We recently had Brooklyn pirate radio watcher (and listener) David Goren on episode #133 of podcast and radio show, talking about his efforts to document this vibrant scene. He also told us about an earlier pirate pioneer from the borough, WBAD, which broadcast underground hip-hop to a loyal audience from 1995 to 1998.
He produced a radio documentary about WBAD which is now available in Lost Tapes series from public radio station KCRW, titled “Outlaws of the Airwaves: The Rise of Pirate Radio Station WBAD.” In it you’ll hear from the man who started the station, a UPS driver by day, DJ by night, as well as other principals of the station. You’ll also learn how publicity can be a dangerous double-edged sword for an unlicensed station. It’s a fascinating look back at the power of radio in the time just before consolidation and the internet would challenge the medium’s supremacy, and before inexpensive technology would make illicit broadcasting nearly as easy as installing a wi-fi router.
