CJSR FM
CJSR FM 88.5 is a listener-supported, volunteer-powered non-profit community radio station in Edmonton, Alberta, founded in 1984. It broadcasts diverse music, news, and spoken word programming via FM and online streaming to the Edmonton community and University of Alberta students.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersEdmonton, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What CJSR FM does
CJSR FM 88.5 is Edmonton's listener-supported, volunteer-powered community radio station, founded in 1984 and operated by the non-profit First Alberta Campus Radio Association (FACRA). The station is headquartered in Room 0-09 of the Students' Union Building at the University of Alberta and broadcasts on 88.5 FM to the Edmonton market under a Canadian campus/community radio license, with additional global reach via online streaming at cjsr.streamon.fm and on-demand content at cjsr.com/ondemand.
CJSR's core products are FM radio programming, online live streaming, on-demand audio, an extensive music library curated by a dedicated Music Librarian, weekly charts submitted to !earshot, and a portfolio of original podcasts (including High Level Hip Hop, That's Food, What's the Tsismis?, and Gaywire). Programming covers diverse genres (punk, hip hop, jazz, electronic, folk, R&B, techno) and is produced almost entirely by volunteers trained through formal news, production, and podcast bootcamp programs.
The business model is multi-stream non-profit funding rather than commercial advertising. Revenue is generated from annual FunDrive listener donations ($120,313.91 raised in 2024), a recurring University of Alberta student levy, project grants from entities including the Community Radio Fund of Canada, casino fundraising events, and merchandise sales (shirts, hats, stickers, compilations). CJSR explicitly refuses corporate advertising to preserve editorial independence. The operation is small (~15 staff), volunteer-dependent, and governed by a board of directors, with Sarah Hoyles appointed Executive Director and Station Manager in September 2025.
CJSR FM firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CJSR FM
- Legal name
- The First Alberta Campus Radio Association
- Website
- https://cjsr.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- CJSR FM 88.5 is a listener-supported, volunteer-powered non-profit community radio station in Edmonton, Alberta, founded in 1984. It broadcasts diverse music, news, and spoken word programming via FM and online streaming to the Edmonton community and University of Alberta students.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CJSR FM industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Radio Broadcasting
- NAICS
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110)
- SIC
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public/Noncommercial Radio Broadcasting (NPR, Community, Campus) (MPAIAEAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Internet Radio & Streaming Broadcast Stations (Simulcast/Online-only) (MPAIAEAE), Radio Content Production & Studios (On-air Production, Imaging, Jingles) (MPAIAEAL)
Keywords
Where CJSR FM is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Edmonton
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
CJSR FM business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Listener Donations: Annual FunDrive campaigns where listeners donate money to support the station. CJSR emphasizes that being listener-supported means they can maintain editorial independence and avoid corporate advertising.
- University of Alberta Student Levy: A large portion of yearly budget comes from a levy on University of Alberta students.
- Government and Private Grants: CJSR receives some grants from government and private sources, including Community Radio Fund of Canada for specific projects.
- Casino Events: CJSR conducts casino events as part of their revenue generation.
- Merchandise Sales: Sale of CJSR merchandise including shirts, hats, stickers, bags, music compilations, pins, and sweatshirts, particularly during swag liquidation sales and FunDrive events.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
CJSR FM product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CJSR FM 88.5 is a listener-supported, volunteer-powered community radio station broadcasting from the University of Alberta in Edmonton. It delivers diverse music programming spanning punk, hip hop, jazz, electronic, folk, and more, along with news, spoken word, and original podcast content. The station produces and broadcasts its own programming created by volunteers and local hosts, with editorial independence maintained by refusing corporate advertising.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- CJSR 88.5 FM Radio Broadcast Listener-supported, volunteer-powered community radio broadcasting at 88.5 FM in Edmonton, Alberta. Programming includes diverse music shows, news, spoken word, and specialty content that challenges the status quo.
- Online Streaming Live online streaming of CJSR programming via cjsr.streamon.fm, allowing listeners worldwide to access radio content in real-time.
- On-Demand Content Archive Archive and on-demand access to select CJSR programming including music shows, podcasts, and special broadcasts available at cjsr.com/ondemand/.
- High Level Hip Hop Podcast A podcast deep dive into Edmonton's hip hop scene featuring interviews with local artists and fresh tracks recorded at the radio station. CJSR's first podcast with live musical performances.
- That's Food Podcast CJSR's first original podcast series exploring the backstory to food in Edmonton, one meal at a time. Produced by University of Alberta students with original music and artwork.
- What's the Tsismis? Podcast Podcast exploring Pilipinx identity, covering topics related to Filipino diaspora experience. Created through CJSR's podcast bootcamp program.
- Gaywire Podcast Edmonton's longest-running queer and trans radio show, rebooted in 2021 as a podcast. Features stories relevant to LGBTQ+ community with new producer team.
- Sidetracks Radio Show Radio show celebrating Edmonton's local music scene, showcasing live performances from local bands at venues like the Yardbird Suite. Broadcasts Wednesdays 6-7pm MT.
- The History of Punk Radio Show Award-winning radio program examining punk of all eras with emphasis on punk ethos and social justice. Airs Mondays 10-11am MT. Winner of Best Gnu Show 2015.
- The Purple Room Radio Show Radio show exploring soul of Black music, its influences, and impact. Winner of Community Radio Awards in Broadcast & Online 2024 for R&B or similar music.
