WLRH 89.3 FM/HD
WLRH is a non-commercial public radio station in Huntsville, Alabama, broadcasting since 1976 on three HD channels (AAA music, classical, news/talk) with locally produced programming serving the Tennessee Valley region through listener contributions and corporate underwriting.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1976
- HeadquartersHuntsville, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What WLRH 89.3 FM/HD does
WLRH 89.3 FM/HD is a non-commercial public radio station headquartered on the University of Alabama in Huntsville campus in Huntsville, Alabama, broadcasting since October 13, 1976. The station operates under an FCC license held by the Alabama Educational Television Commission and reaches approximately 60 miles in all directions from its 100,000-watt transmitter on Monte Sano Mountain, serving north central Alabama and south central Tennessee. WLRH distributes programming across three simultaneous HD Radio channels: HD1 with locally curated Adult Album Alternative music and signature programming, HD2 with 24/7 classical music, and HD3 carrying BBC World Service and news/talk content.
The station produces over 15 locally originated programs, including the original morning show Tennessee Valley Mornings (launched October 2025), Morning Blend, Arts Underground, The Curiosity Squad, Let's Get Weird with Katy and Marsha, Capitol Exchange, and StoryCorps Mobile Tour content. Distribution spans over-the-air FM/HD, a free iOS/Android mobile app with a Public Microphone feature for citizen story submission, live web streaming via wlrh.org, and podcast syndication on Apple Podcasts and RSS. Approximately 19 staff operate the station under General Manager Erich Brukner, who also serves as Division Director of Radio for Alabama Public Television.
WLRH's revenue model is donation- and underwriter-driven. Primary streams include listener memberships and recurring contributions, corporate underwriting credits (20-second on-air acknowledgments), day sponsorships tiered at $200/$350/$500, vehicle donations via Car Talk Vehicle Donation Service, employer matching, IRA charitable distributions, donor-advised fund grants, and bequest gifts. Auxiliary revenue includes curated travel packages with Collette (e.g., Ireland tour at $4,299/person). Federal support historically came from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting but was materially reduced by the Rescissions Act of 2025. Customer/underwriter logos span banking, utilities, hospitality, arts, education, and government, with no single dominant sponsor.
WLRH 89.3 FM/HD firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- WLRH 89.3 FM/HD
- Legal name
- Alabama Educational Television Commission
- Website
- https://wlrh.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1976
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- WLRH is a non-commercial public radio station in Huntsville, Alabama, broadcasting since 1976 on three HD channels (AAA music, classical, news/talk) with locally produced programming serving the Tennessee Valley region through listener contributions and corporate underwriting.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
WLRH 89.3 FM/HD industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Radio Broadcasting
- NAICS
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110), Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611)
- SIC
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public/Community Local Stations (PBS Member Stations, Community Radio, LPFM) (MPABACAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- National Public Radio Networks & Member Stations (NPR-style) (MPABADAB)
Keywords
Where WLRH 89.3 FM/HD is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Huntsville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
WLRH 89.3 FM/HD business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Listener Contributions/Membership: Primary funding source from listener donations and membership support, including one-time and recurring contributions
- Underwriting Credits: 20-second on-air credit announcements read during sponsored program segments. Enhanced underwriting allows underwriters to provide business descriptions, physical addresses, phone numbers, web addresses, value-neutral product descriptions, and trade names
- Day Sponsorships: Personalized acknowledgment messages read 6 times per day (twice during Tennessee Valley Mornings, twice mid-day, twice evening drivetime). Cannot be used for promotions. 15 seconds max, approximately 35 words
- Vehicle Donation Program: Partnership with Car Talk Vehicle Donation Service for convenient vehicle donations. Free towing, tax-deductible donations supporting programs and community initiatives
- Employer Matching: Corporate matching programs where employers double employee donations to WLRH
- IRA Charitable Distributions: Charitable distributions from IRAs for donors over 70½ years old, paid directly to Alabama Educational Television Commission
- Donor Advised Fund Grants: Grants from Donor-Advised Funds, which provide immediate tax deductions with distributed giving over time
- Bequest Gifts: Estate planning options including residual bequests, specific bequests, contingent bequests, beneficiary rights, personal/real property gifts, and securities gifts
- Travel Packages: Curated travel trips partnered with Collette travel company, with proceeds supporting WLRH
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | 1 Day Sponsorship - Acknowledgment read 6 times in one day |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | 2 Day Sponsorship - Acknowledgment read 6 times per day over two days |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | 3 Day Sponsorship - Acknowledgment read 6 times per day over three days |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Travel Package - Ireland Tour |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels10 records
WLRH 89.3 FM/HD product offering
Product offeringCore offering
WLRH is a non-commercial public radio station broadcasting three HD digital channels: HD-1 featuring Adult Album Alternative music and local programming, HD-2 offering 24/7 classical music, and HD-3 providing BBC World Service and news/talk programming. The station also produces and distributes 15+ locally produced programs, a mobile app with live streaming, podcasts, and community engagement features including severe weather alerts for the Tennessee Valley region.
