Radiate FM rebranding to WRGP FIU Student Radio

Nicole Montero/Asst. News Director

The University’s student-run radio show has a new look to match the new semester.

On Wednesday, FIU’s student radio announced its transition from WRGP Radiate FM to WRGP FIU Student Radio. With its rebranding, the station has more liberty to play different types of music and has a new look to target FIU Students.

“We’re going to try to hit an audience that maybe we haven’t hit before, especially FIU students,” said Sheyla Marimon, general manager of the station. “The old brand tied us down to a specific type of sound and this one just opens the gates to tap into a brand new sound.”

WRGP’s name change comes primarily from the fact that the student body isn’t able to recognize it.

According to Marimon, it is easier to introduce the station as WRPG FIU Student Radio because it’s simple and very straightforward.

“When people hear Radiate FM, they’re not really sure what it is,” said Marimon. “Our new branding just creates more of a buzz with students.”

Even though this rebranding is happening now, Marimon says that it’s been a long time coming.

“We were falling behind compared to other FIU organizations on reaching out to students,” she said. “The time has been right for a very long time and now we have been given the opportunity to seize the moment and become that FIU organization that we’ve always been.”

The station isn’t just trying to target student listeners. It is also trying to target listeners involved in FIU organizations.

“We’ve done a few events with different organizations already, like BSU, student affairs and other clubs on campus,” said Christopher Quintana, promotions director for the station. “But most people aren’t even aware that we DJ at FIU events for free.”

Marimon says that the station has an eighty-person staff and has people who are familiar with many different styles of music, thus being able to accommodate any club or organization on campus.

“For the most part, our programming has been consistent,” said Quintana. “But I think the old branding committed us to certain subgenres in electronic music.”

With their new branding, the station will be able to cover their programming more completely, in terms of music and segments.

WRGP offers segments on sports, opinions, student life, news and more. They also transmit seven days a week, with an almost 24-hour live broadcast.

“I think it’s really important to note that this is a really useful resource that students can use,” said Quintana. “It gives people some broadcasting experience or experience in music production and mixing. Students should take advantage of it.”

The station’s new look features a brand new logo made by a student committee.

The members include Isabella Gutierrez, Dylan Lopez, Yves Miranda, Scott Matsumoto and Darius Dupins.

Students and others can listen to WRGP FIU Student Radio live at anytime on 95.3 FM around the Modesto A. Maidique Campus area, 96.9 around the Biscayne Bay Campus area, and 88.1 in Homestead, South Dade and Kendall.

“We really just think this is going to be a brand new era for WRGP,” said Marimon. “We’re really excited to see where this goes and we’re excited to make the best out of it.”

-nicole.montero@fiusm.com