What CBS Radio Cleveland WNCX/ WKRK does

WNCX (98.5 WNCX-FM), formerly branded as CBS Radio Cleveland, is a commercial FM radio station licensed to serve the Cleveland, Ohio metropolitan area, broadcasting on the 98.5 MHz frequency under the on-air positioning 'Cleveland Classic Rock Station.' The station's core product is continuous classic rock music programming supplemented by personality-driven shows — including Cleveland's Morning Show With Matt Spatz, Nard, Paula Balish, Steve Gorman Rocks, Sue, Time Warp, and Little Steven's Underground Garage — along with local news, weather, traffic, Cleveland Browns game coverage, and on-demand podcast content such as Brain Strain. Technology-wise, WNCX operates a traditional terrestrial FM broadcast at 98.5 MHz, with distribution extended digitally through Audacy, Inc.'s platform infrastructure: live streaming at audacy.com/wncx, a mobile listening app, and smart speaker integration via the '98 Five N C X on Audacy' voice command.

The station is a fully owned and operated asset of Audacy, Inc. (NYSE: AUD), a major American radio broadcasting company domiciled in Pennsylvania. Audacy was formed in 2018 when Entercom's acquisition of CBS Radio was completed and the combined entity rebranded; WNCX traces its Cleveland heritage back approximately 40 years, having celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2026. WNCX's commercial relationships span a network of Cleveland-area venue and event partnerships — including the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (Pitch Those Pills), Dick's House of Sport (Tailgate Takeover), Cedar Point (Boardwalk Nights), Blossom Music Center, The Agora Theater, Northfield Park Racino, and the Cuyahoga County Fair — which generate ticket giveaways, event sponsorships, and on-air promotional inventory.

The business model is advertising-driven: WNCX monetizes its audience primarily by selling on-air and digital airtime to local and national advertisers targeting the Cleveland market, supplemented by event and contest sponsorships. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Audience reach is exercised across the Cleveland DMA via FM signal and extended globally via Audacy's digital streaming, while advertising value is concentrated in the local market. Marketing and distribution leverage a multi-channel approach — content marketing via the station website, on-demand podcasts, live events, organic social media, and email newsletter — all delivered through Audacy's shared platform infrastructure.

Name

CBS Radio Cleveland WNCX/ WKRK

Legal name

Audacy, Inc.

Website

https://wncx.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

WNCX is a Cleveland-market classic rock FM radio station (98.5 MHz) owned by Audacy, Inc., broadcasting music, personality-driven shows, Cleveland Browns coverage, and podcasts to local listeners while monetizing through advertising and event sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Radio Broadcasting

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611), Broadcasting and Content Providers (516)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Internet Radio & Streaming Broadcast Stations (Simulcast/Online-only) (MPAIAEAE)

Keywords

• Classic rock radio
• FM radio broadcast
• Radio advertising
• Music streaming
• Local radio station

Headquarters

HQ city

Cleveland

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, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Advertising Revenue: WNCX generates revenue primarily through advertising, selling airtime to local and national advertisers targeting the Cleveland market. The station offers contest and event sponsorships as additional advertising vehicles.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

WNCX (98.5 WNCX-FM) is a classic rock commercial FM radio station broadcasting at 98.5 MHz in Cleveland, Ohio. The station delivers continuous classic rock music programming, local personality-driven shows, news and weather updates, Cleveland Browns game coverage, and on-demand podcasts, distributed via over-the-air FM, digital streaming through the Audacy platform, mobile applications, and smart speaker integration.

