KINK FM

What KINK FM does

KINK FM is an adult album alternative radio station broadcasting on 101.9 FM from Portland, Oregon, under the FCC license held by Alpha Media Licensee, LLC and operated by Connoisseur Media. The station serves the Portland metropolitan area and parts of southwest Washington, reaching listeners through over-the-air FM broadcast plus digital streaming via iHeartRadio, TuneIn, and Audacy. Daypart programming is hosted by named on-air personalities — Mornings with Mitch (5:30am-10:00am), Jared (10:00am-3:00pm), Gustav (3:00pm-8:00pm), Iris (8:00pm-12:00am), and Sunday Brunch with Peggy LaPoint on weekends — with additional programming including The Opening Act with Kendall and Beyond the Headlines with Brett Reckamp.

The station's content portfolio extends beyond music playback into local artist development (Homegrown Discovery, Vortex PDX Song of the Week), artist interviews (KINK Green Room video series), live performance (PNC Live Studio sessions and meet-and-greets), and lifestyle content (Green Tips, Wellness Wednesday, Talking Trash with Peggy LaPoint). Community events include the Stardust Soirée fundraiser benefiting Fences For Fido. The underlying technical stack combines a single FM broadcast signal with third-party streaming distribution; there is no proprietary software platform, mobile app, or developer API. Audience touchpoints extend to social media (Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube), email newsletters, and live event programming.

KINK FM generates revenue almost exclusively through advertising, primarily quote-based radio ad packages sold to local and regional businesses targeting the Portland adult alternative demographic (sold via radioadvertisingportland.com), supplemented by contest sponsorships (e.g., the Disneyland Resort Vacation package co-sponsored with Alaska Airlines at ~$4,575 in prize value). Pricing is quote-based with multi-year contracts and is not publicly disclosed. The station is privately held, and a transfer of control of the FCC license from Alpha Media Holdings, Inc. to Connoisseur Media Holdco, Inc. was filed with the FCC on May 19, 2025.

Name

KINK FM

Legal name

Alpha Media Licensee, LLC

Website

https://kink.fm

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

KINK FM is a Portland, Oregon-based adult album alternative radio station at 101.9 FM, operated by Connoisseur Media, that serves the Portland metro with music programming, local artist discovery, live studio sessions, and community content funded primarily through local radio advertising and contest sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Radio Broadcasting

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611), Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110), Sound Recording Studios (51224)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

Independent Local Radio Stations (MPABACAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Internet Radio & Streaming Broadcast Stations (Simulcast/Online-only) (MPAIAEAE), Radio Streaming & Catch-Up Audio Platforms (MPAIADAJ)

Keywords

• Adult alternative radio
• FM radio broadcasting
• Music programming
• Radio advertising
• Local music discovery

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Radio Advertising: KINK FM generates revenue primarily through advertising sold to local and national businesses targeting the Portland metro area adult alternative music audience
2. Contest Sponsorships: Contest prizes sponsored by partners such as Disneyland Resort, with prizes valued up to $4,575, creating co-marketing opportunities with sponsors

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

KINK FM operates an adult album alternative (AAA) format radio station on 101.9 FM in Portland, Oregon, delivering curated music programming, live studio performances, local artist features, environmental segments, and listener contests. The station distributes its content via over-the-air FM broadcast and digital streaming platforms (iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Audacy) and generates revenue primarily through on-air advertising sold to local and regional businesses.

