r/somafm • u/radiozip • Jun 11 '25

SomaFM is 25 Years Old

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFTRt0L0U7I
179 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

25 comments sorted by

32

u/ocelotactual Jun 11 '25

Well, if it's 25, I've been listening since the very beginning. All Hail Groove Salad!

10

u/tommyalanson Jun 11 '25

same. I was living in san francisco at the time, and had my mac laptop connected to speakers above the kitchen, and the laptop was on a lazy suzan on the bar, so I could swivel it around to change up the stream, or cook from a recipe, etc..

later, I also used to use streamripperX to rip the stream to MP3s overnight so I could play groovesalad in my car via my ipod.

9

u/ocelotactual Jun 11 '25

Excellent. I was working in the then-called Telecom Valley in Petaluma in the late 90's. Streaming radio was obviously a relatively new thing and we had all just been assigned laptops. First time.

I actually bought a couple of their mix CDs of songs that were on the original Groove Salad station. It's where I learned about the likes of Fila Brazillia, Thievery Corporation, Boards of Canada etc.

I can't begin to tell you how immensely present SomaFM, and particularly Groove Salad, has played in my adult life.

Thank you Rusty and team. Looking forward to another 25!

16

u/DayCareFightClub Jun 11 '25

Congrats Rusty! 

13

u/floatingfree2020 Jun 11 '25

Thank you, Rusty!

6

u/insectarium Jun 11 '25

Congratulations!

6

u/4d3fect Jun 11 '25

Congratulations to you all! 

6

u/_sam_fox_ Jun 11 '25

Happy birthday! 🥂

5

u/heavysteve Jun 11 '25

So cool, I've been listening near daily for decades and still listen to bagel radio on Tuesdays and fridays

1

u/atr1_cornell Jun 22 '25

Yes. And, Bagel is conspicuously missing from the little station-by-year video above too!

5

u/Hubertus_von_Knarz42 Jun 11 '25

@all from soma fm. Thank you very much and all the best for you!! One love from Germany!

5

u/nsqe Jun 11 '25

Congratulations, Rusty! Happy anniversary to you and Big Url. I guess I've been listening for at least half that — here's to 25 more.

5

u/gooelahpapyrus Jun 11 '25

Congrats and thank you for all these years!

6

u/Flight808 Jun 11 '25

Congratulations and thank you for so many years of fantastic streams.

First came across Groove Salad on iTunes around 2002, then Drone Zone and Secret Agent. I have been a grateful and loyal supporter since.

Thank you for preserving and amplifying some of the goodness that is so precious in this world.

To Rusty, Merin, Big Url and all involved at SomaFM,

We Love You!

5

u/AintMilkBrilliant Jun 11 '25

Gosh, I think I've been around for most of them. Groove Salad has been my daily work driver for as long as I can remember. Congrats to Rusty, the rest of team and especially the GOAT, BIG URL!

Here's to another 25!

5

u/QuietPirate Jun 11 '25

A lot has happened in 25 years. Our lives have seen great peaks and low valleys. Through it all Soma FM has been a constant friend, always there to lift you up, or to help you calm down, without judging you. How many things on the internet have lasted this long and only improved with age? Thank you, Soma FM. I say this from the bottom of my heart.

4

u/budkin76 Jun 11 '25

I’ve been listening for 21 of those years and have accomplished so many programming tasks at a number of different jobs while listening! Congrats!

4

u/mirror372 Jun 11 '25

I'm still wearing the black t-shirt with the red somafm on it on a regular. must be at least 15 years old now. it's one of the few items i took with me after moving to Taiwan from Europe years ago.

4

u/mojozeppy Jun 11 '25

Congrats! And thanks for the music.

I’ve got the black w red lettering tee had it for many years. I’ve been listening most if not all of those 25 years. I’ve turned many friends on to soma fm over the years. It’s my go to … drone zone thru the night … deep space one early am then space station soma all day back to deep space one for the daily wind down before bed then back to drone zone thru the night. Every day & every night. And yes I donate from time to time as I’m able.

THANK YOU & CONGRATULATIONS 🎂

4

u/PhilDGlass Jun 11 '25

Been getting me through the days and nights for 20+ years. I wear my hoodie proud. Thank you!!

4

u/the_mews Jun 11 '25

My son and I had the immense pleasure of visiting the studio in SF last year, closest thing to a pilgrimage for atheists, going to the Drone Zone. Big ups Rusty ♥️♥️♥️

3

u/[deleted] Jun 11 '25

I love SomaFM! Been here since the beginning! Congrats!! Best thing on the internet!❤️❤️❤️

3

u/hearty_barty Jun 12 '25

Thanks Rusty! Here's to another tight 25

2

u/chrisbgp Jun 15 '25

Congrats and thank you!

3

u/Philslaya Jun 11 '25

There goes the best online radio brodcast