Program Description:
Thirty years ago, the Beastie Boys, U2, Rage Against the Machine, Björk, Radiohead, Pearl Jam, A Tribe Called Quest, and other major artists came together for nonviolence, freedom and Tibet through the Tibetan Freedom Concerts. In this six-part audio documentary, concert co-founder Erin Potts tells how a small team of twenty-somethings helped build one of the largest concert series of the 1990s. With friends, artists, activists, and organizers who were part of the story, Erin looks back at how the concerts began, what they changed, and what their legacy offers today. As many of us feel disempowered, dispirited, or powerless in the face of social injustice, this series serves as a reminder of how seemingly impossible things are doable when people come together thanks to the power of music.
The six 28-minute broadcast episodes are evergreen, and available to public radio stations for use as a special, arts and culture feature, music-adjacent program, public affairs or human rights story, summer limited series, or 2026 civic programming tied to the 250th anniversary of the United States. If you wish to air only one episode, we recommend the first episode as a stand-alone special. If you have a membership drive coming up, we can send you photography books from the concerts that were donated to the show. For more information about the books please go here: https://merch.freedomneedsasoundtrack.com/products/when-the-iron-bird-flies-tibetan-freedom-concerts?variant=53899669831893.
Program Time Length: 28 minutes each, 3 hours total
Day and Time Available to Stations: Today
Program Frequency: Six episode limited series
Program is compliant with FCC obscenity/indecency rules: Yes
Program is Doing Music Reporting for Syndication: No
Program Has Underwriting Announcements: No
Program Contains Sponsorship/Donation Information or Request: No
Program Website Has Products/Services for Sale or Accepts Donations: Yes
Program Has Pledge Drive Editions or Pitches Available: No
Program Has Pledge Drive Premiums Available: Yes
RSS Feed for Stations:
Web download for stations:
PRX/PRSS Link for Stations: https://exchange.prx.org/series/63557-freedom-needs-a-soundtrack
Program Contact if Stations Have Questions: martina.castro@kalw.org
