CJSR FM

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.

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

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

• Community radio broadcasting
• Listener-supported media
• Volunteer-powered radio
• Independent music programming
• Original podcast production

Headquarters

HQ city

Edmonton

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. University of Alberta Student Levy: A large portion of yearly budget comes from a levy on University of Alberta students.
3. Government and Private Grants: CJSR receives some grants from government and private sources, including Community Radio Fund of Canada for specific projects.
4. Casino Events: CJSR conducts casino events as part of their revenue generation.
5. 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

Core 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.

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NCRA (National Campus and Community Radio Association)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 June 2022CJSR 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)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 December 2015Alberta-wide audio challenge (The Herd) featuring best stories across Alberta radio stations in Calgary, Edmonton, and Lethbridge.
• CJSW 90.9 FM (Calgary)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 September 2015Co-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)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 June 2015Co-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)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 February 2015Participated in 2015 Homelessness Marathon, hosted by CFRC with contributions from 14 stations representing six provinces.
• Student EnergyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 December 2014Co-producing Energy Voices show with CJSR and CJSW. Energy Voices creates dialogue on energy topics through debates, quick facts, and discussions.
• Sascha LiebrandminorOthersLocal composer who created original theme and background music for High Level Hip Hop podcast.
• Doug HoyerminorOthersLocal musician who composed original music for That's Food and What Tsismis podcasts.
• Third Coast FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChicago-based international competition that inspired The Herd Audio Challenge in Alberta. The Herd follows similar format and principles.
• CBCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership 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

Direct 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

• Xx.com/cjsr
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@CJSRFM885
• Facebookfacebook.com/cjsr885
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cjsrfm
• Instagraminstagram.com/cjsr_fm

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 CJSR FM