Bad at Sports

What Bad at Sports does

Bad at Sports is an independent Chicago-based media organization that publishes contemporary art criticism and interviews across three core formats: a long-running weekly podcast (957+ episodes since 2006, hosted by Duncan MacKenzie and Ryan Peter Miller with Christopher Hudgens as Operations Manager), a WordPress-hosted blog featuring the Sub-Rural criticism column by Paul Krainak and TOP V. weekly event listings, and a live weekly radio broadcast (Bad at Sports Center Drawing) on WLPN 105.5 FM via Lumpen Radio. The technical stack is modest and conventional — LibSyn for audio hosting, WordPress for content management, Spotify and LibSyn RSS for podcast distribution, and organic social channels (Facebook, X, Instagram) for audience development. There is no proprietary technology, AI/ML capability, or app product; the operation runs on standard podcast and blog infrastructure.

The company serves two overlapping audiences: contemporary-art enthusiasts in the Chicago and Midwest region who consume in-depth artist interviews and regional criticism, and artists, gallerists, and curators who appear as interview subjects and benefit from promotional coverage. Distribution is entirely free, including live in-person recordings at venues such as Door County Contemporary and major art fairs (NADA Miami, EXPO Chicago).

Revenue is generated exclusively through voluntary audience donations routed to a separate 'Bad at Projects' entity via Venmo and PayPal, supplemented by a small merchandise storefront operated through Threadless. There is no paid subscription, advertising, sponsorship, or membership tier. The business is not venture-backed, has no parent company, and has no institutional investment identified in the data.

Name

Bad at Sports

Legal name

Bad at Sports

Website

https://badatsports.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bad at Sports is a Chicago-based independent media organization producing a weekly podcast (957+ episodes since 2006), a contemporary-art blog, and a live WLPN 105.5 FM radio show covering the Chicago and Midwest art scene, funded entirely by voluntary donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Contemporary Art Media

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

Podcast Networks & Multi-Show Publishers (MPACADAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Talk/News/Sports Radio Networks & Syndication (MPAIAEAG)

Keywords

• Contemporary art podcast
• Art criticism blog
• Community radio broadcast
• Artist interview media
• Regional art journalism

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Support: Bad at Sports is funded entirely through voluntary donations from its audience. The organization accepts contributions via Venmo and PayPal. All donations are directed to 'Bad at Projects,' the get-things-done entity underlying the operation. There is no paid subscription, advertising, or merchandise revenue model — the platform is free to access.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Bad at Sports produces a weekly contemporary art podcast featuring interviews with artists, gallerists, and curators, alongside an editorial blog (including the Sub-Rural criticism column and weekly TOP V. Weekend Picks event listings). It also airs Bad at Sports Center as a live weekly radio program on WLPN 105.5 FM Lumpen Radio, distributes merchandise through Threadless, and operates entirely on a donation-supported model via Venmo and PayPal.

Product overview

Bad at Sports is a multi-platform contemporary art media company producing a podcast (the core offering with over 950 episodes featuring artist interviews and art discourse), a blog with editorial content including Sub-Rural criticism and TOP V Weekend Picks event listings, a weekly radio broadcast (Bad at Sports Center Drawing) on WLPN/Lumpen Radio, and merchandise via an integrated shop. The company operates primarily as a content publisher and community platform for the contemporary art scene.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bad at Sports Center: Live weekly radio broadcast on WLPN 105.5 FM, aired Wednesdays at 11:00am.
• Bad@Reality
• Sub-Rural

Products and services

• Bad at Sports Podcast Weekly podcast featuring in-depth interviews with contemporary artists, gallerists, curators, and art world figures, distributed via Spotify, LibSyn, and the Bad at Sports website. Targeted at contemporary art enthusiasts in Chicago, the Midwest, and broader art audiences.
• Bad at Sports Blog Editorial blog featuring art criticism, exhibition reviews, the Sub-Rural column by Paul Krainak on regional art scenes, and weekly curated TOP V. Weekend Picks event listings. Targeted at contemporary art enthusiasts seeking regional art coverage.
• Bad at Sports Center (Live Radio Broadcast) Weekly live radio program featuring art discussions and content from the Bad at Sports team, broadcast on WLPN 105.5 FM Lumpen Radio in Chicago and streamed online. Targeted at Chicago-area listeners interested in contemporary art.
• Bad@Reality A segment or show within the Bad at Sports ecosystem focused on contemporary art topics. Targeted at contemporary art enthusiasts.
• Bad at Sports Shop (Threadless) Merchandise store powered by Threadless offering Bad at Sports branded items. Targeted at fans and supporters of the Bad at Sports podcast and platform.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hyperallergic: Online arts publication combining criticism, news, and commentary on contemporary art. Comparable as a digital-first, criticism-led art media outlet serving a similar audience of art enthusiasts and professionals.
• Bomb Magazine: Arts magazine built around primary-source interviews with artists, writers, and performers. Overlaps with Bad at Sports in its interview-driven editorial model focused on contemporary art practitioners.
• The Brooklyn Rail: Independent arts and culture publication featuring long-form criticism and artist interviews. Shares Bad at Sports' editorial ethos of substantive, ego-free discourse and a publication-plus-events format.
• Modern Art Notes Podcast: Long-running weekly art podcast featuring interviews with artists, curators, and critics. The closest direct analogue to Bad at Sports in format, cadence, and editorial focus on contemporary art discourse.

Broad incumbents

• Artnet News: Major online art news and criticism outlet covering the global art market and contemporary art. A larger, broader incumbent operating in adjacent editorial territory with much greater scale.
• Artforum: Long-established international contemporary art magazine with print and digital editions. A broad incumbent in art criticism whose podcast and digital initiatives intersect with Bad at Sports' audience.
• Artsy: Global art marketplace and editorial platform combining auction, gallery, and editorial content. A broad incumbent whose editorial arm competes for the same art-interested audience.

Regional players

• Chicago Reader: Long-running Chicago alternative weekly with significant arts criticism coverage. Comparable as a regional Chicago media outlet serving arts audiences in the same geography.
• Newcity Chicago: Chicago-focused arts and culture publication covering visual art, film, music, and food. A regional peer operating in the same Chicago media market with overlapping art coverage.

Others

• Bad at Sports Center (sub-brand): The radio sub-brand of Bad at Sports itself, broadcast on WLPN/Lumpen Radio. Included as an internal ecosystem reference rather than an external peer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/badatsports
• YouTubeyoutube.com/results?search_query=bad+at+sports+podcast
• Facebookfacebook.com/badatsports
• Instagraminstagram.com/badatsports

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Bad at Sports