Day: April 15, 2025

Kylie Minogue to be honoured with Ted Albert Award

 

Australia’s undisputed queen of pop, Kylie Minogue, will be honoured with the prestigious Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music at the 2025 APRA Music Awards on Wednesday 30 April.

Known around the world by her single moniker, Kylie, Minogue is one of Australia’s most prolific artists and greatest musical exports creating captivating songs and inspiring generations of songwriters for almost 40 years since the iconic “The Locomotion” back in 1987, which was the first of a string of hits that defined a generation including “I Should Be So Lucky”, “Confide in Me”, “Spinning Around”, “Love At First Sight” and “Slow”.

Throughout her career, Minogue has released a prolific 17 studio albums, performed ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” at the closing ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympics and in 2001 her career-defining single, “Can’t Get You Out Of My Head”, reached number one in 40 countries.

With 2020’s album Disco she became the only female artist in the UK to have a No.1 album in five consecutive decades. In 2023 she released her No.1 album, Tension, which featured the international smash hit single “Padam Padam” and earned Minogue a second Grammy Award.

Today, she is one of the most successful Australian recording artists of all time, with sales in excess of 80 million albums, two Grammys, four Brit Awards, eighteen ARIA Music Awards, two MTV Music Video Awards, and both The Order of Australia and The Order of the British Empire.

Jenny Morris, Chair of APRA, explains: “As one of Australia’s biggest and brightest stars, Kylie was an obvious choice for this award. Her achievements over the past four decades are almost too many to count and we are absolutely honoured to add the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music to her vast collection of accolades.

“Kylie’s huge body of work and stellar career have been a guiding light for so many Australian songwriters and artists who have looked up to her as a beacon of Australian music, and we look forward to seeing what the next chapter of musical greatness will bring!”

Hitting the APRA Music Awards stage on Wednesday 30 April will be an eclectic mix of songwriters and performers from across the musical spectrum. Super group DENNI, TAIJA and Zaya will bring their blend of hip-hop fire to the stage while Filipino Australian singer-songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist, Dylan Atlantis, and fellow creator FRIDAY* will be getting everyone into a soulful groove.

Melbourne six-piece alt rockers, Gut Health, will get everyone on their feet with their queer rave culture inspired post-punk floor-fillers, while social media sensation and rising star, Jude York, will be bringing his own brand of captivating performance that has seen him skyrocket to popularity over the past year.

Crowd favourites Lior and Sarah Blasko will return to the awards stage and Arnhem Land’s first all-female rock group, Ripple Effect Band, and Sydney’s indie-pop darling, tiffi, will light up the room for their first-time APRA Awards performances.

Photo Top L-R: DENNI, Dylan Atlantis, Jude York, FRIDAY*, Sarah Blasko, Ripple Effect Band.
Bottom L-R: Taija, Zaya, Gut Health, tiffi, Lior.

 

Two awards are presented ahead of the night, the 2025 Licensee of the Year and Most Performed International Work.

The 2025 Licensee of the Year is Lazybones Lounge Restaurant & Bar. This award acknowledges and rewards the contribution of licensees to APRA members as good music citizens. As a strong supporter of live music, Sydney Inner West hot spot Lazybones goes beyond the basics by fostering a musician-friendly environment, emphasising their respect and support for live performers.

Tate McRae and co-writers Amy Allen, Jasper Harris and Ryan Tedder have taken out Most Performed International Work for “Greedy”, the smash hit lead single from her second studio album Think Later.

The APRA Music Awards celebrate excellence in contemporary music, honouring songwriters and publishers who have achieved artistic excellence and outstanding success in their fields.

The winners of all nominated categories, plus the International Recognition Award, Most Performed Australian Work Overseas and Songwriter of the Year will be announced at the awards ceremony at Melbourne Town Hall on Wednesday 30 April.
Licensee of the Year 
Lazybones Lounge Restaurant & Bar

Most Performed International Work 
Title:  Greedy
Artist:  Tate McRae
Writers: Tate McRae / Amy Allen* / Jasper Harris^ / Ryan Tedder
Publishers: Sony Music Publishing / Warner Chappell Music* / Concord Music Publishing ANZ^
2025 APRA Music Awards
Wednesday 30 April
Melbourne Town Hall
Host Zan Rowe and guest presenters Hau Lātūkefu and Ngaiire
Music Director Julian Hamilton

ARN Appoints Ben Campbell as Director – Digital Strategy, Data And Digital Ventures

ARN is pleased to announce the appointment of Ben Campbell as Director – Digital Strategy, Data and Digital Ventures.          

Ben is one of Australia’s most experienced digital leaders. He joins ARN Media with an outstanding record of delivering large-scale commercial transformation programs. With over 20 years of digital advertising experience in Australia and the UK he has a proven track record of leading specialist teams to create market-leading digital data and ad products for brands to drive growth.

