Life FM

What Life FM does

Life FM is a New Zealand-based Christian community radio station operated as a brand of Rhema Media Inc., a non-profit Christian media ministry headquartered in Auckland. Founded in 1997, the station broadcasts across both the North and South Islands via 50+ FM frequencies (87.6 to 106.8 FM), supplemented by live streaming on its website and the Rhema Media App. Its primary audience is the New Zealand Christian community, which it serves with 24/7 faith-based music programming, daily devotional content, prayer support, and a growing library of video content featuring New Zealand Christian and faith-adjacent musicians. The station is led operationally by Rhema Media and supported by a 1,400+ Prayer Warrior volunteer community and a Church Rep network, with programming that includes The Morning Wake Up, Days with Sherryn, The Arvo Bravo, and Nights with Eloise (a YouChart listener-voting chart countdown).

The station's core technology is a distributed FM broadcast network across New Zealand, paired with digital streaming, the Rhema Media App (via the Sanctuary platform), the YouChart online and app-based voting platform, and a content management pipeline for YouTube and social video distribution. Its product surface extends well beyond radio: proprietary devotionals include Word For You Today (print/email with a minimum $30 annual donation), Bible Boost (daily audio podcast), and Seven Minute Sermon (weekly podcast); community features include the Prayer Wall (online prayer requests) and the Prayer Warrior program; ancillary products include a branded merchandise e-commerce store (store.lifefm.co.nz) fulfilled by print-on-demand partner Print Poppa, and a monthly newsletter called The Bulletin. Distribution channels span FM broadcast, website streaming, mobile app, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Spotify.

Life FM's business model is donation-led, typical of a non-profit religious broadcaster, with three identifiable revenue streams: (1) listener donations and financial support via a dedicated donation portal, (2) merchandise sales through the e-commerce store, and (3) a suggested minimum $30 annual donation tied to the Word For You Today print devotional subscription. Its go-to-market is community-led, relying on Prayer Warriors, Church Reps, and volunteers to amplify reach, supplemented by organic social media engagement and a multi-show on-air lineup. Operating costs are kept lean via volunteer labor and a small paid staff (11-50 employees), and the station is structurally embedded within Rhema Media's broader Christian media ministry alongside Rhema radio, Star TV, Shine TV, the Sanctuary app, and The Word For Today devotional.

Name

Life FM

Legal name

Life FM

Website

https://lifefm.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Life FM is a New Zealand Christian music radio station broadcasting on 50+ FM frequencies and via digital streaming, serving the country's Christian community with faith-based music, devotionals, prayer resources, and NZ artist video content, funded by listener donations and merchandise sales under Rhema Media Inc.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Christian Radio Broadcasting

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

Religious Radio Broadcasting (MPAIAEAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Religious/Faith-Based Radio Networks (MPABABAC), Religious Music & Worship Broadcasting (MPABALAN)

Keywords

• Christian radio broadcasting
• Religious media services
• Faith-based broadcasting
• Devotional publications
• Community radio

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Listener Donations and Financial Support: Life FM is funded by listener donations and financial support from the Christian community. A dedicated donation portal is available at donate.rhemamedia.co.nz for brand=lifefm. The station emphasizes that its existence depends on people who listen, pray, and support financially.
2. Merchandise Sales: Life FM operates an e-commerce store (store.lifefm.co.nz) selling branded merchandise including apparel (tees, hoodies, crews), headwear (caps, bucket hats), and accessories. Products are sold via print-on-demand through partner Print Poppa, with GST applied for NZ customers and shipping to NZ, Australia, and international destinations.
3. Word For You Today Devotional Subscription: The Word For You Today devotional is available via post or email subscription. A minimum annual donation of $30 is requested to cover printing and postage costs for hard copy delivery via post.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Life FM is a Christian community radio station that broadcasts faith-based music, talk, and devotional programming across 50+ FM frequencies in New Zealand, with online streaming, mobile app access, and supporting daily devotional publications (Word For You Today, Bible Boost, Seven Minute Sermon). The station also operates listener-engagement platforms such as YouChart, a Prayer Wall, a Prayer Warrior volunteer programme, and a merchandise store, funded primarily through donations and devotional subscriptions.

