100.3 Urban AC Pirate

[rapking]

The average listener probably does not know what a pirate station is. They think every station is allowed to be there. However, on this forum, we all know those pirate stations are not allowed to be on the air. Listening to a pirate station isn't illegal, downloading mp3s is more illegal than listening to a pirate. Most of the events Touch "sponsors" probably don't know that 106.1 is illegal. rapking, we all know you like urban AC. How about you MOVE to a place which has an urban AC station?

No thanks ! I love the Boston Area. My Business is during well. Me and my Family love it here. Its Just the Boston radio dial suck.

 

[dumber than a box of hair]

Over 100 Thousand people at the Carnival. I most have alot of freinds.

Did you ask every single one of them what they listen to?

I didn't think so.

 

[rapking]

I will post this again because neither of you have commented on my propsal for you to get an legal urban ac formatted station going on Boston.

Rapking and LAUROJRM why don't you guys get together and start a company to look into starting a legal urban AC station in the Boston Market. You could look for venture capitalist's or people who share you desire for a station of this format to invest. It would take a lot of hard work, and sacrifice on your part but if something is really important to you it is worth it. You could start by renting time on an AM station and use the revenue you generate from selling ads to local businesses around your neighborhood on your leased time and your investors to purchase a legal station to do with what you wish. If there is really a strong desire for this format in the market you should have no problem finding people to invest. You could hire a company to do surveys to find out how many people would listen to this type of format and bring that to a bank or a venture capital firm to show them that you have a product that no one else is offering and that you have a large segement of the population that say they would listen. This would take a lot of hard work and probably wouldnt happen overnight, you would also have to invest your life savings, mortgage any property you own and have to ask your friends and families to invest thier savings into it, you may also end up failing and losing everything, but anything worth doing is worth working hard for. You would also have the satisfaction is knowing that you went about it the proper and legal way and that by doing it the proper and legal way that you are REALLY serving the community.

I would REALLY like to know your thoughts on this RAPKING and LAURO?

Like I said before. I walk away from my Radio job( P Off the way The Radio Business is heading, Act of 96 killed The Radio ). My Business is doing great, Maybe in the future, I will sit down with my business staff,and look at the radio business,and see if its worth my time.

 

[mistermicrophone]

When was the last time a Pirate Station sole a TV, Computer or Money...whatever from someone house( Never)? How do you know if Rodney or The Pats paid the Fine ?? Maybe Touch-FM Paid or didnt Paid the Fine ( I dont care ). If FFC Dont Care, Why should you "Radio board wannabees" Care ???

My point was, a crime is a crime, regardless of what level of crime it is. Also, Rodney Harrison served a suspension for his HGH use. That was his punishment handed down by the governing body of his profession, the NFL. If Touch-FM followed the law and the actions of their governing body, the FCC, not only would the fine have been paid, then they would be off the air.

As for "wannabes", I am employed fulltime in radio and have been for the last 16 years of my life.

It hit me as I was reading your posts...

1. You are really a smart person and you are just trying to get under the collective skin of others on the this board...if so, well played!

2. You really are inarticulate and I guess there was at least one child left behind!?!

 

[NSPUNX]

Thats what I thought RAPKING. You are not willing to stand up for what you beleive in, You are not willing to do anything constructive to change things, You are not willing to take a financial risk to do what you think is right, You are not willing to work hard to serve the community, You are unwiliing to put your money where your mouth is. Thats fine. Just as long as everyone sees you for what you are.

Me? I didnt like the fact that there was nothing on the radio that played the music I, and my friends enjoy. I found a legal non-comm that would give me an air shift. I put 10-15 hours a week into making a play list, production, lining up guests, listening to and editing music from new local bands. I spend my own money on the supplies I need to do a good show (blank Cd's, music etc...) I stood up and did something legal about what I didn't like. I invest my time and my money. What do you do? Start ten new threads a week saying "BOSTON NEED A URBAN AC"

BY THE WAY BOSTON DOES NOT NEED A URBAN AC IT NEED'S WITH AN S ON THE END!!!!

 

[dumber than a box of hair]

BY THE WAY BOSTON DOES NOT NEED A URBAN AC IT NEED'S WITH AN S ON THE END!!!!

Uh...er...people who live in glass houses, and all that. "Needs" doesn't have an apostrophe.

Otherwise, rapking's response was exactly in character. Whine, whine, whine. Of course, it's far easier to B&M on a message board than to actually do something.

 

[rapking]

Thats what I thought RAPKING. You are not willing to stand up for what you beleive in, You are not willing to do anything constructive to change things, You are not willing to take a financial risk to do what you think is right, You are not willing to work hard to serve the community, You are unwiliing to put your money where your mouth is. Thats fine. Just as long as everyone sees you for what you are.

