187
« on: October 20, 2012, 2320 UTC »
I both agree and disagree. I've been a pirate listener since the early '80's and was even an op of a short lived station called Maple Leaf Radio in the early '80's. Not the one from the the '90's, but the original one, from the '80's. Anyway, I've seen many changes in pirate radio over the years but also there have been changes in everything else as well. Back then (and before) many pirates had something to say, but not all. Amazing stations like Voice of the Purple Pumpkin and Voice of Laryngitis did brilliant, genuinely funny comedy productions that were fresh and interesting. Secret Mountain Lab and others had cutting political commentary. And of course others spun music. Operations were rare, and it was a treat to hear a station, any station. At MLR our agenda was to play only Canadian artists as well as do original comedy and political comedy. There were Canadian bands that were superstars in Canada but unknown outside our borders. Bands like Prism, Trooper, Streetheart, and Luba were featured on MLR and heard in countries like England, Ireland, Germany and France when they had no hope of ever being heard on mainstream radio there. BTW Yoder has a large collection of our material that I sent him some years ago.
Anyway, fast forward to the post Y2K world and everything has changed. The internet makes it possible for anyone to hear anything, anywhere. Legit radio stations are all programmed and virtually none play obscure rock unless it's in a special oldies show, and to actually get through to a station and have them play your request is like finding the holy grail. So now pirates that spin cool old songs actually do have a place in the scene. When I'm working in the shop I listen to BOR and RTN as my station of choice as local legit FM radio sucks.
Most listeners today don't take the time to actually listen to a broadcast. This is mostly due to the fact that most of them just want enough info so they can obtain a QSL, but also it's due to the reception of the signal. Unless the signal is strong and clear with little fading and interference it's tough to follow a political discussion if half of every sentence can't he heard.
The internet has changed pirate radio in other ways. Darker, more sinister ways. It allows predators and trolls to operate with impunity. And as NRS and others can attest, it can destroy the pirate experience. Maple Leaf Radio can no longer operate because the very bunch that came after NRS came after me.
Show Posts