcloud live feed. Founded around 2006, the station provides 24/7 programming across genres typically underserved by mainstream radio — including house, drum and bass, soul, funk, reggae, hip-hop, electronica, and world music — delivered by a roster of over 30 resident DJs. Its primary audiences are local residents across Guildford and surrounding Surrey towns (Godalming, Farncombe, Bordon, Farnham, Aldershot), alongside a secondary niche audience of neurodiverse and mental-health-challenged young people aged 14-25 served through the MindWaves programme.

The product portfolio centres on the FM broadcast and online streaming infrastructure, supplemented by community programming including the MindWaves youth project (music and radio training leading to Arts Award qualifications), recurring ticketed and free live event series such as SoulFusion, Kids of Kane, and House of Kane, and a registered Arts Award Centre. The business model blends three revenue streams: local SMB advertising sold to Guildford-area businesses, community donations including GoFundMe campaigns, and institutional sponsorships from entities such as Guildford Borough Council's Project Aspire, The High Sheriff, Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner, and Catalyst. Distribution combines the 103.7 FM signal with online streaming and an in-person event footprint across partner venues including The Cricketers Farncombe, The Boileroom, Lockwood Studios, Wilfred Noyce Centre, and Record Corner.

The technology layer is intentionally minimal — FM transmission, a website player, and Mixcloud integration — with no disclosed mobile app, API, AI/ML capability, proprietary model, or patent portfolio. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, relying on DJ networks, venue partnerships, local council relationships, and word-of-mouth rather than paid digital marketing. No revenue figures, funding rounds, or ownership disclosures are available; the station appears to operate as an independent community organisation without venture, private equity, or public shareholders.

Name

Kane FM

Legal name

Kane FM

Website

https://kanefm.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Kane FM is a non-profit community radio station based in Guildford, UK, broadcasting on 103.7 FM and online. It serves local Surrey audiences with diverse music programming, youth development programmes, and recurring community events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Radio Broadcasting

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611), Musical Groups and Artists (71113)

akta.pro primary industry

Community/Low-Power Nonprofit Radio (LPFM/Community Radio) (MPABADAE)

Keywords

• Community radio broadcasting
• FM radio station
• Online radio streaming
• Community youth programs
• Local music programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Guildford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Advertising: Local business advertising sold to businesses in the Guildford and Surrey area. The station offers local business advertisement packages.
2. Donations and Fundraising: The station relies on community donations to keep operations running, particularly for youth projects. GoFundMe campaigns and general donations support the MindWaves project and station operations.
3. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors including Guildford Borough Council's Project Aspire, The High Sheriff, Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner, and Catalyst provide funding for youth projects and station operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Kane FM is a community radio station broadcasting on 103.7 FM in Guildford and online via web player and Mixcloud, delivering live and pre-recorded music programming across genres such as house, drum and bass, soul, funk, reggae, hip-hop, and world music. Beyond broadcasting, the station runs community programs including the MindWaves youth project for 14-25 year olds with mental health and learning challenges, an Arts Award qualification centre, and ticketed event series such as Kids of Kane, SoulFusion, and House of Kane. Revenue is generated through local business advertising, community donations, corporate sponsorships, and event ticket sales.

Product overview

Kane FM is a community radio station based in Guildford, Surrey, broadcasting on 103.7 FM and online. The station operates as a unified radio broadcasting platform offering live and pre-recorded programming across multiple music genres. Core offerings include the FM broadcast and online web player for listener streaming, supplemented by community programs such as MindWaves (youth mental health project), Arts Award qualifications, and various event series including Kids of Kane family raves, SoulFusion soul nights, and House of Kane events. The station features resident DJ shows spanning hip-hop, house, drum & bass, soul, funk, reggae, and world music genres.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MindWaves: Youth project for 14-25 year olds with mental health challenges and learning difficulties, providing music and radio training to help young people develop their potential.

