WSSL

Name

WSSL

Legal name

iHeartMedia, Inc.

Website

https://wsslfm.iheart.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Country Music Radio Broadcasting

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAIAEAA

Commercial Terrestrial Radio Broadcasting (AM/FM)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Music & Audio (Recording, Publishing, Streaming)/Radio & Audio Broadcasting (Terrestrial, Satellite, Digital Radio)

SECONDARYMPABACAC

Local Radio Station Groups (Owned & Operated/Station Chains)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Broadcasting (TV & Radio)/Local Broadcast Stations & Affiliates (TV & Radio)

Keywords

• Country music radio
• Fm radio broadcasting
• Digital audio streaming
• Radio advertising sales
• Live event promotion

Headquarters

HQ city

Greenville/Spartanburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Advertising & Sponsorships: Primary revenue stream from local and national advertisers, with sponsored content, on-air mentions, and digital advertising placements
2. Event Sponsorships & Ticket Sales: Revenue from concert and event ticket sales (e.g., Whistle 100's Rising Stars concert at $10.05 advance tickets), VIP meet-and-greet packages, and event sponsorships
3. Podcast Distribution: Distribution of podcasts including Ellis & Bradley, Bobby Bones Show, and other shows through iHeartRadio podcast network

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

WSSL-FM (Whistle 100.5) is a country music radio station broadcasting on 100.5 MHz in the Greenville-Spartanburg and broader Carolinas market under iHeartMedia, Inc. The station delivers live on-air programming including the locally-produced Ellis & Bradley morning show and syndicated national shows, complemented by digital streaming, podcasts, and smart speaker access through the iHeartRadio platform. Revenue is generated from local and national radio advertising, event sponsorships, and concert/event ticket sales.

Product overview

WSSL 100.5 (Whistle 100.5) is a country music radio station operated by iHeartMedia, serving as 'The Carolinas' #1 For New Country!' The station operates as a unified platform combining traditional FM radio broadcasting with digital streaming capabilities through the iHeartRadio ecosystem. The core offering consists of live radio programming including the locally-hosted Ellis & Bradley morning show and syndicated national shows like The Bobby Bones Show and After MidNite with Granger Smith. Digital expansion includes podcasts, on-demand content through the iHeartRadio App, and live streaming via Amazon Alexa and Google Home smart speakers. Community engagement is delivered through signature local events including the Whistle 100 Acoustic Jam (benefiting Prisma Health Children's Hospital), Pickin' in the Park, and Whistle 100's Rising Stars concert series. The station also cross-promotes the flagship iHeartRadio Music Festival.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• WSSL 100.5 (Whistle 100.5) Radio Station Country music radio station broadcasting at 100.5 FM serving the Carolinas region with a mix of contemporary country hits, local programming, news, weather, and traffic updates for general listeners in the Greenville-Spartanburg market.
• Ellis & Bradley Show Locally produced weekday morning radio show airing 5–10 AM on WSSL 100.5, hosted by Bill Ellis and Beth Bradley; a 7-time CMA Morning Show of the Year nominee and 2016 CRS Morning Show of the Year winner.
• The Bobby Bones Show National country music show syndicated across iHeartRadio stations and featured on WSSL, hosted by Bobby Bones, covering country music news, artist interviews, and entertainment content.
• After MidNite with Granger Smith Late-night country music radio program featured on WSSL, hosted by Granger Smith, providing music curation and artist interactions for overnight listeners.
• iHeartRadio Music Festival Annual two-night music festival held at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas featuring chart-topping and legendary performers, promoted by WSSL with ticket giveaways for the Carolinas audience.
• Whistle 100's Rising Stars Concert Local country music showcase concert featuring emerging artists including Tyler Nance, Shane Profitt, Taylor Austin Dye, Cole Goodwin, and Kelsey Hart at The Foundry at Judson Mill in Greenville, SC, presented by Thompson.
• Whistle 100 Acoustic Jam Annual acoustic country music event benefiting Prisma Health Children's Hospital, featuring country artists performing in an intimate acoustic setting for the local community.
• Whistle 100 Podcasts On-demand podcast content distributed through the iHeartRadio Podcast Network, including Ellis & Bradley, Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and other station-affiliated shows.

Quantifiable outcome

• 7-time CMA Morning Show of the Year nominee; 2016 CRS Morning Show of the Year winner

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• ThompsonminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 7 October 2026Presented by Thompson for Whistle 100's Rising Stars concert at The Foundry at Judson Mill. Thompson is a sponsor of the concert event with portion of proceeds going to Thompson.
• InglescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-standing community partner for events including Acoustic Jam, Fill-A-Backpack program, and various station promotions. Ingles is a regional grocery chain serving the Upstate SC area.
• iHeartMedia, Inc.coreOthersParent company of WSSL-FM. iHeartMedia operates the station through its iHeartMedia+Entertainment division and provides the iHeartRadio digital platform for streaming and podcast distribution.
• iHeartRadiocoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital streaming and podcast distribution platform owned by iHeartMedia. Enables live radio streaming, on-demand podcasts, and smart speaker integration for the station.
• Prisma Health Children's HospitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeneficiary of Whistle 100 Acoustic Jam events. The station organizes charity concerts with proceeds supporting Prisma Health Children's Hospital.
• Sitton Buick GMCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Toys for Tots 'Stuff the Truck' events. Provided venue for collection events and sponsorship support for the charitable initiative.
• Cancer Survivors Park AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeneficiary of Whistle 100's Kickin' Cancer event. All event proceeds support the Cancer Survivors Park Alliance.
• Capital OneminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of iHeartRadio Music Festival. Capital One cardholders receive priority access to pre-sale tickets for the annual festival.
• T-Mobile ArenaminorOthersVenue partner for iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas where Whistle 100 participates in cross-promotion.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• WROQ (iHeartMedia Greenville classic rock): Another Greenville-Spartanburg iHeartMedia station. Comparable because it competes head-to-head with WSSL for the same local ad budgets and audience time, sharing the same parent, distribution stack, and operational model — but in a different format.
• WTOR (iHeartMedia Charlotte Country): An iHeartMedia country/regional station serving the Carolinas. Comparable as a direct in-market/format competitor leveraging the same parent-company distribution, ad-sales force, and syndicated shows (Bobby Bones, After MidNite) that WSSL also runs.
• WESC-FM (iHeartMedia Greenville): A Greenville-Spartanburg market radio station also operated by iHeartMedia. Directly comparable because they share the same parent company, overlapping broadcast geography, and identical multi-platform (FM, iHeartRadio, smart speaker) distribution — directly competing for the same listeners and local ad dollars.
• WSIX (iHeartMedia Nashville): iHeartMedia's flagship Nashville country station. Comparable as a sister country FM station inside the same network, sharing syndication, digital streaming via iHeartRadio, and the same advertising/sponsorship monetization model.

Regional players

• Townsquare Media (regional country clusters): A mid-sized US radio group with concentrated regional clusters that include country formats. Comparable as a regional-cluster radio operator with similar localized sales and event strategies, competing with iHeart's mid-market stations like WSSL.
• WKKT (Charlotte country, Beasley): A Charlotte-based country station operated by Beasley Broadcast Group. Comparable as a regional Carolinas country format competitor, contesting share-of-ear with WSSL for country listeners in adjacent markets.

Broad incumbents

• SiriusXM: The dominant US satellite and streaming audio platform with deep country programming (The Highway, Prime Country). Comparable as a broader incumbent competing for country listeners' time and ad-attentive inventory alongside WSSL.
• Beasley Broadcast Group: US radio group operating multiple mid-market stations including country formats in the Carolinas region. Comparable as a broader incumbent competing with iHeart for regional ad budgets and talent.
• Cumulus Media (country stations incl. KPLX Dallas, WKDF Nashville): The second-largest US radio broadcaster, with major country stations in Nashville and Texas. Comparable as a broader incumbent competing with iHeartMedia's country-radio portfolio for national ad dollars and syndication scale.
• Audacy (country stations + digital): Major US radio broadcaster with multiple country stations and a significant digital audio platform. Comparable as an incumbent national radio competitor offering both broadcast and streaming that competes with iHeartRadio for advertiser share.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wssl

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 WSSL