The recent budget release has left community radio stations like PBS and FBi out in the cold.
The unveiling of the 2013 Federal budget has left community radio reeling by the decision not to rectify a $1.4 million shortfall in government funding. Fears for community stations stem from the phasing out of analog broadcasting; lack of funding means that switching to digital may be out of reach for many beloved stations, with the new budget creating a 40% shortfall in operational costs.
Community stations PBS and FBi have already sprung into action, looking for support with some creative strategies. Melbourne's 'home of little heard music' PBS is urging listeners to Romance Your Radio during the upcoming PBS Festival from May 13-26 and they're offering prizes to people who sign up as a PBS member during this time, including a sassy red Vespa PX-150 scooter from Peter Steven Motorcycles, an Audiophile hi-fi system and a different daily prize pack to give away for each day of the festival.
FBi Radio is hosting their own series of fundraisers, All Our Friends, which features a string of mini festival-style shows that celebrate ten years on the air for the station. The fundraisers will run from June 14 – 27 and are co-curated with Future Classic and Astral People, Popfrenzy Records and Modular Recordings. The fundraisers aim to celebrate the depth and diversity that exists within Sydney's local music scene, as well as the importance of community radio to support it, and feature performances by Panama, Step-Panther, Movement, Astral Djs, Future Classic DJs and more special guests to be announced.
But why should you support them? Adrian Basso, president of the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA), highlighted recently that the issue is about more than indie music: “A quarter of Australian radio listeners turn to community radio stations every week for services that include specialist music, Indigenous media, multicultural and ethnic language programs, religious, educational and youth services, print disability reading services, and community access programs. The digital community radio services that provide this essential content are now facing a very uncertain future.”
The issue has angered many, including musicians who first got their start on community radio stations. In an open letter to the Federal Communications Minister, Senator Stephen Conroy, Melbourne musician and Grammy Award winner Gotye has spoken out in support of continued funding for the community radio stations that first gave him a helping hand.
“Australian community radio has been instrumental in my recent international success,” he wrote. “Without the support and encouragement of community stations when I started self- releasing my music in 2001 I would not have been able to develop my career. Larger capital city-based stations like RRR and FBi were instrumental, but opportunities for interviews, connection with fellow music lovers, and new musicians from diverse backgrounds through smaller community stations like KCR in Kalamunda, WA, or student radio station SYN FM in Melbourne supported me for many years as I developed my music and started finding an international audience.
“Like millions of Australians I am also a listener to community radio and I love it. We are fortunate to have one of the most diverse and vibrant community radio landscapes in the world, something that has become clearer to me since traveling the world for the last two years and tuning in to radio in many countries. I value very highly the opportunity to connect with communities and cultures not regularly represented in mainstream Australian media through this network of volunteer-based, not-for-profit organisations.”
Senator Conroy issued a statement via his spokesperson, who thanked Gotye for his letter and promised a response “in due course” while adding that, basically, community radio should find a way to fund itself, and that the problem doesn't really exist: “The primary source of funding for community broadcasting, however, has always been and should continue to be drawn from sponsorship and donations from within those communities … the facts are that there has been no cut in funding for the community digital radio sector. As part of the 2011-12 Budget the Government provided community radio with an additional $12.5 million over four years — an increase of 25 percent — to boost content and production in the sector.”
The Commit To Community Radio campaign, run by the CBAA, notes on their official website that these figures are misleading, and the section of the budget dedicated to community broadcasting only appears to show increased funding for community radio stations.
“To clarify, the budget papers included some $2.7 million in funding under the banner of community broadcasting that has little to do with community broadcasting services. These funds are to assist self-help groups and local councils upgrade equipment so they can re-transmit radio services provided on the new VAST satellite service.
“This will continue existing analog services in these areas and, as the Minister’s media release says, 'will create opportunities for these communities to access a range of new radio services, such as the ABC’s digital only radio channels: Dig, ABC Country, ABC Digital Extra, ABC Grandstand and triple J Unearthed.' As you can see, not really a strong focus on community broadcasting.”
The campaign has been running strong since the shortfall was first announced in the 2012 budget. Since its inception, the campaign has garnered overwhelming support and includes a petition that now has over 40,000 signatures, including the signatures of influential figures like Paul Kelly and Andrew Denton. You'd think this would be evidence enough that the community supports local stations and, in fact, wants community radio to survive, but the evidence so far has not been enough to gain government support.
PBS and FBi are just two stations among the 37 nation-wide that face the threat of switching off their services and community support is crucial in order for them to continue efforts to stay on the air. In his letter to Senator Conroy, Gotye further urged for the support of community radio, stating that funding of community radio is support for an intelligent Australia.
“It will ensure that millions of Australians can discover cultures and communities that are rarely represented in other media, promoting diversity and engagement between people from many different backgrounds. It will be a commitment to a vibrant, interesting and intelligent Australia.”
Community members can show their support through participation in the PBS Festival and FBi's All Our Friends fundraisers, by signing the Commit to Community Radio petition, and heeding PBS's instruction to dim the lights, scatter some rose petals, light some candles and make love to community radio.
