WSCA Radio

Community Radio Broadcastingwscafm.org

WSCA Radio (Seacoast Arts and Cultural Alliance) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit community radio station broadcasting freeform programming at 106.1 FM in Portsmouth, NH, and online, serving Seacoast residents, local musicians, and nonprofit partners through listener donations and underwriting.

Company typePrivate
Founded2013
HeadquartersPortsmouth, United States
Headcount11–50
GTM typeB2C
OfferingServices

What WSCA Radio does

WSCA Radio, legally the Seacoast Arts and Cultural Alliance, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit community radio station broadcasting at 106.1 FM in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, with online streaming. Founded in 2013 by former college radio DJs, the station is operated primarily by volunteer staff under a Program Director, Audio Engineer, Assistant Music Directors, and Events Managers, and governed by a Board of Trustees. Its programming is freeform across genres not typically carried by commercial radio, including jazz, metal, folk, classical, and specialty shows.

The station's product surface centers on the FM broadcast extended through iOS and Android mobile apps, smart speaker access via TuneIn (Alexa, Google Home), and podcast syndication on Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Amazon Music. Two adjacent revenue-generating assets augment the core broadcast: the Button Factory Stage, an in-studio all-ages performance venue with a 35/65 door split favoring bands, and the WSCA Podcast Lab, a rentable production studio offering consultation, recording, editing, and mastering. Distribution and operational tools include Spinitron for playlist management, and the station is a non-paying NACC member since 2018.

WSCA is 100% listener-funded through donations, with local businesses contributing via on-air underwriting. The station explicitly does not receive government funding or grants. Its go-to-market is community-led: acquisition of listeners and supporters happens through live events, social media (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn), email newsletter, mobile app, and word-of-mouth in the Seacoast arts community. Strategic nonprofit media partnerships — notably the 'It Takes A Village' 24-episode podcast with the Greater Portsmouth Recovery Coalition — anchor its role as a community media platform rather than a commercial broadcaster.

WSCA Radio firmographics

Firmographics

Name: WSCA Radio
Legal name: Seacoast Arts and Cultural Alliance
Website: https://wscafm.org
Company type: Private
Founded year: 2013
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 11–50 employees
Short description: WSCA Radio (Seacoast Arts and Cultural Alliance) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit community radio station broadcasting freeform programming at 106.1 FM in Portsmouth, NH, and online, serving Seacoast residents, local musicians, and nonprofit partners through listener donations and underwriting.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

WSCA Radio industry classification

Industry

Product category: Community Radio Broadcasting
NAICS: Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611)
SIC: Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)
akta.pro industry: PRIMARYMPABADAE
Community/Low-Power Nonprofit Radio (LPFM/Community Radio)
Media, Entertainment & Sports/Broadcasting (TV & Radio)/Public/Nonprofit Broadcasting (PBS/NPR-style)
SECONDARYMPABACAG
Public/Community Local Stations (PBS Member Stations, Community Radio, LPFM)
Media, Entertainment & Sports/Broadcasting (TV & Radio)/Local Broadcast Stations & Affiliates (TV & Radio)
SECONDARYMPAIAEAB
Public/Noncommercial Radio Broadcasting (NPR, Community, Campus)
Media, Entertainment & Sports/Music & Audio (Recording, Publishing, Streaming)/Radio & Audio Broadcasting (Terrestrial, Satellite, Digital Radio)

Keywords

Community radio broadcasting
Noncommercial freeform radio
Podcast production studio
Live music venue
Listener-supported radio

Where WSCA Radio is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Portsmouth
HQ country: United States
HQ region: North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

WSCA Radio business model

Business model

GTM type: B2C
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

Listener Donations: WSCA is 100% listener-funded through donations from community members. The station does not receive government funding or grants.
Underwriting: Local businesses contribute through underwriting, where they receive on-air promotion in exchange for financial support.
Button Factory Stage Events: Revenue generated from ticket sales for live events at the Button Factory Stage venue, with door splits of 35% to WSCA and 65% to performing bands.
Podcast Lab Rental: The WSCA Podcast Lab is available to rent for podcast projects, including consultation, production assistance, recording, editing, and mastering services.

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
Unit Pricing	Pay-as-you-go	Button Factory Stage event tickets
Transaction based/ take rate	Pay-as-you-go	Door split structure for bands
Unit Pricing	Pay-as-you-go	Special events

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

WSCA Radio product offering

Product offering

Core offering

WSCA Radio is a listener-supported non-commercial, diverse freeform community radio station broadcasting at 106.1 FM in Portsmouth, NH and streaming online worldwide. The station's core offering is freeform radio programming hosted by volunteer DJs, distributed via FM, online streaming, mobile apps, smart speakers, and podcast platforms, and supplemented by a rentable Podcast Lab, the Button Factory Stage live music venue, and underwriting/sponsorship programs for local businesses.

