Amrap creates spoof 'radio station' to protest ACMA decision

12 July 2010

by Christie Eliezer

Amrap (the Australian Music Radio Airplay Project) today launched a satirical online 'radio station' Midnight Gaga Radio to protest the Australian Communications and Media Authority's recent ruling that digital radio station are exempt from local content quotas.

The spoof station is actually a stream on loop on the Australian Music Blog Amrap Discovered (amrap.org/blog) that plays a mash-up of Midnight Oil’s Beds Are Burning and Lady Gaga's Poker Face.

It’s a direct reference to Austereo’s Main Stage digital radio station that has run temporary stations dedicated to one artist including Lady Gaga (Radio Gaga), Pink (Pink Radio) and AC/DC (High Voltage Radio).

Amrap’s manager Chris Johnson said: “Do ACMA and CRA seriously believe that devoting a radio station to advertise a single American pop star is a legitimate and innovative use of Australia‟s radio spectrum? If so, Midnight Gaga Radio might just be a winner. In the meantime, AMRAP will continue its important work of promoting radio airplay for Australian musicians around the country.”

The Community Broadcasting Association of Australia's (CBAA)’s outgoing General Manager Michele Bawden added, "As metro community broadcasting stations move towards digital broadcasting in the second half of 2010, our sector will proudly maintain our commitment to Australian music quotas. We will continue to be the instigator of innovation and experimentation for Australian broadcasting into the digital era."

On July 2, ACMA registered an exemption in the Commercial Radio Codes of Practice, which means minimum quotas for locally-sourced music won't apply to digital-only stations. Australia’s music community was unanimously opposed to changes made to the quota system, a proposal for which was floated by Commercial Radio Australia (CRA) by way of an advertisement in the Australian newspaper earlier this year.

Check out The Hook feature where we debate the issue

The CRA reckoned it had a case when the government waved local content quotas for new digital-only TV channels until 2013, when the digital TV switchover occurs. Exempting new digital-only radio services would also “encourage diversity,” explained CRA CEO Joan Warner.