The Spy FM.com
The Spy FM is a listener-supported independent music radio station founded in 1998 in Oklahoma, broadcasting 24/7 online and over-the-air via a KOSU partnership across four Oklahoma markets. It serves Oklahoma music enthusiasts and global online listeners with specialty genre programming funded entirely by community donations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- Headquarters—
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Spy FM.com does
The Spy FM is an independent music radio station founded in 1998 by Ferris O'Brien and operated as a listener-supported public radio station in partnership with KOSU. It serves Oklahoma music enthusiasts and a global online audience with a focus on independent, local, and specialty genre programming. The station broadcasts over-the-air nightly from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. at 91.7 FM (Oklahoma City), 107.5 FM (Tulsa), 88.3 FM (Stillwater), and 94.9 FM (Ponca City) via the KOSU partnership, and streams 24/7 worldwide through thespyfm.com, iHeart Radio, and TuneIn.
The Spy's product is built on standard radio broadcast and streaming technology. Its programming consists of a core 24/7 online stream supplemented by nine specialty shows, including Weeknights with Ferris O'Brien (80s New Wave, soul, classic alternative), the Oklahoma Rock Show (Oklahoma music), Yr Welcome (all-vinyl), No One Man (hip hop/R&B), Lindsey's Lounge (indie), Everything All At Once Forever (eclectic), Toaster Brunch (reggae/ska), Far From Home (country), and Tumbleweeds All The Way Down (roots). Additional offerings include the New Music Weekly playlist (distributed on Apple Music and Spotify) and The Spy Bulletin, a weekly email newsletter covering Oklahoma music.
The business model is entirely donation-based, operating under public radio's listener-supported framework through KOSU's donation platform. There is no commercial pricing, no subscription product, and no advertising revenue disclosed. The station is founder-owned and operated with a team of approximately 7, and Ferris O'Brien holds the titles Owner, President, Music Director, and Janitor. Distribution is entirely free to listeners; growth depends on community evangelism and donor cultivation rather than a sales motion.
The Spy FM.com firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Spy FM.com
- Legal name
- The Spy FM
- Website
- https://thespyfm.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Spy FM is a listener-supported independent music radio station founded in 1998 in Oklahoma, broadcasting 24/7 online and over-the-air via a KOSU partnership across four Oklahoma markets. It serves Oklahoma music enthusiasts and global online listeners with specialty genre programming funded entirely by community donations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Spy FM.com industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Independent Radio Broadcasting
- NAICS
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110)
- SIC
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Syndicated Radio Programming Networks (Shows & Features) (MPABABAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Internet Radio & Streaming Broadcast Stations (Simulcast/Online-only) (MPAIAEAE), Network-Affiliated Local Radio Stations (News/Talk/Sports Syndication Affiliates) (MPABACAF)
Keywords
The Spy FM.com business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Listener-Supported Public Radio: Community-supported model where listeners contribute to keeping The Spy on the air. Operating as part of KOSU public radio with shared values of discovery, independence, careful curation, and community.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Spy FM.com product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Spy FM is a listener-supported independent radio station that broadcasts independent, local, and specialty music programming 24/7 online and over-the-air in Oklahoma through a partnership with KOSU public radio. Its programming features nine hosted specialty shows spanning genres such as 80s New Wave, Soul, Classic Alternative, Blues, Roots, Reggae, country, hip hop, R&B, and an all-vinyl format, along with weekly new music playlists and an Oklahoma music newsletter. The station targets Oklahoma music enthusiasts and genre-specific listeners seeking curated music discovery unavailable on commercial radio.
Product overview
The Spy FM operates as a multi-platform radio station consisting of a core 24/7 online streaming service and FM broadcast partnership with KOSU public radio, supplemented by nine specialty radio shows covering genres including 80s New Wave, Soul, Classic Alternative, Blues, Roots, Reggae, country, hip hop, and all-vinyl formats. The station also distributes its content through TuneIn and iHeart Radio platforms. The programming schedule includes Weeknights with Ferris O'Brien (Monday-Thursday), the Oklahoma Rock Show with Ryan LaCroix (Friday), Yr Welcome all-vinyl show (Friday), No One Man hip hop show (Saturday), Lindsey's Lounge indie music show (Saturday), Everything All At Once Forever eclectic show (Saturday), Toaster Brunch reggae/ska show (Sunday), Far From Home country show (Sunday), and Tumbleweeds All The Way Down roots music show (Sunday). Additional features include New Music Weekly playlist updates and The Spy Bulletin email newsletter.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- The Spy 24/7 Online Radio Stream A 24/7 online radio stream playing independent, local music and specialty shows, available via the website player and streaming platforms (iHeart, TuneIn) worldwide.
- KOSU FM Broadcast Over-the-air FM radio broadcast partnership with KOSU public radio airing on 91.7 FM in Oklahoma City, 107.5 FM in Tulsa, 88.3 FM in Stillwater, and 94.9 FM in Ponca City, nightly 7 p.m.–5 a.m. with additional Sunday programming.