Products and services

• Kane FM Radio Broadcasting Community radio broadcasting service on 103.7 FM and online streaming, featuring live shows, pre-recorded content, and genre-specific programming including drum and bass, house, soul, funk, reggae, hip-hop, and world music. Free to listeners and accessible via FM, web player, and Mixcloud.
• MindWaves Youth Project Youth outreach initiative for 14-25 year olds with mental health challenges and neurodiversity, providing music and radio training opportunities, social support, and pathways to qualifications including Arts Awards. Has helped over 500 young people since inception.
• Arts Award Program Registered Arts Award Centre enabling young people to gain recognised qualifications through music and radio engagement, supporting their prospects of employment or further education.
• Local Business Advertising Radio advertising packages sold to small and medium local businesses in Guildford and Surrey, providing community-targeted airtime and on-air mentions to reach Kane FM listeners. Pricing is available on inquiry.
• Kids of Kane Family-friendly rave event series featuring DJ performances, bouncy castles, face painting, and dance competitions for children and adults, held at Lockwood Studios in Slyfield, Guildford and the Wilfred Noyce Centre in Godalming. Tickets sold per event.
• SoulFusion Regular soul, funk, jazz, and disco event series held at The Cricketers Pub in Farncombe, featuring Kane FM resident DJs such as Sunday Shuffle Crew, Steve Nash, Conradio, Remi and Johnny H, and Mark. Often free entry.
• House of Kane

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 500 young people helped since project inception 9 years ago
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Tinnitus UKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Tinnitus Week awareness campaigns. Kane FM produces Head Noise shows raising awareness about tinnitus and hearing loss in relation to loud music exposure.
• The Cricketers Pub FarncombeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue partner for SoulFusion events. The pub sponsors and hosts monthly soul, funk, and disco events featuring Kane FM DJs.
• InXpress GuildfordminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal business sponsor for SoulFusion events at The Cricketers Pub Farncombe.
• Record CornerminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent record shop in Godalming partnered with Kane FM for Record Store Day celebrations. The station broadcasts live from the shop during events.
• Lockwood StudiosminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRecording studio venue in Slyfield, Guildford used for Kids of Kane family events and youth project activities.
• Wilfred Noyce CentreminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity centre in Godalming hosting regular Kids of Kane family rave events.
• The BoileroomminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMusic venue in Guildford that partners with Kane FM for live broadcasts and special events including Ellis Dee performances.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Reprezor FM: UK community/underground radio outlet programming drum and bass, jungle, and electronic music — a niche Lane directly comparable to Kane FM's drum and bass, house, and electronic programming.
• ALL FM: Manchester-based community radio station broadcasting music and community content to a defined local audience, volunteer-driven with a similar non-profit revenue mix of grants, donations, and local sponsorship. Operationally analogous to Kane FM.
• Radio Jackie: South West London community and hospital radio station with a music-led format and heavy reliance on volunteers, sponsors, and donations. Directly comparable on community-radio positioning and multi-genre music programming.
• Radio Reverb: Brighton-based community radio station broadcasting diverse music and community programming funded via grants, donations, and local sponsorship. Directly comparable as a UK non-profit community radio of similar size and operational model.
• Ujima Radio: Bristol-based community radio station serving a defined local community with a mix of music, talk, and social-impact programming. Comparable as a UK community-radio operator with mission-driven youth and community engagement.
• Swindon 105.5: UK community radio station broadcasting on a similar small-scale FM license to a single town/region, with volunteer DJs and a mix of music, talk, and community programming. Highly comparable as a non-profit local community broadcaster of similar size and operating model.
• Phoenix FM (Brentwood): Community radio station for Brentwood and surrounding Essex, also volunteer-led and broadcasting a broad mix of music genres plus local community programming. Comparable on mission, funding model, and operational scale to Kane FM.

Others

• Mixcloud: Global audio streaming platform already used by Kane FM for live broadcasting, and a key competing/discovery channel for the same underground DJ audience. Relevant as both an infrastructure partner and a competitive substitute for community-radio listening.

Broad incumbents

• BBC Radio 6 Music: National BBC station playing alternative, indie, electronic, soul, funk, and other genres that overlap heavily with Kane FM's playlist. Comparable content profile, though operating nationally with substantially larger resources.
• BBC Radio 1Xtra: National BBC digital radio station focused on Black music and underground genres (hip hop, grime, drum and bass, R&B). Comparable as a UK broadcaster covering many of the same niche genres Kane FM serves, but at national scale and with public-service funding.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kanefm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kane-fm-ltd

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Kane FM