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SunshineFM Goes Live as Valley Media Experiment A new media project called SunshineFM launched today at 1:11 PM, positioning itself as “modern media for Palm Springs Coachella” covering AI, startups, business, culture, and entertainment. The creator, SAT, described it explicitly as an experiment, drawing on a lifelong love of radio but reimagining what local media could be in 2026. For a region that’s been underserved by tech-forward, curiosity-driven journalism, this is either the start of something genuinely useful or another well-intentioned project that fades by March. The test will be whether it can sustain signal through the noise. Radio Format Meets AI-Era Distribution The launch explicitly referenced radio as inspiration while operating in a fundamentally different medium — likely podcast, newsletter, or hybrid distribution designed for on-demand consumption. This matters because Palm Springs Coachella has strong drive-time commuter patterns (Indio to Palm Desert, Coachella to La Quinta) but also a population that increasingly consumes media asynchronously. The format choice will determine whether this reaches the people actually building businesses here or just becomes background noise for retirees on morning walks. “Curiosity” as Editorial North Star SunshineFM’s stated focus is “mostly about curiosity” — a deliberately broad editorial mandate that could mean everything or nothing. In a media landscape cluttered with hot takes and aggregation, leading with curiosity rather than outrage or urgency is either refreshingly honest or commercially naive. For Valley entrepreneurs, creatives, and operators tired of LA-centric tech coverage or generic desert lifestyle content, this could fill a real gap if it delivers on the promise. Local Media Infrastructure Still Being Built The fact that a new media project is launching in Palm Springs Coachella in 2026 — and explicitly calling itself an experiment — reveals how underdeveloped the region’s media infrastructure remains despite population and economic growth. The Valley has wealth, talent, and momentum but still lacks the dense ecosystem of newsletters, podcasts, and digital-native outlets that cities like Austin or Miami have built over the past five years. SunshineFM’s success or failure will signal whether there’s enough audience and advertiser appetite to support independent media here. First Episode as Proof of Concept This inaugural broadcast was clearly a technical and editorial test — short, self-aware, focused on establishing voice and format rather than delivering deep reporting. The creator acknowledged the experimental nature multiple times, which is either disarmingly honest or a hedge against criticism. For listeners evaluating whether to pay attention going forward, the question is whether subsequent episodes deliver actual signal — names, numbers, implications — or stay in this meta, introductory mode.

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Local Radar

SunshineFM’s Next Episodes: Watch for whether this project publishes on a consistent schedule (daily, weekly) and whether it moves beyond format experimentation into substantive local coverage of business, development, and culture in the Valley. January City Council Meetings: Palm Springs, Cathedral City, and Indio all have council meetings scheduled for mid-to-late January where 2026 budget priorities and development approvals will be discussed — worth monitoring for anyone tracking local policy and growth. Coachella Valley Economic Partnership Q1 Events: CVEP typically hosts business forums and networking events in January and February focused on economic development, workforce, and regional planning — check their calendar for opportunities to connect with other local operators. Modernism Week Preview (February 13-23): While the main event is next month, sponsorship opportunities, volunteer coordination, and vendor applications are happening now — relevant for businesses looking to activate during the Valley’s biggest design and architecture showcase. Desert Tech Meetups and Startup Activity: Keep an eye on informal gatherings at places like Workshop Palm Springs, The Ace Hotel, or coworking spaces in Palm Desert where founders, investors, and operators are starting to convene more regularly as the Valley’s tech scene matures.