Product overview

Life FM is a Christian radio station operated by Rhema Media Inc., broadcasting across New Zealand through FM frequencies and online streaming. The core offering is live radio programming including The Morning Wake Up (morning show with Sela and Bjorn), Days with Sherryn (daytime programming), The Arvo Bravo (afternoon show with Rachel and Baty), and Nights with Eloise (evening countdown show). The platform also features YouChart, a listener voting system for music charts. Supporting content includes video interviews and live performances of Christian musicians, devotional content through Word For You Today (print/email), Seven Minute Sermon and Bible Boost (podcasts). Community engagement features include Prayer Wall (online prayer requests), Prayer Warrior program (volunteer prayer team), and The Bulletin newsletter. An ecommerce store sells branded merchandise including apparel and headwear, fulfilled by Print Poppa. The Rhema Media App provides mobile access to Life FM content.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Morning Wake Up: Weekday morning show hosted by Sela and Bjorn, airing 6-10am, featuring music, conversation and entertainment.
• Days with Sherryn
• The Arvo Bravo
• Nights with Eloise
• YouChart
• Seven Minute Sermon
• Bible Boost
• Word For You Today
• Prayer Wall
• Life FM Merch Store

Products and services

• Life FM Radio Broadcast 24/7 Christian music, talk, and devotional radio broadcast distributed via FM frequencies across 50+ New Zealand locations and via online streaming, targeted at the New Zealand Christian listening community.
• YouChart Digital listener-engagement platform that allows Life FM audiences to vote on songs playing on air, shaping the station's music rotation.
• Word For You Today Daily devotional publication offered as a subscription content product to consumers seeking brief scripture-based encouragement.
• Bible Boost Daily on-demand devotional podcast delivering short Bible-based encouragement to individual Christian listeners.
• Seven Minute Sermon Weekly on-demand podcast providing brief sermon/teaching content aimed at Christian listeners seeking preaching content on the go.
• Prayer Wall Community prayer platform enabling Life FM listeners to submit prayer requests and engage in shared prayer ministry.
• Prayer Warrior Volunteer prayer team programme where individual listeners commit to praying regularly for Prayer Wall submissions, deepening community pastoral engagement.
• Life FM Store Online retail store selling branded Life FM merchandise (such as t-shirts and hoodies) to support station funding.
• The Bulletin Monthly email newsletter offering supporters updates from Life FM, including station news, devotional content, and donation appeals.
• The Morning Wake Up Weekday morning flagship radio programme featuring a mix of Christian music, talk and lifestyle segments hosted by Sela, Bjorn, and Sherryn.
• Days with Sherryn Weekday mid-morning radio programme hosted by Sherryn delivering Christian music and talk content to Life FM listeners.
• The Arvo Bravo Weekday afternoon radio programme featuring music, entertainment, and lifestyle content for the Life FM audience.
• Nights with Eloise Weeknight evening radio programme hosted by Eloise featuring music, talk, and listener engagement on Life FM.
• Life FM Frequencies Directory Directory service detailing FM transmission frequencies across 50+ New Zealand regions, allowing listeners to find and tune in to their local Life FM signal.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Rhema MediacoreOthersLife FM is operated by Rhema Media Inc., a Christian media ministry in New Zealand. Rhema Media also operates Rhema radio, Star TV, Shine TV, Sanctuary App, and The Word For Today devotional. Life FM exists as part of Rhema Media's broader mission to bring the word of God to New Zealanders.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• iHeartRadio: Major US-based radio platform and streaming service. Comparable as a large-scale radio broadcaster and audio platform with multi-platform distribution (FM + digital), though operating at vastly greater scale and with secular general-market programming.
• Star (Rhema Media): Sister Christian television brand under Rhema Media in New Zealand. Comparable as a fellow Rhema Media property delivering faith-based content to the same NZ audience, though via television rather than radio format.

Direct peers

• Air1: Christian music radio network also operated by Educational Media Foundation in the United States. Directly comparable as a faith-based contemporary music broadcaster sharing the same parent operator as K-LOVE, serving a similar Christian audience demographic.
• Rhema: Sister Christian radio brand under Rhema Media in New Zealand. Directly comparable as both operate as faith-based radio stations under the same parent ministry, sharing audience overlap and operational infrastructure in the NZ Christian radio market.
• K-LOVE: US-based Christian contemporary music radio network operated by Educational Media Foundation. Directly comparable as both run 24/7 Christian music radio formats with listener-funded models and devotional content extensions, making K-LOVE the closest international analogue in scale and mission.
• The Christian Broadcasting Association (CBA): New Zealand Christian media organization operating Christian radio and related content. Directly comparable as another NZ-based Christian broadcaster serving overlapping audience and mission, though operating with a different geographic and content footprint.
• UCB (United Christian Broadcasters): Christian broadcasting network operating radio and television in New Zealand. Directly comparable as a faith-based broadcaster serving the NZ Christian audience with overlapping devotional and music programming, competing for the same listener and donor base.

Regional players

• NZME (New Zealand Media and Entertainment): New Zealand's largest commercial radio network operator. Comparable as it operates competing FM radio stations across NZ with similar broadcast infrastructure, though focused on general/mainstream content rather than Christian programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/lifefm
• Facebookfacebook.com/lifefm
• Instagraminstagram.com/lifefm
• TikToktiktok.com/@lifefmnz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/life-fm-107-9

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 Life FM