In his role as Director – Digital Strategy, Data and Digital Ventures, Ben will have responsibility for the ARN digital strategy, data strategy and data partnerships, digital advertising product development, Ad. Tech, and the development of a digital centre of excellence.

Ben will also have responsibility for leading the newly created Digital Ventures team responsible for rapid acceleration into new and emerging markets including the accelerated implementation of the iHeartRadio commercial strategy.

Prior to joining ARN, Ben was the Director – Data and Digital Advertising Products at Nine Entertainment Co., where he developed and implemented the commercial data strategy, implemented a fully integrated Ad. Tech stack, and created a Centre of Digital Excellence which contributed to record digital revenues. He also launched 9Ad Manager, the first self-serve advertising platform for streaming video in partnership with leading international partners. Most recently, Ben was at oOH! Media where he was the Director of Data, Product and Technology, responsible for the development and implementation of their retail media platform.

Michael Stephenson, Chief Operating Officer of ARN, said, “Ben is in a league of his own. His deep understanding of the digital landscape and his experience in driving digital transformation in large media organisations is without peer. We have a massive opportunity in front of us. The digital audio market is growing at almost 40%, we reach ten million people every month, our long-term partnership with iHeart and our market-leading podcast network creates enormous opportunity for brands and for our company. Ben is the best in the business, we have the best assets, and we have big plans.”

Ben Campbell said, “Digital audio is the fastest growing segment in media and ARN is the market leader. We have a large first-party database, a long-term partnership with iHeart and the leading podcast network in the country. There is opportunity for growth everywhere, I’m looking forward to working with Rich and Michael again and I can’t wait to get started.”

Ben will commence his role on June 2.

Learn more about the incoming Community Radio Broadcasting Codes of Practice (2025)

The Community Radio Broadcasting Codes of Practice (2025) are now available and will take effect from 1 July 2025. Developed by the community broadcasting sector in consultation with the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), the Codes reflect our collective commitment to high standards and strong community representation.

The Codes cover essential areas of practice such as governance, diversity, emergency broadcasting, sponsorship, news and journalistic content, and First Nations engagement.

All stations, regardless of CBAA membership status or their governing principles, are obligated to understand and follow the Codes of Practice.

Until 1 July 2025 your stations follow the current Codes, which can be found here.

From 1 July onward follow the Community Radio Broadcasting Codes of Practice (2025), which can be found here. Use the time from now until 1 July to familiarise yourself and your team with the Codes using the resources listed here.


RESOURCES FOR STATIONS

Download the Codes 

Visit the Codes landing page to download the full document in both PDF and accessible Word Document formats. You can also access a summary video, supporting documents, and station guidance.

Online learning 

The CBAA has launched a free, self-paced course to support volunteers, presenters, board members and station managers in understanding their obligations under the Codes and how they apply to daily operations. It only takes 20-30 minutes to complete and there is a certificate upon completion. 

Start learning at: https://learning.cbaa.org.au/courses/codes-of-practice

Printed copies 

Each licensed community radio station will receive three printed copies of the Codes. If your station has not received copies by July or you require extras, email support@cbaa.org.au.

Printable poster template 

A poster is available to print for your station, to help inform your staff, volunteers and guests about where to find the Codes.

 

NOVA Entertainment launches Australia’s only commercial radio apps available on Smart TVs

By bringing the Nova Player, Smooth Player, FIVEAA Player and Star 104.5 Player apps to Google TV and Android TV, NOVA is giving listeners the opportunity to take their favourite station into their living rooms.

These new apps, available to download now from the Google Play Store, bring all of NOVA’s own and partner stations to households across Australia, allowing listeners to choose anything from Nova Throwbacks to Sky News Radio to Smooth Relax at the touch of a remote.

This latest announcement continues to strengthen NOVA’s commitment to innovation, with a focus on availability and best in class listener experiences. Key developments over the past 12 months include enhancements to Chromecast functionality and bringing the FIVEAA and Star 104.5 websites in-line with the upgraded Nova and Smooth websites. These new sites together deliver seamless navigation and access to content and have driven significant improvements in user engagement.

NOVA also integrated Coles Radio and Sky News Radio into its suite of websites as well as introduced an upgraded CarPlay experience, catering to the growing demand for integrated in-car listening.

NOVA Entertainment’s Head of Digital Product, Technology and Data, Tim Armstrong said, “At NOVA, innovation is at the heart of everything we do. Since the start of 2021 we’ve made significant advancements, becoming the most widely available radio network in the country when it comes to digital platforms. Making our brands available across new environments like Google TV reflects our commitment to delivering the best audio experiences for our listeners, wherever they need it.”

