WYXR

What WYXR does

WYXR is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community radio station operating at 91.7 FM in Memphis, Tennessee, legally organized under Crosstown Radio Partnership, Inc. The station was founded in 2023 as a collaboration between three flagship partners — Crosstown Concourse (physical home), Daily Memphian (journalism), and University of Memphis (academic and student programming, including partner station The ROAR) — and is governed by a Board of Directors and a Community Advisory Board in compliance with FCC and Corporation for Public Broadcasting requirements.

WYXR's product portfolio centers on a live FM broadcast delivering freeform, human-curated programming across rock, jazz, soul, hip-hop, R&B, blues, country, electronica, experimental, and world music genres, plus talk programming on arts, culture, news, and community affairs. The broadcast is augmented by global internet streaming via StreamGuys infrastructure, native iOS and Android applications, and the WYXR Podcast Network distributed through Pinecast and Spreaker. Supporting products include the Live @ WYXR in-studio concert series (partnered with Court Square Recordings), the Stereo Sessions immersive listening experience (at the Memphis Listening Lab), the WYXR Concert Calendar (partnered with Where's the Music Memphis), the annual Raised By Sound Music Festival, and an SMS listener-interaction service. A 2026 partnership with Qobuz extends the station's curated content to a national streaming audience through 2027.

Revenue is generated entirely through nonprofit mechanisms: listener donations and sustaining-membership programs (337 disclosed monthly sustaining givers), corporate sponsorships (MEMPHO Presents, Court Square Recordings, Qobuz, Humanities Tennessee), and CPB grant funding. Content is free to listeners across all distribution channels; there is no consumer pricing. The organization operates with 1-10 employees from its headquarters at 1350 Concourse Avenue, Suite 160, Memphis, TN 38104, with broadcast and studio facilities co-located at Crosstown Concourse.

Name

WYXR

Legal name

Crosstown Radio Partnership, Inc.

Website

https://wyxr.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

WYXR is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community radio station broadcasting at 91.7 FM in Memphis, Tennessee, delivering human-curated freeform music and talk programming across FM, streaming, mobile apps, and a podcast network, funded by listener donations, corporate sponsorships, and CPB grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Radio Broadcasting

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (5162), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (51621)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

Public/Community Local Stations (PBS Member Stations, Community Radio, LPFM) (MPABACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community/Low-Power Nonprofit Radio (LPFM/Community Radio) (MPABADAE), Podcast Hosting, Distribution & Listening Platforms (BPAMAJAD), Radio Network Distribution & Programming Services (Syndicators, Format Providers) (MPAIAEAH)

Keywords

• Community radio station
• Freeform radio programming
• Public radio broadcasting
• Podcast network distribution
• Nonprofit media station

Headquarters

HQ city

Memphis

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, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Listener Donations and Membership: WYXR operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization relying on listener donations, pledge drives, and membership programs. The station conducts periodic fundraising campaigns with matching donation incentives.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: WYXR generates revenue through corporate sponsorships, including sponsorship of specific programs like the WYXR Podcast Network, Stereo Sessions, and Echoes of Memphis. Sponsors include Mempho Presents, Court Square Recordings, and others.
3. Corporation for Public Broadcasting Grants: As a public radio station, WYXR receives grant funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which requires compliance with FCC regulations and community advisory board oversight.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

WYXR operates a nonprofit community radio station broadcasting freeform, human-curated programming on 91.7 FM in Memphis, Tennessee. The station delivers diverse musical genres and talk content to local listeners via FM radio and to a global audience through internet streaming, the WYXR Podcast Network, and native mobile applications. Programming is supported by donations, corporate sponsorships, and CPB grant funding under 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.

Product overview

WYXR is a nonprofit community-driven freeform radio station based in Memphis, Tennessee, operating as a 501(c)(3) organization. The station offers a multi-platform media portfolio centered on its 91.7 FM broadcast, supplemented by live internet streaming, a podcast network, mobile applications, and live event programming. The core offering consists of the live radio broadcast delivering diverse musical genres and talk content, augmented by the WYXR Podcast Network featuring themed programs on music, culture, health, and technology topics. Supporting products include the Live @ WYXR in-studio concert series, the Stereo Sessions listening party experience, the WYXR Concert Calendar, mobile apps for iOS and Android, on-demand show archives, and the SMS text messaging service for DJ-listener interaction. The station also runs community initiatives including the annual Raised By Sound Music Festival and maintains partnerships with organizations such as Qobuz, MEMPHO Presents, and Court Square Recordings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WYXR Podcast Network: A hub for conversations about music, news, and current events featuring on-air hosts and podcast personalities with exclusive web content.

