Radio MARŠ

What Radio MARŠ does

Radio MARŠ (legal name Zavod Mariborski radio študent) is a non-profit community radio station founded in 1990 in Maribor, Slovenia, broadcasting on 95.9 MHz FM with a secondary 89.3 MHz signal in Ljubljana and global internet streaming via radiomars.si. The station serves students, independent musicians, and the local Maribor community with alternative music programming, cultural commentary, and politically engaged journalism including recurring shows such as Polizika (political commentary), Balkanalije (Balkan regional coverage), and KoncertRacija (concert reviews). It is the only independent/community radio in the Maribor area and is a member of the Neuvrščenih network of free community media and affiliated with AMARC internationally.

The station operates a multi-channel distribution model combining FM broadcast, internet streaming, live venue field broadcasts through its Špedicija remote-sound service, and the MARŠ KLUB concert series that ties radio programming to physical cultural venues (Gustaf, Narodni dom, Pekarna, club KGB) across Maribor. Its content production features music shows, artist interviews, festival coverage, and special anniversary programming such as MARŠevih 30 (2020). Despite legal restrictions, the station dedicates more than one-third of its broadcast time to Slovenian music production.

Radio MARŠ runs as a zavod (Slovenian non-profit institute) under the direction of Sergej Vujanović with Jan Franc Podbrežnik as editor-in-chief. Revenue is assembled from listener donations, public grants (Municipality of Maribor, Ministry of Culture of Slovenia), project funding (Active Citizens Fund Slovenija), and event income including concert tickets (8-12 EUR), festival passes (20 EUR), and workshop fees (180 EUR). The station is volunteer-driven with no specific employee count disclosed and maintains ongoing open recruitment of new volunteer contributors, technicians, and journalists from the student population and local community.

Name

Radio MARŠ

Legal name

Zavod Mariborski radio študent

Website

https://radiomars.si

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Radio MARŠ is a non-profit community radio station in Maribor, Slovenia, broadcasting alternative music, cultural content, and socially engaged journalism on FM and online since 1990 for students, independent musicians, and the local community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Radio Broadcasting

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

Commercial Terrestrial Radio Broadcasting (AM/FM) (MPAIAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Community radio broadcasting
• Alternative music programming
• Independent media
• Cultural content
• Live event broadcasting

Headquarters

HQ city

Maribor

HQ country

Slovenia

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations from listeners: Radio MARŠ accepts donations from listeners and supporters through a dedicated donation mechanism on their website
2. Government and institutional funding: Non-profit community radio supported by municipal funding (Mestna občina Maribor), national ministry funding (Ministrstvo RS za kulturo), and project-based grants from programs such as Active Citizens Fund Slovenija
3. Event and festival revenue: Revenue from festival ticket sales (e.g., 20 EUR festival passes for MARŠ 25 anniversary), workshop fees (180 EUR for Nikolai Galen vocal workshop), and venue partnerships

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Radio MARŠ is a non-profit community radio station based in Maribor, Slovenia, broadcasting alternative music, cultural commentary, and community-focused programming on FM frequencies (95.9 MHz Maribor, 89.3 MHz Ljubljana) and via internet streaming. It operates a 30-year volunteer-driven content operation that produces music shows, political and regional commentary (Polizika, Balkanalije), interviews, and live broadcasts, and extends into live concert cycles (MARŠ KLUB), remote event broadcasting (Špedicija), and festival programming (MARŠevih 30).