NOVA Entertainment is Australia’s leading independent audio entertainment business. NOVA Entertainment owns and operates the Nova Network, the Smooth FM Network, FIVEAA Adelaide, Star 104.5 NSW Central Coast and a suite of DAB+ stations including Smooth FM, Smooth Relax, Nova Throwbacks, Nova 90s and Coles Radio. The company’s broadcast offering is complemented by a range of on-demand assets across digital, social, mobile and podcasting, with a comprehensive local and international content slate of talent in the country. This network produces high-quality podcast content that connects audiences with brands in innovative ways.

Nova Reunites with Susie O’Neill for Breakfast

From Monday, 14 April to Thursday, 24 April (excluding public holidays), the new show will be broadcast nationally across the Nova Network, delivering a daily dose of entertainment, major giveaways and a bright start to the day for listeners across Australia.

The show marks the return of Susie O’Neill, one of Australia’s most celebrated Olympians and a familiar voice to Nova audiences. After saying goodbye to Nova 106.9 Brisbane Breakfast last year, Susie has remained a much-loved part of the Nova Network family.

Susie O’Neill said, “It’s fantastic to be back on air with Nova. While I can’t say I’ve missed the early mornings, I’ve definitely missed connecting with listeners. I listened to Mel and Matty over summer and can’t wait to join the fun.”

Joining Susie are Mel Tracina from Nova Workday and Matty Baseley from Star 104.5, a duo familiar to listeners after previously co-hosting Nova’s recent Summer Breakfast show together.

The team will also be giving away tickets daily to Lady Gaga’s highly anticipated Australian tour, an exclusive opportunity for listeners to secure seats to one of the year’s biggest global pop events.

Also making a return is the much-loved quiz segment ‘Smarter Than Suse’. Originally a Brisbane favourite, the game is going national, giving Aussie listeners the opportunity to test their general knowledge against Susie for the chance to win five hundred dollars in cash every day.

Brendan Taylor, Group Programming Director of the Nova Network, said: “After only a few months away, we’re excited to welcome Susie back to Nova Breakfast, joining Mel and Matty across the national network. At Nova, we’re committed to providing live Breakfast shows throughout the year and can’t wait to hear this team together for the next two weeks.”

Whether listeners are enjoying the school holidays or simply looking for a fresh sound for their morning routine, Mel & Matty with Susie O’Neill are set to deliver.

SBS becomes first Australian broadcaster to have near-and long-term carbon reduction targets validated by the SBTi

National broadcaster SBS has had its carbon reduction trajectory, both near-term and long-term Net Zero targets, validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) assesses corporate modelling and targets aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change. The SBTi is the world’s leading authority in this area, providing guidance and tools that help companies set targets that align with the latest climate science and the Paris Agreement.

“We are immensely proud that our near-term and Net Zero target has been validated by the SBTi,” said James Taylor, Managing Director of SBS. “As I have said before, this is an area SBS can and should lead in. We are an organisation that sits at the intersection of both public and commercial media and our commitment to more sustainable practices helps pave a way for others in the industry.”

“Climate science is clear: rapid and deep emissions cuts are essential if we are to achieve global Net Zero,” said Susan Jenny Ehr, Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Science Based Targets initiative. “Today, the Special Broadcasting Service steps up, joining the growing list of companies cutting emissions across their entire value chain in line with science, and actively contributing to limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.”

In 2023, SBS took a clear leadership position within the Australian media and became the first broadcaster to set an ambitious pathway towards Net Zero on all its emissions – both direct emissions (Scope 1 and 2) and supplier emissions (Scope 3). It also became the first media organisation to begin carbon measurement using Sustainable Screens Australia’s albert Toolkit to measure and reduce emissions for production.

Last year SBS also confirmed it had moved to a 10-year renewable energy power purchase agreement making it Australia’s first 100 per cent renewable media organisation.

SBS Head of Sustainability Abigail Thomas noted SBTi’s Target Validation Team has classified SBS’s Scope 1, 2 and 3 near-term target of a 42 per cent reduction in emissions from the FY22 base year by 2030 as in line with the current science.

SBTi also evaluated SBS’s Scope 1, 2, and 3 long-term target of reaching Net Zero by 2045, and commended SBS for selecting the most ambitious designation available through the SBTi process, confirming that this target is aligned to the 1.5 degrees Celsius mitigation pathway.

“We are very pleased that SBTi, the leading global organisation in this space, has validated our modelling and confirmed that it is in line with the latest science,” said Thomas. “We have already taken substantial steps to reduce our carbon footprint – however the work on achieving Net Zero continues and will be a strategic priority for many years to come as we work towards our 2045 target.”

SBS Media also recently launched its inaugural Sustainability Challenge pushing brands and advertising agencies to do more to normalise sustainable behaviour and better environmental consumer practices in their advertising. The challenge has offered $500,000 in advertising inventory for the best TV creative idea.