KVSC - 88.1 FM

What KVSC - 88.1 FM does

KVSC 88.1 FM is a non-commercial educational radio station operated by St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minnesota, broadcasting continuously since 1967 at the 88.1 MHz FM frequency under the on-air identity "Your Sound Alternative." The station's core product is a linear FM broadcast augmented by online streaming, mobile apps, and a portfolio of podcasts (NewsCast, FeaturesCast, MusicCast, SportsCast, plus specialty feeds such as Somali Radio and Untold Stories of Central MN). Its programming spans independent, alternative, folk, Americana, punk, and progressive rock music; local and campus news; SCSU Huskies sports play-by-play; and live performance programming including the 35+ season Monday Night Live concert series and the 14-season Granite City Radio Theatre. The annual Trivia Weekend, now in its 47th iteration, serves as the station's signature community event.

The underlying technology stack is conventional broadcast media: an FCC-licensed 88.1 MHz transmitter operating from Stewart Hall on the SCSU campus, web-based streaming at kvsc.org/listen-live, mobile apps for iOS/Android, and the Spinitron platform for playlist archiving. The station participates in the Emergency Alert System and maintains an FCC public inspection file. On the live-events side, performances are produced in an on-campus studio with periodic video simulcast through a partnership with UTVS (University Television Services).

The business model is a hybrid non-commercial funding stack typical of U.S. college/community public radio: recurring listener memberships and donations (including pledge drives and a vehicle donation program), underwriting sponsorships from approximately 40 local St. Cloud-area businesses and arts organizations (e.g., Granite City Folk Society, Milk and Honey Ciders, D.J. Bitzan Jewelers, Paramount Center for the Arts), and likely Corporation for Public Broadcasting grant funding channeled through the university. Merchandise (KVSC Store, Trivia merchandise, donated pottery) and a membership discount card provide ancillary revenue. The station's customer base comprises three primary segments: SCSU students, St. Cloud/Central Minnesota community members, and music enthusiasts seeking non-commercial programming; the Somali-language programming additionally serves the local Somali community. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

KVSC - 88.1 FM

Legal name

KVSC 88.1 FM

Website

https://kvsc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Non-commercial educational radio station operated by St. Cloud State University since 1967, broadcasting at 88.1 FM with independent music, local news, and Huskies sports coverage, funded by listener memberships, local underwriting, and public media grants in Central Minnesota.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Radio Broadcasting

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611), Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations (5161)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

University/Educational Local Stations (College Radio, Campus TV) (MPABACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Internet Radio & Streaming Broadcast Stations (Simulcast/Online-only) (MPAIAEAE), Radio Streaming & Catch-Up Audio Platforms (MPAIADAJ)

Keywords

• Public radio broadcasting
• Educational radio station
• Community radio programming
• Music and news broadcasting
• Podcast and live streaming

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Cloud

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Listener Membership and Donations: Public radio station funded primarily through listener memberships, pledges, and donations from the community. Station offers membership discount cards and perks to donors.
2. Underwriting/Sponsorships: Local business underwriters provide financial support in exchange for on-air recognition. Underwriters include Granite City Folk Society, Milk and Honey Ciders, D.J. Bitzan Jewelers, Jimmy's Pour House, and numerous other St. Cloud area businesses.
3. Public Broadcasting Grant Funding: Public radio station that likely receives funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and associated public media grants.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

KVSC 88.1 FM is a non-commercial educational public radio station operated by St. Cloud State University that broadcasts diverse music programming (alternative, folk, Americana, punk, progressive rock), local news, and St. Cloud State Huskies sports via FM radio at 88.1 MHz, online streaming, podcasts, and live community events including Monday Night Live concerts and the annual Trivia Weekend competition.

