Radio Station WSRO Embraces Its HQ, Community

Framingham’s celebrated its sixth anniversary since it became a mainly Portuguese language station. In honor of the event the radio station held a traditional Brazilian-style BBQ for its staff and listeners on Saturday.

More than 300 listeners showed up to meet the station’s 40 Brazilian talk-show hosts. People mingled amongst the talk-show stands and kids jumped on a bouncy house.

WSRO’s programming is 90 percent Brazilian. The station also broadcasts one Italian show and a show in English by Kevin Trudeau on Sunday nights. About 50 people are on the station’s waiting list to host a show.

“It may not be the answer you want to print, but honestly, somebody walked in and asked if they could do a Portuguese language show. I said: why not?,” said Alex Langer, the station’s owner.

Langer is satisfied with the station’s financial situation. WSRO just acquired the building the houses it’s three studios.

For new projects this year he cites a new $50,000 studio and a cultural fair, to showcase the Brazilian culture to the non-Brazilian population in metroWest.

Under the new manager Ilma Paixão, WSRO which used to be dominated by evangelical churches is now a more balanced station in regards to programming.

“To some local pastors that was a shock. But many of them came back to say they understand the station now reaches a broader audience,” said Paixão.

“I guess they realized we’re reaching more people," added Langer.

Paixão, who’s been the station's general manager since May 2010, said this week the station will put on the road a newly-acquired Scion xB, to advertise the station. The Scion xB bears the WSRO logo and can broadcast live.

The idea, says Langer, is to reach places, especially towards Boston and Worcester, where the station has a signal but not a presence on the ground. The new vehicle can be requested for business openings.

Recently, WSRO rearranged its line up to accommodate DJs Marlon Adalton and Leandrinho, two professional radio hosts, who hail from Minas Gerais, the part of Brazil that send the most Brazilian workers to the U.S.

Listener Maria Souza said only through WSRO’s news casts she can stay informed, while working two cleaning jobs. Another listener said the DJs good humors make her day pass by faster.

Towards the celebration’s end, listeners, DJs and their family members organized a symbolic embrace around WSRO’s headquarters.
 
“Let’s thanks God for the existence of this radio station, and for all this blessings. And let’s not forget to thank the American people for the marvelous way they have hosted all of us here,” said Maestro Wando, a DJ who has the longest running Brazilian show at WSRO.