Internet radio station draws thousands of listeners daily, broadcasts from Round House
Photo by Rebekah Martin
From left to right, Mike Vee, Kyle Sandler and Cayla Myers work together to give Opelika its own internet radio station. Opelika Radio broadcasts from Round House and can be found at www.opelikaradio.com or 100.5 FM.
By Anna-Claire Terry
Staff Reporter
Opelika Radio is taking the city by storm. The local radio station, created in late June, currently has up to 2,500-4,000 listeners a day in the Opelika area.
Founder, Kyle Sandler of Round House, said the idea for Opelika Radio was the result of a brainstorm of ways to take advantage of the high-speed Internet. He wanted to create a real radio station on the internet, not just a podcast. He added that everything is programmed locally and in-house. There are several ways to listen to Opelika Radio: on 100.5 FM for the downtown area, online at www.opelikaradio.com, or with the free app available at the app store or Google Play Store. “People can listen to us while they’re jogging around the park just by using the app,” Sandler said.
According to Sandler, another reason he started the radio show is his life-long love of radio. “A lot of people say my career started at Google, but I actually got to Google because I was on the radio,” he explained. “That is the only thing I ever wanted to do as a kid.”
As a child, Sandler was a victim of leukemia, and for his “grant-a-wish,” he had the opportunity to meet his favorite radio DJ and participate in a kids’ radio show for two years. By the time he was 15 years old, he was hired to do a night radio show in Baltimore.
Opelika Radio is co-hosted by Cayla Myers, and Mike Vee. Content is music-based with current and non-current tunes. “People really love the music mix,” Sandler said. Hosts focus on tying in discussion about the Opelika/ Auburn area in with the music. Topics often include current and community events. Several other shows are currently in the works. Shows are live from 8-10 a.m., 3-5 p.m. and 5-7 p.m.
Many listeners enjoy watching the show in progress as it is showcased in the front window of Round House. Round House uses a loud speaker outside its door to amplify the radio shows for those walking through downtown to enjoy.
