Air1 Radio
Air1 Radio is a listener-supported Christian worship music network operated as a 501(c)(3) ministry of K-LOVE, Inc., broadcasting across 90+ FM/HD stations in 40+ US states plus global streaming, podcasts, on-demand video, and live events to a Christian audience that funds it via donations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1978
- HeadquartersOmaha, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Air1 Radio does
Air1 Radio is a listener-supported Christian worship music radio network operated as a ministry of K-LOVE, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 99-0434313) headquartered in Franklin, Tennessee following a 2024 relocation. Founded in 1982 (preceded by a 1978 vision), the network broadcasts over 90 FCC-licensed FM and HD Radio stations plus translators across more than 40 US states, complemented by global online streaming, mobile apps, the Air1 On Demand video platform (2020), the AccessMore podcasting platform launched in partnership in 2020, and flagship live events including Air1 Live at Red Rocks (2021) and the Air1 Fan Awards at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium (2013). The network offers English and Spanish-language formats (Air1 and Air1 Música de Adoración), daily Verse of the Day devotionals, listener community features, and a station-finder tool, and acquired WTA Media in 2019 to develop faith-based film and book content. The team is led by CEO Tom Stultz with a Chief of Staff (Bobby Wood) and a Ministry Leadership Team spanning Pastoral, Development, Radio, Info Security, HR/Legal functions.
Air1's revenue model is entirely donation-driven: it is a 501(c)(3) entity and ECFA-accredited ministry providing all content free of charge to listeners. Revenue streams include listener contributions (cash, estate plans, donor-advised funds, stocks/securities, cryptocurrency, retirement accounts, and non-cash gifts), supplemented by on-air pledge drives amplified by challenge funds that historically generate roughly 7x additional support per dollar contributed. The go-to-market motion is community-led — listeners engage across FM broadcast, digital streaming, podcasts, social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, X), email devotionals, and live events, then convert to donors through persistent, multi-channel stewardship. Target segments span a primary general Christian audience plus secondary Gen Z and Hispanic community segments. Customer concentration is structurally low: the donor base is a long tail of individual listeners rather than enterprise accounts, with the only partnership-revenue-adjacent relationship being FreeWill (legacy gift pipeline) and the community-impact partnership with Beads of Courage (60,000+ children served in 400 hospitals across 9 countries, used for on-air storytelling rather than revenue).
Air1 Radio firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Air1 Radio
- Legal name
- K-LOVE, Inc.
- Website
- https://air1.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1978
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Air1 Radio is a listener-supported Christian worship music network operated as a 501(c)(3) ministry of K-LOVE, Inc., broadcasting across 90+ FM/HD stations in 40+ US states plus global streaming, podcasts, on-demand video, and live events to a Christian audience that funds it via donations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Air1 Radio industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Religious Broadcasting
- NAICS
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110), Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611)
- SIC
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Religious Music & Worship Broadcasting (MPABALAN)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Religious/Faith-Based Radio Networks (MPABABAC), Religious Radio Broadcasting (MPAIAEAF), Radio Streaming & Catch-Up Audio Platforms (MPAIADAJ), Non-Interactive Digital Radio (Lean-Back Streaming) (MPAIACAB)
Keywords
Where Air1 Radio is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Omaha
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Air1 Radio business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Donor Contributions: Primary revenue stream from listener donations and charitable contributions. Air1 is a ministry of K-LOVE, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 99-0434313). Gifts are tax deductible to the extent allowed by U.S. federal and state tax laws. Multiple giving methods are offered including cash, estate plans, donor-advised funds, stocks/securities, cryptocurrency, retirement accounts, and non-cash gifts.
- Challenge Fund Matching: Pledge drive success fund generates an average of $7 in additional support with challenge funds, amplifying donor contributions during on-air fundraising campaigns.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free access to all radio programming, streaming, podcasts, and On Demand content |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Air1 Radio product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Air1 Radio is a listener-supported Christian worship music radio network that broadcasts contemporary praise music via FM/HD Radio across 90+ stations in 40+ US states, complemented by online streaming, on-demand video, podcasts, and live events. Operated as a ministry of K-LOVE, Inc. (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit), it offers its content free to listeners and is funded entirely by listener donations. Programming includes worship music, devotionals (Verse of the Day), prayer support, artist interviews, and faith-based content in both English and Spanish.
Product overview
Air1 Radio is a Christian worship music radio network operated by K-LOVE, Inc. (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit ministry) offering multiple delivery channels: FM/HD Radio broadcast across hundreds of frequencies nationwide, online streaming, and on-demand content. The primary Air1 station provides contemporary Christian worship music with DJ-hosted programming and artist features, while Air1 Música De Adoración serves Spanish-speaking audiences. Supporting products include Air1 On Demand (streaming VOD content), worship sessions playlists, the Verse of the Day devotional resource, live events (Air1 Live at Red Rocks, annual cruises, the Air1 Fan Awards), the AccessMore podcast platform (partnership), and a station finder tool. The network expanded from its 1982 flagship launch in Santa Rosa, California to national coverage including major markets like New York (2010) and Los Angeles (2017), and moved headquarters to Franklin, Tennessee in 2024.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Air1 On Demand: Streaming platform offering live concerts, original programming and exclusive content.
- AccessMore
Products and services
- Air1 Radio (English) Christian worship music radio station broadcast via FM/HD Radio frequencies across 40+ US states and online streaming worldwide, featuring contemporary Christian worship music, DJ-hosted shows, artist features, and worship sessions for individual listeners.
- Air1 Música De Adoración (Spanish) Spanish-language worship music radio station providing Christian worship music programming in Spanish for Hispanic audiences, available via select FM/HD Radio frequencies and online streaming.
- Air1 On Demand On-demand streaming platform offering live concerts, original programming, and exclusive content available for free to listeners worldwide.
