With so many choices for radio channels and streaming, it’s nice to find a station that features St. Pete musicians, sports, events, and personalities. RadioStPete is both a 24-hour Internet station and a popular FM channel that offers a unique blend of locally produced and nationally syndicated programming. Whether you enjoy listening to jazz, country, classical, pop, or oldies, you can hear them on RadioStPete along with podcasts on just about any topic.
Founder Joe Bourdow traces his inspiration for RadioStPete back to his college days at the University of Virginia. There he worked at a local radio station in Charlottesville and later spent five years broadcasting from the Shenandoah Valley. When the radio industry was deregulated in the 1980s, big companies could own hundreds of stations, and the focus on local communities diminished. Bourdow moved on to work for Valpak’s national headquarters in Tampa as president. After he retired in 2010, he returned to his first love and founded RadioStPete in 2013.
Sunshine 96.7 FM Features Local Musicians
Music lovers rejoiced when RadioStPete received its FM broadcast license in March 2021. They committed to expanding the local musician catalog and format established by the previous licensee, Rick Crandall and Music Tampa Bay. With a primary focus on the local music scene, the station also offers daily news, weather, and other programming. According to vice president and music director J. Kolb, it plays the work of more than 800 singers, songwriters, and bands playing in the Tampa Bay area, with a grand total of 2,464 songs.
Popular Programs Keep Listeners Tuned In
There is something for everyone on RadioStPete. Are you a jazz lover? You can start your day with “Jazz at Daybreak” with David Basse at 5 a.m. on 96.7FM. If you prefer to ease into the day with classical music, check out “Morning Classics” from the Florida Orchestra, also at 5 a.m. on the RadioStPete.com online channel. Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon feature the Florida Folk Show, and every evening you can find a variety of local music, live and recorded.
Sports fans tune into the “Locked on Rays-Lightning-Bucs” podcast every weeknight at 5:30. Or you can enjoy sports talk with Mike Rickord’s “On the Tee” Saturdays at 11 a.m., followed by “St. Pete’s Sports Connection” at 12:05 p.m., live from Ferg’s. You won’t want to miss a live Rowdies Soccer podcast Wednesdays at 8 p.m.
Every day at noon you can listen to news and “Lunchtime Conversations” with local personalities. The station is happy to broadcast public-service announcements of local events and in support of other local, nonprofit organizations. Simply send an email to info@ radiostpete.com with a request.
Memberships Welcome
RadioStPete is a locally based, nonprofit, all-volunteer organization with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and a 10-member local board of directors. If you would like to help keep the station up and running, you can become an official member for as little as $5 a month. One-time donations on the website are also more than welcome. Businesses can join for $50 a month and will receive acknowledgments on the air.
Tune in, download the app, log on or simply ask your smart speaker to “Play RadioStPete” to hear a unique blend of talk, music, and live local coverage of all that makes our city a great place to work and play.
For complete information on programming, podcast archives, and all the ways you can listen to both RadioStPete Online and Sunshine 96.7 FM, visit www.radiostpete.com. View the current schedule of all programs here.