Product overview
WLRH 89.3 FM/HD is a non-commercial public radio station operating three HD digital channels: HD-1 (main FM signal with locally curated Adult Album Alternative music and expanded music programming), HD-2 (24/7 classical music), and HD-3 (BBC World Service news and talk). The station produces and distributes over 15 locally produced programs/shows including Tennessee Valley Mornings, Morning Blend, Arts Underground, The Curiosity Squad, Let's Get Weird with Katy and Marsha, Capitol Exchange, and various music programs. Additional offerings include a free mobile app with live streaming, podcasts via Apple Podcasts and RSS, a Public Microphone feature for community storytelling, vehicle donation program, PSA broadcasting, corporate underwriting, day sponsorships, employer matching, curated travel programs, email newsletters, and a community event calendar with calendar subscription integrations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- WLRH FM 89.3 HD-1 Main Channel Main FM radio signal featuring Adult Album Alternative (AAA) music programming including locally curated playlists of singer-songwriters, indie artists, Americana, folk, rock, and legendary artists. Nighttime and overnight hours feature eclectic music not found elsewhere on radio.
- WLRH HD-2 Classical Music Channel Non-stop classical music broadcast 24 hours a day, seven days a week on the HD-2 digital subchannel for listeners seeking continuous classical music programming.
- WLRH HD-3 News and Talk Channel 24/7 news, talk, and informational programming featuring BBC World Service coverage on the HD-3 digital subchannel for listeners seeking news and talk content.
- WLRH Mobile App Free mobile application for smartphones providing access to WLRH's three HD channels, live streaming, podcasts, and the Public Microphone feature for community story submission.
- Vehicle Donation Program Program allowing donors to contribute vehicles (cars, trucks, boats, RVs, motorcycles, watercraft) to support WLRH programming, with free towing and tax deduction benefits.
- Corporate Underwriting Program Business sponsorship opportunity allowing organizations to receive on-air credits in the form of 20-second Underwriting Credit Announcements during sponsored program segments, with enhanced underwriting options including business descriptions, addresses, and value-neutral product descriptions.
- Day Sponsorships Sponsorship option allowing individuals to acknowledge special days, persons, or anniversaries with personalized on-air messages read six times per day (twice during Tennessee Valley Mornings, twice mid-day, twice evening drivetime). 15 seconds max, approximately 35 words.
- PSA (Public Service Announcement) Program Free PSA broadcast service for qualifying nonprofit organizations and community events, subject to FCC regulations and station guidelines.
- Travel with WLRH Curated travel trips for WLRH supporters featuring guided tours, with proceeds supporting the station. Includes destinations such as Ireland.
- Tuned In Newsletter Email newsletter providing behind-the-mic updates on WLRH programming, station news, and event information.
- WLRH Event Calendar Online community calendar listing local events, with subscription options via Google Calendar, iCalendar, Outlook 365, and Outlook Live.
- WLRH Severe Weather Alerts Broadcast service providing National Weather Service severe weather alerts for Madison, Morgan, Limestone, and Marshall counties in Alabama.
