CFRC 101.9 FM
CFRC 101.9 FM is a non-profit campus and community radio station broadcasting from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario since 1922, serving local listeners via 101.9 FM and worldwide online streaming, with programming, artist development, and events funded by advertising, donations, studio fees, merchandise, and government grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1922
- HeadquartersKingston, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What CFRC 101.9 FM does
CFRC 101.9 FM is a non-profit campus and community radio station that has broadcast continuously from Lower Carruthers Hall on Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario since 1922, making it one of Canada's oldest campus radio stations. The station transmits over-the-air on 101.9 FM in stereo, 24/7, 365 days per year, with regional coverage spanning Belleville to Brockville and across the U.S. border to Watertown, NY, and extends its reach globally via live online streaming through cfrc.ca and multiple downloadable mobile platforms. Core technical assets include professional broadcast and recording studios available for community booking, an extensive physical music archive (vinyl and CD), and a podcast distribution platform at podcast.cfrc.ca.
The station is volunteer-driven, with programming produced primarily by Queen's University students and Kingston community members, and an employee count in the 11–50 range. Programming covers local news (funded by the Local Journalism Initiative through the Department of Canadian Heritage and Community Radio Fund of Canada), local music discovery, artist development through the Airwave YGK Musicians-in-Residence Program (supported by the City of Kingston and Kingston Arts Council), Release Radar, and the annual HomeGrown Live Music Festival, which in its 17th year (2025) featured 145+ Kingston acts across 17 stages. Additional programming initiatives include studio sessions, club takeovers by Queen's student organizations, and workshops such as the Airwave YGK Songwriting Workshop.
CFRC operates a hybrid non-profit revenue model with five streams: (1) advertising and sponsorship packages sold to local Kingston businesses, (2) listener donations and recurring memberships, (3) limited-edition branded merchandise sales (including Centennial gear), (4) transaction-fee studio space bookings for podcasts and musical/theatrical recordings, and (5) government grant funding via the Local Journalism Initiative. Distribution is multi-channel: over-the-air FM, online streaming, a podcast portal, social media (Instagram, YouTube, X), and an online merchandise storefront. The station maintains core partnerships with Queen's University, the City of Kingston, the Kingston Arts Council, the Kingston Music Office, the Dan School of Drama and Music, the Department of Film & Media, and a roster of local business sponsors (Grad Club, Long & McQuade, Novel Idea, The Toucan, KPP Concerts, and others).
CFRC 101.9 FM firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CFRC 101.9 FM
- Legal name
- CFRC 101.9 FM
- Website
- https://cfrc.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1922
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- CFRC 101.9 FM is a non-profit campus and community radio station broadcasting from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario since 1922, serving local listeners via 101.9 FM and worldwide online streaming, with programming, artist development, and events funded by advertising, donations, studio fees, merchandise, and government grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CFRC 101.9 FM industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Radio Broadcasting
- NAICS
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110), Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611)
- SIC
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)
- akta.pro primary industry
- University/Educational Local Stations (College Radio, Campus TV) (MPABACAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Public/Community Local Stations (PBS Member Stations, Community Radio, LPFM) (MPABACAG), Community/Low-Power Nonprofit Radio (LPFM/Community Radio) (MPABADAE)
Keywords
Where CFRC 101.9 FM is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kingston
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
CFRC 101.9 FM business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Advertising & Sponsorship: CFRC sells advertising and sponsorship packages to local businesses to reach target audiences on airwaves and social media. Ad packages are available for purchase through their services page.
- Donations & Membership: The station accepts donations from listeners and community members. Membership sign-up options are available for volunteers and supporters who want to support CFRC's operations.
- Merchandise Sales: CFRC sells merchandise including limited edition Centennial gear and other branded items through their merchandise store.
- Studio Booking Fees: Revenue generated from community members and volunteers who book professional studio space for podcast, radio show, or musical/theatrical production recording.
