The Republic of Amrap unveils video explaining departure from CBAA

The revelation that Amrap had exited the offices of the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA) sent shockwaves through the industry on Tuesday, and now the newly established Republic of Amrap have shared a new video explaining why they defected.

Amrap’s Chris Johnsonrevealed yesterday that as a result of a restructuring of Amrap by its managing body the CBAA, performing the duties of the organisation had become “untenable”.

In the new video, Johnson uses jelly beans to explain how CBAA’s new restructure will take vital resources and funding away from Amrap, and puts the call out for support to help remove Amrap from the CBAA.

“The CBAA’s restructure goes against years of advice from Amrap’s dedicated advisory committee, the Amrap team, informed community broadcasters, and music industry experts.”

He says the restructure means that Amrap’s funding and resources are now shared with the CBAA.

“That may be good for them, but that’s bad news for Australian artists, and broadcasters that support Australian music.”

The restructure is the latest in a series of issues stemming from the Community Broadcasing Foundation’s (CBF) removal of an independent Amrap advisory and finance committee.

The result of its removal is that there will “no longer [be] music sector input, or independent financial oversight for Amrap,” and that the CBF continues to award the Amrap management contract to the CBAA “without tender or competition.”

“Today – the CBAA takes almost double the fee to manage Amrap. And triple the shared costs,” explains Johnson.

In addition, the restucture will see Amrap’s six dedicated staff working across three CBAA departments, with Amrap’s dedicated staff positions reduced to two, who will work on “Australian music products.”

The Republic of Amrap are therefore proposing that the CBF establishes an independent governance body for Amrap – made up of music sector and community radio experts, and elected representatives.

This will mean that Amrap’s funding and resources won’t be diluted through the CBAA in any way.

The CBAA respondedto yesterday’s revelation that the Republic of Amrap was establishing itself as a new, independent version of Amrap.

“The information shared publicly by Chris Johnson refers to a draft future proposed model made available to all staff in late 2017 as part of ongoing consultation.

“This has been led by an independent facilitator and all staff have been provided ongoing opportunities in individual, group and all staff meetings, as well as in writing, to provide input on the CBAA’s future structure, and such opportunities are continuing.

“It has been proposed that a CBAA-led Amrap advisory committee would include members of the music industry and provide a platform for regular and meaningful discussion and input into the project’s aims and future directions.

“This model has proved successful with the CBAA’s Community Radio Network.”

Watch the Republic of Amrap’s jelly bean below:

The CBAA’s restructure is well beyond draft form. It commenced rollout in December 2017, and is due for completion by June 2018.

It ignored recommendations provided by the Amrap team during the single 50 minute group meeting that they were allocated throughout the consultation process.

The position to maintain Amrap’s proven effective self-contained structure was continually reiterated by Amrap’s dedicated advisory committee of music and community radio sector experts.

They governed Amrap for over 17 years until they were disbanded by the Community Broadcasting Foundation in late 2016.Less than a year later, the CBAA has advanced a restructure that ignored their advice, the advice given by other stakeholders at the 2016 Amrap Think Tank, and the common-sense approach that all Amrap resources and funds must be used for their funded purpose of supporting Australian music through community radio.