Jorge Rodriguez, the former longtime producer for legendary WIOD and WQAM (among other stations) South Florida talker Neil Rogers, has been airing Neil’s old brand of acerbic and shock talk radio online at SoFloRadio.com. Rodriguez is one of a small group of self-proclaimed “South Florida radio refugees” using their history to forge a new future in online radio.
The site says: “Radio that you miss, has returned! SoFloRadio is a new interactive radio experience. Giving back to the radio listening audience, what was mismanaged away from them. Rising above the floundering remnants of terrestrial radio, SoFloRadio delivers a variety of entertainment. The station features a line up comprised of radio industry veterans with over thirty years combined radio broadcasting experience. As the phenomenal growth of listenership points out, we do what terrestrial management has forgotten about – give the audience what they want. No group monitoring or consultants allowed here. The audience tunes in to be entertained, informed, and help quicken the pace of their day. Created by a group of recession entrepreneurs, SoFloRadio provides quality production and well balanced air time to prospective advertisers at amazingly low rates. Serving locally targeted markets anywhere in the United States, Europe, Canada – and the world!”
“The Internet has really taken a chunk out of the terrestrial radio market and is responsible for a lot of talented people losing their jobs,” Rodriguez told The Sun Sentinel. “But the same element responsible for us losing our jobs has also become the vehicle that has allowed us to continue our jobs.”
Other shows include The Nicole Sandler Show, Silverman: On Sports, Love & Sex, Hippo Juice, The Pow Wow Show, By The Glass, The Fifth Circle, The Monicles and The Jackal’s Head.
We saw 11 advertisers mentioned on the site, ranging from The Miami New Times to weight loss clinics to restaurants to IT consulting.
Progressive talker host Nicole Sandler made headlines in April when she was arrested during U.S. Rep. Allen West’s town hall meeting for allegedly being disruptive (charges were later dropped). There is also a wine and beer show on Thursday evenings and a sex and relationship show hosted by longtime South Florida radio personality Gina Martell.
The shows are streamed through different websites and cellphone apps, making it difficult to count the number of listeners, Rodriguez said. He estimates 500-1,000 listeners any given hour.
Rodriguez said his business is “operating in the black” but he jokes his company is nonprofit.
RBR-TVBR observation: Note that the site offers cell phone apps for streaming. The message should resonate with the cavalcade of South Florida pirates on FM that you don’t have to break the law to get an audience. Who has a smartphone phone today that can’t stream audio? Remember, according to Arbitron and Edison Research, one in five Americans are now streaming audio weekly and the number who listen to Internet radio in their cars has nearly doubled in one year. It now reaches an estimated 57 million people 12+.
