Category: Australian

Grace Barlow, a student at Perth’s University of Notre Dame Australia, has been named the 2024 Brian White Scholarship winner, Commercial Radio & Audio (CRA) announced today. This esteemed award grants Grace a unique opportunity to embark on a four-week paid placement, gaining invaluable experience across the newsrooms of ARN, SCA, NOVA Entertainment, and Nine Radio.

“This year’s competition set a new benchmark with the highest number of applicants in four years. Our finalists represent the future of radio news, and we are thrilled to see such remarkable talent emerging in our industry,” said CRA chief executive officer Lizzie Young.

The scholarship recipient was selected after an intensive workshop at ARN’s offices, where ten finalists were mentored by the industry’s top commercial radio news leaders. Led by Fiona Ellis-Jones (ARN), Michelle Stephenson (NOVA Entertainment), Erin Maher (2GB, Nine Radio), and Amy Goggins (SCA), each sharing their personal experiences and expertise on succeeding in radio.

“The level of skill and passion in the room is outstanding, it’s exciting to see the next generation eager to contribute to radio’s unique ability to reach audiences in a meaningful way,” said Fiona Ellis-Jones, ARN Head of News and Information.

“From breaking news to the everyday updates that matter, it’s often through radio that people first hear what’s happening in the world,” shared Michelle Stephenson, NOVA National Audio News Editor who has been a judge for the Brian White Scholarship since its inception in 2017.

“In the newsroom, no two days are the same, that variety keeps the work both challenging and exciting,” Amy Goggins, SCA Sydney News Editor, told the finalists.

“There’s no better place for a journalist than radio. It’s immediate, it’s intimate, it’s always evolving – offering endless opportunities for storytelling,” added Erin Maher, 2GB Radio Senior Newsreader and Editor.

The annual scholarship honours the legacy of radio legend Brian White, the first Australian commercial radio cadet journalist. White pioneered the news talk format and had a career spanning three influential decades.

Entries for the 2025 Brian White Scholarship will open early next year. The competition is open to recent graduates or students in their final year of a relevant course such as Communications, Media, Journalism, and Radio. For more details, keep an eye on our socials.

2024 is a big year for the Community Broadcasting Awards, as we’ve revamped our award categories to better capture the unique structure of our sector. We’ve received over 300 entries across more than 20 categories, and would like to thank both the entrants and the judges who reviewed their entries. We’re looking forward to seeing you at the 2024 CBAA conference from 17-19 October on the Gold Coast.

You can find the full list of finalists below. Winners will be announced at the conference Gala Dinner on Satuday, 19 October at the CBAA Conference, along with the recipients of the Community Broadcasting Honour Roll, Michael Law and Tony Staley Awards.

 

2024 Community Broadcasting Awards Finalists

Best Program: Music (Sponsored by APRA AMCOS)

• 2NVR Nambucca Valley Radio – Studio 3 Live
• RTRFM – Difficult Listening
• 3BBR FM – Continental Drift
• Koori Radio – Tangata Whenua
• Fresh 92.7 – Fresh Off The Block – Hosted by MATIAH

Best Program: New (Sponsored by AFTRS)

• 8CCC – Great Cooks of The Desert
• Eastside Radio 89.7FM – The Intersection
• Fresh 92.7 – Fresh Off The Decks – Hosted by MATIAH
• Vision Australia Radio – Sites, Sounds and Songs on Vision Australia Radio
• 3CR – Hong Kongology

Best Program: News & Current Affairs (Sponsored by AVC)

• 3BBR FM – West Gippsland Week
• 2DRY FM – Water Watch
• ​Ngaarda Media – Ngaarda Statewide News WA
• Vision Australia Radio – Studio 1
• 3CR – Global Intifada: Operation Inglenook Episode

Best Program: Talks

• 2MFM – Beyond the ATAR – Youth Series
• 2DRY FM – Out in the Outback: Hidden Histories Series
• Fresh 92.7 – Wavelength: Navigating the Israel & Palestine Conflict
• 3CR – 30 Years Fighting for Forests
• Vision Australia Radio – Happy Pants

