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For many
young people who want to listen to grime and UK garage their
main source is pirate radio. For many, the pirate stations
are a breeding ground for new talent waiting to break into
the mainstream. The authorities take a different view; they
say that pirate radio is a public nuisance linked to crime. |
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Pirate
radio
DJs have risked their anonymity to take a stand against
gun and knife crime. The operators of more than 20 British
pirate stations presented a united front at the launch of
the Don’t Trigger Campaign in south London, alongside
parents and community leaders. The communities worst afflicted
by gang murders are often those that resound to the pounding
hardcore hip-hop, reggae and “grime” transmitted
by pirate radio stations. Pirate DJs have been involved
in the world of gangs and drug dealers when coded text messages
are read over the airwaves. But they see themselves as social
entrepreneurs, who have an influence over communities that
authority figures lack. |
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London accounts for more than 50% of the estimated 150 illegal
broadcasters operating in the UK. Government enforcer Ofcom
regularly launches operations to take off air illegal broadcasters
operating in the capital. They claim that pirate radio stations
cause interference to the radios used by the Fire Brigade
and Air Traffic Control. They also say that there is a direct
link between some illegal broadcasters and serious crime.
Ofcom raids on the pirates' studios have reportedly uncovered
drugs and weapons, including firearms, and
inspectors trying to close down studios can face violence
and booby trapped equipment, such as
razor wire to stop antennas being dismantled and electricity
hooked up to doors.
Legal
radio stations want tougher penalties against the pirate radio
operators. They say that the fines handed out by the courts
do not represent the seriousness posed by the pirates. They
claim that some pirate stations are making as much as $10000
a week, while the average fine imposed by the courts is only
$1000, and
many stations start broadcasting again within hours of being
fined. |
 Rinse
FM DJ |
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| Ofcom
has carried out detailed research into pirate radio in the
UK. Some of their findings are: |
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16%
of adults in Greater London regularly listen to pirate
radio. |
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62%
of listeners in inner London say that pirate radio offers
something different from licensed commercial radio. |
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40%
of listeners in inner London say that pirate radio is
more community focused. |
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The
music content of illegal stations is the main motivator
for listening in London. |
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Listeners
to illegal broadcasters in inner London are from a variety
of ethnic backgrounds, with black listeners making up
49% of the group. |
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 Ofcom’s
field force team works very hard to keep the radio spectrum
free from interference for licensed users. However, we recognise
that there is demand for content provided by illegal broadcasters
in some areas of the country. This research will help shape
our thinking on how to tackle this serious issue in the
future. —
Ed Richards, Ofcom
Chief Executive |
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In
2006 Ofcom carried out 1085 raids on pirate radio stations
and 63 people were convicted of offences related to illegal
broadcasting. |
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Xfm
began life as an illegal station (called Q102), as did both
Kiss FM, Sunrise Radio and London Greek Radio. All of those are now legitimate and
have given much pleasure and community spirit to different
groups of listeners, but all began in the knowledge that
they were breaking the Wireless Telegraphy Act. The paradox
is that pirates have greatly benefited the airwaves, while
also making them more dangerous.
— The Sunday Times |
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As
radio moves into the digital age, the future looks uncertain
for such stations, but Rinse FM, London's biggest pirate,
is facing up to the challenge of adapting itself. The station,
which has been on air for 12 years, specialises in street
music and has fostered many of the underground genres that
feed into mainstream popular music, including grime, dubstep
and garage. It has long been essential listening for fans
who want to hear the music that street legends (and Rinse
regulars) such as Wiley or Skream have made that morning,
rather than waiting 18 months through negotiations with agents,
publicists and record companies before the tunes are aired
on legal radio. By moving on to the internet last year, Rinse
broke with the old pirate radio model of a local rogue transmitter
on the rooftop of a council estate. It is now available to
listeners all over the world as Rinse.fm, an internet station,
and free podcasts can be downloaded on iTunes. This is the
first stage of a campaign to court a legal FM licence from
Ofcom. —
New Statesman |
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Is
pirate radio raising talent or is it funding organised crime?
Do we need pirate radio stations now that we have the Internet
and podcasting? Let me know what you think. |
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It
could be that some pirates are involved in illegal activities
apart from their unlicensed broadcasts, but I think there
is a need to make it easier and more accessible for radio
broadcasters to set up legally thus being more accountable
and giving young people a chance of raising their talent.
