99.5 WGAR
99.5 WGAR is a Cleveland-based country music FM radio station operating under iHeartMedia, Inc., serving adult listeners with local news, weather, traffic, nationally syndicated country programming, and concert promotions through FM broadcast, the iHeartRadio app, smart speakers, and podcasts.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1986
- HeadquartersCleveland, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What 99.5 WGAR does
99.5 WGAR (WGAR-FM) is a country music radio station that has broadcast at 99.5 FM in the Cleveland, Ohio metropolitan area since 1986. The station positions itself as "Cleveland's #1 For New Country" and serves adult listeners in the Cleveland DMA who consume country music, local news, traffic, and weather information. Programming combines locally produced content with nationally syndicated iHeartMedia shows including The Bobby Bones Show, After MidNite with Granger Smith, and Women of iHeartCountry segments. The station maintains a roster of on-air personalities including Madison, Tay Hamilton, and Kasper, alongside community programming such as iHeart Communities, Cleveland CEO's You Should Know, and the Veteran's Network of Northeast Ohio.
The station's technology infrastructure centers on traditional FM radio broadcast augmented by digital distribution through the iHeartRadio streaming platform, accessible via web, iOS/Android mobile applications, and smart speaker integrations on Amazon Alexa and Google Home. Podcast distribution extends the station's content surface beyond the Cleveland geography through on-demand shows including The Bobby Bones Show Podcast, The BobbyCast, The Wayne D Show Podcast, and The 9941 Podcast. The station is operated under FCC broadcast license compliance and operates as a subsidiary of iHeartMedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: IHRT), one of the largest US radio broadcasting companies.
99.5 WGAR generates revenue through advertising and sponsorships, selling on-air mentions, contest branding, and promotional integrations to local and national businesses. Advertising rates are quote-based, not publicly disclosed, and offered under multi-year contract structures. The station's distribution channels include direct FM broadcast in Cleveland, app store distribution of the iHeartRadio app globally, and smart speaker voice activation. Active promotional campaigns include concert ticket giveaways at Blossom Music Center, Jacobs Pavilion, and other Cleveland-area venues, serving as both listener engagement and advertiser value-add mechanisms. The station is a non-reporting operating subsidiary within iHeartMedia's broader portfolio of hundreds of US radio stations, and station-level financials are not publicly disclosed.
99.5 WGAR firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- 99.5 WGAR
- Legal name
- iHeartMedia, Inc.
- Website
- https://wgar.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1986
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- 99.5 WGAR is a Cleveland-based country music FM radio station operating under iHeartMedia, Inc., serving adult listeners with local news, weather, traffic, nationally syndicated country programming, and concert promotions through FM broadcast, the iHeartRadio app, smart speakers, and podcasts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
99.5 WGAR industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Radio Broadcasting
- NAICS
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611)
- SIC
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Local Radio Station Groups (Owned & Operated/Station Chains) (MPABACAC)
Keywords
Where 99.5 WGAR is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cleveland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
99.5 WGAR business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Advertising and Sponsorship: The station generates revenue through selling advertising slots to local and national businesses. Sponsorships include on-air mentions, contest branding, and promotional integrations. The station offers advertising opportunities as indicated by the 'Advertise on 99.5 WGAR' link on the website.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | On-air advertising slots for local and national businesses |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
99.5 WGAR product offering
Product offeringCore offering
99.5 WGAR is a Cleveland-market country music FM radio station (WGAR-FM at 99.5 MHz) that broadcasts live radio programming including local news, traffic, weather, syndicated shows such as The Bobby Bones Show and After MidNite with Granger Smith, and community-focused content. The station is freely accessible to listeners over the air and via digital channels, monetizing its audience by selling on-air advertising, sponsorships, and promotional integrations to local and national businesses.
Product overview
99.5 WGAR is a radio station that operates as part of the iHeartMedia network, broadcasting country music content to the Cleveland, Ohio market. The station offers a unified platform combining live radio programming with digital extensions including podcasts, mobile applications, and smart speaker integrations. Core offerings include the main radio station broadcast, featured shows like The Bobby Bones Show and After MidNite with Granger Smith, community programming through iHeart Communities, and digital listening options via iHeartRadio apps and smart speakers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- 99.5 WGAR Radio Station Broadcast Free over-the-air country music radio broadcast at 99.5 FM serving the Cleveland, Ohio metropolitan area, featuring live local programming, nationally syndicated shows, news, traffic, and weather; also streamed digitally via iHeartRadio apps, web, and smart speakers.
