Australian Music ROCKS

We’ve recently been celebrating the broadcast of the 100 most radio-active songs across the Atomic radio network this year. From Coonamble to Geelong, we broadcast an epic torrent of Australian music for 52 weeks in the year. At this time however there has been a timid pause amongst the music community. Where will Australian music go from here? For many of us in the front row seats, we simply don’t want music to return to just the way it was.

Off the back of a euphoric return to bars and clubs, independent Australian music has played a startling presence at the centre stage of the recovery of live events. In the first strides off the starting line, independent musicians have been significantly outpacing their pre-Covid pulling power. There are other reasons why we think that post-Covid shows should thrive more so than before.

At this time, after a lengthy lockdown period, the people want to get out and celebrate with their friends. However, in tight economic times like these ones, independent live shows can often be experienced for a fraction of the cost of attending a mainstream artist concert, leveraging label and marketing power. Until festivals return (and they will not return nearly as swiftly as independent musicians can string together socially distanced and safe pub shows), the choice is simple. Right now independent musicians can fulfil pressing social and economic needs.

When it comes to socialising, why not prefer that a cosy community-orientated vibe with independent artists ripping-up the show playing to a crowd of locals? It’s a better vibe altogether.

So, where do we see ourselves heading after our November broadcast of one hundred successful songs? Simple, we see ourselves supporting and reporting on a massive recovery of independent music in regional and rural Australia. We’ll be pushing for sustained independent regional and rural artists to front this recovery all the way.