Solar Radio
Solar Radio is a London-based, privately held specialist radio station founded in 1984 that streams soul, jazz-funk, disco, and R&B programming to UK and global listeners via web, mobile, DAB, smart speakers, and TuneIn/Sonos, monetizing through advertising, Soul Cruises events, and merchandise.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Solar Radio does
Solar Radio is a privately held, London-headquartered specialist radio station founded in 1984 that broadcasts soul, jazz-funk, disco, soulful house, neo-soul, and R&B programming to a community of dedicated UK and global listeners. The company distributes its audio content through a multi-platform stack: a website-based player with two streams, native iOS and Android applications, voice-activated smart speaker integration, DAB digital radio in London, Norwich, and Brighton, and aggregator listings on TuneIn and Sonos. Core products include 24/7 live streaming, on-demand Listen Again access to DJ shows, two proprietary weekly charts (Sweet Rhythms Chart and Soul Energy House Chart), and curated lists such as the Revised Top 300 and Brit Soul Pirate Top 200.
The business operates with approximately 32 employees and generates revenue primarily through advertising against its niche genre audience, complemented by ticketed Soul Cruises events on the Thames (Golden Jubilee and Dixie Queen boats) and a newly added Solent Ocean Scene voyage, plus an e-commerce merchandise and ticket shop at shop.solarradio.com. The go-to-market is community-led, anchored by a 'Solar Family' listener identity, active social media engagement across Twitter, Instagram, and a Facebook group, and physical event programming that includes an international partnership with Portugal Soul Weekender. Notable strategic positioning includes a 40-year heritage rooted in London's soul pirate radio era, long-tenured DJs who originated in the early club and pirate scene, and a 40th Anniversary celebration event at Dingwalls in 2024 that generated £1,000 donations each to four UK charities (British Heart Foundation, Macmillan Cancer Support, MND Association, Sickle Cell Society).
Solar Radio firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Solar Radio
- Legal name
- Solar Radio
- Website
- https://solarradio.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Solar Radio is a London-based, privately held specialist radio station founded in 1984 that streams soul, jazz-funk, disco, and R&B programming to UK and global listeners via web, mobile, DAB, smart speakers, and TuneIn/Sonos, monetizing through advertising, Soul Cruises events, and merchandise.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Solar Radio industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Music Radio Broadcasting
- NAICS
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611)
- SIC
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Internet Radio & Streaming Broadcast Stations (Simulcast/Online-only) (MPAIAEAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Digital Radio Broadcasting (DAB/DAB+, HD Radio) (MPAIAEAD), Radio Streaming & Catch-Up Audio Platforms (MPAIADAJ)
Keywords
Where Solar Radio is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Solar Radio business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Soul Cruises and Events: The station organizes and sells tickets for Soul Cruises events on the Thames and Solent, including partnerships with venues like the Golden Jubilee and Dixie Queen boats, and Portugal Soul Weekender
- Merchandise Shop: Online shop selling event tickets and presumably merchandise related to the radio station and its branding
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels7 records
Solar Radio product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Solar Radio is a UK-based internet and DAB digital radio station that has broadcast soul, jazz-funk, disco, soulful house, neo-soul, and R&B music continuously since 1984. The station distributes live and on-demand audio through its website, native iOS/Android apps, smart speakers, and DAB digital radio in London, Norwich, and Brighton. Beyond audio streaming, Solar Radio operates proprietary weekly music charts, an e-commerce shop for merchandise, and themed Soul Cruise events on the Thames and Solent.
Product overview
Solar Radio is a UK-based internet and digital radio station founded in 1984, offering a multi-platform music streaming service. The core offering consists of live radio streaming available through a native mobile app (iOS/Android), web-based player, DAB digital radio in London/Norwich/Brighton, and smart speaker integration. The station complements its core audio streaming with on-demand Listen Again functionality, music chart products (Sweet Rhythms Chart and Soul Energy House Chart), an e-commerce shop, and Soul Cruises events. The product portfolio spans digital broadcasting, mobile applications, web streaming, and experiential events.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Companies that use Solar Radio
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Solar Radio technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Feature1 record
Solar Radio partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- TuneIncoreSolar Radio is officially integrated with TuneIn platform, using the 'Powered by TuneIn' branding and listing. TuneIn provides the infrastructure for Solar Radio's presence on the TuneIn app and platform, enabling discovery by TuneIn's user base.
- SonoscoreSolar Radio is available on Sonos smart speakers, allowing listeners to find and stream the station through Sonos platform search functionality.
- Apple App StorecoreSolar Radio's official iOS app is distributed through Apple's App Store, enabling mobile and tablet listening for iOS users.
- Google Play StorecoreSolar Radio's official Android app is distributed through Google Play Store, enabling mobile and tablet listening for Android users.
