Announcing FreeB92

Announcing FreeB92 - NetAid on May 15, 1999, B92's 10th Birthday A Global 24-Hour Peace Netcast in aid of Radio B92 and other media workers in distress in and from Yugoslavia 'When reality fails us, we move to the virtual world. But pain is real and it stays with us.'

Just hours before the start of NATO air strikes on Yugoslavia, the Yugoslav authorities shut down the transmitter of the Belgrade-based independent broadcaster Radio B92. Within days, the station had been taken over completely by a new government-appointed management. All of B92's staff refused to work with the new management and on April 11 they resigned en masse.

For the past 10 years, Radio B92 has been one of the most vibrant voices for peace and democratic change in Serbia, and Yugoslavia. By using the common language of advanced popular music and culture, and professional journalism, B92 has taken an active stand against ethnic hatred, violence and war. We have promoted human rights, freedom of expression and speech, and respect for minorities and the right to differ and be different. We have played house, techno, drum'n'bass, jazz, hip hop, and alternative rock. B92 has won world-wide acclaim over the years for its continuous struggle for and commitment to democracy, as well as for the solidarity it has shown others, including MTV's Free Your Mind award in November 1998.

As a demonstration of the enduring free spirit of B92, and the forces for peace and democracy, a 24-hour live Internet broadcast - Free B92 - NetAid - will take place on May 15, on Radio B92's 10th birthday. Artists from all over the world are participating in the event, which is made possible thanks to the support of by HelpB92 (Amsterdam), Kunstradio (Vienna) and Radio Qualia (Australia) as well as the hundreds of thousands of friends of B92 from all over the world.

The broadcast will take place on the 'Free B92' web site at the following URL: http://www.freeb92.net as well as at: http://helpb92.xs4all.nl. http://www.b92.net

Join the Free B92 - NetAid global peace netcast. Play a song or DJ live in our designated studio (in Vienna), dedicate a track or a DJ mix, or simply send a message in support of peace, freedom and democracy. Join the event to send a birthday card for banned Radio B92's 10th anniversary!

The aim of Free B92 - NetAid is to show solidarity and support for the people of B92 and other media in distress in the region, who continue to keep the faith and defend the free spirit of B92 in spite of war, government repression and the latest ban on the radio station and independent media.

Free B92 is a website established by the Help B92 coalition. The site is maintained and published by the B92 team of journalists and associates, working from various parts of the world. The common aim of Free B92 and associated projects is to preserve the spirit of professionalism which has been stripped from everyday communication in Yugoslavia through the Belgrade regime's banning and takeover of Radio B92 and other independent voices in the country.

The artistic concept behind this project is to unite different musicians, artists, producers and DJs around the struggle for the freedom of expression. Get together in the virtual world as creation is the only possible answer to destruction. This event is announcing the age when artists will be able to react to the horrors of our time directly from their studios, bedrooms or clubs. The message is out there for the world to listen.

CDs, MDs, DATs and other music materials for this event can be sent to:

ORF - KUNSTRADIO
ATTN. NET-AID
ARGENTINIER STR. 30A
A-1040 WIEN
AUSTRIA

(Please, enclose a short biography/info) Voice mailbox for birthday greetings and messages of support: +31 20 4216439

For further information please contact Gordan Paunovic of the FreeB92

team:
Gordan Paunovic
Tel. +431 504 3110
Technical support (FTP, encoding) - Adam Hyde (Radio Qualia)

Artists confirmed for 15 May NetAid so far:

• DJ John Acquaviva (Definitive/Plus 8) Canada
• DJ Miles Holloway (Paper Recordings) England
• Disko B/Gigolo family (Hell, Naughty) Germany
• DJ Charlie Hall (Vic Music) England
• DJ Fred Giteau (ex-POF Records) France
• DJ Mark Allen (Quirk) London
• DJ Blim (Emotif) England
• Davide Squillace (Cloned Vinyl) Italy
• Amptek (Eclectic) Italy
• Sonic Youth, USA
• Mike Watt (ex-Minutemen, ex-Firehose) USA
• EC8RO (Digital Hardcore Recordings) Germany
• Syd Griffin (Cole Porters, ex-Long Ryders) USA
• Boiled In Lead, USA (Balkan-music influenced band)
• Anastasia, Macedonia (see OST for "Before The Rain")
• Comma, USA
• Big Sky, USA
• Xchange network live stream
• Live stream from Belgrade:
• DJ Vlada Janjic (B92)
• DJ Boza Podunavac (B92)
• Teenage Techno Punks
• B92 birthday concert (Belgrade):
• Darkwood Dub
• Kanda Kodza i Nebojsa
• Neocekivana sila...
• Jarboli
• Other Voices (Echoes From a War Zone), sound piece Gordan Paunovic (B92)
• Kunstradio production
• Stay net-tuned!
• Keep the faith!
• FreeB92 - NetAid team.