British Pirate Radio
Dr. Joy White takes us back in time to the early 1960s and the birth of pirate radio.
The idea of pirate radio stems back to the early 1960s when unlicensed operations would broadcast from ships based outside British territory.
Although these outlets were shut down by the regulating authorities, their existence showed that there was a demand for popular music on the radio.
In 1967, the BBC launched Radio 1—a national station specialising in pop and rock music—but there was still a need for something more.
Pirate radio was revived in the '80s and later went on to provide an outlet for Black British contemporary music—jungle, UK garage, grime and the rest—genres that were largely ignored by commercial radio stations and the BBC (until the launch of 1Xtra in 2002).
London Pirate Radio by Simon WheatleyTRENCH
Instead of being housed on ships, these stations broadcast from bedrooms, kitchens and tower-blocks in the city.
Seen as a criminal nuisance by the DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) and then OfCom (Office of Communications), pirate radio stations were often raided and forced off air.
The 1990 Broadcasting Act introduced up to two years imprisonment for being involved in pirate radio, as well as unlimited fines and confiscation of equipment. By necessity, pirate radio was a fugitive activity—always on the move.
London Pirate Radio by Simon WheatleyTRENCH
These stations were maintained by collectives of people invested in sharing the sounds of tomorrow, which was (and still is) Black British music. The business model was based on subscription; DJs paid to play, as did MCs in some areas, and income also came by way of advertising.
Pirate radio offered a unique opportunity for young talents to put in their practice hours. They played the music that young people wanted to hear, in a way that they wanted to hear it, with requests, shout-outs and information regarding upcoming raves.
As well as being a significant influence in the spread of jungle, UK garage and grime, pirate radio—stations like Deja Vu FM, Flava FM, Heat FM and Kool FM—became a source of new talent for mainstream radio.
With the likes of 1Xtra and Choice FM (now Capital Xtra) going on to hire talent. Some former pirate stations, such as Kiss FM and Rinse FM, also went on to acquire a licence and become legal entities of their own.
London Pirate Radio by Simon WheatleyTRENCH
In the digital age, the influence of pirate radio has waned, but for those of us who remember tuning in to hear our favourite spitters and DJs on-air in the early hours of the morning, those years were priceless.
This digital work has been produced in collaboration with PRS Foundation and POWER UP. The article first featured in TRENCH x Union Black's Chapter One: Game Changers zine.
Words by Dr. Joy White
Photography by Simon Wheatley
Videos by British Pathé, Troy Miller, Media Gang, BBC, The Last Pirates
Commissioned by TRENCH