Me? I didnt like the fact that there was nothing on the radio that played the music I, and my friends enjoy. I found a legal non-comm that would give me an air shift. I put 10-15 hours a week into making a play list, production, lining up guests, listening to and editing music from new local bands. I spend my own money on the supplies I need to do a good show (blank Cd's, music etc...) I stood up and did something legal about what I didn't like. I invest my time and my money. What do you do? Start ten new threads a week saying "BOSTON NEED A URBAN AC"

BY THE WAY BOSTON DOES NOT NEED A URBAN AC IT NEED'S WITH AN S ON THE END!!!!

What do you want, a standing O ( clap,Clap,clap ) !

 

[Bongwater]

When will people learn NOT to look up to illegal pirates as heroes? If one fired up on WVCH's frequency, I'd DF him, get the cops and the Philly FCC office on his butt. Then I'd short the rig's output circuit and watch the the the damned thing fry.Then throw the guy in jail. THAT's how you deal with people who have no respect for broadcast law. Ciao, LAUROJRM, rapking: Sorry, but rules are rules in this country! What IS it about all this that you don't understandand what about it isn't good enough for you????

Hate to say it, but we don't live in Saudi Arabia.

It's really hard for me to have any sympathy for corporate radio these days. I'm not advocating what "Flex" is doing (and hijacking on a semi-local licensed broadcaster's frequency is not only tasteless-even to the majority of pirates, but WRONG in every sense of the word), but you also have to understand if corporate radio was doing such a fantastic job, then why is the industry collapsing? And if Boston needs an Urban AC, then why don't they have one by now?

Somebody somewhere decided to fill a hole, albeit illegally. But consider this; if the corporate end of radio was doing it's job for it's listeners ("shareholders" don't count), there would be a LOT fewer pirates out there. Before 1996, pirate stations were few and far in between. Now they are everywhere and the problem is just getting worse. There are now pirates that step on other pirates fer cryin' out loud. And the problem is completely out of control in many areas of the country

Personally, I favor creating a smaller class of licensed broadcaster with a maximum of 1 watt and a special set of rules they must adhere to. Most of the people who run pirates aren't bad people in general and have good intentions. This should be a fair compromise. Or more local accountability for corporate broadcasters for listeners in their COLs. If corporate radio resists change (part of the reason the industry is coming apart at the seams - it's too much of an "old boys club"), then there needs to be an easier alternative for legitimate access to the airwaves because not everybody can start an LPFM...

Like I said, if corporate radio was reaching out to underserved audiences the way they should, then there wouldn't be so many pirates. And it's not going away. FCC enforcement budgets are also being cut.

The government can't fight every war it creates and expect to win them all when the money just isn't there and less and less tax revenue to fight them coming in - remember that the next time you hear the words "tax cut". Like Mom used to say "Money don't grow on trees."

If enforcement against pirates are so important to you, then break out the checkbook and start writing, payable to The Federal Communications Commission (Memo: Enforcement) and the amount you pay will be the measure of your sincerity on this. Otherwise, don't bitch about it.

And one more thing, a license is a privledge to serve the community of license...not a RIGHT to dominate the local radio dial in the next big city to maximixe profits for shareholders. Somewhere along the way, corporate broadcasters have forgotten this. And I think they need to be reminded. If the FCC won't do it, the pirates will.

It's up to you...

 

[WBIMDJ]

I see this thread going back and forth till the end of time...

 

[WBIMDJ]

As for wbimdj -- I guess that they have your blessing if
they decide to set up shop on 91.5 ...

Hardly, did you read my post? I merely commented on why they've been doing it. But that's neither here nor there as they are breaking the law.

 

[rapking]

When will people learn NOT to look up to illegal pirates as heroes? If one fired up on WVCH's frequency, I'd DF him, get the cops and the Philly FCC office on his butt. Then I'd short the rig's output circuit and watch the the the damned thing fry.Then throw the guy in jail. THAT's how you deal with people who have no respect for broadcast law. Ciao, LAUROJRM, rapking: Sorry, but rules are rules in this country! What IS it about all this that you don't understandand what about it isn't good enough for you????

Hate to say it, but we don't live in Saudi Arabia.

It's really hard for me to have any sympathy for corporate radio these days. I'm not advocating what "Flex" is doing (and hijacking on a semi-local licensed broadcaster's frequency is not only tasteless-even to the majority of pirates, but WRONG in every sense of the word), but you also have to understand if corporate radio was doing such a fantastic job, then why is the industry collapsing? And if Boston needs an Urban AC, then why don't they have one by now?

