In an article entitled ‘Calling the tune’ published in a number of Fairfax properties, including Sydney Morning Herald, Daily Life, The Age and The Vine, Fairfax Media has dissed Triple J on the internet because their Mama did not, in fact, teach them better than that. In the post Nick Clarke asks if Triple J “is leading to homogenisation in new Australian music?”
Whilst raising some interesting points that definitely should be discussed, the article was based on the opinions of “five musicians and seven other industry figures interviewed” (so, you know, a huge sample group), all of whom “expressed an opinion in line with these sentiments and all requested to remain either anonymous or off the record completely.”
Stealth Mode: Activated.
According to the article, a belief is held by some within the industry that there is a specific “sound” required to gain airplay on Triple J, which has led to a number of artists catering their music to fit into this perceived framework. In an interview with theMusic, Station Manager Chris Scaddan, said: “We’d much prefer bands to go out and find their own style. There are so many exciting new artists out there at the moment, doing their own thing and making something quite unique, it’s really exciting. We’re never looking for one particular sound, we’re looking for songs that stand out and resonate with our audience. Basically we’re looking for good music, as shown by the range of artists and styles currently played on Triple J.”
Gregg Donovan, of Wonderlick Entertainment, said in defense of the station that “All over the world artists are worried about getting their music on this station or that station, but all the good artists don’t give a shit. I believe that if you chase radio you’re not being true to yourself as an artist and by the time your music is produced, mastered and released that sound has probably moved on a little anyway and you will be too late.”
The other accusation leveled at Triple J is that you cannot speak out against the station, lest you be shut out by the JJJ Mafia.
The article interviews a “respected 26-year-old Sydney musician, who has enjoyed periods of high rotation on Triple J with both of her nationally recognised bands over the past five years” who made comments about the Triple J ‘sound’ and then had her publicist on the phone screaming: ‘What the fuck have you done, you’ll never get played on Triple J again!’. To which she replied ‘What do you mean? I didn’t even say anything bad’. Afterwards she said: “then our manager was calling up, and then [our people] made me write an apology. I mean that is fucking ridiculous. It shouldn’t be this dictatorial thing where you’re not even allowed to criticise Triple J because that’s bullshit.”
To be fair, if you were a publicist for a band, you too would be freaking out a little if a member of said band was speaking out about the only national radio station likely to pick up their music. Either the publicist was being overly cautious or had had previous run-ins with the JJJ Mafia; if only the anonymous source had been clearer. Sure, the people that work at Triple J are people, and if they hear someone smack talking their place of business they may decide to not include their songs a few times, but it would have to be a pretty considered effort, by more than one person, to block a band out completely, especially considering how much the station takes requests and deals in public voting.
It’s also worth mentioning that conspiracy theory/bullshit detectors are set to high with this coming so hot on the heels of calls within the government to cut funding for the ABC and talks of a merger between Fairfax and Macquarie Radio.
???
But really, maybe they’re right and maybe they’re wrong. I’ll just finish off by saying that ‘Triple J are a bunch of Illuminati gunts‘ and let you know if I get any voicemails, which both menace and display the finely-tuned skills of a seasoned broadcaster, throughout the night.
