One of the original land based pirate stations Radio Jackie is now licensed and broadcasting on 107.8 to SW London & Surrey. It is a fine example of how a radio station can be run by enthusiasts completely independent of the big business that now controls most radio stations in the UK.

Jackie operates a local radio service for the community it serves, just as it did when it was a pirate. Those who listen regularly will also know that the diversity of music, albeit under the banner of “pop”, is quite astounding. Yes they play some current top 40, but I guarantee that almost every time you tune in for half an hour or more, you will hear a great song from the past that is rarely played elsewhere. This is because Jackie has a program controller and head of music that knows his stuff and doesn’t just pick oldies to play from compilation CDs or old charts.

Another ex pirate, Solar Radio is also operating a legal and successful service on Sky Digital, along with the UK’s original pirate stations Radio Caroline and Radio London (Big L). All of these stations have stuck to their roots and principals.

I am making two points here. First, there are quite a few pirates now broadcasting legally and second, Kiss may have sold out to make big bucks, but as Jackie, Solar, Radio Caroline and Big L have proven, you don’t need big bucks to run a good radio station, just dedication and know-how.

I see the demise of FM as a good thing as it will address several issues. The increased number of channels available on digital platforms will mean more opportunities for new broadcasters and listeners will have a greater choice.

The most important thing is to get the public used to listening to “the radio” in new digital formats. Internet radio and even broadcasts on networks such as Sky may be in the minority and seem like the poor cousins at the moment, but with the advances to come with mobile internet and DAB, it isn’t too far off that stations like Solar will be heard playing in cars which apparently is where most people listen to the radio.

Digital radio will also mean the end of the pirates as it will be impossible to operate illegally on the band. The offshore pirate radio ships of the 60’s completely changed radio in the UK, we would not have Radio 1, Capital Radio or any other ILR stations if it were not for them, that is a well documented fact that even the BBC acknowledge and they brought about that change over a period of three short years from 1964 to 1967.

The 80’s FM pirates also had a role to play and provided a service, but the 2010 pirates I have heard are operated by dj’s who talk and big up their mates, themselves and shout out “to the lay-dees” over the top of every tune almost from beginning to end using what sounds like a cheap Radio Shack microphone and driving the levels into distortion. Their transmitters are usually over driven and are probably emitting harmonics all over the place.The sooner these egocentric and incompetent idiots are shut down the better.

So goodbye FM, you served us well, but now let’s move on to something new and hopefully better.

Despite promises of more legal ‘community’ licenses, and greater choice under digital, the radio waves of London are as full as ever of FM pirate activity. It seems to me that with pirate radio’s popularity increasing, in the face of ever-draconian laws and hefty raids and fines by the authorities, and also in the age of supposed ‘choice’, that the licensing of radio in this country still needs a radical shake-up. Yet, we were saying the same thing in the early 90′s when Kiss finally went legal.

Having just got back from a trip home this weekend, I counted 21 stations in and around Greater London. I’ve always been astonished that there is still not a dedicated reggae station for London catering for the huge listenership that stations like Station FM, Galaxy, Powerjam and Vibes have had for over 10 years.