- On-air Advertising and Sponsorships Sold advertising slots, sponsorships, contest branding, and promotional integrations on 99.5 WGAR for local and national businesses seeking reach into the Cleveland country music audience.
- Contest and Promotion Giveaways Listener engagement promotions including ticket giveaways to concerts at Blossom Music Center, Jacobs Pavilion, and other Cleveland-area venues, plus branded contest campaigns for advertisers.
Companies that use 99.5 WGAR
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
99.5 WGAR technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature3 records
99.5 WGAR partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
99.5 WGAR competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bonneville International: US radio broadcasting company operating stations in major markets with a mix of music, news, and talk formats. Comparable as a multi-station radio operator reliant on local ad revenue and digital streaming extensions to monetize audiences.
- Townsquare Media: US radio broadcasting company with stations in mid-sized and secondary markets, often with similar country and classic formats. Comparable as a multi-market radio operator relying on local ad revenue and syndicated content to monetize station portfolios.
- Audacy: Major US radio broadcaster operating multiple stations in the Cleveland market (e.g., WMMS, WNCX, WDOK). Directly comparable as a competing multi-station operator in the same local ad market, fighting for the same Cleveland advertisers and listeners.
- Beasley Media Group: US radio broadcasting company operating clusters of stations across multiple markets. Comparable as a competing multi-format radio operator with similar reliance on local ad sales, syndicated shows, and digital streaming extensions.
- Salem Communications: US radio broadcasting company focused on niche and format-specific stations (news/talk, Christian, country). Comparable as a multi-station operator monetizing local audiences through advertising, with overlapping digital distribution strategies.
Emerging players
- Spotify: Global audio streaming platform that has emerged as the leading on-demand music and podcast distribution channel. Comparable as a competing audio platform competing for the same listener attention minutes, especially among younger demographics.
- SiriusXM: Subscription-based satellite and streaming audio service with deep country music programming and live show syndication. Comparable as a competing audio platform offering curated music, talk, and live content that competes for in-car and at-home country music listenership.
Broad incumbents
- iHeartMedia: Parent company of 99.5 WGAR and the largest US radio broadcaster with hundreds of FM/AM stations and the iHeartRadio digital platform. Comparable as the dominant US terrestrial radio operator whose portfolio economics and strategy directly drive WGAR's.
- Cumulus Media: One of the largest US radio broadcasters with stations across multiple markets. Comparable as a broad incumbent radio operator competing for national ad dollars and syndicated programming rights, with overlapping technology and ad-sales infrastructure.
- Cox Media Group: Diversified media company with significant US radio station holdings. Comparable as a regional radio broadcaster competing in the same national ad-sales and syndicated content marketplace as WGAR's parent iHeartMedia.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
99.5 WGAR social profiles
Digital presence99.5 WGAR compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
99.5 WGAR financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
99.5 WGAR leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
99.5 WGAR funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
99.5 WGAR 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 99.5 WGAR
What does 99.5 WGAR do?
99.5 WGAR is a Cleveland-market country music FM radio station (WGAR-FM at 99.5 MHz) that broadcasts live radio programming including local news, traffic, weather, syndicated shows such as The Bobby Bones Show and After MidNite with Granger Smith, and community-focused content. The station is freely accessible to listeners over the air and via digital channels, monetizing its audience by selling on-air advertising, sponsorships, and promotional integrations to local and national businesses.
Is 99.5 WGAR a public or private company?
99.5 WGAR is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was 99.5 WGAR founded?
99.5 WGAR was founded in 1986. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is 99.5 WGAR based?
99.5 WGAR is headquartered in Cleveland, United States, in the North America region.
How does 99.5 WGAR make money?
One revenue line is on record: advertising and Sponsorship.
Who are 99.5 WGAR's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bonneville International, Townsquare Media, Audacy, Beasley Media Group and Salem Communications. Emerging players are Spotify and SiriusXM. Broad incumbents are iHeartMedia, Cumulus Media and Cox Media Group.
Does 99.5 WGAR have an API?
No public API is recorded for 99.5 WGAR.
What industry is 99.5 WGAR in?
99.5 WGAR's product category is Radio Broadcasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABACAC, Local Radio Station Groups (Owned & Operated/Station Chains). Its NAICS code is 51611 and its SIC code is 4832.