https://map.pirateradiomap.com/

This website, a part of the Tracing Neighbourhoods project, includes many of the pirate radios in New York over the years. Filters can be applied for ease of use; culture, language, music, religion; as well as, location and era.  It is interesting to see pirate radios separated by such categories, why might this be relevant? Considering a quarter of the New York population are imigrants, not all of which moved to America speaking English, it is completely feasible that many of these people may want to engage in media presented in their native language.

By seperating stations by year and location we can infer various things. What do certain geographical locations need and why at certain times do audiences need specific sonic elements?  Within the section for Flatbush and Borough park there is multiple Jewish radio stations, a sign that the national radio in America may not represent the Jewish community and their needs as an audience. The website is a host to twenty-five pan Caribbean stations, it is clear that the Caribbean population of New York have different sonic needs to the ones that are represented on American commercial radio. Suggesting that America encounters similar problems to the UK in terms of not representing many cultures of the citizens.

It is interesting to hear the pirate radio in New York, I feel the pirate radio gives us a better understanding of a place and the population of a place than any national radio, this is because it is by the people for the people. This proves that counterculture only exists when there is need for it, and that pirate radio likely enriches the lives of those who feel misrepresented by media. 

(1)https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/immigrants-in-new-york