top of page

Pirate radio

Pirate radio or a pirate radio station is a radio station that broadcasts without a valid license.

In some cases radio stations are considered legal where the signal is transmitted, but illegal where the signals are received—especially when the signals cross a national boundary. In other cases, a broadcast may be considered "pirate" due to the nature of its content, its transmission format (especially a failure to transmit a station identification according to regulations), or the transmit power (wattage) of the station, even if the transmission is not technically illegal (such as a web cast or an amateur radio transmission). Pirate radio is sometimes called bootleg radio (a term especially associated with two-way radio), secret radio (associated with heavily politically motivated operations) or free radio.

 

Examples of known pirate radio stations

·         Beat Radio, Minneapolis, Minnesota

·         BMIR, Black Rock City, Nevada

·         Booger Brothers Broadcasting System, Queens, New York (Operated in the 1930s by Les Paul)[6]

·         Britain Radio, United Kingdom

·         Citizens Radio 102.8 FM, Hong Kong

·         Dread Broadcasting Corporation, London's first black music radio station

·         Free Radio Santa Cruz California, USA

·         Laser 558, North Sea

·         Mix FM, Ottawa

·         Pirate Cat Radio, San Francisco Bay Area

·         Portland Radio Authority, Portland, Oregon

·         Radio 270, United Kingdom

·         Radio 390, United Kingdom

·         Radio Caroline, United Kingdom

·         Radio City, United Kingdom

·         Radio Essex (later BBMS "Britain's Better Music Station"), United Kingdom (Operated by Paddy Roy Bates)

·         Radio First Termer, Saigon, Vietnam 1971

·         Radio Hauraki, New Zealand (ship, Tiri 1 and Tiri 2)

·         Radio Jackie, United Kingdom (now licensed and legal)

·         Radio Mercur, Denmark

·         Radio Milinda, Dublin

·         Radio North Sea International

·         Radio Newyork International, Jones Beach, New York, USA (1987 & 1988 pirate ship)

·         Radio Scotland, United Kingdom (1960s pirate ship)

·         Radio Veronica, Netherlands

·         Rinse FM, London (gained a licence in 2010)

·         Swinging Radio England, United Kingdom

·         Thameside Radio London

·         TSF, Lisbon, Portugal (Now licensed)

·         Voice of Peace, Israel (pirate ship)

·         Wonderful Radio London, United Kingdom

 

·         Radio Locator, for American radio station with format, power, and coverage information.

·         Jim Hawkins' Radio and Broadcast Technology Page – History of broadcast transmitter

·         Indie Digital Cinema Services - Broadcast Industry Glossary

UK Raw Radio

InHouse Radio

Pulse88

Vision Radio UK

Back2Back FM

Citylock Radio

Station FM

Hot 90

Point Blank FM

Cyndicut

Lightning

Live FM UK

MetroLoveRadio

The Rock 926

Natural Vibez Radio

(unidentified)

Vibes FM

Flames Radio

Street FM

Kool London

Origin UK

UK Roots FM

On Top FM

S-Dance

Surprise Radio

Dem Radyo

(unidentified)

SLR

Divine

Mystic Radio Live

RJR London

Select UK Radio

Venture FM

Ragga FM

Flex FM

Supreme FM Live

House FM

Naija FM

Unique FM

Spice Radio 1

Empire LDN

Flight FM

Bizim FM

Beat FM

Concious Radio

Galaxy

Radyo Umut

London Live

WBLS Radio

Buzz FM

Muzik Radio

Omega Radio

Play

Crystal FM

Pozitif

Heart Of Love Radio

Lips Radio

Playback UK

(unidentified)

Project Radio

Exposed Beats

Freshsoundz

Raw FM

Hazard FM

Monster House Radio

Desire

Release FM

Blitz Radio UK

Freshsoundz

Fresh Radio UK

(unidentified)

Lush FM

Demand UK

Rise Nation

CodeSouth

iFM

Nasty FM

Shake FM

Horizon FM

Merseyland Alternative Radio

Urban Underground

Sala Al Hawa

Crystal Studios

Shine 87.9

Rude FM

Whoa FM

Freek FM Live

South Side UK Radio

Genesis Radio

USD FM

Confidence Radio

Klick Radio

Starpoint Radio

Loco LDN

Touch FM

Atlantis FM

True Flavas

Deep FM UK

Hot 96

Rock 2 Rock Radio

Blazing Radio

Bounce FM UK

Bassline

The Station With No Name

Havit Live

Hotter Lava Radio

Innacity FM

Savior Radio

Bakahnal Radio

Golden Beats Radio

One Drop FM

Rise FM

Active London Pirate Radio Stations. The radio stations here been logged, and are therefore considered to be active.

