What will happen if community radio funding is cut tonight?

As reported last week, a review by the Federal Government’s Auditing Commission has suggested cuts of $17.5 million to community radio.

These cuts, if announced in tonight’s budget, will have a negative impact on millions of Australians who rely on community radio as a cultural touchstone, and as a means of exposure to – and for – art, music and speciality programming that sits on the fringes. This is coupled with the job cuts that will result, and the small businesses leaning heavily on community radio that will be financially impacted.

We asked a number of industry insiders what these proposed cuts will mean for the future of the Australian community radio sector.

Patrick Donovan
CEO
Music Victoria

Music Victoria works with many community radio stations in Victoria and I can tell you they are very lean operations and virtually run on the smell of an oily rag. So I imagine that this will cripple many stations in Victoria and the good work they do. At best they would substantially shrink, which would do harm to local music and local communities, at worst, they might be at risk of closing, which would be devastating to local music culture.

Mark Smith
Executive Director
MusicNT

Community radio is a vital supporter of independent music across the country, in particular in the Northern Territory, where community radio plays a key role in supporting talent from remote and regional areas.

Any potential cuts to funding of this service would be devastating for the Australian music industry.  It’s too important to lose.

Kirsty Brown
Executive Officer
MusicNSW

MusicNSW is very concerned that Community Radio might be one of the earliest, and most complete victims of budget cuts in the announcement tonight.

The Commission of Audit has prepared us for the very real possibility that the Government may axe community radio funding in its entirety.

It strikes us, that the word “community” has somehow become a target – compared to commercial radio, who enjoy many of the benefits directed at the community sector (and often more), yet provide fewer opportunities for Australian artists to access airplay and whose presenters and playlist fall well below what could be called “diversity”, it is dismaying to think that the community arm of our broadcast capabilities would be under attack when it is such an asset to this country.

We constantly see the benefits firsthand of musicians who get community radio airplay and also the opportunities created for aspiring industry professionals – almost all of our staff have some experience in community radio.

It is a vital resource, and we hope it will be treated as such in the budget tonight.

Rob Potts
CEO and Managing Director of Rob Potts Entertainment Edge

It is terribly sad to see after all these years that government still doesn’t get the significant place community radio has in the Australian media landscape. The typical slash and burn mentality of those charged with spending tax payer money always find community radio a soft target at budget time, forcing this sector to fight for its very existence so often.

One of the very few sectors of our media that isn’t corporatised it provides vital services in times of emergencies and significant outlets for minority voices and specific community and local groups.

For the music industry it has been a huge part of the tapestry of artist development and niche music service providers catering to the less mainstream music genres. Many an Aussie music artist can trace their first appearances on the Australian airwaves back to community radio.

Still, government wants to kill it off for insignificant budget savings.

Chris Scaddan
triple j Manager

As triple j is part of the ABC, we can’t comment on potential or rumoured funding outcomes from the Federal Budget. We can however say that across Australia, we believe community radio adds unique, grass roots value to a diverse and multi-cultural media landscape. It’s a great platform for music and culture, part of the Australian broadcasting ecology and where countless triple j staff have made their start and found their voice.

The Australian Recording Industry Association

Community radio plays an integral role in making sure the Australian media landscape is culturally rich and diverse. Its role in fostering a healthy Australian music scene cannot be understated.

Many stations do an extraordinary job producing the high quality of programming with the funding currently provided, and the support of their dedicated listenership.

Stu Harvey
Co-Head Cooking Vinyl Australia 

From a label perspective, community radio is often the launch pad for our new artists. Community radio is staffed by dedicated music fans who have an insatiable appetite for new interesting music. These volunteers are passionate about sharing their discoveries with the community of fans who rely on them to offer a genuine alternative to the mainstream media.

Just recently we had amazing community radio support for both Lindi Ortega and Joshua James, two quite different artists, signed to our label, touring Australia for the very first time. Community radio interviews and airplay helped both Joshua and Lindi increase their profile and as a result enjoy successful tours and increased music sales.

As a music fan, I love that community radio aren’t slaves to ratings, shareholders or advertisers; they are free to push boundaries and conventional rules.  If an interview is interesting, the conversation can run its course and not be slowed for a station spot.

Community radio is real. We have incredible community radio in Australia and it should be supported. The thought of funding cuts is truly frightening.

Adrian Basso
President 
Community Broadcasting Association of Australia 

If the Government were to adopt this recommendation it would cripple the community broadcasting sector’s operations and development, and leave millions of Australians without access to the media content they rely on. For local communities, community broadcasting is vital. It plays a crucial role in providing a voice for communities that aren’t adequately serviced by other broadcasting sectors including Indigenous Australians, ethnic communities, the print and vision impaired, young people, seniors and Australian musicians across all genres.

The proposed cuts would damage all community radio sector projects including training, digital radio and the Australian Music Radio Airplay Project (Amrap).  CBAA’s Amrap has addressed key market failures by building critical national community radio infrastructure to promote Australian music on air and online, and helped over 4,000 Australian musicians reach the airwaves in the last four years alone. Cutting community radio funding will have major knock-on effects for Australian musicians and the Australian music sector.

Clare Holland
Managing Director
FBi Radio 94.5FM

The Coalition Government has shown a long standing commitment to funding community radio and I sincerely hope this is reflected in this evening’s budget. If the government is looking for a value for money investment, community radio is it. For a fraction of the overall budget for broadcasting, community development and the cultural sector, community radio provides an invaluable service to a weekly audience of five million people. It’s the first point of call for emerging musicians, the training ground for many of our best and brightest journalists and broadcasters, and a vital and unique voice in the media landscape.

Community stations have learned to make a little go a long way: you’d be hard pressed finding a station whose output simply reflected the resources available to it. They’re always punching above their weight. Cutting funding would severely stretch an already stretched sector, and potentially result in stations ceasing broadcasting altogether.