Overview
- R.E.M. has released 'Radio Free Europe 2025,' a five-track benefit EP featuring remixes and original recordings of their 1981 debut single.
- Proceeds from the EP's limited-edition orange vinyl, available September 12, will support Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL).
- The release coincides with RFE/RL’s 75th anniversary and World Press Freedom Day, highlighting the importance of independent journalism.
- A federal judge recently ordered the Trump administration to release $12 million in funding to RFE/RL, though the administration is appealing the decision.
- R.E.M. members Michael Stipe and Mike Mills emphasized the EP’s connection to press freedom, celebrating RFE/RL’s role in holding authoritarian regimes accountable.