- Air1 Live Events Live concert events including the annual Air1 Live at Red Rocks at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado and the Meet Every Listener tour with featured artists, serving the Air1 listener community.
- Air1 Fan Awards Annual awards event held at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium recognizing Christian music artists and their contributions to the genre.
- Verse of the Day Daily Bible verse devotionals with commentary delivered via the Air1 website, video content, and email subscription, providing spiritual encouragement to listeners.
- Station Finder Interactive online tool that allows users to locate nearby Air1 radio stations by zip code or city, with FM frequency listings across all US states.
Quantifiable outcome
- Challenge funds generate average of $7 in additional support per dollar contributed during pledge drives
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Air1 Radio
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Air1 Radio technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Air1 Radio partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- AccessMorecoreFaith-based podcasting platform launched in partnership with Air1 in 2020, offering live concerts, original programming, and exclusive content to fans for free. AccessMore distributes Air1 content and extends reach beyond traditional radio into the podcasting ecosystem.
- WTA MediacoreAir1 acquired WTA Media in 2019 to develop faith-based films and books, expanding beyond radio into content publishing and production. This strategic acquisition enables creation of original intellectual property in video and print formats.
- FreeWillminorFreeWill provides free online will-writing as a service to Air1 donors, making estate planning accessible while generating potential legacy gift opportunities for the ministry.
- Beads of CourageminorArts-in-medicine program based in Tucson, Arizona serving more than 60,000 children in 400 hospitals in 9 countries. Air1 coverage highlights this organization providing glass beads as visual reminders of courage for children fighting illness. Clinicians use the Rx card system to award beads for procedures.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves14 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Air1 Radio competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- SiriusXM: SiriusXM is a subscription-based satellite and streaming audio service with dedicated Christian music and talk channels. It competes with Air1 for worship music listeners but operates a fundamentally different subscription-revenue business model and national satellite delivery infrastructure.
- iHeartMedia: iHeartMedia is the largest US commercial radio broadcaster with thousands of stations and a national digital streaming platform. It is comparable to Air1 in broadcast and digital audio distribution scale but operates commercial rather than listener-supported formats.
- Salem Communications: Salem Communications (now Salem Media Group) operates a large portfolio of Christian and conservative talk radio stations across the US, serving a comparable faith-based listener base but with a broader portfolio of news/talk formats rather than focused worship music.
- EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network): EWTN is a large Catholic-focused religious media organization operating radio, television, and digital platforms funded by listener donations. It is comparable to Air1 in faith-based audience, donation model, and multi-platform content strategy but focuses on Catholic rather than evangelical Protestant worship.
- Cumulus Media: Cumulus Media is a major US radio broadcaster with hundreds of stations and digital properties. While operating commercial formats rather than worship music, it shares the multi-station broadcast infrastructure model that defines Air1's core distribution.
Direct peers
- Bott Radio Network: Bott Radio Network is a national Christian radio network offering Bible teaching and conservative Christian programming across multiple US states, comparable in mission and audience to Air1 but with a teaching-and-talk format rather than worship music.
- AccessMore: AccessMore is a faith-based podcast platform launched in partnership with Air1 in 2020, distributing original Christian podcasts and faith content. While Air1 is a partner rather than a competitor, AccessMore is structurally comparable as a faith-audio digital distribution platform targeting overlapping audiences.
- Educational Media Foundation (EMF Broadcasting): EMF Broadcasting is the operator of K-LOVE and Air1 networks; it functions as the parent operating entity, but as a broadcasting organization it is structurally comparable to Air1 in mission, funding model, and infrastructure.
- K-LOVE: K-LOVE is Air1's sister network under the same parent (K-LOVE, Inc.) and the most directly comparable peer, operating a contemporary Christian music radio format with a similar multi-state broadcast footprint, listener-supported donation model, and digital streaming presence.
Emerging players
- Faith Comes By Hearing: Faith Comes By Hearing is a nonprofit audio Bible ministry distributing free Scripture recordings globally through digital and broadcast channels. It shares Air1's faith-based, donation-supported audio distribution model but focuses on Scripture reading rather than worship music.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Air1 Radio social profiles
Digital presenceAir1 Radio financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Air1 Radio leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Air1 Radio subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Air1 Radio funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Air1 Radio 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 Air1 Radio
What does Air1 Radio do?
Air1 Radio is a listener-supported Christian worship music radio network that broadcasts contemporary praise music via FM/HD Radio across 90+ stations in 40+ US states, complemented by online streaming, on-demand video, podcasts, and live events. Operated as a ministry of K-LOVE, Inc. (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit), it offers its content free to listeners and is funded entirely by listener donations. Programming includes worship music, devotionals (Verse of the Day), prayer support, artist interviews, and faith-based content in both English and Spanish.
Is Air1 Radio a public or private company?
Air1 Radio is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Air1 Radio founded?
Air1 Radio was founded in 1978. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Air1 Radio based?
Air1 Radio is headquartered in Omaha, United States, in the North America region.
How does Air1 Radio make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donor Contributions are the primary driver. The others are challenge Fund Matching.
Who are Air1 Radio's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are SiriusXM, iHeartMedia, Salem Communications, EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network) and Cumulus Media. Direct peers are Bott Radio Network, AccessMore, Educational Media Foundation (EMF Broadcasting) and K-LOVE. Faith Comes By Hearing is listed as an emerging player.
Does Air1 Radio have an API?
No public API is recorded for Air1 Radio.
What industry is Air1 Radio in?
Air1 Radio's product category is Religious Broadcasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABALAN, Religious Music & Worship Broadcasting, with a secondary code of MPABABAC, Religious/Faith-Based Radio Networks. Its NAICS code is 516110 and its SIC code is 4832.