Kjazz Radio

What Kjazz Radio does

KJazz 88.1 (legal call sign KKJZ) is a non-commercial public radio station broadcasting jazz and blues programming on 88.1 FM to the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area. The station is operated as a broadcast service of California State University Long Beach (CSULB) through two California-incorporated nonprofit entities, Global Jazz, Inc. and KKJZ Fundraising, Inc. Programming runs 24 hours daily and is hosted by a roster of on-air personalities including David Benoit, Rhonda Hamilton, Jose Rizo, Greg Bryant, and Paul James, with archived shows and a searchable playlist database available on-demand.

The station's technical footprint is centered on its FCC-regulated FM broadcast infrastructure, supplemented by web-based live streaming through a Listen Now gateway and native mobile applications on iOS (Apple App Store) and Android (Google Play). Supporting products include a daily program schedule, an archived programs system, and a playlist tracking system with date-based search. Distribution extends across social media channels (Facebook, Twitter/X, YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest), an email newsletter, and recurring live events such as the monthly KJazz Night at Montauk Restaurant and curated member travel experiences including trips to Japan and the Rhône region.

KJazz generates revenue through a diversified nonprofit model built on listener donations (online, check, stock, vehicle, real estate, and matching gifts), business underwriting sponsorships, an annual membership program suggested at $60 per year with tangible benefits (KJazz Club Card, thank-you gifts such as CDs, vinyl, books, and event tickets), and event-driven income from live programming and international trips. Partnerships with CSULB (license holder), The Den at Montauk, Ralphs Community Contribution Program, and Goodsearch/Goodshop provide operational, community, and passive fundraising support. The station holds registered trademarks for "KJazz 88.1®" and "KKJZ®" and is not venture-backed.

Name

Kjazz Radio

Legal name

Global Jazz, Inc.

Website

https://jazzandblues.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

KJazz 88.1 (KKJZ) is a nonprofit public radio station broadcasting jazz and blues programming on 88.1 FM to the greater Los Angeles area, operated by California State University Long Beach and funded by listener donations, underwriting, and member support.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Radio Broadcasting

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611), Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Radio Streaming & Catch-Up Audio Platforms (MPAIADAJ)

Keywords

• Public radio broadcasting
• Jazz music programming
• Community radio station
• Online radio streaming
• Nonprofit media

Headquarters

HQ city

Long Beach

HQ country

United States

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: Individual listeners contribute monetary donations to support station operations. Donation methods include online donations, donations by check, stock donations, vehicle donations, real estate donations, and matching gifts.
2. Underwriting: Local businesses and organizations sponsor the station in exchange for on-air recognition. This includes both general underwriting and the Ralphs Community Contribution Program.
3. Membership Benefits Program: Annual membership ($60/year suggested) that provides tangible benefits including KJazz Club Card, free CDs, vinyl records, books, flash drives, logo items, event access, and gift cards as thank-you gifts.
4. Event Revenue: Revenue from travel experiences such as 'KJazz On The Rhône Trip with Jose Rizo' and 'KJazz Trip to Japan with Rhonda', as well as ticket sales for KJazz Night at partner venues.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

KJazz 88.1 (KKJZ) is a nonprofit public radio station that broadcasts jazz and blues programming 24 hours a day on 88.1 FM in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The station extends its reach through online streaming, native iOS and Android mobile apps, archived on-demand programming, and community events including host-led travel experiences and monthly live jazz nights.