Excellence in Australian Music (Sponsored by APRA AMCOS)

• 107.3 HFM – Beats Rhymes and Life
• 3BBR FM – Gippsland Live, 3BBR Concert Hall
• Koori Radio – Indigenous Hip Hop Show
• 2SER – 2SER Australian Music Programming & Events
• Radio 4EB – TUNOGLOKAL QLD Project

Excellence in Community Engagement

• Sonshine (98.5FM) – Sonshine’s Heart For The Homeless
• 89.9 TheLight – Connecting with the Community
• Bay FM 99.9 – Young Legends
• Vision Australia Radio
• Fresh 92.7

Excellence in Disability Content & Engagement

• Phoenix FM
• RTRFM – Breaking Sound Barriers – Season 2
• Wangki Yupurnanupurru Radio – Wangki Radio Celebrates Difference
• Vision Australia Radio
• 3CR – Disability Day

Excellence in Fundraising & Sponsorship

• RTRFM – RTRFM’s Fundraising and Sponsorship Team
• VOX FM – Judy Clare, Billy Harvey Carmel Collins, & Kevin Barron
• Alive 90.5 FM
• 89.9 TheLight – PositiveMedia Donor Engagement & Business Development Teams
• Fresh 92.7

Excellence in Indigenous Content & Engagement (Sponsored by McNair Yellowsquares)

• RTRFM – Sovereign
• PBA-FM – Feel Good Nunga Radio
• Koori Radio – Two Men In Your Head and The Dhinawanyan Healers
• Ngaarda Media – Federal Court Native Title Hearing: YIindjibarndi and FMG
• PAW & 8CCC – The Heat

Excellence in Multicultural Content & Engagement (Sponsored by McNair Yellowsquares)

• 2MFM
• PBA-FM – Siempre Lunes
• Alive 90.5FM – Alive with Cultural Diversity
• 88.9 WynFM
• Radio 4EB – TUNOGLOKAL QLD Project

Excellence in Production

• 3ZZZ
• 96five – The Rad-Vent Calendar
• Casey Radio 97.7FM – Storytellers @ The Station
• Vision Australia Radio
• Bay FM 99.9 – Bay FM Community Disaster Recovery and Emergency Preparedness Campaign

Excellence in Special Events & Outside Broadcasting

• 3ZZZ – FIFA Women’s World Cup Broadcast
• MainFM – MAIN Game
• Ngaarda Media – Tamworth Country Music Program 2024
• 2DRY FM – 2024 Broken Hill Christmas Pageant
• 3CR – Camp Sovereignty

Excellence in Station Resilience & Development (Sponsored by the CMTO)

• 3ZZZ – Building an Eth(n)ical Business Model for 3ZZZ
• 5THE FM – Rising Out of the Ashes of its Former Self
• 2MIA FM 95.1 – Station Leadership Committee
• 88.9 WynFM – Trudy Burkes
• Collie Community Radio – Transition to New Studio

Outstanding Fundraising & Sponsorship Contribution

• 96five – 96five’s Building Hope Appeal
• Fresh 92.7 – Fresh 92.7 Sales Team
• Vision Australia Radio – Jason Gipps
• 4RFM – Brianna Baggow

Outstanding Presenter

• Radio Adelaide – Jarad McLoughlin: De-Stigmatised (Audio Ability Revisited segment)
• todayscountry94one – Alan Gilmour
• 3CR – Sasja Sÿdek: Queering the Air
• RTRFM – Jeff Bullen
• JOY 94.9 – Demetra Giannakopoulos

Outstanding Presenter News & Current Affairs (Sponsored by Deutsche Welle)

• 3BBR – Paul Strickland and West Gippsland Week Team
• 4ZZZ – Alexis Pink
• Lofty 88.9 – Johnny Emanuele
• Vision Australia Radio – Peter Greco for Vision Australia Radio
• Bay FM 99.9 – Mia Armitage