These stations are not London based, but they may be audible in London depending on your location, receiving equipment, and atmospheric conditions. This list contains both active and inactive non-London stations, as I don’t receive enough updates to keep this list current.

These stations are assumed to be inactive, because they haven’t been logged for many weeks or months. This doesn’t necessarily mean the stations have closed down, as it’s quite common for stations to take extended breaks, and sometimes they change frequencies too.

·         Illegal broadcasting

The hitchhikers guide to ... ... operating a pirate radio station

News and features

  • Radio Today provides an up to date radio news service and links to items on other sites

  • Media Guardian covers the main stories and includes features

  • a516digital provides news on radio and TV

  • Transdiffusion contains a range of features on current radio and TV developments

  • Anorak Nation provides news (from other sites) and features

Station directories

  • Radio Now provides a comprehensive list of radio stations in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, organised by county, including frequencies and websites

  • Media UK provides a comprehensive alphabetical list of stations, including websites

  • RadioFeeds UK and RadioMaps list stations broadcasting on the internet

  • The European Medium Wave Guide incorporates a full European MW frequency list

  • COM FM is a worldwide guide to online radio

  • BCL News includes frequencies and schedules of international SW broadcasters

  • Le Guide de la Radio is another French radio database

  • ukwtv.de is a German radio and TV database

  • DXing info links to a host of station databases throughout the world

Organisations

  • Ofcom is the UK's radio and TV regulator

  • The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland is Ireland's radio and TV regulator

  • The Radio Academy is the radio industry's professsional body

  • The Radio Centre is commercial radio's trade association

  • RAJAR is the radio audience research company, owned by the BBC and commercial radio

  • The Community Media Association promotes community radio

  • The Student Radio Association supports student radio

Technical information

  • BBC Reception advice gives full details of BBC Radio and TV transmitters, including a DAB coverage map

  • The BBC Research and Development site also contains some interesting features

  • Ofcom's Technical Parameters list gives details for all radio stations in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

  • DAB Ensembles Worldwide provides an up to date list of all DAB multiplex configurations worldwide

  • MB21 contains a wealth of information on current and historical TV and radio transmitters including BBC coverage maps and mast photos

  • EBU Technical Review contains a wealth of technical features on all aspects of broadcasting

  • David's Transmitter World includes a transmitter photo gallery

  • ATV Aerial Sales includes transmitter maps and technical information on aerials

Digital radio

  • The BBC Digital Radio site also includes the post-code search

  • DAB Ensembles Worldwide provides an up to date list of all UK and international DAB multiplex configurations

  • Radio Now includes comprehensive advice and receiver information

  • Digital One operates the national commercial multiplex

  • Now Digital operate many local multiplexes in the South, West, Midlands and East

  • DRM Radio provides some information on DRM

Radio history

  • Transdiffusion provides a wide range of features on radio history

  • MB21 includes a wide range of features on the history of TV and radio transmission

  • Radio Rewind presents the unofficial history of Radio 1

  • This is ILR is about the history of Independent Local Radio, focusing on the South East

  • The offshore radioguide provides a comprehensive history of offshore radio in Europe

  • Anorak Nation provides links to a lot of sites on radio history, particularly offshore radio

DX (listening to distant stations)

  • The British DX Club is an organisation for DX enthusiasts

  • DX Radio contains a wealth of features for the DX enthusiast

  • The medium wave circle is a DX club specialising in MW and LW

  • DXing info contains a wealth of DX features

Discussion Forums

  • Digital Spy hosts another popular radio discussion groups

  • Media UK's discussion group attracts a number of professionals, but you must subscribe to access it

  • Anorak Nation includes a discussion forum

Publications

  • WRTH, published annually, gives comprehensive listings of worldwide radio stations and a summary of TV stations

  • The Radio Listener's Guide, published annually, lists all radio stations in the British Isles and reviews radio receivers

Broadcasters

  • About the BBC- Corporate site, including press releases

  • BBC radio- National, digital and local stations

  • Absolute Radio

  • Bauer Media- Kiss, Magic, Big City FM network in the North and Scotland, Kerrang, Planet Rock

  • Celador- Breeze network and some Jack stations

  • Global radio- Capital, Heart, Classic FM, Gold, XFM, LBC

  • RTE- Ireland's state broadcaster

  • UKRD- Star chain and other local stations

  • UTV Media- Talk Sport and local stations

How to Make Your Own Pirate Radio Station

https://www.wired.com/2015/11/create-your-own-pirate-radio/

https://sites.google.com/site/monkkbfr/home

How to Create Your Own FM Radio Station (Legally)

