In 2022, Northwest Florida residents Deborah Bassett and Pete Perez, radio personalities and colleagues at a popular radio station in the United Kingdom, put their expertise and interests together to form their own radio station, Sandcastle Radio. 

“Sandcastle Radio was created out of a shared passion for good music of all genres and a shared  conviction that music literally saves lives. Musicians and creators shouldn’t have to live out of their cars to produce the music that brings us all joy,” explains Bassett. “We’re committed to paying our DJs, purchasing the music we play, reporting the music we play so that artists receive royalties, supporting other small businesses, and supporting and promoting the arts—especially music of all genres, and the people who make it, share it, and love it!”

As a vacation and second-home destination growing in popularity for tourists from the UK and Canada, Northwest Florida is a good base for Sandcastle Radio’s local and global reach with four of the station’s hosts located in Pensacola. “We’re truly an international team, composed of 18 hosts from six countries, combining four decades of experience in online and traditional radio broadcasting, print journalism, and music production to create a variety and music station that is shared with thousands of loyal listeners all around the world,” says Bassett. 

Sandcastle Radio presenters and DJs are experts in their areas and broadcast live from Pensacola, FL; Miami, FL; Minneapolis, MN; New York City, NY; Central Pennsylvania; Devon, England; London, England; Amsterdam, The Netherlands; and as far away as Wellington, New Zealand. They also have hosts in Detroit, MI; Alberta, Canada; and Durban, South Africa. “Our programming ranges from a live poetry and music show out of the UK to a live heavy metal show out of New Zealand and everything in between. We have something for everyone,” assures Perez.

Sandcastle Radio is independent, commercial-free, listener and community-supported radio, broadcasting from inside the historic Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola to the world 24 hours a day. The station is one hundred percent listener-supported through their Patreon, which is consistent with the grassroots, independent character of the tiny, trail-blazing station with the big voice being heard around the world.

Listeners can tune in directly from the station’s website, download the free Sandcastle Radio app to their mobile device, or listen through Alexa.