KBUT Community Radio

What KBUT Community Radio does

KBUT Community Radio is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community radio station licensed to Crested Butte Mountain Educational Radio, Inc. and headquartered at 508 Maroon Avenue in Crested Butte, Colorado. The station first broadcast on December 20, 1986, and serves the Gunnison Valley through three FM transmitters — 90.3 FM in Crested Butte (1,000 watts), 88.7 FM in Gunnison (6,500 watts), and 94.9 FM in the Jack's Cabin/Almont area (14 watts) — supplemented by worldwide internet streaming. It became a full-fledged NPR Member Station in 2018 after 25 years as an affiliate, and distributes NPR programming (Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Fresh Air, etc.) alongside local news, interview, and music programs produced largely by 80+ volunteer DJs. It is the only full-fledged NPR member station in the Gunnison Valley.

The organization operates with a lean paid team of four (Executive Director, Director of Development and Underwriting, Development Coordinator, and News Director) and a 9-member volunteer Board of Directors elected by members. Revenue is generated through five primary streams: annual memberships at a $50 minimum, local business underwriting, signature community events (Fish Fry, Disco Inferno, Yurt Bingo, Summer Raffle, Holiday Auction, 80s Retro Revolution), third-party donation programs (City Market Community Rewards, Amazon Smile, Vehicles for Charity), and federal CPB grants. Notable events generate $10,000+ to $20,000+ individually, and the station also acts as grants administrator for the Rocky Mountain Community Radio coalition.

The station's technology is conventional broadcast audio: FM transmitters at three sites, a website (kbut.org) serving as the content and donation hub, internet streaming via a third-party player, and a Mailchimp newsletter. Its competitive position rests on FCC-licensed local broadcast rights, 40 years of community programming and relationships, its exclusive NPR member status in the valley, and a deep volunteer ecosystem — not on proprietary technology. The GTM motion is community-led: programming is volunteer-driven, and member donations, underwriting, and event participation are the primary mechanisms for both audience growth and revenue generation.

Name

KBUT Community Radio

Legal name

Crested Butte Mountain Educational Radio, Inc.

Website

https://kbut.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

KBUT Community Radio is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit NPR member station in Crested Butte, Colorado, operating three FM transmitters and worldwide streaming to deliver local news, music, and NPR programming to Gunnison Valley residents, funded by memberships, underwriting, and events.

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), News Talk Radio & Current Affairs Stations (MPABAIAI)

Keywords

• Community radio broadcasting
• Public radio station
• FM radio transmission
• Internet audio streaming
• Nonprofit community media

Headquarters

HQ city

Crested Butte

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership/Donations: KBUT members donate $50 or more annually. Members receive exclusive access to event tickets, discount codes, priority for ticket giveaways, and voting rights in board elections.
2. Business Underwriting: Local businesses support KBUT through underwriting announcements. This includes direct messaging on-air, sponsorship of KBUT events, and membership drive challenge matches.
3. Event Revenue: KBUT generates revenue through signature events including Disco Inferno, Fish Fry, Bingo, raffles, holiday auctions, and 80s Retro Revolution. The Summer Raffle raised over $10,000 and the Holiday Auction raised more than $20,000.
4. Third-Party Donation Programs: KBUT receives donations through City Market Community Rewards program and Amazon Smile when supporters shop and designate KBUT as their beneficiary.
5. Vehicle Donations: KBUT partners with Vehicles for Charity to accept car donations, which are tax-deductible and help sustain programming.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

KBUT Community Radio is a non-commercial community radio station that broadcasts a mix of local news, weather, emergency information, arts and culture programming, and diverse music across three FM frequencies in Colorado's Gunnison Valley (90.3 Crested Butte, 88.7 Gunnison, 94.9 Almont) and via worldwide internet streaming. It also distributes NPR national programming as a full-fledged NPR Member Station and runs signature community fundraising events such as the Friday Night Fish Fry, Disco Inferno, Yurt Bingo, Summer Raffle, Holiday Auction, and 80s Retro Revolution.