Outstanding Production Contribution

• RTRFM – Eddie Curtis
• JOY 94.9 – Elliot Attard
• Bay FM 99.9 – Bay FM Community Disaster Recovery and Emergency Preparedness Campaign
• 2DRY FM – Water Watch Production Team
• 88.9 WynFM – Stephen Kernohan

Outstanding Station Leadership

• 3ZZZ – Jon King
• Alive 90.5 FM – Andsley Dennis
• 88.9 WynFM – Peter White
• Casey Radio 97.7FM – Nia McMartin
• 2DRY FM – Megan Williams

Outstanding Technical Contribution

• Phoenix FM – Peter Williams
• TripleT 103.9 – Warren Ray
• Alive 90.5 FM – Alive 90.5FM Tech Team
• Three D Radio
• SWR 99.9 FM – Alex Agaciak and Matt Reid

Outstanding Volunteer Contribution (Sponsored by The Centre for Volunteering)

• 3WAY-FM – Ann Morris
• Eastside Radio 89.7FM – Elliott Wallace
• Alive 90.5 FM – Rosh Vee
• CMS Radio FM 91.1 – Santhosh Nagaiah
• Fresh 92.7 – Cassandra Johns

Outstanding Youth Contribution (Sponsored by The Centre for Volunteering)

• RTRFM – Sharlene Baloch and IJ McKenna
• 2MIA FM 95.1 – Brodie Legge – Youth YAP & Midweek Madness
• 2NURFM – Olivia Dillon
• Switch Brisbane – School Yard Sounds
• CAAMA Radio – Briana Alexander

Troy Garner Award – Best Program: Sports

• Lofty 88.9 – The Huddle Reformed
• 3ZZZ – 3ZZZ Sports
• Triple H 100.1 FM – Triple H Sports – Coverage of NSW Men’s and Women’s Premier Cricket
• HOT FM Mildura – 2024 SFNL Football Broadcast
• 2NVR Nambucca Valley Radio – That’s a Wrap

Artificial Intelligence guardrails praised, Australia could lead globally in protecting local music creators

A joint statement from music rights organisation APRA AMCOS and peak body National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Music Office (NATSIMO)

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Music industry bodies APRA AMCOS and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Music Office (NATSIMO) welcome new draft AI regulations announced today by the Australian Government, which include mandatory guardrails for transparency on datasets used in AI systems.

Dean Ormston, CEO of APRA AMCOS, says: “This regulatory milestone is a critical step forward in finding ways to protect the rights and livelihoods of music creators and ensuring a fairer and more sustainable industry.

“The introduction of mandatory transparency requirements would be a significant victory for our industry and has the potential to bring Australia into line with European Union and other international jurisdictions that value the economic, social and cultural importance of their arts, reative industries and communities.”

The draft guidelines published today by the Australian Government are a critical next step to ensure Australia’s regulatory system is fit-for-purpose to respond to the distinct risks that AI poses. They include mandatory transparency requirements and guardrails in high-risk settings that include those that would have adverse legal effects, defamation or similarly significant effects on an individual and to the broader Australian economy, society, environment and rule of law, which would include copyright.

“If implemented, these measures have the potential to compel AI platforms and developers to disclose the origin and composition of datasets used to train their systems,” adds Ormston.

“With this level of disclosure, artists, creators and rightsholders can level the playing field and negotiate appropriate agreements and ensure that their intellectual property is only used with the appropriate levels of consent, credit and remuneration.”

Last month APRA AMCOS released a landmark study – AI and Music – detailing the economic impact of AI on the music industry in Australia and New Zealand. The report highlighted alarming projections of revenue and income loss of 23% or $519m by 2028 for artists, songwriters and composers if AI technologies continue to operate without proper regulation and licensing. The report also included the largest survey of its kind, finding that 97% of songwriters, composers and music publishers demand that government pay more attention to the regulatory settings for AI and copyright.

“These draft regulations are a promising step towards protecting the livelihoods of music professionals and ensuring the economic benefits of AI are shared fairly. The industrial-scale copying and scraping by big tech companies to build large language models (LLMs) without regard for artists and creators must stop,” adds Ormston.

