94.5 The Buzz

What 94.5 The Buzz does

94.5 The Buzz is a Houston-market FM radio station licensed to broadcast at 94.5 MHz under a rock and alternative music format, owned and operated as part of the iHeartMedia, Inc. (NYSE: IHRT) portfolio of stations. The station reaches listeners across the Houston metropolitan area through its over-the-air signal and extends distribution to the iHeartRadio digital platform, an on-demand podcast network hosted on the station website, and a presence on Instagram and email channels. On-air programming is anchored by personalities such as the Rod Ryan Show and includes utility content like the StormWatch weather service, community initiatives such as Rod Ryan Show Cares, and off-air engagement through live concert and event promotions and a studio-cam feature called Peepshow.

The underlying technology stack combines traditional FM broadcast infrastructure with digital publishing assets (website, podcasts, social, email) and integration into iHeartMedia's national iHeartRadio app, which serves as both a streaming extension of the broadcast signal and a podcast distribution platform. Audience engagement features — including live events, a visible studio, and community-cause tie-ins — are operated as branded content extensions rather than as standalone technology products.

The business model is classic broadcast radio monetization: the station sells advertising and sponsorship inventory to local and national advertisers, with revenue derived from on-air spot ads, digital display and audio ads on the station's web and app properties, sponsored on-air segments, and event/concert sponsorships. As a single-market FM station within a publicly traded parent, 94.5 The Buzz does not operate an independent pricing or subscription product; commercial performance is bundled into iHeartMedia's broader Houston-market and national ad-sales operations. No enterprise contracts, named customers, or subscription tiers are disclosed in the available input.

Name

94.5 The Buzz

Legal name

KTBZ-FM (iHeartMedia, Inc.)

Website

https://thebuzz.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

94.5 The Buzz is a Houston-market FM rock/alternative radio station owned by iHeartMedia, broadcasting at 94.5 MHz and distributing via iHeartRadio, podcasts, and digital channels to monetize advertising from local and national advertisers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Radio Broadcasting

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Radio Station Groups (Owned & Operated/Station Chains) (MPABACAC)

Keywords

• Rock radio broadcasting
• Alternative music radio
• Fm radio advertising
• Podcast distribution
• Live concert promotions

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Advertising/Spot Sales: Traditional radio advertising model generating revenue through on-air commercials and sponsorships sold to local Houston businesses and national advertisers. The station offers various contest and promotional opportunities for advertisers.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

94.5 The Buzz (KTBZ-FM) is a Houston-based FM radio station broadcasting a rock and alternative music format on 94.5 MHz. The station distributes free over-the-air radio plus digital streaming via iHeartRadio, supported by on-air personalities (Rod Ryan Morning Show, Theresa, Aly, Jeremy, Josh Reno, Emerging ALT), a lineup of branded podcasts, live concert promotions, contests and giveaways, and supplementary services such as StormWatch local weather. Revenue is generated by selling on-air advertising, sponsorships, contest mentions, and live event sponsorships to local and national advertisers.

