Nearly one year after its quiet sale, the buyer of Radio.com has emerged. Audio advertising technology company Consumable Inc. acquired the domain name from Audacy as part of a broader effort to build a creator-focused, AI-enabled streaming platform, bringing one of the internet’s earliest category-defining media names back into active circulation.
The acquisition closes a long chapter for a domain that once sat at the center of legacy broadcast strategy and later drifted into underutilization. It also opens a new one, shaped by a different understanding of value: distribution first, technology second.
A Domain Name with Institutional History
Radio.com entered the Audacy portfolio through the 2017 CBS Radio merger, when the domain name transferred alongside a large network of broadcast stations. Earlier roots trace back further. The name was originally registered in 1996 by Internet Multicasting Service and later sold to CNET Networks the same year, alongside TV.com. CBS acquired CNET in 2008 and formally launched Radio.com in 2010 as a centralised streaming directory for its stations.
For a period, Radio.com functioned as a primary consumer-facing asset. That role diminished following a mobile app overhaul in 2020 and the Entercom rebrand to Audacy in 2021. By 2022, the domain name appeared in GoDaddy auctions with a minimum ask of $2.5 million, though no public bids emerged. The listing was later withdrawn. Until recently, Radio.com continued forwarding traffic to Audacy.com.
Why Radio.com Retained Strategic Weight
Strategic-Grade domain names behave differently from brand-created names. Radio.com carries immediate semantic clarity, historical weight, and broad cultural recognition. The name compresses an entire medium into a single word followed by .com, offering clarity without explanation and reach without qualifiers.
That quality does not expire when platforms change. It lies dormant, waiting for a strategy capable of activating it.
Consumable’s acquisition signals recognition of that latent value.
Naming as Leverage in a Creator Economy
Creators compete across platforms crowded with interchangeable features and overlapping capabilities. Names that shortcut discovery and trust reduce the distance between creator and audience.
Radio.com offers that shortcut.
The domain name requires no onboarding explanation, no positioning statement, and no linguistic translation. It supports audio-first creators while remaining flexible enough to absorb adjacent formats. Podcasts, live rooms, short-form audio, and hybrid media all fit under the same semantic umbrella.
That flexibility matters as creators increasingly seek platforms that support business formation rather than isolated publishing.
A Platform Play, Not a Nostalgia Play
The launch of Digital Indies, a micro private-equity venture studio led by Mark Levin and Fireside co-founder Falon Fatemi, underscores the intent behind the acquisition. The studio plans to invest in and build creator-first platforms and infrastructure, using Radio.com as a flagship asset rather than a legacy revival.
In a statement on Fireside’s website, Levin emphasised distribution as the advantage at scale, positioning Radio.com as a discovery layer capable of supporting monetisation across formats while building enterprise value.
Technology is becoming cheaper and faster. Distribution is the advantage. Radio.com has massive reach and discovery at scale. Fireside brings the creator operating system and interactive streaming layer. Together, we’re building modern infrastructure that helps creators monetize across formats while building real enterprise value.
Mark Levi, Digital Indies
The message remains consistent: technology cycles accelerate, names endure.
Radio.com Beyond Operating Use
Audacy’s operating strategy evolved beyond the role Radio.com once played, shifting focus toward a unified brand and product direction. Within that context, the domain name transitioned from an active operating asset to a strategic holding. Treating Radio.com as an investment-grade asset allowed value to be realised without impairing core execution.
Strategic-Grade domain names retain value independent of usage cycles. Monetising Radio.com converted a dormant position into deployable capital while preserving balance sheet discipline.
For Consumable, acquisition delivered immediate category authority and long-horizon optionality, placing a scarce digital asset at the center of a new platform strategy.
Founder Takeaway
Radio.com illustrates how domain names outlive platforms, business models, and operating strategies. Strategic-Grade domain names preserve optionality long after original use cases fade.
For founders building creator platforms, distribution surfaces increasingly resemble commodities. Naming remains one of the few levers capable of delivering immediate recognition, trust, and scale.
The right domain name is an important consideration when it comes to building and protecting your brand. If you’re ready to take the next step and invest in a perfect domain name for your business, contact us to learn more about our available options and how we can help you get started.
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