Get ready to turn up the volume! The 35th Australian Commercial Radio & Audio (ACRA) Awards are taking over The Star Sydney on Saturday, 12 October, promising a spectacular celebration of Australia’s top radio and music stars.

Presenters sharing the stage will be some of Australia’s most iconic audio talent, including Brooke Blurton & Matty Mills, Deb Knight, Jimmy Smith & Nath Roye, Katie Woolf, Melissa Doyle & Richard Wilkins, Neil ‘Wilko’ Wilcock & Courtenay ‘Courts’ Kneen, Ray Hadley, Ryan ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald & Michael ‘Wippa’ Wipfli with Kate Richie, Steph Claire Smith & Laura Henshaw, Tim Blackwell & Joel Creasey, and Will McMahon & Woody Whitelaw.

“Radio is at the centre of Australian culture, offering vital information, entertainment, and connection around the clock. This year’s ACRA Awards will unite the industry’s pioneers and rising trailblazers who continue to reimagine the future of audio,” said Commercial Radio & Audio (CRA) Chief Executive Officer Lizzie Young.

The awards celebrate outstanding on-air talent and recognise excellence across content, production, podcasting, sales and marketing. The event underscores the crucial role the industry plays in shaping media and connecting communities nationwide acknowledging campaigns focussed on local communities and radio’s use within marketing. CRA is also honoured that Minister for Communications, the Hon. Michelle Rowland MP will make a special appearance to present the awards for Best Community Campaign and Diversity and Inclusion.

Joining the celebrations are prominent voices shaping the Australian music scene. Rock legends The Screaming Jets will bring their signature high-octane energy to the stage, with lead singer Dave Gleeson sharing, “From a listener to a presenter I love everything about radio. I can’t wait to perform at the ACRA Awards, such a great night with all the luminaries of Oz radio in one room.”

Ahead of his sell out Australian tour and highly anticipated third album, The Epilogue, ARIA & APRA award winning and 14 billion streaming artist Dean Lewis will grace the ACRA stage. “I’m looking forward to performing at radio’s night of nights. To be invited to perform at the 2024 ACRA Awards is an honour,” said Lewis.

Award-winning Yolŋu hip hop artist Baker Boy is set to ignite the stage with an electrifying performance, and IVANA, the breakout star from Australian Idol, will bring her fresh, vibrant energy. Baker Boy said, “I’m so excited to be invited to perform at this year’s awards. We’re going to bring the party to the 2024 ACRA Awards.”

“The ACRA Awards are a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the community that supports us as artists. I can’t wait to take the stage and be a part of a night to remember,” added IVANA.

For more information visit www.acras.com.au. This event is made possible thanks to the support of our sponsors: GfK, RCS, Audata, AudioNet, AFTRS, MusicMaster, aim, Campaign Boss, Xtra Insights, Triton, RadioInfo, and Radio Today.

People in the provincial capital of Malaita Province, Auki in Solomon Islands and surrounding communities will now be able to hear the national service of the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation on its FM 96.3 frequency on their transistor radios, inside their vehicles and on their mobile phones.

This follows the installation of an FM96.3 transmitter on a Solomon Telekom transmission tower in Auki during the past several days.

At the same time, listeners in Auki and surrounding communities will also hear the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s Radio Australia service on FM 107.

“This great milestone has been achieved as SIBC celebrated its 72nd anniversary of broadcasting in this country early this week. Our listeners in Auki and surrounding communities will now listen to programmes from the national service in Honiara through livestream with much clearer digital audio,” says an excited SIBC Chief Executive Officer, Mr Johnson Honimae.

“This is another step forward in the implementation of the Unity FM service that has been part of the strategy of the Corporation in the past several years. This adds on to the FM96.3 in Honiara and in Gizo in the Western Province.”

Mr Honimae adds, “SIBC would not have achieved the FM service in Auki without the great support of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation through the supply of equipment and engineers supported by SIBC’s own engineers who set up the two FM transmitters in the past several days.”

The project is a great achievement for the two public service broadcasters under a current three-year Memorandum of Understanding. As part of the relationship SIBC and ABC share among other things, technical expertise, including SIBC infrastructure to enable ABC to broadcast in Solomon Islands. ABC and SIBC broadcast technicians work closely together.

