Southport Entrepreneur Builds Digital Radio Platform Serving Gold Coast Businesses

Mark Ellison opened the doors to GoldCast Radio on 15 June 2025 in a converted warehouse space at 42 Scarborough Street in Southport, and the station has since recorded 45,000 unique monthly listeners.

Online stations are drawing advertisers away from traditional outlets after repeated national network failures left businesses seeking reliable local reach without premium pricing.

Ellison secured airtime deals with retailers on Cavill Avenue in Surfers Paradise and with food outlets near the Gold Coast Highway in Broadbeach, creating daily segments that promote same-day specials and weekend events.

Advertising packages start at $250 per week, and 12 Gold Coast businesses signed contracts in the first quarter of 2026, generating $120,000 in revenue for the station.

Local Partnerships Drive Growth

The station runs a weekday segment produced in partnership with the Gold Coast Business Chamber that highlights hiring needs at firms along the Nerang River precinct. Another weekly program features live music from venues in the Southport CBD and includes short interviews with owners about supply-chain costs.

Listeners can submit requests through the station app, which logs more than 8,000 plays each month from devices registered in postcodes 4215 and 4217. Ellison reinvested part of the first-year revenue into upgraded mixing equipment installed last month.

Next Steps for Advertisers and Listeners

Businesses interested in a trial spot can contact the station through its website or visit the Scarborough Street office between 9am and 4pm on weekdays. New advertising contracts for August are now open, with rates unchanged from the initial launch pricing.

Listeners can access the stream on any device or pick up printed program guides at the Southport library branch and at the information desk inside Australia Fair shopping centre.