What interfm does

Interfm is a commercial FM radio broadcaster licensed to operate on 89.7MHz in the Tokyo metropolitan area, founded in 1996 and approaching its 30th anniversary in 2026. It is an affiliate of the Japan FM Network (JFN), which extends its content reach through partner stations. The station's programming is built around a curated mix of music, sports, business, and world music, distinguished by signature shows including Barakan Beat with Peter Barakan, sports coverage led by Take Koyama, the business-oriented CLUB CEO hosted by Akira Igarashi, and the World Music Cruise with Motoko Sekiya.

The core technical product is over-the-air FM broadcasting, supplemented by three digital distribution channels: the radiko streaming platform, the JFN Pods podcast network, and Stitcher integration, which together allow Tokyo-originated content to reach listeners on demand and outside the FM footprint. Merchandise is sold through the interfm STORE. The station has accumulated intangible assets over three decades, including a Galaxy Award - DJ Personality Award received by Peter Barakan in 2013.

Interfm is a privately held company with 1-10 employees, generating revenue primarily through advertising and program sponsorships. Named sponsors include Ishii Food (石井食品), Arai Shoji (荒井商事), and Yaruki Switch Group, indicating a sponsor-supported model that monetizes both short-form spots and longer-form program integrations. The merchandise line represents a nascent secondary revenue stream. There are no disclosed funding rounds, M&A activity, or leadership changes in the available data.

Name

interfm

Legal name

interfm (株式会社 interfm)

Website

https://interfm.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Interfm is a Tokyo-licensed commercial FM radio station (89.7MHz) operating since 1996, broadcasting music, sports, business, and world music programming to metropolitan listeners and monetizing primarily through advertising and program sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Radio Broadcasting

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

Independent Local Radio Stations (MPABACAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Commercial FM radio broadcasting
• Radio advertising sales
• Music programming
• Digital audio streaming
• Radio station operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Higashi-shinagawa

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Radio Advertising: InterFM generates revenue primarily through advertising, with sponsored programs and promotional segments throughout the broadcast day. Programs feature corporate sponsors such as 石井食品 (Ishii Food) for 'おいしいの種' and 荒井商事 for 'World Music Cruise'.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

interfm (InterFM897) operates a free-to-air commercial FM radio station broadcasting at 89.7MHz in the Tokyo metropolitan area, delivering music, sports, business, and cultural programming. Content is simultaneously distributed nationwide via the radiko streaming platform and JFN Pods, supplemented by a branded online merchandise store (interfm STORE/FFB Tokyo). Revenue is generated through program sponsorships and radio advertising rather than direct listener fees.

Product overview

interfm (InterFM 89.7MHz Tokyo) is a Japanese commercial FM radio station operating within the JFN network. The station offers a single unified broadcast product — its over-the-air FM signal and affiliated digital listening platforms — supplemented by multiple named programs that together form its programming portfolio. Core programs include THE GOOD MIXER (contemporary hit music), Barakan Beat (eclectic music curation), SUNDAY FINISHING LINE (sports), Green Jacket (golf), CLUB CEO (business dialogue), and World Music Cruise (world music). The station also maintains an online store for official merchandise. Content is distributed via the station's own broadcast infrastructure, the radiko streaming platform, JFN Pods podcast feeds, and Spotify.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• interfm 89.7MHz Tokyo Broadcast
• THE GOOD MIXER
• Barakan Beat
• SUNDAY FINISHING LINE
• Green Jacket
• CLUB CEO
• Arai Shoji presents World Music Cruise

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• radikocoreTechnology or Integrationradiko is the primary digital streaming partner enabling InterFM to deliver live and time-shifted broadcasts to listeners nationwide via smartphone apps and web platforms, significantly extending reach beyond the Tokyo FM broadcast coverage area.
• JFN (Japan FM Network)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJFN handles podcast distribution for InterFM programs including CLUB CEO, making archived episodes available on Spotify and other podcast platforms for on-demand listening.
• 荒井商事株式会社 (Arai Shoji Co., Ltd.)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerArai Shoji sponsors the 'World Music Cruise' program, a cultural music exploration show featuring world music from different countries. This is a program sponsorship arrangement.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• FM802: FM802 is an Osaka commercial FM music station with a strong local brand, sponsorship, and digital channels. It is a regional peer in the same commercial broadcast and advertising category.
• ZIP-FM: ZIP-FM is a Nagoya commercial FM station with music, lifestyle, and local content, supported by advertising and digital distribution. It is a regional peer with a similar commercial-radio operating model.
• bayfm: bayfm is a Chiba-prefecture commercial FM station serving Greater Tokyo with music, talk, news, and digital streaming. It is a regional peer competing for the same broader metropolitan audience and advertising pool.
• FM Osaka: FM Osaka is an Osaka-area commercial FM broadcaster with music, talk, and lifestyle programming. Its local advertising and sponsorship model is comparable to InterFM despite serving a different geography.
• CROSS FM: CROSS FM is a Fukuoka commercial FM station with music, culture, and local programming distributed through broadcast and digital channels. It is a regional peer with a comparable local-radio and sponsor monetization model.

Direct peers

• J-WAVE: J-WAVE is a Tokyo commercial FM broadcaster with music, culture, lifestyle, and talk programming supported by advertising. Its metropolitan audience, digital listening, and sponsorship-driven format make it a close direct peer.
• FM Yokohama: FM Yokohama is a Yokohama-area commercial FM broadcaster offering music, talk, and local programming with advertising and sponsor support. It is a direct geographic and operating-model peer because InterFM also serves the Tokyo-Yokohama market.
• TOKYO FM: TOKYO FM is a Tokyo commercial FM station with a broad music, information, and talk schedule, advertising, and digital distribution. It competes for similar metropolitan listeners and brand sponsors.

Broad incumbents

• TBS Radio: TBS Radio is an established commercial radio broadcaster in Tokyo with news, talk, sports, and entertainment content distributed through broadcast and digital channels. It is a broad incumbent in the same local audio advertising market, although its core transmission is AM rather than FM.

Others

• radiko: radiko is Japan's digital radio platform distributing live and time-shifted broadcasts from terrestrial stations, including InterFM. It is an ecosystem and distribution peer rather than a broadcaster, but directly comparable in listener access and national reach.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/InterFM897
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCmH_6MkYd-O7cCsMZH8G0Xg
• Facebookfacebook.com/interfm897
• Instagraminstagram.com/interfm897

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 interfm