ABC International Head Claire M. Gorman said: “We are delighted that our two teams were able to come together to execute this exciting new development in FM transmission, connecting communities across Auki and the Malaita Province. The collaboration between our technical teams encapsulates the true spirit of our longstanding friendship and partnership with SIBC. We congratulate them on the tremendous milestone of their 72nd anniversary and look forward to future opportunities to support one another’s work as public broadcasters.”

Both public service broadcasters also participate in content exchanges in areas such as news and current affairs, sport, music, lifestyle and general interest content. Staff exchanges are also possible under the SIBC-ABC MoU.

SIBC is now in discussions with the Malaita Provincial Government for a piece of land for the establishment of an FM studio in Auki to produce programs focused on Malaita Province. Auki FM96.3 will currently broadcast programs from the SIBC National Service in Honiara.

Listeners to SIBC in Malaita Province can also receive the National Service on AM 1035khz and SW 5020 khz and online: sibconline.com.sb.

Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP, will deliver the keynote address at this year’s RadComms conference. The minister’s speech will begin the first day of an exciting line-up of panel conversations and talks, spanning from network innovations to the future of TV. Day 2 will feature important discussions on AI, regulatory futures and secure, resilient communications. Don’t miss out on the chance to engage with experts, participate in open forums and share the latest spectrum developments and trends. Check out the program, and find out more about this year’s speakers. Register now When: Thursday 24 and Friday 25 October 2024 Where: Park Hyatt Melbourne Cost: Group rate (5 or more attendees): $700 inc. GST per person + booking fee Standard rate: $760 inc. GST per person + booking fee Tickets are limited, so register now.

We recently audited 150 low power open narrowcasting (LPON) licensees.

We did this to:

• ensure LPON licensees know about licence conditions and how to comply with the regulations
• gather information about the LPON market and related compliance issues.

Compliance with licence conditions limits risks involved in the use of spectrum, including interference to radiocommunications services.

You can now access the 2024 audit outcome report on the ACMA website.

We encourage all LPON licensees to read the report and ensure you understand the rules.

LPON licence conditions guide

Following 3 years of LPON audit programs, we have also launched an LPON licence conditions guide. This will help licensees better understand their obligations around:

• record keeping
• operating transmitters with reasonable regularity
• complying with service location and power limits.

The guide includes an example LPON logbook to help you to comply with record-keeping requirements.

TOTAL RADIO 

Melbourne’s 3AW has had a bumper ratings win, while Sydney’s 2GB dominates the talk scene in today’s GfK Radio 360 Survey 6. And across the country, Nine’s talk stations are the go-to streaming destination for live listeners.

In Melbourne, 3AW’s Ross and Russ further increased their lead as the undisputed No.1, rising to a 23.0 share (up 1.3), while Tom Elliott commands the Melbourne Mornings slot with a winning 18.3. Overall, the station was the clear No.1 with a 14.9 share.

Ray Hadley has made history in Sydney, recording his 160th consecutive survey win in the 2GB Mornings slot with a share of 12.4 – an incredible feat likely never to be surpassed. In Breakfast, Ben Fordham remains firmly on top in talk with a commanding 12.2 share, while 2GB is No.1 in talk with a 10.2 share. 

Nine Radio’s Head of Content, Greg Byrnes, said: “At a time when audio has never been more competitive, 3AW’s dominance is extraordinary, thanks to gains in Breakfast, Drive and across the weekend in Survey 6.”

“In Sydney, and for the first time ever, positions one to four are only separated by 0.6 points! It’s a great time to be in Talk Radio and our loyal listeners know they can rely on us for Australia’s best live and local news, opinion and entertainment.”

COMMERCIAL RADIO SHARE	TOTAL RADIO CUME
15.8 (4 markets)	1.813 million listeners each week

STREAMING

Nine Radio is the No.1 destination for live audio listeners across the country, with a commercial streaming share of 27.8 and cume of 405,000.  

2GB and 3AW remain the No.1 stations in overall commercial streaming, with a 27.1 and 29.8 share, respectively.

