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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01/03/2026
🎙️🌽🥕 We’re down at the Sarasota Farmers Market this morning in beautiful downtown Sarasota with lots of WSLR energy.
We’ve had many WSLR programmers and volunteers down here with the community, including Jono and Julie from Our Changing Environment, Ted from Ted’s Head, Purple Mike from Outta the Basement… on the road, and Susan Runyan from High Tide, Andy Franklin from The Backbeat, MC Swag from Music Cosmos ~
📍 WSLR booth location: The corner of Lemon Avenue and Main Street
📻 Listen live on 96.5 FM Sarasota
🌍 Stream live at WSLR.org
📱 Listen on the WSLR app
Swing by the market, check out the vendors, and stop by the WSLR table to say hello.
01/03/2026
🎙️🌽🥕 We’re down at the Sarasota Farmers Market this morning in beautiful downtown Sarasota with lots of WSLR energy.
We’ve had many WSLR programmers and volunteers down here with the community, including Jono and Julie from Our Changing Environment, Ted from Ted’s Head, Purple Mike from Outta the Basement… on the road, and Susan Runya from High Tide, Andy Franklin from The Backbeat, MC Swag from Music Cosmos!
📍 WSLR booth location: The corner of Lemon Avenue and Main Street
📻 Listen live on 96.5 FM Sarasota
🌍 Stream live at WSLR.org
📱 Listen on the WSLR app
Swing by the market, check out the vendors, and stop by the WSLR table to say hello.n
01/02/2026
New Year, new WSLR programs! Pick up a free January-March 2026 edition of Critical Times to get this handy schedule!
You can find Critical Times at Fogartyville, libraries, coffee shops, AND at our table at tomorrow's Sarasota Farmers Market, where we'll be broadcasting!
12/30/2025
🎙️ Join Leon Kerber Wednesday from 4–6 p.m. on Broken REEL for an interview with matt pond PA!
Matt Pond PA is a longtime songwriter known for his thoughtful lyrics, melodic warmth, and emotionally resonant songs that explore change, connection, and reflection.
🎧Programmer David Young will share music from artists we lost in 2025 tomorrow (Monday) from 7-9 a.m. on The Sweet Spot. The multi-genre In Memoriam program includes pop, metal, jazz, rock, and Tejano. Tune in to pay your respects and celebrate musical legacies.
Here's how to listen:
📻96.5 FM in Sarasota
💻wslr.org
📲WSLR app
12/21/2025
🎷Tonight, we’re teaming up with Larry Shind to debut Jazz Kaleidoscope on WSLR.
Larry is a longtime jazz programmer at WGBH in Boston, where he continues to host a jazz show on Sunday nights. Now he’s joining the WSLR lineup as a seasonal programmer.
Jazz Kaleidoscope airs Sundays from 9 to 11 p.m.
📻 96.5 FM Sarasota
💻 Listen live or hear past shows at WSLR.org
📱 Stream on the WSLR app
12/18/2025
🎸Coming up tonight on Microgroove: Fallon will be joined in the studio by St. Petersburg neo-psych band Liquid Pennies!
Then get ready for some vinyl plays from The Madcap Laughs, Ty Segall, Spectrum, Guided By Voices and Acid Carousel!
It all happens from 7-9 p.m. on 96.5 FM in Sarasota, wslr.org, or on the free WSLR app!
12/13/2025
Talk of the Town: A WSLR News Roundtable with Carrie Seidman airs on WSLR from 11 a.m.-noon today! The topic of the day is the governor's proposal to eliminate property taxes for homeowners.
Panelists include interim Sarasota City manager Dave Bullock, Longboat Key Mayor Ken Schneier, and Marc R. Masferrer of The Bradenton Journal!
12/12/2025
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Tune in tonight from 9-11EST where we talk about myths and magic of the Appalachian Mountains ⛰️
🔊Tune in on WSLR.org or the free app tune in radio..or ask Alexa to play WSLR! WSLR 96.5 Community Radio
12/10/2025
This Saturday - be a part of the live broadcast from Fogartyville!
Be the first to know and let us send you an email when WSLR 96.5 Community Radio posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
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.