Product overview

101.9 KINK is an adult album alternative (AAL) radio station based in Portland, Oregon, operated by Connoisseur Media. The station offers a unified broadcast experience combining FM radio programming with digital streaming distribution. Core programming includes daily hosted shows (Mornings with Mitch, Jared, Gustav, Iris, Sunday Brunch with Peggy LaPoint, Speaking Freely, Beyond The Headlines, and Kendall's The Opening Act). The station provides supplementary content including PNC Live Studio Sessions for in-studio performances, the KINK Green Room video interview series, Homegrown Discovery and Vortex PDX Song of the Week features for local music promotion, environmental programming through Green Tips, and regular contests and sweepstakes. Content is distributed via FM broadcast, live streaming on iHeartRadio, TuneIn, and Audacy platforms, and YouTube for video content.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 101.9 KINK FM Radio Broadcast Continuous adult album alternative (AAA) music programming broadcast on 101.9 FM in Portland, Oregon, including music mixes, DJ-hosted shows, and listener engagement segments aimed at adult alternative music fans.
• PNC Live Studio Sessions Live in-studio music performance series featuring artists performing exclusive sessions, sponsored by PNC Bank, and made available to KINK FM listeners.
• KINK Green Room Artist interview and behind-the-scenes segment featuring musicians visiting the KINK FM studio, providing listeners with extended artist content beyond standard music rotation.
• Homegrown Discovery Local music spotlight segment featuring Portland-area and Pacific Northwest artists, showcasing regional talent to KINK FM's listening audience.
• Vortex PDX Song of the Week Weekly featured song segment presented in partnership with Vortex PDX music store, highlighting a specific track for KINK FM listeners.
• Green Tips Environmental Programming Environmental and sustainability-focused content segment providing KINK FM listeners with green living tips, sponsored environmental messaging, and eco-conscious community features.
• KINK FM Listener Contests and Sweepstakes Promotional contests and sweepstakes offering KINK FM listeners chances to win prizes, concert tickets, and experiences tied to station listening and engagement.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Disneyland ResortminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 August 2025Disneyland Resort sponsors the KINK Disneyland Resort Vacation contest, providing prizes including 2-night hotel stay, park tickets, and Alaska Airlines airfare valued at approximately $4,575.
• Connoisseur MediacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorConnoisseur Media is the parent company and operator of KINK FM. The station is part of Connoisseur Media's network of radio stations. According to FCC filings from May 2025, there was a pending application for transfer of control of KINK-FM's license from Alpha Media Holdings, Inc. to Connoisseur Media Holdco, Inc.
• PNC Live StudiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPNC Live Studio is the venue for KINK's live studio sessions, artist performances, and meet and greets. The station promotes PNC Live Studio-WIN concerts and events prominently on their website.
• Alaska AirlinesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAlaska Airlines provides roundtrip airfare as part of Disneyland Resort Vacation contest prize package sponsored by KINK FM.
• KXL and Portland Alpha Media StationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKINK FM participates in cross-station programming including 'Beyond the Headlines' which airs across all 7 Portland Alpha Media radio stations (KXL FM, KBFF FM, KXTG AM/FM, KINK FM, KUFO AM, KUPL FM, KWEE FM).

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• KCRW: Independent Los Angeles music station known for eclectic discovery programming, original live sessions, and cultural editorial pillars (music, news, lifestyle) that closely parallel KINK FM's Homegrown Discovery, PNC Live Studio, and Green Tips mix.
• WXPN / WXPN FM: Philadelphia-based adult album alternative station and operator of the World Cafe nationally syndicated live-session program; comparable to KINK FM in format, live-session orientation, and discovery of emerging artists.
• KEXP: Seattle-based listener-supported adult album alternative radio station with a similar format, deep local music discovery programming, and a strong Pacific Northwest cultural identity; the closest direct comparable to KINK FM in both format and regional positioning.
• 89.3 The Current (KCMP): Minnesota Public Radio's AAA/adult alternative station featuring local music discovery (Local Show, Minnesota Music) and original live sessions, a direct format and programming analog to KINK FM in a different regional market.
• KUTX 98.9: Austin public radio adult album alternative station with a similar adult indie/AAA format, strong local artist discovery emphasis, and original live session programming that competes for the same advertiser and listener archetype as KINK FM.

Broad incumbents

• Audacy: Major US radio operator and streaming platform that distributes KINK FM online; competes in the same Portland and national ad markets and operates competing AAA/alternative stations in major markets.
• Cumulus Media: Large US radio station group with adult alternative stations in multiple markets; comparable as a cluster operator whose portfolio economics (shared programming, bundled ad sales) mirror the model KINK FM is moving into under Connoisseur Media.
• Alpha Media: Current controlling operator of KINK FM and the cluster of 7 Portland stations airing Beyond the Headlines; the most direct reference point for KINK's existing sales and programming model during the ownership transition.
• Connoisseur Media: Pending parent operator of KINK FM and multi-market radio station owner; relevant because KINK FM's future strategy, capital allocation, and cross-station bundling will be set within this group's portfolio playbook.
• iHeartMedia: Largest US radio broadcaster and the operator of iHeartRadio, the streaming platform that carries KINK FM's simulcast; a broad incumbent that competes for the same adult 25-54 ad dollars and digital listening share across the country.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kinkradio
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@kinkradio
• Facebookfacebook.com/KINK
• Instagraminstagram.com/kinkradio
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kink-fm

Compliance3 records

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 KINK FM