WSLR is a low-power radio station in Sarasota, FL, that features original music and public affairs shows programmed by community volunteers.
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11/15/2025
New show alert. 🎶🔥
Hoyle’s House is kicking off its seasonal run on WSLR tomorrow, Sunday November 16 from 7 to 9 p.m., airing every other week. Hosted by Hoyle, this program brings a blend of blues-inspired alternative rock with its own edge and atmosphere. A fresh sound, a new voice, and a vibe all its own.
Listen on 96.5 FM Sarasota streaming live at WSLR.org and on the WSLR app.
11/15/2025
New show alert. 🚨🎶
Music Cosmos with MC SWAG arrives on WSLR tomorrow, Saturday November 15 from 5 to 7 p.m., airing every other Saturday after that. This new program brings a mix of funk, rock, soul, and rhythm that moves the body and calms the mind. Where passion meets peace and sound becomes balance.
Love and Zen flowing through every beat.
Listen on 96.5 FM Sarasota streaming live at WSLR.org and on the WSLR app.
11/15/2025
Big Willie returns to WSLR with Big Willy’s Juke Joint. 🎸
He has been part of the station for many seasons, and we are glad to have him back behind the board sharing legends of the blues and more. Join us this Saturday and every other Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m.
Listen on 96.5 FM Sarasota, at WSLR.org, on the WSLR app, or later on the archives.
11/15/2025
Tune in to The Witching Hour tonight!
Join me on WSLR 96.5 Community Radio from 9-11EST where I talk all about divination.
The art of seeking uncovered knowledge or seeing the future using tools like tarot, astrology or tapping into the akashic records.
You can listen on WSLR.org or WSLR on the free tune in radio app too.
11/11/2025
🎸Sunshine Music & Art Festivals presents the Sunshine Hootennany this Thursday-Saturday in Brooksville! More information, lineup and tickets here: https://sunshinehootenanny.com/
11/10/2025
Go Ish!
🎸TONIGHT at 7: WSLR's own Ishmael Katz (Eclectricity) hosts the November edition of the Fogartyville Songwriter Series! Music fans will gather to hear a trio of songwriters playing in-the-round in between sharing stories and describing their process.
Katz will be joined on the Fogartyville stage by Elaine Bolton and Carey Chaney.
Live from Fogartyville! Be part of the audience for the “Talk of the Town,” a WSLR News roundtable hosted by journalist and author Carrie Seidman.The panel-s...
11/07/2025
🎸Coming up today at 4 p.m. on the Friday Happy Hour on WSLR: retro raconteurs A Tale Of Two will join Bartender Tommy D in the studio ahead of tonight's Fogartyville concert.
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In 2000, five non-profit groups filed applications for low power frequency 96.5 during the FCC’s four day window.
In 2003, Bo Bentele and Sarah Kell, acting on behalf of the New College Student Alliance (NCSA) negotiated a settlement agreement with David Beaton, acting on behalf of the Gulf Coast Sanctuary. In this agreement, the Gulf Coast Sanctuary agreed to withdraw their application in exchange for creation of a governing Board that would consist of community members and student representatives. This settlement agreement allowed the NCSA application to prevail.
In February 2004, the NCSA was awarded a construction permit for a low power station.
An interim board was established consisting of community representatives David Beaton, Robert Salzberg, Darlene Sparks, Jason Boehk and Arlene Sweeting and New College representatives Bo Bentele, Sarah Kell, Rebecca Nelson (NCF) and David Bryant (head of Alumni Assn). It was agreed that we would form a new 501c3 organization, WSLR, and that the WSLR board would be the governing board for the station.
The board met for a year and a half establishing bylaws and procedures by which the station would be governed and raising money to get the station on the air. The bylaws approved on 10/20/2004 called for a simple majority of the Board seats to be reserved for New College affiliates – students, alumni, faculty or staff.
WSLR applied for and received 501c3 status in June 2005. Until we were formally recognized as a 501c3, the New College Foundation set up a Radio Fund where people could make tax-deductible contributions to the station.
Bo Bentele formed a Radio Club on campus to generate interest in the station. The relationship of New College Radio Club and the station continued to be discussed. At no time was anyone officially connected with the NCSA on the governing board. The NCSA was approached and did fund several purchases for the New College Studio. These purchases have since been reclaimed for use by student bands.
At the end of July 2005, Prometheus Radio sent three technical people down from Philadelphia to help us get the station on the air. With the help of 20 volunteers, the studio and the transmission site were constructed in one weekend.
In August 2005, WSLR tested their first live broadcast and filed for a license to cover.
From August 2005 – May 2006, we ran two studios – one at New College and one at Royal Palm. Due to technical issues and lack of consistency and New College concerns with community members coming on campus late at night, this studio was shut down and New College students became one with community members in operating out of the same studio. We also eliminated specific slots for New College students in the programming schedule; opening up any slot for them. Because of the elimination of the ‘us’ and ‘them’ mindset, the requirement that a majority of the Board be New College Representatives was also dropped.
October 2009 – The New College student body voted to transfer the station license to WSLR, Inc. An ‘unofficial’ license transfer ceremony was held at New College to complete the paperwork and the application was filed online with the FCC. An agreement was reached between the station and the New College students, whereby students would retain a seat on the WSLR Board and on the programming committee; the station would continue to offer student internships; and the station would remain in geographical proximity to the college. The FCC approved the license transfer in February 2011.
In October 2011 WSLR moved into its new digs at 525 Kumquat Court in downtown Sarasota.
