UNLICENSED RADIO STATIONS
Local unlicensed AM and FM radio stations—often operating quietly within communities across the United States—represent a grassroots extension of the pirate radio tradition. Broadcasting without FCC authorization, these stations typically serve very localized audiences with neighborhood news, niche music formats, religious programming, or community-focused talk that larger stations often overlook. Found on both the AM band and the FM bands—they can range from low-power hobby setups to more persistent operations with regular schedules. Though subject to enforcement actions, many of these stations develop loyal followings and reflect a desire for hyper-local expression, offering a glimpse into voices and perspectives rarely heard on licensed broadcast outlets. Stations below were heard in the Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota area.
2000 FLUSHES PIRATE RADIO
1995 - 99.3 FM - (provided by Robert Konshak)
1995 - 2000 Flushes Pirate Radio interview with Eric Generic - Broadcast on KNOW-FM 91.1 FM - (provided by Robert Konshak)
BEAT RADIO
1996 - 97.7 FM - Alan Freed
8/20/1996 8 MB and 10/28/1996 10 MB. 97.7 FM - Alan Freed - The 10/28 broadcast was only four days before the FCC pulled the plug on Beat Radio and the tape begins with an editorial plea from Alan Freed for low power FM.
Articles on Beat Radio: St. Paul Pioneer Press 11/2/1996 - 6/7/1998
Beat Radio/Alan Freed (97.7 FM Unlicensed)
Various TV Stations - 1996 - Part #1
Beat Radio/Alan Freed (97.7 FM Unlicensed/ 1280 AM & Network)
Various TV Stations - 1996/1998 - Part #2
KAVR-AM - 1200 / 1210 AM
1979 - Drew Durigan
KLHM-AM - 1060 AM
1969 - Collection of broadcasts (provided by Al Arneson)
KRVR-FM - 97.9 FM
5/4/2010 - Revolution Radio
WGDR-AM
Dec. 1975 - 1610 AM - "Get Down Radio" - FYI: Not connected with WSKC-AM below
WNRG-FM - 87.9
11/2008 - "Energy 87.9"
WSKC-AM - 1610 AM
Dec 1974 - Brad Spencer
12/26/1974 - Boogie Dave
99% of WSKC's broadcasts were FM only, the AM/FM simulcast only occurred on limited number of days in a two month window from Nov. 1974 - Jan. 1975. The FM signal was received at a separate location and rebroadcast on 1610 AM. The tower broadcasting the 1610 AM signal blew down during the famous Super Bowl blizzard of Jan. 1975. The above QSL verification card was received from the person re-broadcasting the signal on 1610 AM, which lists the power as 25 watts.
Radio Northsea International
With the release of the movie "Pirate Radio' in 2009, we dug into our archives to present airchecks of Radio Northsea International, which operated from a ship called the Mebo II in the North Sea (between England and Holland) in the early 1970s. Though this is a departure from our postings of airchecks from Minnesota radio stations, we thought many of you would enjoy hearing the recordings below.
Radio Northsea International (RNI) broadcast to Europe on FM, AM and shortwave. Their 6205 kHz shortwave frequency could occasionally be heard in Minnesota. The photo to the left is a postcard radio verification card (QSL) that was sent out by RNI for a Minnesota reception. Please note that all airchecks below were recorded in Europe.
2/25/1970 - Start of RNI's AM band transmissions
3/27/1970 - Jamming by British government (you can hear the jammer start up)
8/27/1970 - Attempted hijacking of the Mebo II
5/15/1971 - Fire bomb attack on Mebo II by a competing pirate station with SOS calls
5/16/1971 - Coverage from RNI on the fire bomb attack
2/24/1972 - Anchor chain of Mebo II breaks
RNI Theme Music "Man of Action"
Read more about Radio Northsea International here. See video coverage of the fire bombing here.