Your Own Pirate Radio station

How to build FM Radio Station with FM transmitter in 15 minutes

How to Create Your Own Internet Radio Station FREE pt 1 - *Beginner's Guide*

Broadcast Live Internet Radio using Virtual DJ (Tutorial) http://virtual-dj.soft112.com/

·         Official website

·         Example of a single DJ MusicGroup

·         Example of a multi-user MusicGroup

·         Example of a VDJScript

Radio Dj Software (The Basics) with Doctor J

How To Set Up An Internet Radio Station For Free –

A SAM Broadcaster Tutorial http://sam-broadcaster.soft112.com/download.html

·         Official Site

·         Spacial Forum

·         SAM Broadcaster Help Documents

CD ripping software

·         Brasero

·         CDex

·         Exact Audio Copy

·         FreeRIP

·         fre:ac

·         k3b

Choir and learn-to-sing software

·         Cantor (music software)

·         SingingCoach

DJ software

·         Cross/CrossDJ

·         Deckadance

·         djay

·         Final Scratch

·         Mixxx

·         Serato DJ, Scratch Live, and Itch

·         Traktor

·         VirtualDJ

Digital audio workstation (DAW) software

·         Ableton Live

·         ACID Pro

·         Adobe Audition

·         Ardour (free software, for Linux and Windows)

·         Audiotool

·         Cakewalk SONAR

·         Digital Performer

·         Fairlight products

·         FL Studio (formerly Fruity Loops)[4]

·         GarageBand

·         GoldWave (Unique visual interface, audio filters in addition to music)

·         Kristal

·         Kyma (sound design language)

·         LMMS (Multi o/s free software)

·         Logic Pro

Computer music software

·         ChucK

·         Csound

·         Director Musices

·         List of Generative music software

·         Kyma (sound design language)

·         Keykit

·         Max/MSP

·         Pure Data (This software also is used in embedded form for real time algorithmic music generation in Spore (2008 video game)

·         SuperCollider

Internet, RSS, Broadcast Music Software

·         Airtime

·         Audicom (First radio automation software—see Radio software)

·         Campcaster

·         Juice (aggregator)

·         Moodagent (AI based emotion keyed playlist generator and app)

·         OpenBroadcaster

·         Panopto

·         SAM Broadcaster

·         StarMaker Interactive (app for original video music)

·         RapidFeeds

·         Songr (Music Search

Lyrics and Vocals

·         Cantor (music software)

·         Rhyme Genie (Algorithms and software for rhyming lyrics)

·         SingingCoach

·         Synchro Arts VocAlign Project (Soundscape Digital Technology, also a MIDI Plugin)

Music analysis software

·         BeatRoot

·         BRP-PACU

·         ChucK

·         Kyma (sound design language)

·         Platinum Blue Music Intelligence (from Music Xray company)

·         Praat

·         Sonic Visualiser

·         WaveSurfer

Music circuit software

·         Arduinome (software circuit platform)

·         CPU Sim

·         Electric VLSI Design System

·         gLogic

·         GNU Circuit Analysis Package

·         KTechLab

·         Linear Technology (a/d, circuit software, and others.)

·         List of free electronics circuit simulators

·         LTspice

·         Logisim

·         Micro-Cap

·         MIDIbox (software circuit platform)

·         Monome (software circuit platform)

·         Ngspice

·         Oregano (software)

·         Quite Universal Circuit Simulator

·         SapWin

·         SPICE

·         Tenori-on (software circuit platform)

Music composing software

·         Antescofo

·         Director Musices

·         Keykit

·         Kyma (sound design language)

·         Max (software)

·         Music Maker

·         Music Mouse (Algorithmic synth and composer)

·         Nodal (software)

·         Ocarina (app)

·         PetSynth

·         Progression (software)

·         Reaktor (Software creation of nearly every instrument; reverse engineering encouraged)

·         Rubato Composer (First composition software based on Category theory)

Music education software

·         EarMaster

·         InstrumentChamp (video game for also acoustic guitar, and piano, drum, sax and trumpet; multiplayer)

·         MuseScore

·         Reaktor (software creation of nearly every instrument; reverse engineering encouraged)

·         Rocksmith (video game with emphasis on instructional aspects; unique in that controller can be any electric guitar w/ 1/4" jack)

·         Synthesia (video game with piano instruction aspects)

·         WaveSurfer (studies of acoustic phonetics)

·         Yousician (educational game to learn to play guitar and piano)

Music gaming software

·         GarageBand

·         InstrumentChamp

·         Music Tech

·         Pure Data (This software also is used in embedded form for real time algorithmic music generation in Spore (2008 video game)

·         Rocksmith (Video game with some instructional aspects; unique in that controller can be almost any electric guitar)

Music mathematics software

·         Julia (programming language) (MIT freeware, new, high-level dynamic programming language competing with R (programming language), MATLAB and GNU Octave.