— Paul |
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It’s
not unreasonable for the Met to close down pirate stations
that they believe to be drug dealing; however, we must avoid
the kind of knee jerk reaction that characterises the acts
of aberrant individuals within the community, as reflecting
the pirate radio community wholesale. Evidence must be verified
for individual cases. Many pirate radio stations were born
out of a disenfranchisement from institutions that were not
giving new forms of music airplay. These stations helped to
bring British artists like Soul to Soul, Mica Paris and Dizzee
Rascal to the public. It began British led genres like jungle
and rave. Any form of music that has an underground base has
had an opportunity through pirate radio, when they had little
resources or access to mainstream networks. Any regulation
should be in a framework that includes the burgeoning Internet
digital radio output, but no method of protection is totally
effective on its own. Regulation strategies should go hand
in hand with a package of resources for small groups that
wish to venture into this area, towards training and capacity
building, that is not tied up in bureaucracy. With £2.4
billion stuck in limbo as lottery funders fail to reach government
targets on distribution, this could be money well spent.
— Shaun |
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All
lies, I own my own radio station and we do not make 10000
a week. Tell me one way we can earn even 1000 a week!
— Charlie |
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Podcasting:
Do It Yourself Pirate Radio for the Masses
Listen up! Podcasting, which has taken the online world by
storm, involves recording a broadcast and embedding it in
an RSS feed so listeners can download it to their PCs, iPods,
MP3 players, or even their cell phones. Written by one of
the first and most popular podcasters, this cutting-edge book
will have readers not only finding, downloading, and listening
to podcasts, but creating and broadcasting their own. Shows
how to find podcasts to subscribe to; use podcasting software
including ipodder, doppler, and more; create a podcast with
just a PC or Mac; or build a professional studio for recording
podcasts. Addresses copyright issues and music ownership and
offers helpful advice on understanding the "geeky stuff":
RSS, XML, and Enclosures Mainstream media, including MSNBC
and Time magazine, have recently started advertising on podcasts.
  USA UK Canada |
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MySpace
Music Marketing:
How to Promote & Sell Your Music on the World's Biggest
Networking Web Site
It's
no secret. Bands are attracting industry attention and gaining
thousands of new fans on MySpace. As an artist, you need to
be there. The only problem is, most musicians misuse the many
free features that MySpace offers. Don't waste this online
opportunity. Use this new book to squeeze the most out of
your MySpace music marketing! If you aren't promoting your
music on MySpace yet, you need to start — fast! If you
already have a MySpace artist profile, you need to make the
best use of it so you get the maximum exposure possible. Most
artists misuse the many free features that MySpace offers
and simply don't squeeze the most potential out of them.
USA UK Canada |
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Music Is Your Business: The Musician's FourFront Strategy for Success
This book takes the mystery out of the music business! "Music Is Your Business" tells you "who does what" in the music industry. Music industry veteran Christopher Knab's honest, no-nonsense information will empower you to market and promote your music — whether you're an experienced performer or just starting out. Learn how to attract distributors, get radio airplay, negotiate offers, and create a demand for your music with topics like Con Jobs: Watch Out for the Flim Flam Man, 10 Reasons Why Musicians Fail (and How Not To), What A&R Reps Do, and Online Music Retailing. Straight to the point legal chapters by entertainment attorney Bartley F Day include Filing Copyright Applications, Trademarking Band Names, and Making Sense of Recording Industry Contracts. A sample distributor one-sheet, band tour and work schedule, band bio, and more!
USA UK Canada |
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So Solid
Crew star Ashley Walters’s career goes from strength
to strength. After bouncing back from a jail sentence for
firearms possession, via roles in a string of movies and prime
time TV series, rapper Asher D is now starring in new British
urban thriller Sugarhouse.
 Asher
D: Rising To The Top
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It seems
that in recent months it has not been possible to open a newspaper
without reading about another young person being shot or stabbed.
Many people are blaming the music that young people listen
to, but UK artists Aggro and Mems have decided to take a stand
again gun violence.
Corey:
There must be an alternative
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When
you first sign up for MySpace, it's very easy to become dismayed
by your original profile page. Everyone else seems to have
a great looking profile but yours looks so plain. How do they
do it? This beginners' tutorial will give you some of the
hottest MySpace tweaks.
Pimp
MySpace |
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