- Tennessee Valley Mornings (Original Morning Show) WLRH's original morning show launched October 1, 2025, airing 5-9 AM CST, covering community stories in science, local/state politics, arts and culture, health, education, and literacy.
- Employer Matching Program Program enabling employees to have their donations matched by their employers, featuring a list of participating companies including Boeing, GE, NVIDIA, IBM, and others.
Quantifiable outcome
- 60-mile coverage radius serving north Alabama and south central Tennessee
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use WLRH 89.3 FM/HD
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
WLRH 89.3 FM/HD technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
Feature2 records
WLRH 89.3 FM/HD partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Athens State University FoundationminorWLRH promotes and provides coverage of the 59th Annual Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention benefiting the Athens State University Foundation.
- TARCOG (Top Alabama Regional Council of Governments)minorTARCOG partners with WLRH for the annual Fraud and Scam Summit, with WLRH providing interview coverage and PSA announcements for the community education event on preventing virtual scams.
- The Independent CinemaminorWLRH partnered with The Independent at Lowe Mill for the Making Some Dang Motion Pictures Short Film Showcase, featuring 18 locally-made short films.
- StoryCorpscoreWLRH hosts the StoryCorps Mobile Tour at their studios, providing community members the opportunity to record meaningful conversations and preserve stories for future generations. StoryCorps mission focuses on helping people believe in each other by illuminating humanity one story at a time.
- Von Braun Astronomical SocietycoreEric Silkowski from the Von Braun Astronomical Society provides weekly Sky and Space Updates for WLRH's Curiosity Squad, covering astronomical events, meteor showers, eclipses, and planetary observations visible in North Alabama's sky.
- NewTerra Compost (formerly Phoenix Glass Recycling)minorWLRH covers local business news including NewTerra Compost merger, providing community information about expanded recycling and composting services available to Madison County residents.
- Lowe Mill ARTS & EntertainmentminorWLRH features stories about Flying Monkey Arts and Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment, covering the creative community that transformed a former textile mill into a thriving arts facility.
- Alabama Educational Television Commission (AETFA)coreAETFA holds the license for WLRH and Alabama Public Television. Accepts matching donations and grants on behalf of WLRH. Tax ID: 63-6050895.
- Alabama Public TelevisioncoreAPT shares licensing authority with WLRH under AETFA. WLRH General Manager Erich Brukner also serves as Division Director of Radio for APT. Joint underwriting and programming support.
- Car Talk Vehicle Donation ServicecorePartnership to process vehicle donations for WLRH, ensuring maximum value return to the station with free towing, convenient process, and donation receipts for tax purposes.
- Collette TravelminorWLRH partners with Collette for curated travel trips, with proceeds supporting the station. Current offering: 10-day Ireland tour from $4,299 per person.
- University of Alabama in HuntsvillecoreWLRH studios are located on UAH campus at 301 Sparkman Drive. While there is no formal affiliation between WLRH and UAH, the station benefits from campus location.
- Community Organizations (35+ listed)coreWLRH maintains community links with 35+ local organizations including Alabama A&M University, Calhoun Community College, Huntsville Botanical Garden, Huntsville Symphony Orchestra, NASA-Marshall Space Flight Center, Von Braun Astronomical Society, and more for cross-promotion and community information sharing.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
WLRH 89.3 FM/HD competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- StoryCorps: StoryCorps is a non-profit oral history project that partners with public radio stations including WLRH. Functions as a content/programming partner rather than a competitor, but uses comparable broadcast and podcast distribution channels.
- Alabama Public Television (APT): APT is WLRH's sister organization under the Alabama Educational Television Commission (AETC), sharing the same licensee. The WLRH General Manager also serves as Division Director of Radio for APT. Compares as a directly related public broadcasting entity under shared state oversight.
- Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB): CPB is the federal funding entity for US public media. Not a peer in the operational sense, but a critical ecosystem participant that funds WLRH operations and shapes its strategic constraints.