- Funding Grants: CFRC receives funding support from the Local Journalism Initiative funded by the Department of Canadian Heritage and administered through the Community Radio Fund of Canada for local news programming.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Monthly | Advertising & Sponsorship Packages |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
CFRC 101.9 FM product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CFRC 101.9 FM is a campus community radio station that broadcasts over-the-air on 101.9 FM and worldwide via online streaming, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The station delivers locally produced radio programming including music shows, hyperlocal Kingston-area news funded through the Local Journalism Initiative, podcast distribution, and live studio sessions for local musicians. It also provides bookable studio recording facilities, advertising and sponsorship packages for local businesses, branded merchandise, and Airwave YGK Musicians-in-Residence programming.
Product overview
CFRC 101.9 FM is a campus community radio station broadcasting from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario since 1922. The station operates as a traditional broadcast radio service offering over-the-air FM programming on 101.9FM alongside worldwide streaming via its website and multiple downloadable platforms. Core offerings include live radio broadcast programming available 24/7, 365 days per year, studio session recordings for local musicians, podcast distribution, community news programming funded by the Local Journalism Initiative, and volunteer opportunities for student and community involvement. The station also provides studio space booking for podcasts, radio shows, and musical/theatrical recordings, as well as advertising and sponsorship packages for local businesses. No SaaS product, API, or technology platform is offered.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- FM Radio Broadcast (101.9 FM)
- Online Streaming Service
Quantifiable outcome
- Local news programming supported through Local Journalism Initiative funded by Department of Canadian Heritage
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use CFRC 101.9 FM
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
CFRC 101.9 FM technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
CFRC 101.9 FM partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Queen's UniversitycoreCFRC is based on Queen's University campus in Kingston and serves as the campus community radio station. The university provides facilities and institutional support for the station's operations. Many student volunteers come from Queen's programs.
- City of KingstoncoreCity of Kingston provides funding support for the Airwave YGK Musicians-in-Residence Program, supporting local artist development and radio programming. Partnership supports Kingston Arts Council initiatives.
- Kingston Arts CouncilcoreKingston Arts Council provides funding support for the Airwave YGK Musicians-in-Residence Program, enabling local musicians to record and perform in CFRC studios.
- Community Radio Fund of CanadacoreThe Community Radio Fund of Canada administers the Local Journalism Initiative funding from Department of Canadian Heritage that supports CFRC's local news programming.
- Kingston Music OfficecorePartnership with Kingston Music Office for Release Radar series promoting local music releases. CFRC broadcasts music featured in the KMO's weekly series and co-produces the Release Radar Top 20 countdown.
- The Dan School of Drama and Music (Queen's University)minorProvides additional support for the Airwave YGK Musicians-in-Residence Program, contributing to student music education and artist development.
- Department of Film & Media (Queen's University)minorPartner department supporting the Airwave YGK program, providing additional resources for student media production.
- KPP ConcertsminorLocal concert promotion company that co-presents concerts with CFRC, including events at venues like The Broom Factory.
- Long & McQuade KingstonminorMusical equipment retailer that sponsors CFRC funding drives and supports local music community initiatives.
- Local Business PartnersminorVarious local Kingston businesses partner with CFRC including Grad Club, The Toucan, Novel Idea Books, Long & McQuade, and others that support station funding drives and provide sponsorship.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
CFRC 101.9 FM competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- CJAM 91.5 FM: University of Windsor's campus community radio, broadcasting listener-supported volunteer programming focused on music discovery and local news. Directly comparable as a Canadian university-affiliated community broadcaster.
- Trent Radio (100.9 FM): Peterborough-based community/campus station affiliated with Trent University, operating on a volunteer-driven, non-profit model with local music and news. Directly comparable as an Ontario campus-community hybrid station.
- CKXU 88.3 FM: University of Lethbridge's campus community radio station in Alberta, operated as a non-profit with primarily volunteer hosts. Directly comparable mission and operational model to CFRC, though in a different regional market in western Canada.