- Weeknights with Ferris O'Brien Monday-Thursday evening show hosted by Ferris O'Brien featuring The Essentials on Tuesdays, Mondo Sets on Wednesdays, and New Wave Thursday, airing 7pm-Midnight.
- Oklahoma Rock Show
- Yr Welcome
- No One Man
- Lindsey's Lounge
- Everything All At Once Forever
- Toaster Brunch
- Far From Home
- Tumbleweeds All The Way Down
Companies that use The Spy FM.com
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The Spy FM.com technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Spy FM.com partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- KOSU Public RadiocoreThe Spy operates as a full partnership with KOSU public radio, bringing The Spy back to the FM dial and introducing KOSU to a new audience. This partnership began in 2012 and continues today, with shared values of discovery, independence, careful curation, and community. The Spy broadcasts through KOSU's FM frequencies and online platforms.
- iHeartminorThe Spy is available on the iHeart platform for expanded digital reach, allowing listeners to access the station through iHeartRadio.
- TuneInminorThe Spy is available on TuneIn for global online streaming, providing worldwide accessibility to the station's programming.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights3 records
The Spy FM.com competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- WFMU: New Jersey-based listener-supported freeform radio station with eclectic music programming and strong community of supporters. Highly comparable in donation-driven model, genre-diverse specialty programming, and community/evangelist listener culture.
- KCRW: Los Angeles-based listener-supported public radio station with eclectic music programming and DJ-hosted specialty shows. Comparable in listener-supported model, eclectic music focus, and multi-channel distribution (FM + streaming).
- KEXP: Seattle-based listener-supported public radio station specializing in independent, local, and specialty music programming. Closest analog to The Spy in operating model — public radio affiliation, music curation focus, multi-platform streaming distribution, and community/donation funding.
- SomaFM: San Francisco-based listener-supported internet-only radio station offering commercial-free, genre-specific music channels. Comparable in niche music focus, listener-supported model, and online-only/streaming-first distribution.
- WXPN: Philadelphia-based public radio station operated by the University of Pennsylvania, focused on adult album alternative music and local artist discovery. Comparable in public-radio-affiliated music curation model and local artist support via shows like the World Café.
- The Current (WXYC): University of North Carolina's listener-supported freeform radio station with diverse genre programming and community focus. Comparable as a small, listener-supported, community-oriented radio station with eclectic specialty shows.
- Radio Paradise: Commercial-free, listener-supported internet radio station offering eclectic music programming with no advertising. Comparable in listener-supported/donation model, eclectic music curation, and global online streaming distribution.
- The Current (KCMP): Minnesota Public Radio's music discovery station, focused on new and alternative music with specialty DJ shows. Comparable in public-radio-affiliated model, music discovery curation, and local/regional artist focus.
- KUTX: Austin-based public radio station dedicated to music discovery, including local Austin artists and diverse genres. Comparable as a public-radio music station with local-music focus, specialty programming, and listener-supported funding.
Others
- KOSU: Oklahoma-based public radio network that hosts The Spy's FM broadcast as a programming partner. Relevant as direct infrastructure partner and as a broader public-radio affiliate that provides institutional backing and donor infrastructure to The Spy.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses1 record
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Spy FM.com social profiles
Digital presenceThe Spy FM.com financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Spy FM.com leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
The Spy FM.com funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Spy FM.com 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 The Spy FM.com
What does The Spy FM.com do?
The Spy FM is a listener-supported independent radio station that broadcasts independent, local, and specialty music programming 24/7 online and over-the-air in Oklahoma through a partnership with KOSU public radio. Its programming features nine hosted specialty shows spanning genres such as 80s New Wave, Soul, Classic Alternative, Blues, Roots, Reggae, country, hip hop, R&B, and an all-vinyl format, along with weekly new music playlists and an Oklahoma music newsletter. The station targets Oklahoma music enthusiasts and genre-specific listeners seeking curated music discovery unavailable on commercial radio.
Is The Spy FM.com a public or private company?
The Spy FM.com is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Spy FM.com founded?
The Spy FM.com was founded in 1998. It employs 1 to 10 people.
How does The Spy FM.com make money?
One revenue line is on record: listener-Supported Public Radio.
Who are The Spy FM.com's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are WFMU, KCRW, KEXP, SomaFM, WXPN, The Current (WXYC), Radio Paradise, The Current (KCMP) and KUTX. KOSU is listed as an others.
Does The Spy FM.com have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Spy FM.com.
What industry is The Spy FM.com in?
The Spy FM.com's product category is Independent Radio Broadcasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABABAJ, Syndicated Radio Programming Networks (Shows & Features), with a secondary code of MPAIAEAE, Internet Radio & Streaming Broadcast Stations (Simulcast/Online-only). Its NAICS code is 516110 and its SIC code is 4832.