Sabrina Sergio did not start her radio career in a studio. She started in sales. Sergio and I worked together at Audacy collaborating on tent pole events for stations in multiple markets. As passionate as I knew she was about being on-air, she gave 110% to her role in sales activation and was pretty darn good at both. Today, she has left sales behind and co-hosts a new morning show on Long Island.
Country fans know her as Sabrina From Queens. She now shares the mic with Cane Peterson on “Cane + Sabrina.” Meanwhile, her social following keeps growing, and she’s one of the better jocks creating content day to day. I caught up with Sabrina and we talked about how she got here and what advice she has when it comes to creative social media strategy.
From Sales Floor to Studio
Sergio grew up in Queens, New York, and she still calls it home. But these days, she also spends plenty of time out on Long Island. A lifelong Country fan, she turned her love of music and people into a career in radio.
Her path began several years ago when she joined Audacy New York as a Sales Strategist. From there, she grew her role to Director of Activation for Events & Experiences. Along the way, she also found a spot on the air when she became part of New York’s Country 94.7 HD2 morning show. Since January of 2022, she has been Sabrina Sergio by day, holding down her sales role while simultaneously honing her on-air chops hosting 3 to 6pm under her air name, Sabrina From Queens. Radio’s version of Clark Kent/Batman.
However, in September, Sergio exited both her on-air and sales roles at Audacy and joined Connoisseur Media’s 103.1 The Wolf on Long Island full time.
I asked about what she’s taking with her from her sales role into now being solely on-air. That job kept her close to clients every day. As a result, she picked up a skill that now helps her on the air.
“I think it’s really taught me how to be a good listener,” she said. She spent much of her time hearing what clients wanted and needed. In addition, the work brought out her creative side. She says expressing that creativity on the air has been a lot of fun.
A New York Voice in Country Radio
Sergio brings a big personality and a New York attitude to Country radio. When asked whether she leans into that perspective, she did not hesitate. “YOU BET I AM!” she said.
Then she explained why. “I really just feel so lucky to connect with listeners who also enjoy country music in the state of NY,” she said. She calls them “such a niche group of people (& a growing community everyday).” Moreover, she takes pride in her role. “I’m incredibly blessed to be a P1 in the format,” she said. She also sees herself as “someone advocating for it on behalf of our listeners.”
Her credibility comes from real fandom. “I think being a genuine fan of the music has given me a good amount of credibility with our listeners,” she said.
Teaming Up With Cane Peterson
The new show pairs Sergio with a New York radio veteran. Cane Peterson has worked in the NYC area for more than 30 years. Sergio says the pairing clicks already. “Cane has been so amazing to work with already,” she said. “I learn so much from him every day and we balance each other out really well.”
One thing that works is how well they complement each other since the two bring different styles. “We’re very different, yet the same in so many ways,” she said. “I hope the listeners can really feel our authentic connection.”
Authenticity sits at the center of their plan. “We pride ourselves in being the same people on the air that we are off the air,” Sergio said. Next, she looks ahead to events. She said they “can’t wait for listeners to really see that when we meet them out at events.”
She has also noticed Peterson’s following. “It’s also been really remarkable to see how many of the listeners know Cane from his prior radio stops,” she said. She also called it inspiring to see “the loyal fanbase he’s created over the years.” Finally, she sees a goal in it. “It’s something I aspire to have now,” she said.
Trading Late Nights for Early Alarms
Mornings bring a big adjustment. Sergio now wakes up at 4am each day. Yet she keeps a sense of humor about it. “I’m definitely not out as late as I used to be,” she said while laughing.
At first, she felt nervous. “I was definitely a little worried about what it would be like adjusting to getting up at 4am every day,” she said. However, the routine now works for her. “Now that I’m settled in my routine, I can honestly say it isn’t so bad,” she said.
Structure helps. “I’m a very regimented person so I like the structure I have now,” she said. Plus, she sees a bonus. She said “having the majority of my day free after the show is a perk.”
Why Social Media Matters
Social media plays a big role in her job. Traditional radio limits the time she has with listeners. “You only get 4 hours a day to connect with listeners through the radio,” she said. “But with social media they can keep up with us all day long.”
Furthermore, listeners only hear part of the story. “They only get to hear such small snippets of what’s going on in our lives,” she said. “It’s so important to foster that connection throughout the day.”
Her advice for other on-air talent comes down to two points. First, talk to the camera. “My biggest piece of advice is to talk to the camera!” she said. “Create videos of yourself physically speaking to your audience so they really get to know who you are.” She explained why this matters in radio. “I think that’s so important especially with radio where the majority of listeners don’t know what we look like,” she said. “It helps bridge that gap.”
Second, answer your followers. “Also, respond to comments and DMs!” she said. “Reward the people who are loyal and follow you, get to know them!”
A Night to Remember at Jones Beach
Sergio’s calendar stays full of concerts, artist interviews, fashion and pop culture. Still, one recent moment stands out. Dan + Shay gave her a shoutout on stage at Jones Beach.
“I don’t think I’ve ever felt cooler in my life,” she said. “I was surrounded by so many friends & listeners that night.” Everyone shared the surprise. She said the group was “all so shocked and couldn’t believe that just happened.”
Then the duo did it again. “They did it twice and I missed the second one,” she said. “I was so lucky to have a listener capture the moment and send it to me the next day!”
The Countdown to “I Do”
Sergio is also a 2026 bride, and she has documented the countdown for her followers. Deciding what to share has been tough. “This has been sooooooo hard for me!!” she said. “I started out sharing a lot.”
However, her friends, who are also wedding guests, follow her. She felt she was “losing the element of surprise and spoiling a lot of my surprises.” As a result, she built a simple filter. She asks herself, “is this content I would want to see if I was just starting out planning a wedding?” “If the answer is ‘yes’ then I post it right away!” she said.
Meanwhile, she is holding plenty back. “There’s so much that I’ve been waiting to share though,” she said. “I’m really excited for everyone to see what I’ve been working on.”
What Comes Next
For now, Sergio focuses on mornings, events and her listeners. She’s the next generation of radio that, in my opinion, is someone who makes me feel like the future of radio might not be so bleak. Her path shows how passion, hard work, creativity and genuine fandom can carry a radio career from the sales floor to the morning show.
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