·         Scala, a program for creating and analysing musical scales

·         Wolfram Language provides built-in functionality for audio generation, as well signal processing, audio signal processing and MIDI.

Music notation software

·         Canorus

·         Capella

·         Denemo

·         Dorico

·         Encore

·         Finale

·         Forte

·         Frescobaldi

·         Gregorio (for Neumes)

·         Guitar Pro

·         Igor Engraver

·         Impro-Visor

·         jEdit plugin

Music player software

Comparison of audio player software

Music research software

ScoreCloud (Notation research)

Music technology, synthesis and o/s software

·         Category:Music software plugin architectures

·         Comparison of audio synthesis environments

·         DirectMusic

·         List of software using Digital Audio Access Protocol

·         Moodagent (AI based emotion keyed playlist generator and app)

·         Music information retrieval

·         Software effect processor

·         Sound Recorder (Windows)

·         Impromptu (programming environment)

·         Keykit

·         Max (software)

·         SynthFont (a MIDI to WAV converter-- Virtual Studio Technology instruments can be used instead of source files)

Music visualization software

·         Advanced Visualization Studio (Justin Frankel) (platform: Windows)

·         Cthugha (1993, Kevin "Zaph" Burfitt) (platform: DOS)

·         Magic Music Visuals (2012-2017, Color & Music, LLC) (platforms: Windows, OS X)

·         MilkDrop (2001-2012, Ryan Geiss) reimplemented as projectM (platforms: Windows, Linux, Android)

·         Neon (2004, Jeff Minter and Ivan Zorzin) (platform: Xbox 360

·         Psychedelia, (1984, Jeff Minter), an early "light synthesizer", did not use audio input but was designed to create visualizations in accompaniment to music.

·         Pure Data (e.g. visualization of incoming music signals)

·         G-Force (2000, Andy O'Meara, SoundSpectrum) (platforms: Windows)

·         Virtual Light Machine (1990, Jeff Minter) (platform: Atari Jaguar)

·         Visual Music Tone Painter (1992–2004)

·         Vsxu (2003-2014, Vovoid) (platforms: Windows, Linux)

Orchestration software

·         Antescofo

·         IRCAM

·         OpenMusic

·         Orchidée

·         Reaktor (software creation of nearly every instrument)

Drums and Percussion

·         Cakewalk (company) (Drum, DAW and musical instrument software company previously owned by Roland Corporation and, since 2013, by Gibson Guitar Corporation)

·         Liquid Rhythm

·         Radiodrum

Full orchestra

·         Reaktor (Software creation of nearly every instrument)

·         Reason (software) (also a DAW; instruments are called ReFills)(This software is often paired and integrated with Record)

Guitar

·         AmpliTube

·         Guitar Rig

·         Progression (software)

Piano

·         Kurzweil Digital Piano

·         Piano suite premier

·         Pianoteq (Modartt)

·         SGX-1 Premium Piano

·         Synthesia

·         Virtual piano

Robotic music software

·         Experiments in Musical Intelligence

Samplers and Sequencers

·         Electribe

·         Music sequencer (Article includes extensive list)

·         Propellerhead

·         SoundFont (Integrates synthesized/sampled MIDI files with recorded music)

Soundtrack creation software

·         Abaltat Muse

·         Anvil studio

·         Ensoniq PARIS

·         FL Studio

·         FL Studio Mobile

·         Mixcraft

·         Pro Tools

·         Sound Forge

·         SpectraLayers

·         WaveLab

Trackers

Renoise

OpenMPT

SoundTracker (beta)

MilkyTracker 

Buzztrax

Psycle

Virtual Studio Technology Hosting Software

·         Ableton Live

·         ACID Pro

·         Adobe Audition

·         Adobe Premiere Elements

·         Adobe Premiere Pro

·         Acoustica Mixcraft

·         Ardour (open source)

·         Audacity (open source, Windows and Mac platforms only[

·         AudioMulch

·         Band-in-a-Box

·         Bidule

·         Cakewalk Sonar

Virtual Synthesizer and Studio Software

·         Amsynth

·         Minimoog

·         Reaktor (Software creation of nearly every instrument; reverse engineering encouraged) Reason (Both a DAW and virtual Recording studio)(This software is often paired and integrated with Record)

·         ZynAddSubFX

Music technology

bottom of page