Product overview

CBS Radio Cleveland WNCX (98.5 WNCX-FM) is a classic rock radio station operated by Audacy, offering a multi-platform entertainment experience centered on classic rock music. The core product is the FM broadcast station supplemented by on-demand podcast content, an interactive song history/playlist tracker, local news coverage, live event promotion, and mobile app listening capabilities. The station features multiple branded shows including Cleveland's Morning Show With Matt Spatz, Steve Gorman Rocks, Paula Balish, and others, with programming spanning music trivia podcasts like Brain Strain. All digital properties are delivered through Audacy's platform infrastructure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 98.5 WNCX (WNCX-FM) Classic Rock Radio Station Cleveland-based classic rock FM radio station broadcasting at 98.5 MHz, owned by Audacy, Inc. Provides continuous classic rock music programming, local Cleveland morning shows, news and weather updates, traffic, Cleveland Browns game coverage, and live event promotions.
• WNCX On Demand Podcast Platform On-demand podcast offering delivering WNCX original episodes such as the Brain Strain trivia show and other station-produced podcast content to listeners via the Audacy digital platform.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Dick's House of SportminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 20 September 2026WNCX hosts the 'Tailgate Takeover' pre-game event at Dick's House of Sport in SouthPark Mall in Strongsville, featuring station presence and promotions for Cleveland sports fans.
• Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer DistrictminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 2 September 2026WNCX personality Paula Balish partners with the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District for community events like the 'Pitch Those Pills' medication disposal event, promoting environmental and public health initiatives in the Cleveland area.
• Cedar PointminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWNCX partners with Cedar Point amusement park for the 'Boardwalk Nights' event series, promoting the seasonal evening entertainment program at the park.
• The Agora Theater and Visual ArtsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWNCX partners with The Agora in Cleveland for concert events featuring artists like Jon Anderson and The Band Geeks, providing ticket giveaways and station promotion.
• Blossom Music CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWNCX provides ticket giveaways and event coverage for concerts at Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, including performances by Chicago, Styx, and John Mellencamp.
• Northfield Park RacinominorGTM or Marketing PartnerWNCX partners with Northfield Park Racino for concert ticket giveaways, including Paul Sidoti performances at the venue.
• Cuyahoga County FairminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWNCX provides ticket giveaways for the annual Cuyahoga County Fair in Berea, Ohio.
• Audacy, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWNCX is owned and operated by Audacy, Inc., a major American broadcasting company. Audacy provides the digital platform, mobile app infrastructure, streaming technology, and corporate support for the station's operations.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• WMJI 105.7 FM (Majic 105.7): Cleveland classic hits station under a related heritage brand. Competes for older skewing listeners and classic-format ad dollars within the same DMA as WNCX, with a comparable local morning show and event-driven sales approach.
• WMMS 100.7 FM (iHeartMedia Cleveland): The most direct Cleveland classic rock competitor. WMMS is the long-established heritage rock station in the same DMA, owned by iHeartMedia, competing head-to-head with WNCX for classic rock listeners and Cleveland ad dollars.

Broad incumbents

• iHeartMedia: The largest US terrestrial radio broadcaster and operator of WMMS and other Cleveland stations. Operates a national portfolio of FM/AM stations with shared digital and ad-tech infrastructure comparable to what Audacy provides WNCX.
• Townsquare Media: Regional US radio operator with a multi-station cluster strategy and digital/digital marketing arm. Comparable mid-market and secondary-market station portfolio and event monetization approach to what Audacy applies at WNCX.
• Cumulus Media: Major US radio broadcaster with stations across multiple markets and a Westwood One ad-sales platform. Operates classic rock and rock-leaning formats in overlapping markets, competing with WNCX for national ad spend and digital audio inventory.
• Salem Communications: US radio broadcaster specializing in talk, news, and faith formats with a multi-market portfolio. Comparable local-station cluster economics and advertiser sales model, though operating in adjacent rather than directly overlapping formats to WNCX.
• Beasley Media Group: Mid-sized US radio broadcaster operating clusters in multiple markets with rock, classic rock, and heritage formats. Comparable cluster-based operating model and reliance on local ad sales plus digital extensions.

Regional players

• WONE-FM 97.5 (Summit Media Akron): Classic rock station serving the Akron portion of the greater Cleveland-Akron DMA. Overlaps with WNCX's classic rock positioning and competes for the same regional listener base and advertisers across Northeast Ohio.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/985wncx
• Facebookfacebook.com/985WNCX
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cbs-radio-cleveland-wncx-wkrk

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 CBS Radio Cleveland WNCX/ WKRK