ARIA boss calls for ABC to step up for triple j and Australian music
The CEO of ARIA has urged ABC to step up for its youth station, and Australian music, in a new interview with Mumbrella.
It’s been a hugely turbulent period for the public broadcaster, to say the least. In just the last few months, the ABC has been embroiled in a Federal Court lawsuit against former presenter Antoinette Lattouf, and has been hit with calls for its chief content officer, Chris Oliver-Taylor, and managing director, David Anderson, to step down.
Its youth broadcaster, triple j, has also been under the microscope. After ABC welcomed its new head of audio content, Ben Latimer, last year, triple j made the shock announcement last December that industry stalwart Richard Kingsmill was departing after 35 years – a move that has been widely slammed by media industry figures and Australian music fans, given Kingsmill’s a vital role in shaping the culture and sound of Australian music.
And if that wasn’t enough, Australian music fans have been dealt massive blows with cancellations of major festivals like Splendour in the Grass and Groovin the Moo for 2024, while Sydney’s NYE in the Park went into liquidation just this week.
Australian band Ocean Alley performing at Splendour in the Grass 2023. Pic by Charlie Hardy
Appearing on a new episode of Mumbrella’s one-on-one podcast series, ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd said given what triple j has endured in recent months, it needs ABC’s help.
“Triple j is incredibly important, particularly for independent artists in Australia, and they have been amazing. They’ve created so many careers,” Herd said.
“They are struggling, I think, with falling audiences at the moment, and, you know, new management over there. I’m interested to see how they adjust.
“I also think the ABC has a really important role, given it’s a public broadcaster, in supporting local content, and that includes not just screen content, but music content.”
Annabelle Herd
Herd said ABC should use UK’s BBC as a reference point, given BBC Radio supports their “massive mainstream pop acts” and TV features music shows like Later with Jools Holland.
“We don’t really have any music television shows at the moment,” Herd said.
“There have been a couple. The ABC’s got Take Five, which is great. I think they definitely have a role in supporting Australian music and I would love to talk to them more about building that role up a bit more.”
Listen to the full podcast with Herd here.
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Neil Griffiths is the editor of Mumbrella. He joined the company in October 2023.
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TrioleJ is noticeably rubbish since Richard’s departure. This article is timely with the alternative youth Australian station announcing Rhiannon’s new album is the feature album.
What bloody rubbish is this. Classic new gen pop guru at the helm wanting a new audience base?
No way man. Get back with the program. Bring back the old school legends who know how to beat the drum properly and get Aussie music back in the spot light. Not the rubbish they’ve been playing for the last year. Oh and more music less talking please. We don’t care about your date or dinner or opinion. We listen for the music.
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