- British Heart FoundationminorCharity partner for Solar Radio's 40th Anniversary celebration event. Received £1,000 donation from the event proceeds.
- Macmillan Cancer SupportminorCharity partner for Solar Radio's 40th Anniversary celebration event. Received £1,000 donation from the event proceeds.
- Motor Neurone Disease (MND) AssociationminorCharity partner for Solar Radio's 40th Anniversary celebration event. Received £1,000 donation from the event proceeds.
- Sickle Cell SocietyminorCharity partner for Solar Radio's 40th Anniversary celebration event. Received £1,000 donation from the event proceeds.
- Portugal Soul WeekenderminorSolar Radio promotes and links to Portugal Soul Weekender bookings through its website, with cruise tickets available via shop.solarradio.com.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Solar Radio competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mi-Soul: Mi-Soul is a UK digital and internet soul, R&B, jazz-funk, and disco radio station. It is the closest direct competitor to Solar Radio, broadcasting on DAB in London and online globally with a similar niche format and target audience.
- Jazz FM: Jazz FM is a UK national DAB jazz, soul, and blues station. It overlaps Solar Radio on the soul and jazz-funk segments but operates at a larger national scale with broader format coverage and bigger commercial backing.
- Colourful Radio: Colourful Radio is a London-based online and DAB station with soul, R&B, and multicultural programming. It competes for similar urban/soul music audiences in the London market and operates a comparable digital-plus-DAB distribution model.
- NTS Radio: NTS Radio is a globally streaming internet radio platform with deep-dive specialty shows including soul, jazz, and funk programming. It shares the curator-led, community-driven ethos of Solar Radio and competes for listeners interested in curated genre music.
- Kool London: Kool London is a London-based online and pirate-heritage soul, old skool, R&B, and rare groove station. It shares Solar Radio's London soul scene roots and targets overlapping DJ-presenter and listener communities.
- Reprezent Radio: Reprezent Radio is a London community station broadcasting hip-hop, R&B, soul, and grime on DAB and online. It competes for urban music listeners in London and shares Solar Radio's grassroots, community-oriented identity.
Broad incumbents
- BBC Radio 1Xtra: BBC Radio 1Xtra is the BBC's national digital station for hip-hop, R&B, soul, grime, and Afrobeats. As a publicly funded national broadcaster with full UK DAB coverage, it competes broadly for urban music audiences and advertiser attention.
- iHeartRadio: iHeartRadio is a major US-based internet radio and streaming platform with soul, R&B, and curated genre stations. It is a broad incumbent in the same audio streaming space as Solar Radio, with much larger scale and content library.
Others
- TuneIn: TuneIn is the global internet radio aggregation platform that distributes Solar Radio to its audience. It is a key technology and distribution partner, and operates as an enabling platform rather than a direct competitor.
Regional players
- Rinse FM: Rinse FM is a London-rooted underground station with heritage in pirate radio, broadcasting grime, dance, and UK urban music online and on DAB in London. It overlaps with Solar Radio on London pirate-radio heritage and urban/DJ culture but targets a different genre mix.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Solar Radio social profiles
Digital presenceSolar Radio financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Solar Radio leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Solar Radio funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Solar Radio 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 Solar Radio
What does Solar Radio do?
Solar Radio is a UK-based internet and DAB digital radio station that has broadcast soul, jazz-funk, disco, soulful house, neo-soul, and R&B music continuously since 1984. The station distributes live and on-demand audio through its website, native iOS/Android apps, smart speakers, and DAB digital radio in London, Norwich, and Brighton. Beyond audio streaming, Solar Radio operates proprietary weekly music charts, an e-commerce shop for merchandise, and themed Soul Cruise events on the Thames and Solent.
Is Solar Radio a public or private company?
Solar Radio is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Solar Radio founded?
Solar Radio was founded in 1984.
Where is Solar Radio based?
Solar Radio is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Solar Radio make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Soul Cruises and Events are the primary driver. The others are merchandise Shop.
Who are Solar Radio's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mi-Soul, Jazz FM, Colourful Radio, NTS Radio, Kool London and Reprezent Radio. Broad incumbents are BBC Radio 1Xtra and iHeartRadio. TuneIn is listed as an others. Rinse FM is listed as a regional player.
Does Solar Radio have an API?
No public API is recorded for Solar Radio.
What industry is Solar Radio in?
Solar Radio's product category is Music Radio Broadcasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAEAE, Internet Radio & Streaming Broadcast Stations (Simulcast/Online-only), with a secondary code of MPAIAEAD, Digital Radio Broadcasting (DAB/DAB+, HD Radio). Its NAICS code is 51611 and its SIC code is 4832.