Product overview

94.5 The Buzz is a Houston-based FM radio station specializing in rock and alternative music format. The station operates as part of the iHeartRadio network, offering a unified media experience that combines live radio broadcasting, original podcasts (including The Rod Ryan Show, Play Pants, Pass The Gravy, Tess Talks, A Recent Study Suggests, Off The Top, and Always Be Consuming), live concert events, and promotional contests. The station's on-air personalities include Rod Ryan, Theresa, Aly, Jeremy, Josh Reno, and Emerging ALT, who curate playlists featuring artists such as Muse, Beck, Twenty One Pilots, Foo Fighters, Theory of a Deadman, and Cage the Elephant. Content is distributed through the iHeartRadio platform and includes supplementary services such as StormWatch weather alerts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 94.5 The Buzz FM Radio Broadcast Houston-based FM radio station broadcasting a rock and alternative music format at 94.5 MHz, featuring on-air personalities including Rod Ryan, Theresa, Aly, Jeremy, Josh Reno, and Emerging ALT. Free to listeners in the Houston metro area.
• The Rod Ryan Show Morning radio show hosted by Rod Ryan featuring music, commentary, blog content, podcast episodes, and live in-studio video streaming via the Peepshow Studio Cam, plus a charitable merchandise store. Aimed at Houston rock and alternative radio listeners.
• 94.5 The Buzz Podcast Network Collection of branded podcasts (The Rod Ryan Show, Play Pants with Rod Ryan and Jason Ginty, Pass The Gravy Podcast, Tess Talks, A Recent Study Suggests, Off The Top, Always Be Consuming) distributed on-demand via the iHeartRadio podcast network for rock and alternative music audiences.
• Live Concerts and Events Calendar listing of live concert events featuring rock and alternative artists (e.g., Young The Giant, The Black Keys, Motionless In White, The Black Crowes), with listener contest opportunities to win tickets.
• Contests and Promotions Promotional contests including the Suburb Summer Sizzler 2026 and ticket giveaways for concerts featuring 311, Dirty Heads, Mumford & Sons, Blue October (BUZZ Blue Christmas), Three Days Grace, I Prevail, and The Funeral Portrait (Buzzoween). Open to Houston-area listeners.
• StormWatch Weather Service Local weather monitoring and storm tracking service integrated from KTRH iHeartRadio, providing weather updates and alerts for the Houston area.

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 indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• 101X KROX/KDHT Austin: Alternative rock station serving the Austin DMA with a directly overlapping format (alternative/indie rock); the closest Texas-market alt-rock peer in terms of content positioning and target listener demographic.
• KEGL 97.1 The Eagle (Dallas-Fort Worth): iHeartMedia-owned classic rock station serving the Dallas-Fort Worth DMA with a sister-rock format; directly comparable as a Texas-market rock station within the same parent company's portfolio, addressing similar advertisers and listener demographics.
• KROQ 106.7 Los Angeles: Legendary alternative rock station in Los Angeles owned by Audacy; the benchmark alternative rock station in the US and the most directly comparable format peer for 94.5 The Buzz at major-market scale.
• KBXX 97.9 KISS FM Houston: Sister iHeartMedia-owned FM station in the same Houston metro, focused on R&B/hip-hop and pop; competes for the same Houston advertising dollars and overlaps with 94.5 The Buzz in listener share fights within the Houston DMA.
• WMMR 93.3 Philadelphia: Mainstream rock station serving the Philadelphia metro under Audacy; a directly comparable mainstream rock station in a top-ten US market with similar personality-driven morning shows and event-driven audience engagement.
• WKLS 96.1 The Rock Atlanta: iHeartMedia-owned mainstream rock station in Atlanta, a top-ten US market with a directly comparable rock format; sister station within iHeart's portfolio sharing infrastructure, talent management, and advertiser relationships.
• KLBJ 93.7 Austin: Rock-formatted station in Austin serving a similar Texas metro audience with a rock/album-oriented playlist; comparable to 94.5 The Buzz in format, on-air personality-driven content, and Texas-market advertiser relationships.
• WDVE 102.5 Pittsburgh: iHeartMedia-owned classic rock station serving the Pittsburgh DMA; sibling rock-format station within the same parent company, highly comparable in operations, advertiser base, and on-air event programming.

Broad incumbents

• Audacy, Inc. Major US radio broadcaster (formerly CBS Radio/Entercom) operating KROQ, WMMR, and other rock/alternative stations across multiple markets; relevant as the principal independent competitor to iHeartMedia's rock station portfolio including 94.5 The Buzz in Houston-area ad competition.
• SiriusXM Alt Nation: Satellite and streaming alternative rock channel operated by SiriusXM Holdings; competes for the same alternative rock audience at a national level and serves as a substitute for listeners — and an indirect competitor for ad budgets shifting from terrestrial to satellite/digital.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/945thebuzz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/94.5-the-buzz-ktbz-fm

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 94.5 The Buzz