“However, these draft regulations are just the beginning. To be effective, these guardrails and transparency obligations must apply to all AI services that are made available in Australia, irrespective of where in the world the AI model’s training took place. This is a global industry and sanctions for non-compliance must also be imposed on platforms based overseas but operating in Australia to avoid unfair competition against local services who want to play by the rules.”

The draft regulations also include consideration for the adverse risks that AI pose to groups of individuals or collective rights of cultural groups. It is critical these guardrails protect the unique Indigenous Cultural Intellectual Property (ICIP) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Leah Flanagan, Director of NATSIMO, says: “The rise of AI technology presents serious risks to the cultural and economic wellbeing of Indigenous communities. The APRA AMCOS report into AI found that 89% of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander songwriters and composers surveyed believe that AI has the potential to lead to cultural appropriation.

“While government efforts have begun to address the unauthorised use of ICIP in arts and crafts, particularly in mass-produced items, this work must focus quickly to include all areas of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural creation.

“We encourage government to look to systems of cultural permission within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities as a blueprint for the use of Indigenous cultural intellectual property within AI.”

APRA AMCOS and the NATSIMO are committed to working closely with government, industry stakeholders, and AI developers to ensure the successful design and implementation of these draft regulations. With the right protections in place, AI can complement and enhance both the music industry and the tech sector, to ensure these new technological advancements are fair and sustainable for all.

The full AI and Music Report and webinar are available at apraamcos.com.au/AIandmusic

– LISTEN TO WIN A SCHOOL VISIT AND LIVE READING FROM ANDY LEE –

The tenth time’s a charm for Andy Lee and his Do Not Open This Book series, with the latest edition, Do Not Open This Book It Stinks, now in stores, together with the read-along interactive audio version now available free on LiSTNR.

The new story takes readers on a journey of stinky smells, fascinating science facts and an unexpected encounter with a leprechaun. Voiced by Lee, the audio version features an engaging soundscape to bring the book to life and give parents and children an immersive read-along experience. Whilst the main character Wizz begins the story quite relaxed, it’s not long before he is bowled over by smelly footy boots, rotting fish and a skunk. As a touching tribute, Lee has dedicated this edition to his fiancée Rebecca Harding who, in a funny twist, inspired the stinky theme!

To celebrate Wizz’s stinky new adventure, by simply listening to the interactive audio version, kids can discover the code word for a special competition to win a visit from Andy Lee to read his book at their school!

Andy Lee said: “I sincerely hope no one listens to this for the sake of a blue monster called Wizz. He doesn’t want anyone reading the book or reading along with the book. So DO NOT listen to this audio book under any circumstance.”

LiSTNR Original Podcasts Head of Entertainment and Culture, Sam Cavanagh, said: “We’re thrilled that Andy continues to share the humour and creativity his audience know and love from Hamish & Andy, with younger audiences. Like everything Andy does, this interactive audio version of his new book is hilarious and will be enjoyed by parents and kids alike. All ten stories from the Do Not Open This Book series have been transformed into read-along immersive audio experiences and can be found on LiSTNR.”

Andy Lee is a podcaster, musician, TV presenter, and comedian and is best known as one-half of Hamish & Andy, Australia’s most popular podcast*. Lee became an award-winning children’s author by accident. The first book in the series, which he wrote as a surprise for his nephew George, was only ever meant to be printed once. However, since hitting bookshelves the series has gone on to be an international sensation and is sold across the globe.

Do Not Open This Week Book It Stinks can be sniffed out in stores and parents and children can read along with the free interactive audio version on LiSTNRnow.

Source: *Australian Podcast Ranker Top 200 Podcasts – July 2024

 About LiSTNR:

LiSTNR is a curated and personalised, free app offering radio, podcasts, music, and news, creating a new audio destination for all Australians. Featuring a fun and intuitive onboarding process, LiSTNR delivers an audio destination that is built for individual listeners’ routines and preferences. Highly personalised, it provides listeners a new world of audio entertainment, with their own daily feed of audio and easy discovery of new content through curated recommendations. Available across a large array of devices including both iOS and Android, CarPlay and Android Auto, Google Assistant and Alexa and Android TV, LiSTNR enables a fantastic listening experience, anytime and anywhere. Open your Ears to a new world of audio – download the free app today. LiSTNR.com

Commercial Radio & Audio (CRA) has welcomed figures that show podcast and streaming audio advertising expenditure increased 23.6% year on year in FY24, to $290 million.