Ben Fordham is the outright No.1 in Breakfast, posting a commercial streaming share of 30.3 and Ross and Russ increasing their No.1 position even further with an incredible 52.4 commercial streaming share (up 2.1).

Mornings at 2GB and 3AW also recorded a No.1 commercial streaming share with 31.4 for Ray Hadley and 32.7 for Tom Elliott.

Greg Byrnes, said: “We’ve had a great streaming story to tell since the introduction of Radio360 and that’s been reflected through this survey period. Talk is the clear number one format for streaming as more and more Australians engage with our live and local content through a connected device.”

COMMERCIAL STREAMING SHARE	STREAMING CUME
27.8	405,000

PODCASTS 

August delivered the highest number of monthly listeners on record for Nine, with 1.984 million listeners (up 21% MoM) tuning in to 9Podcasts’ incredible slate of news, entertainment, lifestyle, sport and investigative shows during the month.

Podcast downloads also surged to 4.817 million (up 17% MoM). The Ultimate Sacrifice led the charge, with 287,000 listeners in August – ranking in the top five highest number of listeners in a single month of all time across 9Podcast titles.

Just Married: The Anthea Bradshaw Mystery also saw impressive numbers with 273,000 listeners in August, demonstrating the strength and quality of Nine’s cross-platform strategy when it comes to delivering original and engaging investigative podcasts.

TOTAL DOWNLOADS	TOTAL LISTENERS
4.8 million	1.94 million

Source: GfK Radio360 Ratings, Survey 6 2024, Mon-Sun 5.30am-12MN, Market Share % Total, Market Share Streaming %, Commercial Streaming Share %, Cume (000s) Total and Streaming, 3AW Breakfast Mon-Fri 5.30am-8.30am, 3AW Mornings 8.30am-12pm, AP10+, Nine Radio – 2GB, 3AW, 4BC, 6PR, unless otherwise specified.

Source: Triton Podcast Metrics, August 2024, Downloads, Listeners, Nine Entertainment, unless otherwise specified.

Commercial Radio & Audio (CRA) welcomes another record-breaking milestone, with commercial radio’s share of listening climbing to 75.1%. This figure not only surpasses last survey’s record but also marks the highest level since 2014, highlighting the vibrancy of Australia’s audio landscape.

In the past four years, commercial radio has made remarkable strides following the disruptions caused by COVID-19. With a market share increase of over 10 percentage points since S1 2020, radio is reaffirming its resilience and solidifying its position as a dominant player in the media landscape. This growth is largely fuelled by the rise of digital distribution, which has allowed radio to adapt and maintain its audience reach.

“These results prove radio continues to connect with audiences anytime, anywhere. As listening habits diversify, our growth reflects the industry’s creativity and commitment to ensuring commercial radio remains a dynamic and trusted source of education and entertainment,” said Lizzie Young, CRA’s Chief Executive Officer.

The latest GfK Survey 6, 2024, shows commercial radio reaches 12.3 million weekly listeners, with average time spent listening (TSL) holding steady compared to last survey at 12 hours and 51 minutes. Younger audiences continue to fuel this growth, with a 2.1% rise among 18-24-year-olds year-on-year and a 2.3% increase for 25-39-year-olds year-on-year.

Breakfast radio continues to shine, drawing in over 8.6 million listeners each week, listening for 3 hours and 40 minutes. In-car listening climbed 3.3% to surpass 10 million weekly listeners, while at-work listening increased average time spent listening by a full hour year-on-year to 12 hours and 29 minutes.

The digital transformation of radio is a crucial factor in this growth. Commercial radio streaming has seen a slight increase since last survey, bringing the total number of weekly streaming listeners to nearly 3.6 million. Notably, at-home streaming has gained 109,000 listeners, reflecting a 4.6% rise since the last survey. Additionally, commercial DAB+ only stations are making their mark, with TSL rising by 26 minutes year-on-year to 6 hours and 39 minutes per week.

Source: GfK 360 Radio Ratings, SMBAP S6 2024, All people 10+, Mon-Sun 12mn-12mn, Cume (000’s), unless otherwise stated. Weekly Time Spent Listening (hh:mm). All numbers refer to commercial radio results unless otherwise stated.