Product overview

WSCA Radio is a listener-supported nonprofit community radio station offering a single unified platform centered on its FM broadcast (106.1 FM in Portsmouth, NH) and online streaming. The core product includes live radio programming via the WSCA Mobile App, Smart Speaker access through TuneIn, and a portfolio of podcasts distributed across Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Amazon Music. Supporting services include the WSCA Podcast Lab (a rentable production studio for external podcasters), the Button Factory Stage (an intimate performance venue), underwriting and annual fund donation programs, and NACC music charts. The station operates entirely on volunteer DJs and community support, with no government funding or grants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

Button Factory Stage: A cozy, intimate nonprofit performance space located in the WSCA studio. It serves as a hub for the thriving local music community and touring artists, providing fans and artists of all genres the chance to connect in an inclusive, all-ages listening space.
WSCA Podcast Lab

Products and services

WSCA Radio Broadcast (106.1 FM) Listener-supported non-commercial, diverse freeform community radio broadcasting at 106.1 FM in Portsmouth, NH with worldwide online streaming. Programming spans multiple genres (jazz, metal, folk, classical, specialty shows) hosted by volunteer DJs for the Seacoast community and global online audience.

Companies that use WSCA Radio

Customer profile

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

WSCA Radio technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

WSCA Radio partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

Greater Portsmouth Recovery CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWSCA-LP serves as a proud media partner for the Greater Portsmouth Recovery Coalition, launching a 24-episode podcast series 'It Takes A Village' to spotlight addiction prevention and recovery efforts in the community.
Greater Portsmouth Youth Wellness CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWSCA-LP serves as media partner for the Greater Portsmouth Youth Wellness Coalition, supporting youth wellness initiatives through collaborative media projects.
Radio ParadiseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRadio 2050 show is produced by Radio Paradise, indicating a programming partnership for this specific show.
BoldwerksminorOthersLocal web design firm that created the WSCA website. Listed as an underwriter.
AG PortsmouthminorOthersLocal business underwriter supporting WSCA.
Newburyport BankminorOthersUnderwriter that helped make the 'It Takes A Village' podcast possible.
Pinetree InstituteminorOthersFunding partner for the 'It Takes A Village' podcast series.
Ouellett and Furbush Family TrustminorOthersPhilanthropic supporter that helped fund the 'It Takes A Village' podcast project.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

WSCA Radio competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Direct peers

WMBR: MIT's student-run college/community radio station in Cambridge, MA. Comparable to WSCA as a volunteer-driven, non-commercial freeform station with live local music programming and listener-supported funding.
WHRB: Harvard's college radio station operating as a non-commercial freeform station with classical, jazz, and rock programming. Comparable to WSCA on volunteer staffing, freeform format, and community-engaged broadcast model.
KEXP: Seattle-based non-commercial community radio station known for freeform music programming, robust streaming and podcast distribution, and deep community engagement. Closely comparable to WSCA on freeform programming differentiation and multi-platform distribution model.
WFMU: Listener-supported freeform community radio station broadcasting in the New York metro area. Highly comparable to WSCA as a non-commercial freeform station reliant on listener donations and volunteer DJs with strong freeform programming differentiation.
WERS: Emerson College's non-commercial radio station serving the Boston area with diverse freeform programming. Comparable to WSCA as a college/community radio station with volunteer DJs, freeform formats, and local event programming.

Broad incumbents

The Current (KCMP): Minnesota Public Radio's adult album alternative station with listener-supported and underwriting-funded model. Comparable to WSCA on non-commercial music-focused programming and community engagement, though operating at significantly larger scale.
New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR): Statewide public radio network serving New Hampshire with news, talk, and music programming. Comparable to WSCA as a non-commercial broadcaster in the same state and broader regional listener base, though NHPR is a larger, professionally staffed network.
Pacifica Radio: National listener-supported non-commercial radio network with multiple stations and programming. Comparable to WSCA on nonprofit community radio model, listener-funded revenue, and freeform/news programming orientation.
WGBH/WBUR: Major Boston-area public radio stations with large professional operations. Comparable to WSCA as a non-commercial broadcaster in the broader New England region, though WBUR/WGBH operate at significantly larger scale with paid staff and corporate underwriting.

Others

Radio Paradise: Commercial-free internet radio station with eclectic programming that produces the 'Radio 2050' show aired on WSCA. Comparable as a programming partner and as an adjacent freeform/eclectic digital radio service overlapping in audience.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

WSCA Radio financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

WSCA Radio leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

WSCA Radio funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

WSCA Radio M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about WSCA Radio

What does WSCA Radio do?

Is WSCA Radio a public or private company?

WSCA Radio is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.

When was WSCA Radio founded?

WSCA Radio was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.

Where is WSCA Radio based?

WSCA Radio is headquartered in Portsmouth, United States, in the North America region.

How does WSCA Radio make money?

Four revenue lines are on record. Listener Donations are the primary driver. The others are underwriting, button Factory Stage Events and podcast Lab Rental.

Who are WSCA Radio's main competitors?

Direct peers on record are WMBR, WHRB, KEXP, WFMU and WERS. Broad incumbents are The Current (KCMP), New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR), Pacifica Radio and WGBH/WBUR. Radio Paradise is listed as an others.

Does WSCA Radio have an API?

No public API is recorded for WSCA Radio.

What industry is WSCA Radio in?

WSCA Radio's product category is Community Radio Broadcasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABADAE, Community/Low-Power Nonprofit Radio (LPFM/Community Radio), with a secondary code of MPABACAG, Public/Community Local Stations (PBS Member Stations, Community Radio, LPFM). Its NAICS code is 51611 and its SIC code is 4832.