There are calls to privatise Triple J, the radio station most supportive of local and undiscovered talent.
Queensland Senator James McGrath believes the channel is strong enough to stand on its own two feet, represents leftist views and has demographic dominance. Triple J is vital to the Australian music scene, and privatisation could destroy everything it stands for.
The idea is simple: they want to sell our favourite source of music so money is freed up to invest in other areas. They believe Triple J is too similar to other FM stations to warrant public funding…WRONG!
Do Nova and Fox focus on unearthing new Australian music? No, they strive for popularity and play the same 20 songs over, and over and over until a song irritates you to the point of madness and you feel like creating havoc on the road.
They also have countless advertisements promoting crap we don’t care about when driving home after a long day of work. Triple J’s transition is only broken up by presenters who discuss the music they’re playing, care about the music they’re playing and ultimately LIKE the music they’re playing. Music knowledge when discussing people such as Hamish & Andy or Fifi Box is non-existent; they’re groupies of the rich and the famous.
I don’t want to hear what’s on channel 7 at 8:30 tonight, I couldn’t give less of a stuff about the new Hilux and if I wanted a cheeseburger at McDonald’s I’d already have one in my hands; there’s a sign around every corner in Melbourne. If Triple J becomes privatised it becomes less about the music and more about the money.
Favourite segments such as like-a-version, which has artists coming into the studio every Friday morning to perform originals and covers live, would be sacrificed for advertisements. Hell, even the swearing would be abolished. Mess with the style and everything will crumble.
Triple J plays over 30 percent more Australian music than the other ‘popular’ stations. We don’t have to listen to Katy Perry, Justin Beiber and Pitbull (artists with more status than talent) to enjoy local emerging acts such as Allday, The Amity Affliction, Rufus and Violent Soho.
More to the point, it is Triple J that discovers the Australian artists that Nova and Fox grab hold of the moment they become international superstars. Lorde may be from New Zealand, but if not for Triple J’s continued support would the others have bothered to give her a chance? Triple J embraced all of her music, not just Royals, and eventually everyone took notice.
Other stations don’t have the patience to try out new talent that listeners may not be aware of. They are risk free followers that bow to America and do as they are told. That isn’t the Australian way. Mainstream isn’t always the answer. We need competitions such as Triple J Unearthed to discover the next big thing, rather than cramming Beyoncé’s latest track into our ears with a forceful fist. I’d prefer a new Flume track, another find through the Unearthed system.
I tune in to Triple J because of the blend; in a daily sitting you’ll hear acts you’ve never heard of, followed by a rising star, followed by someone like Kanye or Daft Punk, followed by Lana Del Rey and The Amity Affliction. You’ll move through rock, rap, metal, pop, dance, electronica, blues, indie, trance and soul in less than an hour. An old favourite may pop up, or a new song by an artist you’ve never heard of that makes you look them up later on. Before you know it you’re at their concert, singing along word for word.
If privatised, the similarity to Nova, Fox and even Triple M will be enhanced. When money is the focus, everything else must fall in line. Triple J listeners aren’t the kind of people that accept being told what to do, especially by Senators so out of tune with music that they continue to plod along on Gold 104 and think indie is a group of naked people chanting around a fire.
We’re unique because of our diversity; don’t underestimate the importance of taking risks when it comes to discovery.