Product overview

Radio MARŠ (Mariborski radio študent) operates as a community radio station based in Maribor, Slovenia, broadcasting primarily on FM frequency 95.9 MHz. The station functions as the primary core product—a student and community radio service featuring diverse programming that includes music shows across multiple genres, interviews with artists and cultural figures, social commentary shows like Polizika, and coverage of local cultural events. The station extends its reach through several named product lines: MARŠ KLUB is a concert cycle bringing live performances to local venues; Špedicija handles remote sound transport and live event broadcasting; and MARŠevih 30 represents special anniversary programming. The station is organizationally supported by the Zavod Mariborski radio študent and Društvo za podporo radiu MARŠ, and is part of the Neuvrščenih network of free community media.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Radio MARŠ Broadcasting Service Core community radio station broadcasting from Maribor, Slovenia on FM frequency 95.9 MHz (with secondary 89.3 MHz in Ljubljana) plus internet streaming, featuring music shows across multiple genres, interviews, cultural commentary, and live event coverage for the general public, students, and independent musicians.
• MARŠ KLUB Concert Series Concert cycle that brings Radio MARŠ programming to local venues, expanding musical perspectives and audiences through live performances and recordings of various musical acts at partner venues such as Gustaf and Narodni dom.
• Špedicija (Concert Transfer Service) Radio MARŠ service for irregular transport of remote sound and live concert/event broadcasts, enabling off-site event coverage and field-program broadcasting from cultural venues.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than one-third of programming dedicated to Slovenian music production
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Neuvrščenih (Association of Free Community Media)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRadio MARŠ is part of Neuvrščenih, the Association of Free Community Media of the Third Media Space, connecting it with other community radio stations across Slovenia and the broader European community media ecosystem.
• AMARC (World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational association of community radio broadcasters. AMARC representatives participated in Radio MARŠ's 25th anniversary international conference 'Participatorni mediji v participativni družbi' in 2015.
• Društvo za podporo radiu MARŠ (Association for Radio MARŠ Support)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting association that co-produces events, festivals, and provides organizational support for Radio MARŠ operations. Co-organizer of MARŠ 25 and MARŠ 26 anniversary celebrations.
• Zavod Pekarna Magdalenske Mreže (Pekarna Cultural Incubator)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural venue partner providing space for radio activities, concerts, and events. Multiple field programs broadcast from Pekarna locations including club Supernova and K18 gallery.
• Narodni dom Maribor (National Home Maribor)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCultural institution partnership for concert venue access. Narodni dom basement venue hosts MARŠ KLUB events and anniversary concerts.
• Mestna občina Maribor (Municipality of Maribor)majorOthersMunicipal government providing financial support through the Urad za kulturo in mladino (Office for Culture and Youth). Co-financially supports MARŠ KLUB concert series and annual events.
• Ministrstvo RS za kulturo (Ministry of Culture of Slovenia)majorOthersNational ministry providing cultural funding support for Radio MARŠ operations, concert programming, and events.
• Gustaf (Concert Venue)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary concert venue for MARŠ KLUB events. Most anniversary festival concerts held at Gustaf concert hall in Maribor.
• CAAP (Center za akademski apel)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTicket sales venue and event space at Tkalski prehod 4, used for festival ticket sales and some anniversary events.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• WFMU: Long-running freeform community radio station in the US, volunteer-driven and listener-supported. Comparable to Radio MARŠ in alternative programming, volunteer model, and non-commercial mission.
• Radio Terminal: Slovenian alternative/community radio with similar cultural programming and independent music focus. Closely comparable as a Slovenian alternative broadcaster with overlapping audience and event-coverage model.
• KEXP: Seattle-based community radio station known for independent and alternative music, listener-supported with global streaming reach. Shares the community broadcaster model, donor-driven funding, and indie music curation focus with Radio MARŠ.
• Radio Študent (RŠ): Slovenia's national student radio station based in Ljubljana, operating on a non-profit community model with volunteer contributors, alternative programming, and AMARC-aligned positioning. It is the most direct comparable to Radio MARŠ in terms of mission, audience (students/youth), and funding structure.
• Radio Corax: German community radio station (Halle/Saale) operating as a free radio with volunteer contributors and cultural programming. Closely aligned with Radio MARŠ in mission, structure, and AMARC community.

Regional players

• Radio B92: Serbian independent media outlet historically known for alternative programming and community engagement. Comparable to Radio MARŠ in its role as an independent voice, though B92 has since branched into broader digital media.
• Radio Student (Zagreb): Croatian student/community radio in Zagreb, founded in 1956, with a similar youth-focused alternative programming mission. A regional peer in the broader ex-Yugoslav community radio ecosystem.

Others

• AMARC (World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters): International umbrella organization for community radio stations of which Radio MARŠ is a member. Provides peer-network context and benchmarking for community-radio governance, funding, and policy.
• Neuvrščenih (Association of Free Community Media of the Third Media Space): Slovenian association of independent community media in which Radio MARŠ participates. Relevant as the immediate peer ecosystem of aligned stations in Slovenia.

Broad incumbents

• FM4 (ORF): Austrian public broadcaster's alternative/culture radio station focused on youth, indie music, and alternative content. Comparable to Radio MARŠ in editorial positioning but operates within a larger public-broadcasting umbrella.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rdecimars
• Facebookfacebook.com/radiomars95.9
• Instagraminstagram.com/radio.mars
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mariborski-radio-tudent

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

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 Radio MARŠ