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 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. The stations below were heard in the Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, area.
2000 FLUSHES PIRATE RADIO - 99.3 FM
2000 Flushes Pirate Radio was an unlicensed, low-power 99.3 FM station that operated in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area around 1995, representing a notable example of the Twin Cities' 1990s underground micro-broadcasting scene.
1995 - Aircheck - (provided by Robert Konshak)
1995 - 2000 Flushes Pirate Radio interview with Eric Generic - Broadcast on KNOW-FM 91.1 FM - (provided by Robert Konshak)
BALLOT BOX RADIO - 95.7 FM
Ballot Box Radio was a short-lived, unlicensed FM pirate radio station that broadcast in Minneapolis, MN on 95.7 FM in November 1997.
1997 - 95.7 FM - Tom Dinanni - Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4
BEAT RADIO - 97.7 FM
Beat Radio originally was an unlicensed radio station in Minneapolis, MN that played dance music. Founded by local radio DJ and programmer, Alan Freed, in 1996, the station served downtown Minneapolis and surrounding neighborhoods and reached into the western, northwestern and southwestern suburbs. The original station at 97.7 FM operated for 103 days until it was shut down by the Federal Communications Commission. Beat Radio subsequently moved to licensed stations and eventually became a nationwide radio network.
1996 - Alan Freed
8/20/1996 and 10/28/1996 - 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)
Various TV Station Reports - 1996 - Part #1
ReportBeat Radio/Alan Freed (97.7 FM Unlicensed/ 1280 AM & Network)
Various TV Stations - 1996/1998 - Part #2
KAVR-AM - 1200 / 1210 AM
From Drew Durigan: " I built my first AM Broadcaster Kit when I was 10. I think I went through about six of them over the years. The reason I was on 1200 sometimes and 1210 others is twofold: Nighttime interference from WOAI was sometimes a factor. WCAU also had some signal, but where I was located, WOAI was much stronger than WCAU. So, I'd sometimes move up to 1210 at night (when WAVN was off-the-air.) Also, in the summer of 1978, one of the original "talking house" transmitters showed up on 1200 about a mile away from me. They'd cause interference on the southern edge of my coverage area. They didn't operate continuously. But when they were on, I'd sometimes move up to 1210. Can you tell this was what I wanted to do "when I grew up?"
1979 - Drew Durigan
KLHM-AM - 1060 AM
1969 - Collection of broadcasts (provided by Al Arneson)
KRVR-FM - 97.9 FM
KRVR-FM was an unlicensed "pirate" radio station that called itself Revolution Radio and broadcasted on 97.9 FM in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area during 2010.
5/4/2010 - Revolution Radio
MAGIC - 107.5 FM
MAGIC 107.5 FM was an unlicensed, underground pirate radio station that operated in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Twin Cities area during the late 1990s. Like many grassroots micro-broadcasters of that era, it broadcasted without FCC authorization to offer alternative local audio content.
Dec. 25, sometime in late 1990s - 107.5 FM - Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4
WGDR-AM - 1610 AM
Dec. 1975 - 1610 AM - "Get Down Radio"
WNRG-FM - 87.9 FM
Energy 87.9 was an unlicensed, low-power micro-broadcaster in the Minneapolis area playing electronic music, techno, and dance mixes
Nov. 2008 - Aircheck
WSKC-AM - 1610 AM
99% of WSKC's broadcasts were FM only, the AM/FM simulcast only occurred on a 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.
Dec. 1974 - Brad Spencer
12/26/1974 - Boogie Dave