The ABC has released the Independent Review into ABC Systems and Processes in Support of Staff who Experience Racism and announced the next steps to improve those processes.

The Independent Review was announced by ABC Managing Director David Anderson in May 2023 and is informed by interviews with 120 current and former ABC staff. Led by Indigenous lawyer Dr Terri Janke, a Wuthathi, Yadhaighana and Meriam woman, the Listen Loudly, Act Strongly review has made 15 recommendations to improve the ABC’s systems and processes.

Mr Anderson has issued an apology to any current or former employee who has experienced racism and has committed the ABC to accept in principle all 15 recommendations. Mr Anderson also announced former Australian Race Discrimination Commissioner Chin Tan has been engaged to continue this work.

Mr Anderson told staff the testimonies provided to Dr Janke were disturbing and the details of racist behaviour were unacceptable to the ABC.

“On behalf of everyone at the ABC, I am sorry for any and all racist behaviour and past harms experienced by our Indigenous and CALD employees, either currently or formerly employed,” Mr Anderson told staff today.

“We all need to do better for our colleagues on our commitment to zero tolerance for racism in our workplace.

“We all need to do better for our colleagues by preventing or acting on behaviour that seeks to discriminate against, bully or demean them.

“We all need to do better for our colleagues by remaining vigilant against racism or discrimination of any kind in our workplace.”

The Review is available here and the 15 recommendations and the ABC’s response here. The ABC has also developed a list of Action Items, available here.

The Review was announced following public discussion and comments about racist behaviour at the ABC and how the organisation responds to acts of racism from within and outside the organisation.

The ABC commissioned the Review in response to calls for an independent and external process by senior ABC Indigenous staff and the ABC Bonner Committee (which advises the Managing Director on Indigenous matters). The Review also followed conversations with the ABC Indigenous, Diversity & Inclusion team.

The ABC will launch an internal campaign to raise awareness of racism and discrimination and to make it easier for staff to report instances of racism and discrimination. In addition to current anti-bullying and harassment training, and inclusion training, the ABC will begin specific anti-racism training with staff.

The ABC has also created a new role to lead this work, Director First Nations Strategy, to join the ABC’s Leadership Team reporting directly to the Managing Director, developing the plan to implement actions in response to the recommendations set out in the report. The ABC’s current Head of Indigenous, Diversity and Inclusion Kelly Williams has been asked to step into this role until a new Managing Director can initiate a recruitment process. However, the role will be ongoing.

The Review has acknowledged the work done by the ABC executive under Mr Anderson’s leadership to improve the ABC culture and the way the ABC manages and addresses racism within the organisation.

“As an organisation and as an industry we must learn from the experiences in the report and commit to work together to do better and rebuild the trust that has been eroded by the actions of some people,” Mr Anderson said.

“For anyone who thinks it is ok to display or practise racist behaviour, or who thinks they can make people feel belittled based on their identity, we will call you out and remove you from this organisation. You are not welcome here. We are a workplace that values respect, and we expect it.”

Chair of the ABC Bonner Committee Dan Bouchier said:  “Thank you to David Anderson for the courage to listen deeply and launch this review, and releasing Listen Loudly, Act Strongly today, and thanks to David and the Board for committing to implementing all recommendations.

“Dr Terri Janke and her team took great care in conducting this review – thank you.

“We are especially grateful to everyone who bravely shared their experiences, as well as what they saw as solutions to make the ABC stronger.

“I’m inspired to see Kelly Williams as the inaugural Director First Nations Strategy – and fully support her. We all back Kelly in the important work ahead, as she continues to build on the significant change she has already accomplished.

“I asked David to call for this review because it was clear there were big challenges. This report is a turning point and seeks to strengthen and reform the ABC.

“It’s a line in the sand – we need to do better.

“The ABC’s First Nations and CALD staff need this to be acted on across the organisation, and the Australian people expect more from the ABC, to ensure it remains the important institution it is.

“This review exposes the depth of the problems. To achieve the crucial work of Listen Loudly, Act Strongly will require the entire ABC to work to embed meaningful change.”