Total online audio advertising is the fastest growing display category, according to the Australian Internet Advertising Revenue Report (IARR), compiled by PwC and released today by IAB Australia.

The report also shows strong quarterly growth, with the total of $78.9 million for the June Quarter 2024 surpassing the December Quarter 2023 peak of $77.8 million.

Lizzie Young, CRA Chief Executive Officer, said the results were particularly pleasing off the back of GfK Survey 5 data which showed commercial radio share had reached its highest level since 2014.

“Commercial radio continues to grow its audiences, and one of the reasons is audio is everywhere – whether listeners are tuning into broadcast radio, DAB, or a podcast, audio is in their cars, at home, and with them via their phone,” said Ms Young.

“The FY24 results from IAB are incredibly strong, with total online audio ad spending up 23.6% on FY23, making it the fastest growing display category.

“Advertisers are increasingly investing in online audio because it delivers both audience trust and accessibility.”

The total Australian online audio advertising market in FY24 was $290 million ($185 million streaming and $105 million podcast), representing 4.7% of total general display ad spending for the year.

“The IARR report also shows expenditure on podcast advertising increased by a massive 32% in the June Quarter compared to the March Quarter,” said Ms Young.

“We expect to see more advertisers investing in podcasts, as their popularity continues to increase, as we saw in our first Australian Podcast Bi-Annual Report, released last week.”

The report showed average monthly podcast listeners up increased almost 9% in the first half of 2024 compared to last year.

For the third time this year, AFTRS Graduate Diploma of Radio and Podcasting students are taking to the airwaves with a pop-up broadcast. From Monday 2 September to Friday 14 September, AFTRS FM will tackle the issues that impact students – like cost-of-living, social media, pop culture, and more.

Following the 30^th year of Show Radio in April, and regional broadcast 2NRS in June, AFTRS FM will see students produce and package a daily 30-minute factual talk broadcast, with support from guest air checkers, mentors and coaches from across the industry including Greg Byrnes from 9 Entertainment, Fiona Ellis Jones and Naomi Lynch from ARN, and Rob Mailer and Jodie Gunders from the ABC.

AFTRS FM will stream live on iHeart weekdays from 3pm, and appear as an on-demand podcast, from Monday 2 September to Friday 14 September, with ‘best ofs’ airing Saturday 7 and 15 September from 7am to 7:30am. Students will also publish stories online and across social media channels.

AFTRS Discipline Lead, Radio and Podcasting, Andrea Ho says, “So much great audio comes from generating ideas and landing talent, and working to deadline. AFTRS FM sets the students a real workout with all of these skills, while they give voice to issues that matter to them and the broader audience.”

Head of Content, Nine Radio and AFTRS alum Greg Byrnes will support the students with airchecks. Greg says, “All broadcasters feed off adrenaline when the mic goes live. There’s nothing like it and when AFTRS FM launches this week students will be experiencing that buzz, some for the first time. It’s a wonderful opportunity which allows them to put all that theory into real time deadlines. News content is a key programming ingredient and I’m looking forward to working with the class of 2024 on their writing and presentation during this year’s broadcast.

Graduate Diploma of Radio & Podcasting student Ella Carter says listeners can look forward to a cutting-edge daily talk program, podcast, and online news platform that blends news and current affairs with diverse perspectives, fostering a strong sense of community.

“As our third collaborative broadcast of the year, AFTRS FM will showcase the skills we’ve honed through previous coursework. Over the next two weeks, we’ll be crafting audio packages, writing for social media, working as a team, and operating the studio panel at AFTRS. It’s going to be a hectic yet rewarding experience!” Ella says.

Each unique collaborative broadcast provides us with an epic hands-on experience that not only boosts our skills in radio, but our individual confidence. We’re pumped and ready to go!”

