For 122 years, radio has been, more or less, king when it comes to discovering new talent and sharing it with the world. In the brave, new world of streaming is that still the case or is radio about to be dethroned?
Face The Music's Planet Radio: 122 Years Its Invention, Radio Still Rules Supreme brought together some of the world's finest radio talent to discuss the changing face (Ears? Voice?) of radio in the digital age, including Double J's Jacinta Parsons, triple j's Nick Findlay, KEXP Seattle's Cheryl Waters, NZ On Air's David Ridler and FBI Radio's Amelia Jenner.
Here's our favourite points:
"I haven’t seen the influx and the quality of Australian music that I have seen in 2017." — Nick Findlay on programming Aussie music after 10 years.
"I think in the past couple of years the power has moved back onto the artist." — NF on why there's been a substantial growth in Aussie music this year.
"I think about my audience as a whole no matter where they’re listening" — Cheryl Walters on whether she programs her show based on KEXP's growing international fan base.
"I don’t really even think of us as a radio station. I think of us as curators and content creators." — Nick Finlay.
"Radio will always have that personal touch over an online platform." — NF, comparing radio to steaming services.
"We can also react to things happening around the world in real time that streaming services can't." — Cheryl Walters
"If people want to listen on an app and you don't have app, you're not going to stay relevant" — CW
"I think both of them are part of a healthy music diet." — David Ridler on the importance of both radio and streaming.
"It's a really good place for people to learn." - Amelia Jenner on the importance of learning through community radio.
"Having that fresh blood of people moving through the station all the time is invaluable to us." - AJ on why everyone benefits from the learning experience.
"We all put in as much as we can to make it happen." — Nick Finlay on working within budget constraints.
"We're challenged in how to bring that content to our audience without over saturating them." - Cheryl Walters on developing additional forms of content for their listeners.
"The first thing everyone said was 'how goods like a version?'" — Nick Finlay on triple j's Like A Version's popularity in other markets.
"Turning people onto that new music is very, very important to us." — Cheryl Walters.
"When an artist does that, they're not being true to themselves." — Nick Finlay on people creating tracks to suit the "triple j sound", something he doesn't believe exists.
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