Somebody somewhere decided to fill a hole, albeit illegally. But consider this; if the corporate end of radio was doing it's job for it's listeners ("shareholders" don't count), there would be a LOT fewer pirates out there. Before 1996, pirate stations were few and far in between. Now they are everywhere and the problem is just getting worse. There are now pirates that step on other pirates fer cryin' out loud. And the problem is completely out of control in many areas of the country

Personally, I favor creating a smaller class of licensed broadcaster with a maximum of 1 watt and a special set of rules they must adhere to. Most of the people who run pirates aren't bad people in general and have good intentions. This should be a fair compromise. Or more local accountability for corporate broadcasters for listeners in their COLs. If corporate radio resists change (part of the reason the industry is coming apart at the seams - it's too much of an "old boys club"), then there needs to be an easier alternative for legitimate access to the airwaves because not everybody can start an LPFM...

Like I said, if corporate radio was reaching out to underserved audiences the way they should, then there wouldn't be so many pirates. And it's not going away. FCC enforcement budgets are also being cut.

The government can't fight every war it creates and expect to win them all when the money just isn't there and less and less tax revenue to fight them coming in - remember that the next time you hear the words "tax cut". Like Mom used to say "Money don't grow on trees."

If enforcement against pirates are so important to you, then break out the checkbook and start writing, payable to The Federal Communications Commission (Memo: Enforcement) and the amount you pay will be the measure of your sincerity on this. Otherwise, don't bitch about it.

And one more thing, a license is a privledge to serve the community of license...not a RIGHT to dominate the local radio dial in the next big city to maximixe profits for shareholders. Somewhere along the way, corporate broadcasters have forgotten this. And I think they need to be reminded. If the FCC won't do it, the pirates will.

It's up to you...

Well said .

 

[dumber than a box of hair]

Hate to say it, but we don't live in Saudi Arabia.

Nice try, but horrible analogy. The United States is a democratic republic based on the rule of law...not a theocracy.

It's really hard for me to have any sympathy for corporate radio these days. I'm not advocating what "Flex" is doing (and hijacking on a semi-local licensed broadcaster's frequency is not only tasteless-even to the majority of pirates, but WRONG in every sense of the word), but you also have to understand if corporate radio was doing such a fantastic job, then why is the industry collapsing?

Funny, but from my perspective (close to 40 years in the business), the industry is far from "collapsing." We're in a recession, and one of the first things businesses do in a recession is cut their advertising. When the economy recovers, so will the radio industry. It's happened before, and it will happen again.

And if Boston needs an Urban AC, then why don't they have one by now?

Who says Boston "needs" one? One disgruntled poster on a message board? One pirate station operator who thinks the ends justify the means? Hint: No one lives or dies because radio does or does not exist. It's not in the same class with air to breathe, food to eat and water to drink. It's been spelled out numerous times in this thread and others that there are plenty of legal avenues for those who "need" a certain format to get one on. Those who B&M here don't want to do anything other than B&M. It's far easier to B&M than it is to get up out of their easy chairs and do something about it.

if the corporate end of radio was doing it's job for it's listeners ("shareholders" don't count), there would be a LOT fewer pirates out there.

Who do you think was behind radio's beginnings as a commercial enterprise? Answer: Publicly-traded corporations with stockholders. RCA. Westinghouse. General Electric. Sears-Roebuck. General Tire. Radio wouldn't have gotten to where it is now without them.

Before 1996, pirate stations were few and far in between. Now they are everywhere and the problem is just getting worse. There are now pirates that step on other pirates fer cryin' out loud. And the problem is completely out of control in many areas of the country.

Mostly because there's no political will to take them on the way they should be taken on. Vin Kajunski (retired District Director of FCC Field Operations in New England) once told me that he was told by his bosses in Washington not to go after pirates running religious formats...something about some act of Congress that protected them. I never heard the end of that story, but I think the FCC eventually shut down the station he was referring to. NAB is useless as a lobby for broadcasters, because they have their own entrenched interests (like trying to kill off satellite radio, otherwise known as wasting time and energy on the wrong enemy). Congress keeps cutting the FCC's budget for enforcement, and they'll never get ahead of the pirate problem that way.

Personally, I favor creating a smaller class of licensed broadcaster with a maximum of 1 watt and a special set of rules they must adhere to. Most of the people who run pirates aren't bad people in general and have good intentions. This should be a fair compromise. Or more local accountability for corporate broadcasters for listeners in their COLs. If corporate radio resists change (part of the reason the industry is coming apart at the seams - it's too much of an "old boys club"), then there needs to be an easier alternative for legitimate access to the airwaves because not everybody can start an LPFM...

Funny thing about that "old boys club:" I see all sorts of young people applying for internships to learn our business...you know, the one that's "coming apart at the seams." I've seen dozens of interns with whom I've worked go on to careers in radio. Sure does look like the business is "coming apart at the seams," doesn't it?