Direct peers
- KEXP 90.3 FM (Seattle): KEXP is a community-supported public radio station focused on independent and alternative music, with strong digital streaming and podcast distribution. Highly comparable as a non-commercial, listener-supported station emphasizing local/indie music and community engagement.
- KCRW 89.9 FM (Santa Monica): KCRW is a Santa Monica-based public radio station known for eclectic music programming and strong podcast/digital distribution. Comparable as a public radio station emphasizing local music discovery and community-driven content with multiple digital channels.
- Alabama Public Radio (WUAL): Alabama Public Radio operates from the University of Alabama and broadcasts a statewide network of public radio stations. Directly comparable in mission, funding structure, and public radio programming; also receives CPB funding and competes for the same Alabama listener base.
- WAMU 88.5 FM (Washington DC): WAMU is the NPR member station for the Washington DC area, producing nationally distributed programming like 1A. Directly comparable in mission and funding structure but operates at much greater scale in a major market.
- WBHM 90.3 FM: WBHM is Alabama's other major public radio station (Birmingham), operating as a NPR member station serving a different Alabama market. Directly comparable as a non-commercial public radio station with similar funding mix (CPB, memberships, underwriting) and community programming model.
Broad incumbents
- WNYC 93.9 FM (New York): WNYC is one of the largest public radio stations in the US, producing flagship programs distributed nationally. Comparable in funding model and programming mix, but operates at dramatically greater scale and budgets.
- WGBH 89.7 FM (Boston): WGBH is a major-market public radio station producing nationally distributed programming (e.g., PRI/PRX content). Larger, well-funded public broadcaster offering overlapping news, talk, and classical programming, but serving a major metro and operating at much greater scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
WLRH 89.3 FM/HD social profiles
Digital presenceWLRH 89.3 FM/HD financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
WLRH 89.3 FM/HD leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
WLRH 89.3 FM/HD subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
WLRH 89.3 FM/HD funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
WLRH 89.3 FM/HD 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 WLRH 89.3 FM/HD
What does WLRH 89.3 FM/HD do?
WLRH is a non-commercial public radio station broadcasting three HD digital channels: HD-1 featuring Adult Album Alternative music and local programming, HD-2 offering 24/7 classical music, and HD-3 providing BBC World Service and news/talk programming. The station also produces and distributes 15+ locally produced programs, a mobile app with live streaming, podcasts, and community engagement features including severe weather alerts for the Tennessee Valley region.
Is WLRH 89.3 FM/HD a public or private company?
WLRH 89.3 FM/HD is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was WLRH 89.3 FM/HD founded?
WLRH 89.3 FM/HD was founded in 1976. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is WLRH 89.3 FM/HD based?
WLRH 89.3 FM/HD is headquartered in Huntsville, United States, in the North America region.
How does WLRH 89.3 FM/HD make money?
Nine revenue lines are on record. Listener Contributions/Membership is the primary driver. The others are underwriting Credits, day Sponsorships, vehicle Donation Program, employer Matching, IRA Charitable Distributions, donor Advised Fund Grants, bequest Gifts and travel Packages.
Who are WLRH 89.3 FM/HD's main competitors?
Others on record are StoryCorps, Alabama Public Television (APT) and Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). Direct peers are KEXP 90.3 FM (Seattle), KCRW 89.9 FM (Santa Monica), Alabama Public Radio (WUAL), WAMU 88.5 FM (Washington DC) and WBHM 90.3 FM. Broad incumbents are WNYC 93.9 FM (New York) and WGBH 89.7 FM (Boston).
Does WLRH 89.3 FM/HD have an API?
No public API is recorded for WLRH 89.3 FM/HD.
What industry is WLRH 89.3 FM/HD in?
WLRH 89.3 FM/HD's product category is Public Radio Broadcasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABACAG, Public/Community Local Stations (PBS Member Stations, Community Radio, LPFM), with a secondary code of MPABADAB, National Public Radio Networks & Member Stations (NPR-style). Its NAICS code is 516110 and its SIC code is 4832.