Is pirate radio dead?
You decide!!

Pretty much is my view

I don't think it's dead, I Dj on a very known House station in London and I also own a station just outside London, both stations the textline is busy as ever when i'm on or when 1 of the other Dj's are on, that's enough proof for me that it's still thriving, listeners are still loving it and getting involved.

It's been dead since everyone started jumping on the 'net linking' bandwagon in 2007/08.

I think Lengman has hit the nail on the head.

I'm not a radio ham, but exactly the same thing is happening with amateur radio and echolink in that a lot of it is becoming internet based.

Analogue radio is dying and I think it's quite sad that everything is migrating to digital.

Depends where abouts in the country you are but even in places like London & Birmingham the demand is declining.

I'm with Mikey.

Pirate radio in london is still alive

Alot of the big stations just keep going if there wasnt any need for it still they wouldnt still be here.

I don't think it's dying out,as said a lot of it unfortunately is becoming more internet based, but also those who have the skills to actually put a station on air and keep it there are thinning out , it's a lot of work and dedication and there are many more computer nerds who find it easier to start stations online,than build rigs and risk their careers and sometimes lives to keep a pirate station on air .

I still listen to it but only when I'm in the car, when I'm at home I listen via the internet these days and don't even know where I left my FM radio I've not seen it for a while.

Cheese

Indeed I think the question should be 'Is pirate radio on FM dead?' Many pirates are on the internet streaming and still are pirates as how many are paying the royalties via PPL and PRS? Probably none so still pirating which is fine.
The 'dial' will become more quiet as the years go on, there will be the diehards of course but generally it's the internet or DAB for the clever and adventurous pirate.

thewisepranker wrote:I'm with Mikey.

Sorry but I love that icon and i've been dying to use it!!

I think the problem is variety, hardly anyone is really pushing the boundaries anymore by breaking proper music.
Everyones jumping on the same bandwagons and Dj-ing as a skill is also fading into the distance. ( Tell me you haven't seen the Paris Hilton Video ) I mean is this the future ? A premixed playlist an someone getting paid to pretend?
Technical skill and actually putting a decent set together, which is mixed to create something else, seems to be a thing of the past. I know some stations don't even have Turntables anymore.

Programming is terrible in some places, and i get fed up of changing station to hear the same tunes up and down the dial.
I've had many conversations with people on here and for the most part we were all on the same level.
I remember when the commercial stations were shitting themselves because we were breaking so much music they couldn't cope, now you listen to them and they're using Pirate lingo. Its like Pirates just haven't evolved.

Hope im making sense.

I'd love it if there was a jungle breaks/future jungle station because its different and would be specialist. I produce and mix that sort of music but just havent the time or knowhow to knock a proper station together. If I get to play out in a pirate I'll play this sort of music and hope people will give it a listen. Other stations I hear play the same shit that was played about 12 or more years ago, how many Flex clones are there in London? seems the dial is filled up but the music is boring! pirate radio is still around but no one really listens because its the same as it was years ago and hasn't exactly moved on.

I don't usually moan too much but Sparki had a point there, Dj's playing the same shit that was played 12 years ago, what does my nut is when you hear a certain dj playing the same old smashed out commercial garage every week on he's show, if you go on radio playing Jeheem - Just In Case, Flowers, Sweet Like Chocolate,...(add to that list of cheesy garage tracks if you want) then you need to take a look at yourself as a Dj and either get with the time, play some proper old skool or just fucking give up dj'ing because you boring mate...I'm shocked Dj's go on radio still playing that crap but it happens

sharky wrote:I remember when the commercial stations were shitting themselves because we were breaking so much music they couldn't cope...

Its like Pirates just haven't evolved.

Hope im making sense.

You're making perfect sense. The problem with pirate radio today is musical myopia - DJs can't see beyond their limited musical/scene bubble, and don't have the imagination or guts to try - they're content with their mediocrity! The pirate scene has become a big joke. PJDN is the Smashy & Nicey of our era, and goes some way to show just how irrelevant pirate radio, in its current form, is to most normal people.

We've had variations on a theme for the last twenty years, perhaps next year we could try changing the theme itself.

Well....... I ordered my box yesterday.... So we'll see if I can change your minds.

DJ Mikey wrote:if you go on radio playing Jeheem - Just In Case, Flowers, Sweet Like Chocolate,...(add to that list of cheesy garage tracks if you want) then you need to take a look at yourself as a Dj and either get with the time, play some proper old skool or just fucking give up dj'ing because you boring mate...I'm shocked Dj's go on radio still playing that crap but it happens

Worst thing is some of this shit isn't even unmixed! I've even heard some guys dropping DJ EZ dubplates and specials before

Lol I've heard dj's drop premixed tunes and mix them into others.... eeeuuuuuwwww

sharky wrote:Well....... I ordered my box yesterday.... So we'll see if I can change your minds.

Is it this one: