Laura Jean and Courtney Barnett top the community radio charts

Community radio shows a huge amount of support for Australian music, with almost 40% of music played coming from local artists. Taste-making presenters excel at giving airtime to an incredible spread of what Aussie artists have to offer. The Amrap Metro and Amrap Regional Charts provide insight into what’s getting airplay and attention on community radio each week. Here’s the lowdown on some tunes charting this week.

Laura Jean – #6 Amrap Metro & #1 Amrap Regional (pictured above)

With the release of the second single from her upcoming album Devotion, Laura Jean’s transition from seasoned folkie to synth-pop diva is now complete. ‘Girls On The TV’ is a huge tune delivered like a warm hug, nostalgic for teen times singing and dancing on front of the telly with your idols. It’s unashamed nostalgic streak has charmed community radio, hitting the #1 spot on the Amrap Regional Chart and polling this week at #6 on the Amrap Metro Chart. Totally devoted are the likes of Sydney’s FBi Radio, Queensland’s Fraser Coast Community Radio, Melbourne’s 3RRR and and Moruya’s 2EAR FM on the NSW South Coast.

Courtney Barnett – #1 Amrap Metro & #4 Amrap Regional

The most tender offering to come from her just-released Tell Me How You Really Feel album, ‘Sunday Roast’ not only shows off some sterling atmospheric guitar work but yet another side to Courtney Barnett’s trademark openness and insight – it’s a rare feat in being both immediate and introspective  Playing at a level well past her penchant for wordplay, Barnett knows how to work life’s ups and downs into song and totally take you over. ‘Sunday Roast’ is just the latest from her to get a load of love from community radio. Bellingen’s 2BBB, Perth’s 6RTR-FM and Victoria’s 979 FM are just a few stations playing it lots.

TOTTY – #7 Amrap Metro

Set to drop their debut EP Cut The Poppies this week, Wollongong three-piece TOTTY have already come right out of the blocks with ‘Uncomfortable’, casting back to the thrash n’ burn of early Superchunk and Hole to rank high in the current crop of nifty 90s revivalists. TOTTY are ranking well in the Amrap Metro Chart too, punching out of the airwaves at Hobart’s Edge Radio, Radio Adelaide and Brisbane’s 4ZZZ-FM.

 Big Orange – #8 Amrap Metro

This Perth three-piece’s ‘Goodnight Kiss Vampire Bite’ is a belter of a tune, it’s piano-driven pop ornately arranged but delivered with rock thrust. Originally the bedroom project for songwriter Daniel Davis, Big Orange come off like some of the best power-popsters such as The Posies combined with the rollicking feel and dry wit of Ben Folds. While we await the band’s new EP, ‘Goodnight Kiss Vampire Bite’ is making its mark at 6RTR-FM in their Perth hometown, Sydney’s FBi Radio and Tasmania’s Tyga FM.

Good Morning – #5 Amrap Regional

Melbourne pair Good Morning who produce casually brilliant lo-fi pop on a regular basis have made their way from hit status at metropolitan community radio stations to ruling regionals. ‘For A Little While’, the latest from their new album Prize//Reward, finds them in a kind of shabby crooner mould and oozing a curious charisma. Doing this while sounding so detached, it’s surprising they pressed the record button, but they nailed it. We’re sure the likes of WA’s H FM and South Australia’s Rox FM agree that even the mellow saxophone works.

See the full Amrap Charts at www.airit.org.au.

The Amrap Charts show the top ten tracks ordered for airplay by community broadcasters through the Amrap’s AirIt music distribution service. Amrap is an initiative of the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia which distributes new Australian music to community radio stations nationwide & empowers broadcasters to promote new Australian music on air & online.