Products and services

• WYXR 91.7 FM Radio Broadcast WYXR's primary freeform community radio broadcast at 91.7 FM, delivering human-curated music programming across diverse genres and talk content to listeners in the Memphis, Tennessee area.
• WYXR Live Audio Streaming Internet audio streaming service that delivers WYXR's live FM broadcast in real-time to listeners worldwide through the station's website and mobile applications.
• WYXR Podcast Network A podcast network offering on-demand programming including Real Talk Memphis, Meanwhile in Memphis, Memphis Material, Technostrategist, Healthful High Notes, Orpheum Originals, Echoes of Memphis, The Sidebar, and Sound Bites, covering music, arts, culture, news, and current events, distributed through Pinecast and Spreaker.
• WYXR Mobile Application Native mobile applications for iOS and Android enabling listeners to access WYXR's live radio streaming and on-demand podcast content on smartphones and tablets.

Quantifiable outcome

• 337 listeners sustain WYXR through monthly gifts
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• QobuzcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 July 2026Qobuz, an independently owned music streaming platform, announced a year-long partnership with WYXR running through 2027. The partnership integrates Qobuz across WYXR's on-air programming, digital platforms, and listener experiences. The collaboration also introduces WYXR's curated content to Qobuz users through DJ and staff playlists. This builds on Qobuz's existing presence in Memphis through its Memphis Listening Lab partnership.
• Crosstown ConcourseflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCrosstown Concourse is a founding partner of WYXR and serves as the physical home of the station. The partnership represents a core collaborative relationship in establishing the station's operations and mission.
• Daily MemphianflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDaily Memphian, Memphis's local digital news outlet, is a founding partner of WYXR, contributing to the station's journalism and community affairs programming.
• University of MemphisflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe University of Memphis is a founding partner of WYXR, providing academic and institutional support. The partnership includes a student-run station, The ROAR, and opportunities for student involvement in radio operations.
• Memphis Listening LabcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMemphis Listening Lab is a partner referenced in WYXR's programming context, including sponsorship of the Stereo Sessions events held at the Lab's state-of-the-art facility.
• Mempho PresentscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMempho Presents is an independent Memphis-based producer of live music and cultural events that sponsors WYXR programming, including Echoes of Memphis, Orpheum Originals, and Baroque Down Palace.
• Court Square RecordingscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCourt Square Recordings is a downtown Memphis recording studio that partners with WYXR on the Live @ WYXR in-studio concert series, providing recording facilities and production expertise.
• Where’s the Music MemphisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWYXR partnered with Where's the Music Memphis to build the city's most comprehensive live music calendar, providing event listings for the WYXR Concert Calendar.
• Humanities TennesseeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHumanities Tennessee provides support for WYXR programming, including the Echoes of Memphis podcast, as a sponsor enabling production of local cultural content.
• ASCAP, BMI, and SESACcoreOthersWYXR operates under licenses from ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC for the broadcast and streaming of musical works, ensuring compliance with copyright law.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• KCRW: Santa Monica-based public radio station known for music discovery, cultural programming, and influential DJ-hosted shows. KCRW is comparable to WYXR in its music-and-culture focus, listener-supported model, and emphasis on curated programming that bridges local and global scenes.
• The Current (Minnesota Public Radio): Minnesota Public Radio's music-focused service featuring freeform and curated programming. The Current shares WYXR's commitment to music discovery across genres and its multi-platform streaming and podcast distribution.
• WFMU: Long-running freeform community radio station licensed to Upsala College in New Jersey. WFMU operates as a listener-supported non-profit with a famously eclectic programming format, very similar in spirit and operational model to WYXR's freeform approach.
• WKCR New York: Columbia University-licensed freeform community radio station in New York City. WKCR's programming model - freeform, community-rooted, diverse genre coverage - is closely aligned with WYXR's approach.
• KEXP-FM Seattle: Seattle-based non-commercial freeform music station with a strong digital streaming and podcast presence. KEXP is the closest analogue to WYXR in mission and programming model, with the same 'human-curated music discovery' positioning and a multi-platform distribution approach. Both stations target music enthusiasts seeking alternatives to algorithmic curation.
• WXPN / WXPN FM: University of Pennsylvania-affiliated public radio station with a strong music-discovery focus. XPN shares WYXR's emphasis on genre diversity, live in-studio sessions, and partnership-driven content development.

Broad incumbents

• Spotify: Global music streaming platform that competes with WYXR for listener attention and represents the 'algorithmic' alternative WYXR explicitly positions against. Notably, the Qobuz partnership suggests WYXR sees streaming platforms as distribution partners rather than direct competitors.
• NPR: National public radio network and a major CPB grant recipient. NPR is a broader incumbent in the public broadcasting space with overlapping cultural and news content, though its scale and national focus differ materially from WYXR's local freeform music focus.
• WAMU / WETA (public radio stations): Established public radio stations offering a mix of news, talk, and music programming. While larger and more news-focused, they share WYXR's public broadcasting infrastructure, CPB funding eligibility, and community-service mission.

Emerging players

• WGBO / WGBB (college/community radio peers): Community radio stations and emerging nonprofit broadcasters playing a comparable freeform/community role at smaller scale. These stations share WYXR's volunteer-driven, donation-supported model and local music emphasis.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wyxr_memphis
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@wyxr
• Facebookfacebook.com/wyxrmemphis
• Instagraminstagram.com/wyxr_memphis
• TikToktiktok.com/@wyxr_memphis
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wyxr

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 WYXR