The Hook: Will artists suffer from the dumping of digital radio local content quotas?

12 July 2010

We ask ARIA CEO Stephen Peach, CRA CEO Joan Warner and Triple J Manager Chris Scaddan about the impact of ACMA's recent 'no local quota' ruling for digital radio.

Stephen Peach, ARIA CEO (pictured left)
"It’s hard to see how the Australian Communications and Media Authority’s decision to temporarily exempt digital-only radio stations from the Australian Content Code can be anything other than bad news for Australian artists. The decision was made in the face of unanimous opposition from all sectors of the music industry. The Code resulted from a lengthy and detailed negotiation between the commercial radio industry and the music industry during the early ‘90s. Any changes should have been the subject of negotiation and agreement between those two sectors.

Sadly, that didn’t occur and we are at a loss to understand why that option wasn’t pursued. We remain unconvinced that this temporary exemption is either justified or necessary, particularly given the very limited and unconvincing reasons offered in support of it."

Joan Warner, Commercial Radio Australia CEO
"The exemption from the Australian music local content quotas for digital-only radio services enables the radio industry to develop and explore the impact of new services, formats and genres. The commercial radio industry is quite obviously committed to supporting the music of Australian artists, with initiatives such as the New Artists 2 Radio competition now in its ninth year. Ultimately the commercial radio industry wants to provide listeners with the formats and, as part of that, the music our listeners want to hear.

Given the opportunity to develop a range of new genres, digital radio may well over time lead to more Australian music being played on radio and more opportunities not only for artists but for new on-air Australian radio talent. Code 4 will be reviewed as part of a formal review held every three years."

Chris Scaddan, Triple J manager
"One of the main foundations of Triple J is to support Australian music, so we’re naturally disappointed in this decision. It’s an incredible missed opportunity to promote and be proud of Australian content and make it an essential part of any network’s digital offering. During our Ausmusic Month last November we broadcast a 100% Australian digital music channel at triplejunearthed.com. There are over 25,000 artists on that site. It’s hard to think of a time when more Australian music was available at a quality that suited radio airplay.

Young Australians love new Australian music. So where’s the motivation for them to invest in a new digital radio if they can’t get more of it? We’ll be following up with another 100% Australian digital channel this November and we’ll continue to play as much new Australian music on the main channel as we can."

What's your opinion on the issue? Is the ruling a good thing or a bad thing? Let us know your thoughts below...