Do pirate radio stations make money

Pirate radio is going the way of other mass media. For 22 years it has broadcast a mixture of house, garage, jungle and techno music; its DJs appear at parties across the city. Yet its primary output is illegal.

Britain has had pirate radio stations since the s, when Radio Caroline broadcast from a ship in the North Sea. In the s unlicensed operators helped drive the rise of British types of dance music such as jungle and garage. Now that anyone can broadcast on the internet, illegal transmissions might seem unnecessary.

Do-It-Yourself Radio Drama – No Media Kings

Yet pirate stations survive, particularly in London. Around 75 broadcast regularly from within the capital, according to Ofcom, the telecoms regulator, and around ten do so 24 hours a day.

Page not found | Mindaugas Kavaliauskas

Pirate radio stations divide into two camps. Stations such as Flex FM and House FM mostly play dance music mixed by their own DJs.

The second sort serve immigrants: These combine music with religious broadcasting, fast-paced chat and some news. Few make much money. The business model tends to be co-operative: Advertising brings in some cash: On dance-music stations the ads are often for club nights hosted by the station. On ethnic-minority stations they are more typically for money-transfer companies and immigration lawyers. Even the police have used pirate broadcasters to reach young people. Stations hold on for several reasons.

Decent rigs are becoming cheaper, lowering the costs of entry.

Error (Forbidden)

FM radio is convenient for poor immigrants, who may not have access to a computer or a digital radio. And broadcasting reaches a local audience in a way that few alternative media yet can. Pirate radio is still important to the music business.

Ambitious DJs continue to join pirate outfits in the hope of getting gigs at clubs or commercial stations.

Yet decline seems inevitable. Hipsters increasingly use online services such as SoundCloud to find new music; gigs and raves are advertised on Facebook. In London at least, fewer young people drive, removing a crucial market for FM radio. Pirate broadcasters pledge to carry on. Matt Mason, an author and former pirate DJ, says there is something authentic about the crackle of radio. But the future, most admit, is online.

Flex FM has 33, subscribers on TuneIn radio, an online streaming app. More still download podcasts. And thriving online is difficult: Mr Mason now works for a bigger organisation—BitTorrent, a peer-to-peer platform many people use to share music. The appeal of broadcast is fading.

Media Audio edition Economist Films Economist Radio The Economist apps. Other Publications Magazine The World In The World If. Media Audio edition Economist Films Economist Radio.

From The Economist Group Events Jobs Board Which MBA Executive Education Navigator Online GMAT prep Online GRE prep Learning. Register now Activate your digital subscription Manage your subscription Renew your subscription. Latest updates Leaders Briefing United States The Americas Asia China Middle East and Africa Europe Britain International Business Finance and economics Science and technology Books and arts Obituary Special report Technology Quarterly Debates. The Economist apps Espresso Global Business Review World in Figures Events Jobs Board Which MBA Executive Education Navigator Online GMAT prep Online GRE prep Learning.

Illegal broadcasting Plank walk Pirate radio is going the way of other mass media print-edition icon Print edition Britain Jun 7th The Supreme Court says offensive trademarks are protected speech. Democracy in America an hour ago.

The hope for Democrats after special-election losses. Graphic detail 2 hours ago. Disappointment for the Democrats in a fiercely fought congressional race.

Radio Hauraki: The Pirate Days – The Good Guys - Scene | AudioCulture

Democracy in America 4 hours ago. A new Hungarian liberal party challenges the autocratic Viktor Orban. Europe 5 hours ago. Barbershops as confessionals, newsrooms and therapists. Prospero 5 hours ago. The lessons of a terrorist attack at a London mosque. Britain 9 hours ago.

Attacked at prayer The lessons of a terrorist attack at a London mosque The big fear after the Finsbury Park attack is of a new tit-for-tat cycle of terrorism. Party rules China is torturing civil-rights lawyers. Daily chart The hope for Democrats after special-election losses.

Tell us what you think of Economist. Need assistance with your subscription? Subscribe Contact us Help. Keep updated facebook icon twitter icon googleplus icon linkedin icon tumblr icon instagram icon youtube icon rss icon mail icon Subscribe to The Economist newsletters.

Advertise Reprints Careers Media Centre. Terms of Use Privacy Cookies Accessibility Modern Slavery Statement.