Music Policy

Background

Community broadcasters are renowned for supporting new, local, independent and particularly Australian music. Many musicians have had their fair airplay and interviews on our stations. We are in a unique position to play and engage with a broad range of musical styles. Our support of the music industry and diverse music played is one of the key reasons people listen to community radio.

The 2008 McNair Audience Research Survey shows that two key reasons people listen to community radio stations are:

1. They play Australian music and support local artists
2. Specialist music or information programs

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that Hawkesbury radio:

• continues to play a diverse range of music throughout all of our programming and to comply with the station’s general interest broadcast license
• supports local musicians
• complies with the 25% Australian music requirement of the Codes by aiming for 30% Australian music across all general programming. This allows for specialist programs (music and/or talk based) which may not be able to meet the 25% quota (see paragraph 2 under Policy below).

Policy

1. Presenters are encouraged to provide a wide range of musical styles while taking into account the station’s aims and objectives, the individual program’s aims and objectives and the station’s primary activities
2. All programs will endeavor to ensure that of the total music played throughout a program, at least 30% of this is Australian unless:
   1. The programs aim is to focus on music or culture other than Australian
   2. The musical style of a program is of a nature that does not have a high instance of Australian recordings
   3. In the cases of 2.a and 2.b, prior approval must be given by the programming committee for a program to qualify for these exemptions
   4. All Australian recordings that are the property of the station will be visibly identified as Australian
   5. All presenters may be required to complete and hand in a music log sheet after their programme as and when requested by the programme committee.
   6. An audit of Australian music content will be conducted from time to time as the station requires, to meet its obligations under the various regulations.
   7. Presenters are encouraged, within the confines of the sponsorship framework, to promote events where local musicians are featured.
   8. Presenters must not make representations to record companies or other music suppliers on behalf of Hawkesbury Radio or their programme unless prior consent has been given by the board or programme committee.
3. Hawkesbury Radio will not accept any form of payment in cash or in kind in return for providing airplay or promotion of music, except under standard sponsorship arrangements.