Radio National can’t stop the music

Hundreds of high-profile artists and industry professionals, including Paul Kelly,
Gurrumul, Missy Higgins, Kate Ceberano and Katie Noonan, as well as numerous
prominent members of the arts industry, have publicly endorsed a campaign to save
ABC Radio National Music.

The campaign, spearheaded by an open letter and a petition signed by over 12,000
people, calls on the ABC Board to intervene and reverse a decision to axe four iconic
music programs from Radio National in 2017. These are The Daily Planet, The Inside
Sleeve, The Live Set and The Rhythm Divine. The open letter also opposes the removal
of Jazztrack from Radio National’s schedule.

In addition, musicians around Australia are organising “busking protests” outside ABC
headquarters, in capital cities and in some regional centres, to be held over the next few
days.

Melbourne-based musician Ruth Hazleton, who initiated the campaign, said: “That our
national broadcaster should air very little music content makes no sense and it makes
even less sense that the industry and public haven’t been consulted.

“This will have dire repercussions for Australia’s independent recording and touring
artists, visiting international artists, festivals and venues, promoters and managers all
over the country.

“The proposal that Double J will adequately cater for 30+ audiences of jazz, folk,
country, adult contemporary, world and independent music won’t wash.

“As noted many times in the comments on our petition, this is a particular blow to rural,
regional and remote Australia where digital radio and some networks are not available
and where Internet coverage is poor and often expensive.”

Ms Hazleton said it would be impossible to replace the experience and knowledge of the
presenters who are being made redundant, Lucky Oceans, Paul Gough, Geoff Wood and
Alice Keath.

“These are all well-respected thought leaders who have had enormous impact on the
shape and success of our independent industries.”

In a public statement published in the campaign’s Facebook group, Katie Noonan
wrote, “I simply can not fathom how anyone would have thought this was a good idea
for the Australian people … In regional Australia these radio shows are literally the
lifeline for cultural connectivity … Having been lucky enough to tour this great big
country of ours many times, I know how absolutely vital these programs are to people’s
lives … The catastrophic effects of these cuts will be enormous on multiple levels – this
decision has simply not been thought through properly and absolutely needs to be
reversed..”

Also in a public statement, author Tim Winton wrote, “At a time when it seems every
element of home-grown culture is under siege, it’s bewildering to see Radio National
stripping music shows from its programming … RN listeners treasure eclectic
musical programming; we appreciate being treated as grown-ups. Because music
is bigger and broader than a teen demographic. So, why reduce our chances of
hearing new and interesting music? When RN is already overburdened with talk, why
unbalance things even more? This is a mistake.”

The campaign has also attracted considerable international support. In a public
statement, Irish singer-songwriter Glen Hansard wrote, “It’s important that local
music is played in the national airwaves; it’s part of the evolving of the national
spirit.

Other big names to endorse the campaign include Archie Roach AM, Tim Freedman
Shane Howard, Sarah Blasko, Megan Washington, Neil Murray, Mike Nock, Don Walker,
Lindy Morrison OAE, Andy Irvine, Gina Williams, Paul Grabowsky AO, Rob Hirst,
Deborah Conway, John Butler, Iva Davies AM, the Waifs and many, many others.
Among the music industry groups, music promoters and music festivals to add their
endorsement are Byron Bay Bluesfest, Woodford Folk Festival, Opera Queensland, Port
Fairy Folk Festival, the National Folk Festival, the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz and Blues,
the APRA/AMCOS Board and Gaynor Crawford Presents.

A longer list of prominent supporters is available on our website:
www.savernmusic.com

The open letter and petition comments are at: http://www.savernmusic.com/
Ruth Hazleton