- CJSR Merchandise Sale of CJSR-branded merchandise including shirts, hats, stickers, bags, music compilations, pins, and sweatshirts, particularly during swag liquidation sales and FunDrive events.
- CJSR Music Submission Service Service accepting music submissions from artists for consideration in CJSR programming. Artists can submit music for airplay consideration.
Companies that use CJSR FM
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
CJSR FM technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
CJSR FM partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- NCRA (National Campus and Community Radio Association)coreCJSR participates in annual NCRA awards and conferences, winning multiple national awards in 2016, 2017, 2020, 2022, 2024, and 2025. NCRA facilitates programming partnerships including CBC Frontburner podcast distribution.
- CJSW 90.9 FM (Calgary) and CKXU 88.3 FM (Lethbridge)minorAlberta-wide audio challenge (The Herd) featuring best stories across Alberta radio stations in Calgary, Edmonton, and Lethbridge.
- CJSW 90.9 FM (Calgary)minorCo-producing Gate 23 spoken word show with CJSR. Gate 23 is an audio trip around the world featuring stories and voices from different destinations.
- CKCU 89.1 FM (Ottawa)coreCo-presents the SurroundSound Radio Documentary Festival with CJSR. The festival runs over four weeks in July with documentaries airing on both CJSR (Edmonton) and CKCU (Ottawa). CJSR has co-hosted for multiple years (4th year in 2018, 5th year in 2019).
- CFRC 101.9 FM (Kingston)minorParticipated in 2015 Homelessness Marathon, hosted by CFRC with contributions from 14 stations representing six provinces.
- Student EnergyminorCo-producing Energy Voices show with CJSR and CJSW. Energy Voices creates dialogue on energy topics through debates, quick facts, and discussions.
- Sascha LiebrandminorLocal composer who created original theme and background music for High Level Hip Hop podcast.
- Doug HoyerminorLocal musician who composed original music for That's Food and What Tsismis podcasts.
- Third Coast FestivalminorChicago-based international competition that inspired The Herd Audio Challenge in Alberta. The Herd follows similar format and principles.
- CBCminorPartnership through NCRA to air CBC's daily news podcast Frontburner on CJSR every weekday at 8:05 AM during COVID-19 pandemic.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
CJSR FM competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- CITR-FM: University of British Columbia campus radio station in Vancouver; operates under a similar student levy-funded, volunteer-driven broadcasting model.
- CHUO-FM: University of Ottawa community radio station; comparable Canadian campus-community broadcaster with volunteer programming and a listener-supported funding base.
- CJSW 90.9 FM: University of Calgary campus and community radio station in Alberta; co-produces shows with CJSR (e.g., Gate 23, Energy Voices) and operates under a similar volunteer-powered, non-commercial model.
- CKXU 88.3 FM: University of Lethbridge campus and community radio; participated with CJSR and CJSW in The Herd Audio Challenge, sharing the volunteer-powered campus-community model.
- CFRC 101.9 FM: Queen's University campus and community radio in Kingston, Ontario; partnered with CJSR on the 2015 Homelessness Marathon alongside 13 other community stations.
- CKCU 89.1 FM: Carleton University campus and community radio in Ottawa; co-presents the SurroundSound Radio Documentary Festival with CJSR, sharing a similar volunteer-driven community radio model.
- CJAM-FM: University of Windsor campus and community radio; another Canadian campus-community station with a comparable volunteer/levy-funded operating model.
- CIVL 101.7 FM: University of the Fraser Valley campus and community radio in Abbotsford, BC; hosted the 2017 NCRC where CJSR won national awards, indicating parallel operating models.
Broad incumbents
- CKUA Radio Network: Alberta-wide public radio network; CJSR's Executive Director Sarah Hoyles also hosts on CKUA, and both serve Alberta audiences with non-commercial, listener-supported programming.
- CBC Radio One: Canada's national public radio broadcaster; an adjacent incumbent with which CJSR has partnered (Frontburner podcast distribution) and against which it competes for listener attention and grant funding.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CJSR FM social profiles
Digital presenceCJSR FM financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CJSR FM leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
CJSR FM funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CJSR FM 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 CJSR FM
What does CJSR FM do?
CJSR FM 88.5 is a listener-supported, volunteer-powered community radio station broadcasting from the University of Alberta in Edmonton. It delivers diverse music programming spanning punk, hip hop, jazz, electronic, folk, and more, along with news, spoken word, and original podcast content. The station produces and broadcasts its own programming created by volunteers and local hosts, with editorial independence maintained by refusing corporate advertising.
Is CJSR FM a public or private company?
CJSR FM is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was CJSR FM founded?
CJSR FM was founded in 1984. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is CJSR FM based?
CJSR FM is headquartered in Edmonton, Canada, in the North America region.
How does CJSR FM make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Listener Donations are the primary driver. The others are university of Alberta Student Levy, government and Private Grants, casino Events and merchandise Sales.
Who are CJSR FM's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are CITR-FM, CHUO-FM, CJSW 90.9 FM, CKXU 88.3 FM, CFRC 101.9 FM, CKCU 89.1 FM, CJAM-FM and CIVL 101.7 FM. Broad incumbents are CKUA Radio Network and CBC Radio One.
Does CJSR FM have an API?
No public API is recorded for CJSR FM.
What industry is CJSR FM in?
CJSR FM's product category is Community Radio Broadcasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAEAB, Public/Noncommercial Radio Broadcasting (NPR, Community, Campus), 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.