- CIUT 89.5 FM: University of Toronto's campus community radio station, operating as a non-profit listener-supported FM broadcaster with volunteer programming. Directly comparable in mission, governance, and audience mix of students and surrounding community.
- CKUT 90.3 FM: Campus community radio station at McGill University in Montreal operating on a similar non-profit volunteer-driven model, broadcasting since 1987. Directly comparable as a Canadian university-affiliated community radio station with music, news, and spoken-word programming, volunteer hosts, and campus/community hybridization.
- CFRU 93.3 FM: University of Guelph's campus community radio station, broadcasting music, talk, and local news on a non-profit volunteer-driven basis. Directly comparable as another Ontario campus/community station with similar programming mix, funding model, and educational partnerships.
- CHRW 94.7 FM: Western University's campus radio station in London, Ontario, operating as a listener-supported community broadcaster with volunteer programmers. Directly comparable as an Ontario university-based community station with similar volunteer/on-air structure.
Broad incumbents
- CKUA Radio: Alberta's public, listener-supported radio network operating multiple frequencies plus streaming. Comparable as a non-commercial community/public broadcaster in Canada with a music-discovery mission and donor-funded model, though operating at much greater scale and as a multi-station network rather than a single campus outlet.
- CBC Radio One (CBC Listen): Canada's national public broadcaster providing news, talk, and music programming across Canada including Kingston via local CBC staff. Comparable as a public radio competitor for local news audiences and ad-free spoken-word listeners in the Kingston market.
Others
- National Campus and Community Radio Association (NCRA/ANREC): Canadian association that represents and supports campus and community radio stations, including CFRC. Listed as adjacent infrastructure rather than a competitor; relevant because it coordinates sector-wide funding, training, and policy advocacy that underpin CFRC's operating model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
CFRC 101.9 FM social profiles
Digital presenceCFRC 101.9 FM financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CFRC 101.9 FM leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
CFRC 101.9 FM funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CFRC 101.9 FM 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 CFRC 101.9 FM
What does CFRC 101.9 FM do?
CFRC 101.9 FM is a campus community radio station that broadcasts over-the-air on 101.9 FM and worldwide via online streaming, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The station delivers locally produced radio programming including music shows, hyperlocal Kingston-area news funded through the Local Journalism Initiative, podcast distribution, and live studio sessions for local musicians. It also provides bookable studio recording facilities, advertising and sponsorship packages for local businesses, branded merchandise, and Airwave YGK Musicians-in-Residence programming.
Is CFRC 101.9 FM a public or private company?
CFRC 101.9 FM is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was CFRC 101.9 FM founded?
CFRC 101.9 FM was founded in 1922. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is CFRC 101.9 FM based?
CFRC 101.9 FM is headquartered in Kingston, Canada, in the North America region.
How does CFRC 101.9 FM make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Advertising & Sponsorship is the primary driver. The others are donations & Membership, merchandise Sales, studio Booking Fees and funding Grants.
Who are CFRC 101.9 FM's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are CJAM 91.5 FM, Trent Radio (100.9 FM), CKXU 88.3 FM, CIUT 89.5 FM, CKUT 90.3 FM, CFRU 93.3 FM and CHRW 94.7 FM. Broad incumbents are CKUA Radio and CBC Radio One (CBC Listen). National Campus and Community Radio Association (NCRA/ANREC) is listed as an others.
Does CFRC 101.9 FM have an API?
No public API is recorded for CFRC 101.9 FM.
What industry is CFRC 101.9 FM in?
CFRC 101.9 FM's product category is Community Radio Broadcasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABACAH, University/Educational Local Stations (College Radio, Campus TV), with a secondary code of MPABACAG, Public/Community Local Stations (PBS Member Stations, Community Radio, LPFM). Its NAICS code is 516110 and its SIC code is 4832.