Product overview

KBUT Community Radio is a non-commercial community radio station operating as a single unified platform delivering local and national programming. The station broadcasts on three FM frequencies (90.3 Crested Butte, 88.7 Gunnison, 94.9 Almont) and streams worldwide online. Programming includes local news (KBUT Newscast, West Elk Word, Community Matters), youth education (KBUTeens Radio Show), music features (Playin' Thru), and NPR national programming. The station also organizes signature community events including the Friday Night Fish Fry, Disco Inferno, 80s Retro Revolution, Yurt Bingo, and Summer Raffle.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• KBUT-FM 90.3 Crested Butte FM radio broadcast service covering Crested Butte, Colorado on 90.3 FM at 1,000 watts from the Sunlight Ridge transmitter; part of KBUT's primary local broadcasting offering for residents and visitors.
• KGNI-FM 88.7 Gunnison FM radio broadcast service covering Gunnison, Colorado on 88.7 FM at 6,500 watts from the W Mountain transmitter; the highest-powered signal in KBUT's network.
• K235AK 94.9 FM Jack's Cabin / Almont FM radio broadcast service covering the Jack's Cabin/Almont area on 94.9 FM at 14 watts from the Comstock Mountain transmitter; completes KBUT's three-frequency valley coverage.
• KBUT Live Stream Worldwide internet audio streaming of KBUT programming available at kbut.org, allowing global access to the station's live broadcast.
• NPR National Programming Block Distribution of NPR national programming including Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Fresh Air, Weekend Edition, Radiolab, Hidden Brain, and Reveal to Gunnison Valley listeners.
• Business Underwriting Program On-air underwriting announcement service for local Gunnison Valley businesses, including direct on-air messaging, event sponsorship, and membership drive challenge matches.
• Annual Membership Program Donor-membership program with a $50 minimum annual contribution; members receive exclusive event ticket access, discount codes for KBUT events, first priority for on-air ticket giveaways, and voting rights in Board of Directors elections.
• Friday Night Fish Fry Annual free Cajun-style fish fry community dinner with live music, raffle drawing, and family activities; ticketed dinners ($35 adult members, $45 adult non-members, $10 child members, $15 child non-members).
• Disco Inferno Annual disco-themed dance party featuring soul music and community celebration; signature KBUT fundraising event.
• Yurt Bingo Community bingo event held in the Magic Meadows Yurt at the Nordic Center; $90 per person includes dinner and reserved bingo seat, with bingo cards sold separately.
• Summer Raffle Annual summer raffle fundraiser supporting community radio operations; the 2026 Summer Raffle raised more than $10,000 for community radio.
• Online Holiday Auction Annual online holiday auction fundraiser for community radio; the 2025 Holiday Auction raised more than $20,000 for community radio.
• 80s Retro Revolution Annual 80s-themed dance and skate party; the second annual event is scheduled for September 12, 2026.
• Vehicle Donation Program Vehicle donation service operated in partnership with Vehicles for Charity, providing tax-deductible car donations to support KBUT programming.

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NPR (National Public Radio)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKBUT became a full-fledged NPR Member Station in 2018 after 25 years as an Affiliate Station. This partnership provides access to national programming including Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Fresh Air, and other NPR shows.
• PRX (Public Radio Exchange)coreTechnology or IntegrationContent partner providing access to additional public radio programming distributed through the PRX network.
• RMCR (Rocky Mountain Community Radio)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKBUT serves as grants administrator for Rocky Mountain Community Radio, a coalition of regional non-commercial stations. This provides access to shared resources, grants, and collective advocacy.
• CPB (Corporation for Public Broadcasting)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal funding agency for public broadcasting. KBUT receives CPB support as part of its public radio status, with financial reports submitted to CPB annually.
• Crested Butte Community SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKBUT collaborates with the Crested Butte Community School Enrichment Program for the KBUTeens Radio Show, a youth programming initiative.
• Local Gunnison Valley BusinessescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal businesses provide underwriting support, event sponsorships, and challenge match donations during pledge drives. These partnerships are essential for station sustainability.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• KDNK Community Radio: Carbondale, Colorado community radio in the Roaring Fork Valley with a volunteer-driven, member-supported, and NPR-affiliated model — directly comparable to KBUT in station size, funding mix, and mountain-community focus.
• KGNU Community Radio: Boulder, Colorado community radio station operating on a member-supported, volunteer-DJ-driven model with NPR programming — directly comparable to KBUT's structure and funding model. Courtney Welsh, KBUT's current Development Coordinator, was previously a long-time volunteer and listener member at KGNU.
• KVNF Public Radio: Paonia, Colorado community radio station covering the Western Slope with a listener-supported, volunteer-driven model and NPR programming — closely comparable to KBUT in geography and community-radio positioning.
• Aspen Public Radio (KAJX): Aspen, Colorado public radio serving a similar mountain-resort catchment with NPR affiliation and member-supported funding — directly comparable to KBUT's broadcast model and audience demographic.
• KOTO Community Radio: Telluride, Colorado community radio station serving a similarly small ski-town market via FM broadcast, volunteer DJs, and listener-supported funding — closely comparable in market profile and operational model to KBUT.

Broad incumbents

• KUNC: Northern Colorado public radio station serving Greeley, Fort Collins, and the Front Range — a larger regional NPR member comparable in programming but with substantially broader geographic reach and budget than KBUT.
• Colorado Public Radio: Statewide Colorado public radio network providing NPR programming across multiple markets. Operates as a broader incumbent that overlaps with KBUT's NPR carriage but does not focus on community-radio volunteer programming in the Gunnison Valley.

Others

• National Federation of Community Broadcasters: Industry association representing community radio stations across the U.S. — directly relevant to KBUT as a peer-network membership body providing training, advocacy, and resources for community-radio stations of KBUT's profile.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/KBUTRADIO
• Facebookfacebook.com/KBUTCB
• Instagraminstagram.com/KBUTradio

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 KBUT Community Radio