Today, musicians can reach hundreds, thousands, and even millions of listeners with a few, usually free, online services and minimal technology knowledge. While there aren’t enough economic barriers for struggling artists, true independence is not impossible.
Meanwhile, in the 1950s and ’60s, as popular music acquired new commercial value, musicians became completely dependent on record companies and radio stations to get their music heard by almost everyone. I realized that. These groups then worked together to plan to promote certain recordings and ignore or marginalize others. payolain short, ruled the day.
In England, a different but equally impregnable order presented itself to those who desired obscurity. Rather than corporate interests or bribed DJs, the BBC and the British government were “becoming increasingly hostile to any competition for a radio monopoly,” writes the Modesto Radio Museum. (After World War II, the British Broadcasting Corporation maintained a monopoly on radio and then television broadcasting in Britain.) Enter the world of pirates.
Although the phrase now refers to the class of freebooters who work at terminals, the original music pirates actually took to the seas. first, radio mercury“founded by a group of Danish businessmen” in 1958 and “sent from a small ship anchored off the coast of Copenhagen, Denmark.” inspired by mercury radio nord She anchored off the Swedish coast in 1960 and arrived at Radio Veronica in the Netherlands the same year.
Then, in 1962, Irish manager Ronan O’Rahilly met Australian businessman Alan Crawford. O’Rahilly had previously tried to launch a career as a musician. Georgie’s famebut to no avail. No record company would record him, and when O’Rahilly financed an album, the BBC refused to play it. He wasn’t affiliated with their favorite labels, EMI or Decca. So O’Rahilly and Crawford conspired to establish their own pirate station. radio caroline (Named after John F. Kennedy’s daughter).
They purchased their first ship, the MV Mi Amigo, in 1963, secured funding, and set about equipping the ship with two 10-kilowatt AM transmitters and a 13-ton, 165-foot antenna mast. It is broadcast daily from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. radio caroline They managed to break the BBC’s monopoly (and launched Georgie Fame…actually achieved chart-topping fame). In 1965, a British Pathé film crew visited the ship and said in a voiceover that Radio Caroline had “provided pop music to some 20 million listeners” for “more than a year” and “with the tacit approval of almost everyone.” has changed British pop culture.” A teenager from the South East of England. ”
The station began its first broadcast on Easter Sunday in March 1964 with the announcement, which can be heard above, “This is Radio Caroline 199. All-day music station.” The first song they performed was a cover of Buddy Holly’s “Not Fade Away” by the Rolling Stones, one of the band’s first big hits. In the mid-’60s, pirate radio, especially Radio Caroline, helped break out many bands. Meet avid young listeners For example, The Who’s first four singles. (The band returned the favor by offering to give away their 1967 work. The Who Sell Out The live sound and feel of a pirate radio broadcast. )
Learn more about Radio Caroline’s long and storied existence in the documentary segment above, Part 6 of DMC World’s comprehensive content. history of dj. of Modesto Radio Museum’s Multi-Part In-depth Essay SeriesThis book with photos provides a rich history similar to Ray Clark’s books. Radio Caroline: The true story of the rocked ship. “The world’s most famous marine radio station” Broadcasting today as well (Although the original ship sank in 1980.) Or rather, on the webfeatures streaming programs and “gadgets and widgets” for Android devices, iPhones, iPads, and browsers.
It’s kind of ironic that they ended up being just one of hundreds of online streaming stations vying for listeners’ attention, but if it weren’t for their accomplishments since the ’60s, we wouldn’t be the first to know. It’s safe to say that pop music has become a bit of everything. Legal and illicit means of dissemination may never have spread and evolved into the myriad forms we now take for granted.
Note: An earlier version of this post appeared on our site in 2016.
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‘Joe Strummer’s London Calling’: Watch all 8 episodes of Strummer’s British radio show online for free
Jimi Hendrix causes havoc on the Lulu Show and is expelled from the BBC (1969)
josh jones I’m a writer and musician based in Durham, North Carolina. please follow him @jdmagness
