Worlds collide: R.E.M. rereleases ‘Radio Free Europe’ single to benefit the threatened news service
May 2, 2025, 7:07 AM
FILE - Michael Stipe, of the band R.E.M., center, speaks as he accepts the Video Vanguard award during the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York on Sept. 7, 1995. Standing by are fellow band members, from left, Mike Mills, Peter buck and Bill Berry. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File)
Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS
(AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File)
The rock band R.E.M. is putting out a special rerelease of its first single, 鈥淩adio Free Europe,鈥� to benefit 鈥� wait for it 鈥� the actual Radio Free Europe.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is among the U.S. government-funded media services that deliver news in overseas markets. President Donald Trump’s administration, claiming they are wasteful and promote a liberal point of view, is trying to choke off their funding.
A federal judge this week ordered the Republican administration to restore $12 million to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that was appropriated by Congress. Lawyers for the service, which has been operating for 75 years, said it would be forced to shut down in June without the money.
In the first line of its song 鈥淩adio Free Europe,鈥� R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe sings: “Decide for yourself if radio’s going to stay.鈥�
鈥淲hether it’s music or a free press 鈥� censorship anywhere is a threat to the truth everywhere,鈥� Stipe said on Friday. 鈥淥n World Press Freedom Day, I’m sending a shout-out to the brave journalists at Radio Free Europe.鈥�
Stephen Capus, RFE/RL president, said R.E.M.’s music has always represented a celebration of freedom to him. He said inspiring and upholding freedom to audiences that might not always experience it is the goal of his organization’s journalists.
Released on a tiny independent label, the 鈥淩adio Free Europe鈥� single was the first the world had heard from the Athens, Georgia-based band, whose career eventually took it to . The band called it quits in 2011.
The song was later inducted into the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry for setting the pattern for independent rock releases at the time.
The five-song EP will include the original recording of the song and a remix made this year by the band’s collaborator Jacknife Lee. It will also contain three other songs made at the same time: the single’s B-side, 鈥淪itting Still鈥�; the instrumental 鈥淲h. Tornado鈥�; and a previously unreleased 鈥淩adio Free Dub鈥� remix.
The producer of the original recording session, Mitch Easter, is supervising this year’s rerelease. It’s available for streaming on Friday, and a special vinyl pressing can be bought at independent record stores and R.E.M.’s mail order store. Proceeds from all vinyl sales go to RFE/RL.
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David Bauder writes about the intersection of media and entertainment for the AP. Follow him at and .