Product overview

KVSC 88.1 FM is a college radio station operated by St. Cloud State University since 1967, offering a diverse mix of music programming (including rock, folk, Americana, punk, and classical), local news coverage, and St. Cloud State Huskies sports broadcasts. The station provides content through multiple channels: its FM broadcast at 88.1 FM, online live streaming, podcast feeds (MusicCast, NewsCast, FeaturesCast, SportsCast), and live performance events including Monday Night Live (35th season) and Granite City Radio Theatre (14th season). Key programming features include the KVSC Top 88 album chart, Alternative 13 weekly chart show, Trivia Weekend (47th annual), and specialty shows serving the local community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• KVSC 88.1 FM Radio Broadcast The core FM radio broadcast at 88.1 MHz featuring diverse music programming, local news, sports coverage, and specialty shows serving St. Cloud and Central Minnesota since 1967.
• Online Live Streaming Web-based streaming service allowing global listeners to tune in to KVSC programming in real-time via kvsc.org/listen-live.
• Monday Night Live Live music performance series featuring local and regional artists in the KVSC studio, running for over 35 seasons.
• Granite City Radio Theatre Live radio theater production featuring performances, comedy, and musical guests, currently in its 14th season.
• Trivia Weekend Annual trivia competition hosted by KVSC in its 47th year, featuring team-based trivia contests with themed events across the community.
• NewsCast Podcast On-demand podcast feed featuring local and area news coverage from KVSC.
• FeaturesCast Podcast On-demand podcast feed featuring in-depth feature stories and special reports from KVSC.
• MusicCast Podcast On-demand podcast feed featuring music-related content and programming from KVSC.
• SportsCast Podcast On-demand podcast feed featuring sports coverage including play-by-play broadcasts and sports news from KVSC.
• Somali Radio Podcast Specialty radio program and podcast serving the Somali community in the St. Cloud area.
• KVSC Top 88 Weekly chart ranking the top 88 albums as determined by the KVSC music department and listener input.
• Alternative 13 Weekly radio show featuring the top 13 songs of the week, broadcast every Tuesday night at 7:00pm CDT.
• Husky Sports Friday Weekly sports talk show covering St. Cloud State Huskies athletics, including broadcasts and commentary.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• St. Cloud State UniversitycoreOthersKVSC is operated by St. Cloud State University as an educational radio station, providing training opportunities for students in broadcasting and journalism. The station operates from university facilities and is integral to the university's media and communications programs.
• Granite City Folk SocietyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal folk music organization listed as an underwriter supporting KVSC's programming.
• St. Cloud State AthleticsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for sports broadcasting and coverage of SCSU Huskies teams.
• First-Avenue & 7th St. EntryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-presented Rock Lottery event partnership with Minneapolis venue.
• UTVS (University Television Services)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSimulcast partnership for Monday Night Live performances allowing video streaming of live shows.
• Paramount Center for the ArtsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal arts venue listed as underwriter supporting radio programming.
• Great TheatreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaborative partnership for joint events such as Night of the Living Dead radio/theater production.
• Project 37minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCampus organization partnership for concert events at SCSU.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• KCRW: KCRW 89.9 FM is a Santa Monica-based public radio station offering eclectic music, news, and cultural programming with a strong digital streaming and podcast footprint. It operates on a similar listener-supported non-commercial model but at much greater scale and reach than KVSC.
• Minnesota Public Radio (MPR): Minnesota Public Radio is the statewide public radio network serving the same Minnesota market as KVSC. While KVSC is a non-commercial alternative music station and MPR is a larger news/talk/classical network, both compete for the same local listener and underwriter base in Central Minnesota.

Direct peers

• WXYC: WXYC 89.3 FM is the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's student-run college radio station, broadcasting diverse music programming since 1977. Like KVSC, it operates from a university campus with student involvement and offers alternative/indie programming not found on commercial stations.
• WFMU: WFMU 91.1 FM is a listener-supported, freeform community radio station in New Jersey known for its volunteer-driven, highly diverse programming. It shares KVSC's model of non-commercial funding, volunteer DJs, and broad genre diversity spanning punk, folk, and experimental music.
• WHRB: WHRB 95.3 FM is Harvard University's student-run college radio station, broadcasting classical, jazz, and underground rock programming. It shares KVSC's nonprofit, campus-based, volunteer-operated broadcasting model with emphasis on alternative music formats.
• WPRB: WPRB 103.3 FM is Princeton University's non-commercial college radio station, offering diverse music programming and local news. It is a strong functional peer to KVSC as a university-operated, listener-funded station emphasizing alternative programming and community engagement.
• WXPN: WXPN 88.5 FM is the University of Pennsylvania's non-commercial public radio station, featuring adult album alternative music and local programming. It is one of the most prominent university-affiliated radio stations in the US, directly comparable to KVSC as a college-operated community music station.
• KVRX: KVRX 91.7 FM is the University of Texas at Austin's student-run college radio station, featuring eclectic alternative, indie, and underground music programming. It mirrors KVSC's volunteer-driven, campus-based, non-commercial broadcasting model with similar genre diversity.
• KEXP: KEXP 90.3 FM is a Seattle-based non-commercial radio station famous for its eclectic, independent music programming and deep community support model. Like KVSC, it operates listener-funded with volunteer DJs and emphasizes alternative/indie music discovery, making it the closest large-scale analog to KVSC's "Your Sound Alternative" positioning.
• KXLU: KXLU 88.9 FM is Loyola Marymount University's non-commercial college radio station in Los Angeles, offering diverse alternative music programming. It operates on the same volunteer and listener-supported foundation as KVSC, with similar focus on music genres outside the mainstream.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kvsc881fm
• YouTubeyoutube.com/kvsc881fm
• Facebookfacebook.com/kvsc881fm
• Instagraminstagram.com/kvsc881fm

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 KVSC - 88.1 FM