What Radiowave does

Radiowave, operating under the legal entity Internet Radio Database, Inc., is a U.S.-based privately held company founded in 2019 that delivers an AM/FM radio streaming platform built entirely as a Progressive Web App (PWA). The company serves two distinct customer segments: on the demand side, individual radio listeners who want browser-based access to local and regional stations across phone, tablet, and desktop devices without installing an app; and on the supply side, AM/FM radio broadcasters (with observed concentration in Christian and college radio) seeking to extend reach through web and mobile streaming. The platform distributes via direct URL (radiowave.io), supports Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Edge, and Safari, and offers HD-stream compatibility, station discovery by state and genre, and a favorites feature. Coverage spans at least 8 U.S. states (California, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, Washington).

The core technology is the PWA itself, which removes app-store dependency, downloads, and update cycles, paired with an end-to-end broadcaster streaming solution handling audio encoding, royalty reporting, and multi-device web delivery. The product is unified: a single consumer-facing playback experience backed by a broadcaster onboarding pipeline (free self-serve stream submission plus a paid subscription tier for broadcasters without existing streams). No public API, SDK, or third-party integrations are disclosed, and no enterprise customers, partnerships, awards, M&A, or funding events are documented.

The business model is two-sided. Listener-side revenue is effectively zero — the experience is free. Monetization depends on broadcaster-side revenue streams: free broadcaster self-service (database listing only) and a paid subscription tier offering streaming technology services (managed audio encoding, royalty reporting, hosted web app). Pricing is not publicly disclosed, and there is no evidence of advertising, data licensing, premium consumer subscriptions, or programmatic revenue. The go-to-market is product-led growth — direct web access, organic discovery, and email-driven station requests ([email protected]) — with no paid marketing channels or sales motion documented.

Name

Radiowave

Legal name

Internet Radio Database, Inc.

Website

https://radiowave.io

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Radiowave is a U.S.-based Progressive Web App, founded in 2019, that lets consumers stream AM/FM radio stations across any browser and device, while offering radio broadcasters free self-service listings and a paid end-to-end streaming service.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Internet Radio Streaming

NAICS

Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (5162), Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

Internet Radio & Streaming Broadcast Stations (Simulcast/Online-only) (MPAIAEAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Non-Interactive Digital Radio (Lean-Back Streaming) (MPAIACAB)

Keywords

• Internet radio streaming
• AM/FM streaming platform
• Progressive web app radio
• Radio broadcaster services
• Online radio directory

Headquarters

HQ city

Manhattan

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Broadcaster Subscriptions: Radiowave offers both free and paid subscription tiers for radio broadcasters to add their stations to the platform. Paid tiers likely provide enhanced features or visibility for broadcasters.
2. Streaming Technology Services: Provides streaming technology solutions to broadcasters who do not have existing streams, including encoding, hosting, and web interface capabilities, likely as a paid service.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Radiowave operates a progressive web application that lets consumers stream AM/FM radio stations on any phone, tablet, or desktop browser without downloading an app. For radio broadcasters, it provides an end-to-end streaming technology service that includes audio encoding, royalty reporting, and a ready-made cross-device web app, offered via both free and paid subscription tiers.

Product overview

Radiowave is a single unified product offering a consumer-facing progressive web application for streaming AM/FM radio stations across devices. For broadcasters, the company provides an integrated streaming technology service (available in free and paid tiers) that handles the complete streaming pipeline including audio encoding, royalty reporting, and cross-device web app delivery. The consumer app and broadcaster services operate as a unified platform connecting radio stations with listeners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Radiowave Consumer App Free progressive web application that lets consumers stream AM/FM radio stations on any phone, tablet, or desktop browser without downloads, app-store installs, or updates. Includes HD stream support, station discovery by state/city/genre, search/filter, and a personal favorites/following feed.
• Radiowave Streaming Technology (Broadcaster Service) End-to-end streaming service for AM/FM radio stations and broadcasters, covering audio encoding, royalty reporting, and a cross-device web app interface. Stations with an existing stream can self-serve-add their station for free; stations without a stream can subscribe to Radiowave's paid streaming technology.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Others

• Triton Digital: Triton Digital provides streaming, measurement, and ad-insertion technology to radio broadcasters and podcasters, including royalty reporting and programmatic ad tools. It is comparable to Radiowave's broadcaster-facing streaming and royalty-reporting bundle, though at enterprise scale.
• StreamGuys: StreamGuys is a B2B streaming-infrastructure provider for broadcasters, offering encoding, CDN, and content management. It is comparable to Radiowave's broadcaster-facing streaming technology service, particularly the encoding and delivery stack, but targets larger enterprise broadcasters.

Direct peers

• Streema: Streema is an online radio directory and streaming aggregator that allows users to browse and listen to AM/FM stations worldwide. It overlaps directly with Radiowave's directory-plus-streaming value proposition, particularly for international and community stations.
• Simple Radio: Simple Radio by Streema is a mobile app focused on simplified AM/FM streaming with a strong free offering. It is directly comparable to Radiowave's consumer product in feature scope and target use case, though it leans on native apps rather than PWA.
• Radio Garden: Radio Garden is a web-based interactive globe that lets users stream live radio stations globally. It shares Radiowave's web-first, no-install philosophy and listener-discovery focus, making it a closely comparable peer in the streaming radio aggregation niche.
• TuneIn: TuneIn is the dominant internet radio aggregator, offering streaming access to AM/FM stations plus podcasts and sports across web, mobile, and smart devices. It is a direct competitor to Radiowave's consumer-facing streaming experience and to its broadcaster aggregation model.

Broad incumbents

• iHeartRadio: iHeartRadio is a broad incumbent operated by iHeartMedia, combining live AM/FM station streaming, custom artist stations, and podcasts at massive scale. Comparable to Radiowave on the consumer AM/FM streaming dimension, but with vastly deeper catalog and owned-station distribution.
• Spotify: Spotify is a global audio streaming incumbent that has expanded into live radio station streaming alongside its music and podcast catalog. It is comparable to Radiowave as an audio destination but competes primarily through its proprietary music and podcast content rather than AM/FM aggregation.
• Audacy: Audacy is a major US radio broadcaster with a streaming app and podcast network, offering live station listening alongside on-demand audio. Comparable to Radiowave as a destination for live AM/FM streaming, but operating at a vastly larger scale and with owned content.

Regional players

• NPR One: NPR One is a public-radio-focused streaming app offering live NPR station streams and on-demand content in the US market. It is comparable to Radiowave on the lean-back live-streaming experience, but with curated public-radio programming rather than an open catalog.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

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 Radiowave