If enforcement against pirates are so important to you, then break out the checkbook and start writing, payable to The Federal Communications Commission (Memo: Enforcement) and the amount you pay will be the measure of your sincerity on this. Otherwise, don't bitch about it.

We already do that. It's called being a taxpayer. We don't get to pick and choose what our taxes are spent on. In a democratic republic, that's what we have Congress for. The measure of our sincerity will be the number of us who write our Congress-critters and make noise about it. I've done it numerous times (and fortunately, my Congress-critter is Ed Markey, who sits on the committee that oversees the FCC). Have you?

 

[NHRadio]

Well said!!! On another note I agree with the post about the 1 watt stations. Just my opinion, but amending Part 15 to allow a half to 1 watt sounds like a pretty good idea-as long as commercial broadcasters aren't interfered with...which is pretty much the the rule now.

Thats what I thought RAPKING. You are not willing to stand up for what you beleive in, You are not willing to do anything constructive to change things, You are not willing to take a financial risk to do what you think is right, You are not willing to work hard to serve the community, You are unwiliing to put your money where your mouth is. Thats fine. Just as long as everyone sees you for what you are.

Me? I didnt like the fact that there was nothing on the radio that played the music I, and my friends enjoy. I found a legal non-comm that would give me an air shift. I put 10-15 hours a week into making a play list, production, lining up guests, listening to and editing music from new local bands. I spend my own money on the supplies I need to do a good show (blank Cd's, music etc...) I stood up and did something legal about what I didn't like. I invest my time and my money. What do you do? Start ten new threads a week saying "BOSTON NEED A URBAN AC"

BY THE WAY BOSTON DOES NOT NEED A URBAN AC IT NEED'S WITH AN S ON THE END!!!!

 

[NSPUNX]

I think it would be grat if the FCC set aside a certain frequency and allowed the general public to broadcast on it non commercially up to 1 watt ERP. They could set simple rules and maybe have a system where you go online and review the rules then tale a "test" of the rules on line and pay a small fee then they issue you a community broadcasting "license" to use that specific channel in your area if it is available. I totally support non-commercial community broadcasting as long as it's legal. I support freedom of speech, I support the ability to play any format of music you want, and to talk about any subject you want, as long as it's legal. I know if the FCC ever set aside a "community broadcasting" frequency I would be one of the first ones to apply to use it in my area and set up a station, as long as it was legal.

 

[WBIMDJ]

I think it would be grat if the FCC set aside a certain frequency and allowed the general public to broadcast on it non commercially up to 1 watt ERP. They could set simple rules and maybe have a system where you go online and review the rules then tale a "test" of the rules on line and pay a small fee then they issue you a community broadcasting "license" to use that specific channel in your area if it is available. I totally support non-commercial community broadcasting as long as it's legal. I support freedom of speech, I support the ability to play any format of music you want, and to talk about any subject you want, as long as it's legal. I know if the FCC ever set aside a "community broadcasting" frequency I would be one of the first ones to apply to use it in my area and set up a station, as long as it was legal.

Best idea I've ever heard...we should petition it!

 

[NSPUNX]

Thank you!

 

[WLYNWAZNgm]

community radio

I was back in my original hometown (S. Shore) over this past weekend -
I heard that there is a "community station" on the expanded AM band...

 

[dumber than a box of hair]

Best idea I've ever heard...we should petition it!

Agreed. Great idea.

But...

I don't mean to rain on anyone's parade, but realize what you're asking for...another radio service that has to be policed, when the overworked understaffed FCC can't police what it has to now. Unless you want a jumble of 1-watt pirates stepping all over each other, and eventually stepping on licensed stations (kinda like the way they are now), well, nice try. Let's also remember that one watt doesn't go very far...a quarter-mile if you're exceptionally lucky. Let's also remember that someone who is breaking the law by running several hundred watts, or even a kilowatt, combined with the lack of enforcement, is not going to be convinced to stop breaking the law by being allowed to legally run one watt.

 

[radiojay1]

If you look at the demographics on www.city-data.com you see that 25.3% (as of 2006) of Boston's population is black. If an urban AC station was programmed right, not like WILD is now, then it would work because you have the demographics for it, not to mention the people who are fans of Urban AC who are not African-American. I love 70's and 80's soul and R&B music. It's ironic that Boston has a smaller Hispanic population, 14.4%, yet there are four Spanish stations in the city.

 

[nd2023]

I don't think rapking would listen to a legal urban AC station because he apparently likes only pirate stations and jumps on the bandwagon of popular pirate stations

Here's an idea for you, why don't you start your own pirate station on 107.9, 106.7, 105.7, or any other Prudential frequency with a 10 watt transmitter in the Back Bay? It won't get busted because no one will be able to hear it. You can ask your friends at Touch 106.1 if you can borrow their transmitter.