Do Your Thang For Community Radio

As you roll out of bed and scuff your way down the hall and into the kitchen, you reach for the radio. Scratching your head during the coffee preparation ritual, warm rich sounds of folk music soften the morning trauma and ease the way into the day.

In the morning fluffiness, you could choose a variety of programs: Spanish news, theology, community organic gardening, Indigenous politics, reading programs for the blind, or perhaps my most ideal way of starting the day: 80s thrash speed metal.

Such is the beauty of community radio. Community radio is the voice of the people. It supports and gives expression to diverse sectors of society: music lovers, aesthetes, disability services, non-English speakers, youth, gay or lesbian, religious, even the oppressed. It gives us the freedom to be ourselves, connect to each other and celebrate our journeys.

Importance of Community Radio

Community Radio is a vital part of Australian media. It supports the multitudes of needs and interests in the community, providing a space separate from regulated, mass produced and corporately dictated system of commercial radio. It allows people of the community to communicate safely and openly about themselves and is thus the true embodiment of democracy and freedom of speech.

Digital Radio: The Facts

Digital radio began in Australia’s major metropolitan cities, with 11.6% of all radio listeners already using digital radio. New cars are sold with it, funky retro versions of it are sold in shops, offering better quality sound and reception, the ability to pause, fast forward or rewind shows, on-screen information and access to an increased number of shows. Digital radio is the future. 

Previously the federal government supported community digital radio by providing $11.2 million over three years (2009-2012) for development, running and maintenance costs. However community digital radio’s future is now at risk. In May 2012, the federal government announced only $2.2 million dollars for a four year period (2012-2016), $1.4 million per year less than is needed to maintain current community digital radio broadcast services. This is for over 350 community radio stations nationwide. What does that mean? No money, no broadcast. That’s right. No more discussions about Turkish cuisine in Turkish, no more Latino dance hours and no more movie review shows.

In two weeks the federal budget will be released and community stations and listeners wait in anticipation. Will there be enough money to keep running over the next four years? Heading the Commit to Community Radio Campaign is Adrian Basso, General Manager of PBSFM in Melbourne and head of the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia. Adrian has been integral in the drive to get the public on board and show their support and love of community radio.

“Community radio is doing things that other media doesn't do. Disability radio, non-English speaking, gay and lesbian, we fill a lot of those cracks that a lot of other media won’t touch.”

Adrian is gentle is his opinion of the May 2012 budget. “The government has been supportive to date so when the results came through [in May last year] it seemed a bit odd. We've been working with the minister’s office to get it fixed. I’m hoping they will commit. We’ll find out on budget night. I’m not talking a lot of money here. $1.4 million isn't much.”

Tahlia Azaria, General Manager of SYN 90.7 FM, a youth oriented station catering for people aged 12 to 24 years of age, says the station is at real risk of closure should the government’s full funding not come through.

“It’s a huge blow to us” says Tahlia “ We've invested time and money into maintaining our future survival. That money enables us to expand what we do. It’s an integral part of the station. It will help us to bring in more young people from the regional areas into community media and help us continue what we do.”

Adrian Basso continues, “When it comes to media in particular community broadcasting, we’re seen as pioneers and leaders. When you look at other countries and how they struggle for basic democracy and freedom of expression, we have those things in Australia. Australian music... is well supported by community radio. We’re part of that progress from grass roots to super star. If you cut the grass roots out, then you’re going to have a pretty poor live music scene. International artists come in and go, “Wow!” America’s got college campus radio, their version of public radio and a really long tradition of philanthropic [support]. But nothing like this.

Certainly at the initial stages of a new platform for broadcast, there’s a need for support. For us to carry that burden so early on is really short sighted I believe.”

Presenters at work, SYN Radio. Image courtesy of SYN.

Independent Music

Independent musicians rely intensely on community radio for accessing audiences and distributing music. The reputation of Melbourne’s music scene is most definitely in part built on the support of local and national artists by community radio.

Leigh Ivin, guitarist for alt country rock outfit The Re-Mains, explains,” As a musician, releasing new music and working outside major labels, these stations often provide the only outlet for a new set of ears. It’s more or less impossible to access mainstream or commercial outlets for independent artists. You only have to look at 3RRR and PBS's support of our band to see the difference in our fan base in Melbourne compared to the rest of the country." 

Den Hanrahan, hilly billy country rock poet agrees. "For those of us whose art does not centre around whatever Sony, The Voice, TV or commercial radio thinks is good music, only have support from community radio. It is an essential part of getting the message out there for independent artists. Without it, we are left draped in the disgraceful conformity that is popular music. Long live community radio."

Sarah Carroll, Ukulele Queen of the Bellarine,3RRR presenter and songstress from The Junes, explains, "If not for community radio, there would be no outlet of coverage of 98% of the groovy shit happening in the world. No honest news, no actual current affairs, no voice for minorities who are the true majority."

Sweet Felicia, bassist and singer from Sweet Felicia and The Honeytones, similarly agrees that community radio is essential for those whose voices do not reach commercial radio.

"Community radio gives a voice to those who would otherwise be voiceless," she says. "The crap that gets played on mainstream radio is led by those who wish to keep us hearing what they want us to hear. Community radio allows us to hear what WE want to hear. The interesting, vibrant Australian musicians and people who would never have a chance to be on mainstream radio."

ACT NOW - DO YOUR THANG!

So if you love community radio and if you dance in your socks in the bathroom to rockabilly or nod intently to discussions of gay marriage rights or the immunisation debate, sign the petition now: http://committocommunityradio.org.au/act-now/. Write to local MPs. Share via social media. Email your friends. Heck, email Minister for Communication Stephen Conroy and tell him directly. Wear a t-shirt. Protest naked in front of parliament house and shout your wants. Do what you can and do what needs to be done to ensure the future of community digital radio. I'm doing my thang for community radio. Are you?

http://committocommunityradio.org.au/

http://www.pbsfm.org.au/

http://syn.org.au/