Product overview

KJazz 88.1 is a single broadcast radio station operated by California State University Long Beach, branded as America's Jazz and Blues Station. The core offering is its FM radio broadcast supplemented by online streaming via the Listen Now gateway and mobile applications for iOS and Android. Supporting the station are digital services including archived programs, searchable playlists, and program schedules. The station operates a donor membership program offering benefits such as My KJazz portal access and Club Card, while also providing underwriting sponsorship opportunities for businesses. Additional offerings include live music events, trip experiences (such as trips to Japan and the Rhône), sweepstakes contests, and thank-you gifts for donors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• KJazz 88.1 FM Radio Broadcast A 24-hour jazz and blues music radio broadcast on 88.1 FM, operated by California State University Long Beach and aimed at listeners in the Los Angeles metropolitan area.
• Online Streaming Live internet streaming of KJazz 88.1 FM programming, accessible through the website gateway and mobile applications for iOS and Android.
• KJazz Mobile App Native mobile applications for iOS (Apple App Store) and Android (Google Play) that allow on-the-go listening of KJazz 88.1 FM programming.
• Donor Membership Program Annual membership program with a suggested donation of $60 that grants listeners the KJazz Club Card, My KJazz portal access, freebies, thank-you gifts, and exclusive event invitations.
• Underwriting Sponsorships Sponsorship opportunities for businesses and organizations to support the station in exchange for on-air recognition and branding.
• Live Music Events and Host-Led Trips Ticketed and members-only live jazz events, including the monthly KJazz Night at Montauk Restaurant and host-led travel experiences such as trips to Japan and France.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• California State University Long Beach (CSULB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSULB is the parent institution and broadcast license holder for KJazz 88.1. The station operates as a broadcast service of CSULB, with station management and diversity initiatives aligned with university standards. Financial statements are maintained through the CSULB Foundation.
• The Den at MontaukminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to present 'KJazz Night at Montauk Restaurant' - an intimate monthly evening dedicated to jazz, held every second Thursday. The series showcases exceptional jazz artists from across the genre.
• Ralphs Community Contribution ProgramminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRalphs grocery chain community contribution program allowing shoppers to designate KJazz 88.1 as their charity of choice, generating donations from Ralphs to support station operations.
• Goodsearch and GoodshopminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOnline shopping portal that donates a portion of purchases to KJazz when supporters shop through the designated KJazz link, providing a passive fundraising channel.

Scale indicators2 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• WRTI: WRTI 90.1 FM in Philadelphia is a non-commercial public radio station operated by Temple University broadcasting classical and jazz, sharing KJazz's university-license structure and jazz programming alongside a listener-supported funding model.
• KEXP: KEXP 90.3 FM in Seattle is a public radio station with a listener-supported nonprofit model, deep archived programming, mobile apps, and a strong community/events program — highly comparable in digital strategy and donor-driven revenue mix despite broader format.
• WBGO: WBGO 88.3 FM is a non-commercial public radio station in Newark, NJ broadcasting jazz full-time with listener-supported funding and live event programming — the closest format and business model analog to KJazz in a different metro.
• WWOZ: WWOZ 90.7 FM in New Orleans is a listener-supported, volunteer-driven community public radio station with a strong music format and event programming — a directly comparable nonprofit, community-led broadcast model.
• WDCB: WDCB 90.9 FM is a Chicago-area public radio station whose jazz/blues programming, listener-supported funding, and live event calendar closely mirror KJazz's operating model and niche format focus.
• KUVO: KUVO 89.3 FM is a community public radio station in Denver broadcasting jazz, blues, and R&B with a member-supported nonprofit model — directly comparable format, funding structure, and event-driven community engagement.

Broad incumbents

• SiriusXM: SiriusXM operates dedicated jazz channels (e.g., Watercolors, Real Jazz) accessible nationally via satellite and streaming — a broad incumbent offering overlapping jazz content but as part of a much larger subscription portfolio.
• NPR: NPR is the US public radio network that many listener-supported stations affiliate with for news and talk; KJazz occupies a complementary music-format niche within the broader public radio ecosystem that NPR anchors.

Regional players

• Jazz FM (UK): Jazz FM is the UK's only dedicated jazz-format national radio station, offering a directly comparable format (jazz-focused linear radio plus digital streaming) but operating in a different geography and commercial rather than nonprofit structure.
• KCSM: KCSM 91.1 FM in the San Francisco Bay Area is a non-commercial jazz and blues station operated by the San Mateo County Community College District — same jazz/blues format and public-institution license structure but serving a different California metro.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kjazz881
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/KJazz881
• Facebookfacebook.com/jazzandblues
• Instagraminstagram.com/kjazz881
• Pinterestpinterest.com/KJazz881
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kjazz-radio

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 Kjazz Radio