KCUR 89.3
KCUR 89.3 is Kansas City's charter NPR member public radio station, founded in 1957 and operated as a department of the University of Missouri-Kansas City. It serves the Kansas City metro with FM news/talk broadcast, a second classical station, podcasts, newsletters, and community-supported membership and sponsorship revenue.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1957
- HeadquartersKansas City, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What KCUR 89.3 does
KCUR 89.3, legally operating as Kansas City Public Media, is a charter NPR member public radio station founded in 1957 and operated as a department of the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Its FCC FM broadcast license is held by the Curators of the University of Missouri, making it a state-university-owned nonprofit entity. The station broadcasts at 89.3 FM with news, talk, and NPR programming for the Kansas City metropolitan area spanning Missouri and Kansas, and operates a parallel classical music station at 91.9 (Classical KC).
The core technology is traditional FM broadcast infrastructure supplemented by digital audio production and distribution, including live streaming, a portfolio of eight original podcasts (Kansas City Today, Up To Date, A People's History of Kansas City, Up From Dust, SportsBeat KC, Overlooked, Fish Fry, Night Tides), email newsletters, SMS alerts, and presence on eight social platforms. KCUR anchors or manages five collaborative journalism networks — NPR, Midwest Newsroom, Kansas News Service, Harvest Public Media, and KC Media Collective — and maintains specialty programs including Audio-Reader Network for accessibility, Generation Listen for youth engagement, and En Español content. The 60+ named staff include award-winning journalists (notably Sam Zeff, holder of a National News and Information Emmy, four National Headliner Awards, four Edward R. Murrow Awards, and multiple local Emmys) and a full leadership bench across news, operations, development, membership, and institutional giving.
Revenue is generated through four streams: recurring individual listener memberships starting at $8 per month (which unlock NPR+ podcast bundle access), corporate sponsorship through a dedicated portal, institutional grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and a major-gift/planned-giving program for high-net-worth donors. KCUR does not disclose financial figures publicly, but the combination of small-dollar distributed memberships, corporate underwriting, and federal and university institutional support defines a community-supported, donation-driven GTM motion characteristic of public media.
KCUR 89.3 firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- KCUR 89.3
- Legal name
- Kansas City Public Media
- Website
- https://www.kcur.org/
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1957
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- KCUR 89.3 is Kansas City's charter NPR member public radio station, founded in 1957 and operated as a department of the University of Missouri-Kansas City. It serves the Kansas City metro with FM news/talk broadcast, a second classical station, podcasts, newsletters, and community-supported membership and sponsorship revenue.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
KCUR 89.3 industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Radio Broadcasting
- NAICS
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611)
- SIC
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)
- akta.pro primary industry
- National Public Radio Networks & Member Stations (NPR-style) (MPABADAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Public/Nonprofit Radio Networks (NPR-style) (MPABABAB), News Talk Radio & Current Affairs Stations (MPABAIAI)
Keywords
Where KCUR 89.3 is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kansas City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
KCUR 89.3 business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Listener Donations and Memberships: Monthly donations from community members starting at $8 per month, with special access to NPR+ for supporters
- Corporate Sponsorship: Corporate sponsorship opportunities available through a dedicated sponsorship portal
- Institutional Funding: Funding from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and Corporation for Public Broadcasting grants
- Planned Giving and Major Gifts: Major gift program and planned giving options for major donors
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Monthly membership starting at $8 |
| Subscription | Monthly | One-time and recurring donation options |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
KCUR 89.3 product offering
Product offeringCore offering
KCUR 89.3 is Kansas City's charter NPR member public radio station, broadcasting news, talk, and music programming at 89.3 FM and through digital channels since 1957. Operated as a department of the University of Missouri-Kansas City, the station produces local journalism on government accountability, politics, education, health, arts, and culture, complemented by national NPR programming. KCUR also operates 91.9 Classical KC, produces original podcasts, and runs collaborative newsrooms serving the Kansas City metropolitan area and broader Midwest region.
Product overview
KCUR 89.3 is a public radio station operated as a department of the University of Missouri–Kansas City, offering a unified portfolio of broadcast radio and digital media products. The core offerings consist of two FM radio stations: KCUR 89.3 (NPR news/talk format) and 91.9 Classical KC (classical music), supplemented by an extensive portfolio of podcasts including Kansas City Today, Up To Date, A People's History of Kansas City, SportsBeat KC, Up From Dust, Overlooked, Fish Fry, and Night Tides. Digital engagement products include the Early Bird newsletter, Text with KCUR SMS service, and NPR+ podcast bundle for donors. The station also operates community programs including Audio-Reader Network for accessibility and Generation Listen for youth engagement.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Kansas City Today: Daily news podcast bringing Kansas City news in 15 minutes or less
- Up To Date
- A People's History of Kansas City
- Up From Dust
- SportsBeat KC
- Overlooked
- The Fish Fry
- Night Tides
Products and services
- KCUR 89.3 FM Radio
- 91.9 Classical KC
- Kansas City Today Podcast
- Up To Date Talk Show
- A People's History of Kansas City Podcast
- SportsBeat KC Podcast
- Up From Dust Podcast
- Overlooked Podcast
- The Fish Fry Podcast
- Night Tides Show
- NPR+ Podcast Bundle
- Early Bird Newsletter
- Audio-Reader Network
Quantifiable outcome
- Coverage of World Cup 2026 with 6+ matches hosted in Kansas City including Argentina, Algeria, Ecuador, Curaçao, Tunisia, Netherlands teams
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use KCUR 89.3
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
KCUR 89.3 technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
KCUR 89.3 partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- National Public Radio (NPR)coreKCUR is a charter member of NPR, distributing and receiving national news content. The partnership provides access to NPR's national reporting while KCUR contributes local Kansas City content to the network.
