Music television programming in Australia has had a relatively vibrant history when looking back over the years. Countdown, Video Hits, Rockwiz, Spicks & Specks and Rage are all deeply woven into the musical culture of Australians and some are former institutions that music lovers could rely on for decent music coverage.
That’s not so much the case these days unfortunately, with three of the aforementioned programs ceasing to exist and little to no substitute being provided by television networks. Now, as reported by Radio Info, Sydney’s radio station 2Day FM is attempting to remedy the problem by introducing a televised version of their show The Bump onto weekend TV.
In the spirit of television programs before it, The Bump will attempt to revive the music show tradition by airing weekly on Saturday mornings from 10am for a whopping three hours of music.
Aiming to fill the music TV void, the new show will air the “biggest and best bumps of the week” with the intent of providing another platform for the public to experience music on air. Though details are still fairly thin on the program, it’s assumed that considering the nature of the related radio show, The Bump will feature a ‘countdown’ or ‘top 10 of the week’ style of video clip programming.
Backed by radio giants Southern Cross Austereo, who recently entered into the streaming music market with their very own, major label-backed service Songl, the new show will incorporate aspects of the sister radio program, including maintaining social media coverage with its audience throughout the show and over the weekend. (Presumably via Facebook and Twitter call-outs, #thebump anyone?) The Bump will attempt to revive the music show tradition by airing weekly on Saturday mornings from 10am for a whopping three hours of music.
Though not confirmed, it can be asssumed that the same presenter who runs the radio show, Angus O’Loughlin – former Adelaide SAFM breakfast host and self described “loud, bad dressing, mummy’s boy” – will feature as the TV show’s host. Due to the considerably scarce information circulating about the TV show, it remains to be seen whether The Bump will feature any form of live music performance in its programming.
A live performance component for The Bump would introduce a new avenue for televised artist performances, and would seemingly be more than welcomed by local viewers keen on watching their favourite acts play live on TV.
As Tone Deaf covered in an opinion piece on the matter last year, foreign television programs that frequently feature live performances, such as Saturday Night Live, Later With Jools Holland and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, are hugely popular amongst Australian audiences and constantly linked back to local viewers. Not surprising seeing as there’s no local equivalent to the late-night TV culture of live performances; not including the occasional daily breakfast show slots. So few are the opportunities available to Australian artists for television performances that most grab whatever chance available, no matter how musically irrelevant the program may be.
So few are the opportunities available to Australian artists for television performances that most grab whatever chance available, no matter how musically irrelevant the program may be.
Last year Kate Miller-Heidke appeared on Q & A and despite providing a less-than-inspired panel appearance on the current affairs show, took up the opportunity because it involved her being able to perform live at the end of the show. “Opportunities to play songs on TV in Australia are scarce. It’s pretty much morning television or Gordon St Tonight (which has finished for the year). Or Q and A,” the songstress wrote in response to critics of her appearance last year.
With Australia being home to such a vibrant and internationally recognised music culture, it’s hard to believe that the only televised exposure for the local music industry comes via tasteless talent shows and ‘of the moment’ cover bands appearing on seemingly pointless awards shows (like The Logies).
Instead of force feeding Australian viewers overrated clips from overseas ‘top 40’ artists, media outlets need to consider the demand for a more localised output of quality releases and performances.
Whether it’s a strictly Video Hits-style music clip show or a program that aims to be something more by incorporating live performance as well, the introduction of The Bump can only mean good things for music on Australian TV.
Here’s hoping that subsequent local media organisations will begin to stand up and take notice of the fact that Australia’s music scene deserves the opportunity for more avenues of exposure and seek to reinvigorate the once strong institution that was the Australian music-television show.