Tune into AFTRS FM here.

Applications for the Graduate Diploma in Radio & Podcasting – offered flexibly, in person and online – close on 29 October 2024. There are a variety of scholarships available on offer that recognise excellence and assist with the costs associated with higher education. Available for 2025 are the ARN Radio and Podcasting Scholarship, CRA Regional Radio Scholarship, Equity Scholarships, supported by the Kenneth Myer Fellowship Trust, First Nations Scholarships, supported by the Kenneth Myer Fellowship Trust, the Glenn Daniel Smooth FM Scholarship, the Glenn Wheatley EON Innovation Scholarship, and the Pariya Taherzadeh Radio & Podcasting Scholarship.

For more information visit Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting.

LiSTNR, Australia’s largest sales representation podcast network^, has just welcomed one of the world’s biggest podcasts (and most famous boyfriends) to the LiSTNR audience network, with all episodes now available on LiSTNR. Travis Kelce, the star of Kansas City Chiefs and boyfriend of Taylor Swift, and his brother Jason Kelce, the former center of the Philadelphia Eagles, have signed their top-rated podcast New Heights to Wondery in a landmark deal.  LiSTNR’s exclusive sales representation partnership in Australia for all Wondery titles, allows Australian marketers to position their brands alongside one of the world’s hottest podcasts.

LiSTNR’s Australian ad-sales rights with the New Heights podcast, also includes the show’s back catalogue. With the third season kicking off in time for the new NFL season, the weekly podcast gives fans ‘next-level’ access to life in the league. The famous football brothers and Super Bowl champions provide insights and share unique perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines, plus they drop entertaining stories about their off-field interests and welcome special guests. The podcast has also found an entire new audience segment since Travis began dating Taylor Swift and started sharing news about their life.

Since LiSTNR partnered with premium podcast studio and publisher Wondery in 2022, as its exclusive Australian sales representative, the partnership has flourished. In July 2024, LiSTNR represented the sales of 59 titles in the Australian Podcast Ranker Top 200 Podcasts* (55% more than its closest competitor), which included many Wondery titles such as Morbid, MrBallen, RedHanded and British Scandal. This dominance will continue with an exciting new slate of podcasts scheduled for 2025.

LiSTNR continues to out-pace other digital audio brands in Australia with SCA’s FY24 full-year results confirming that LiSTNR achieved underlying EBITDA profitability in the fourth quarter of FY24 and a 42% increase of annual digital revenue on FY23. Furthermore, digital revenue in H2 FY24 was up 57% on H2 FY23^^.

“With more than 2 million signed-up listeners^^, sales and content partnerships with some of the world’s biggest publishers, and our advanced AdTech Hub, LiSTNR provides our clients new innovative and targeted audience capabilities, setting us apart as one of the most experienced, data-led and privacy compliant digital audio companies in Australia,” Executive Head of LiSTNR Podcasts, Grant Tothill, said.

“The best-in-class LiSTNR AdTech Hub has been a genuine game-changer for the Australian digital audio industry, business owners, marketers and media agencies, offering an irresistible audience-focused proposition with proven results,” concluded Tothill.

Weekly episodes of New Heights, and the entire back catalogue, are now available on LiSTNR.

Sources:

^Australian Podcast Ranker – Top Sales Representatives – July 2024

*Australian Podcast Ranker Top 200 Podcasts – July 2024

^^SCA FY24 Investor Presentation

About LiSTNR:

LiSTNR is a curated and personalised, free app offering radio, podcasts, music, and news, creating a new audio destination for all Australians. Featuring a fun and intuitive onboarding process, LiSTNR delivers an audio destination that is built for individual listeners’ routines and preferences. Highly personalised, it provides listeners a new world of audio entertainment, with their own daily feed of audio and easy discovery of new content through curated recommendations. Available across a large array of devices including both iOS and Android, CarPlay and Android Auto, Google Assistant and Alexa and Android TV, LiSTNR enables a fantastic listening experience, anytime and anywhere. Open your Ears to a new world of audio – download the free app today. LiSTNR.com