- Midwest NewsroomcoreMulti-state collaborative newsroom covering Midwest regional news with KCUR as a founding/partner station.
- Kansas News ServicecoreState-focused Kansas news collaboration with KCUR staff managing the service and contributing regional coverage.
- Harvest Public MediacoreCollaborative reporting on food, agriculture, and environmental issues across the Great Plains with KCUR staff serving as managing editor.
- KC Media CollectiveminorLocal Kansas City media collaboration bringing together regional outlets for shared coverage.
- University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC)coreKCUR operates as a department of UMKC. The university provides institutional support and houses the station's FCC license through the Curators of the University of Missouri.
- Classical KCcoreKCUR also operates 91.9 Classical KC, a classical music station serving the Kansas City area.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
KCUR 89.3 competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- WBEZ Chicago: Chicago's NPR member station operated by Chicago Public Media. Directly comparable as a mid-major-market NPR-affiliated public radio station producing original local journalism, podcasts, and multi-station collaborative newsrooms in the Midwest.
- St. Louis Public Radio (KWMU): UMSL-licensed NPR member station serving St. Louis, also in Missouri. Closely comparable as a same-network, same-state public radio station of similar scale producing local journalism and operating within a university structure.
- WAMU 88.5: American University-licensed NPR member station serving Washington, DC. Comparable as a university-affiliated NPR station producing national-distributed local journalism, podcasts, and flagship talk programming.
- KQED: San Francisco Bay Area's NPR and PBS member station. Comparable as a large-market public radio/TV operator producing award-winning local journalism, podcasts, and collaborative regional reporting.
- Minnesota Public Radio (MPR / APM): Major Midwest NPR network (APM) operating multiple stations across Minnesota. Comparable as a large multi-station public radio network producing original podcasts, classical programming, and regional collaborative journalism.
- WNYC (New York Public Radio): New York City's flagship NPR station, the largest in the network. Comparable as a premier NPR member station producing nationally distributed podcasts (Radiolab, On the Media) and local investigative journalism at scale.
- WHYY: Philadelphia's NPR and PBS member station. Comparable as a university-affiliated public broadcaster producing local journalism, podcasts, and serving a similar-sized metropolitan market.
- Nashville Public Radio (WPLN): Nashville's NPR member station. Comparable as a mid-market public radio station producing original local journalism and music/culture programming with a similar headcount and budget scale to KCUR.
- Colorado Public Radio (CPR): Denver-based multi-station public radio network. Comparable as a multi-format (news, classical, indie music) public radio operator producing investigative journalism and podcasts in a mid-major market.
Others
- Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB): Federal funding body that distributes grants to KCUR and hundreds of other public radio/TV stations. Included as a key ecosystem enabler rather than a direct competitor; understanding CPB is essential context for KCUR's funding risk profile.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
KCUR 89.3 social profiles
Digital presenceKCUR 89.3 compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
KCUR 89.3 financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
KCUR 89.3 leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
KCUR 89.3 subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
KCUR 89.3 funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
KCUR 89.3 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 KCUR 89.3
What does KCUR 89.3 do?
KCUR 89.3 is Kansas City's charter NPR member public radio station, broadcasting news, talk, and music programming at 89.3 FM and through digital channels since 1957. Operated as a department of the University of Missouri-Kansas City, the station produces local journalism on government accountability, politics, education, health, arts, and culture, complemented by national NPR programming. KCUR also operates 91.9 Classical KC, produces original podcasts, and runs collaborative newsrooms serving the Kansas City metropolitan area and broader Midwest region.
Is KCUR 89.3 a public or private company?
KCUR 89.3 is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was KCUR 89.3 founded?
KCUR 89.3 was founded in 1957. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is KCUR 89.3 based?
KCUR 89.3 is headquartered in Kansas City, United States, in the North America region.
How does KCUR 89.3 make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Listener Donations and Memberships are the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorship, institutional Funding and planned Giving and Major Gifts.
Who are KCUR 89.3's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are WBEZ Chicago, St. Louis Public Radio (KWMU), WAMU 88.5, KQED, Minnesota Public Radio (MPR / APM), WNYC (New York Public Radio), WHYY, Nashville Public Radio (WPLN) and Colorado Public Radio (CPR). Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) is listed as an others.
Does KCUR 89.3 have an API?
No public API is recorded for KCUR 89.3.
What industry is KCUR 89.3 in?
KCUR 89.3's product category is Public Radio Broadcasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABADAB, National Public Radio Networks & Member Stations (NPR-style), with a secondary code of MPABABAB, Public/Nonprofit Radio Networks (NPR-style). Its NAICS code is 51611 and its SIC code is 4832.