The playlists of Triple J are a constant source of controversy, and tempers can run high. Earlier this year a number of high profile musicians openly criticised the popular station which was accused of not meeting their intended charter.
Despite the ongoing debate, it’s unusual for another radio station to throw in their two cents to the debate. But that hasn’t stopped rock radio network Triple M from launching an extraordinary broadside against our national youth broadcaster.
Speaking to launch a new digital radio station called Triple M Modern Rock Digital in Adelaide and Perth this weekend, head of the Triple M Network Mike Fitzpatrick accused Triple J of being “elitist” and focusing on music that is “on trend right now” at the expense of songs that are great but not “cool”.
“Cut Triple M open and we bleed rock music. It’s a beautiful, ever-evolving art form created by the hands of musical craftsmen and women,” Fitzpatrick said. “The evolution of rock is such that we’ve built a place where the new sounds and varied styles of the genre can live.”
“Unlike our Taxpayer-funded ‘youth network’, Triple M Modern Rock Digital isn’t elitist. We don’t care about ‘cool’ music or ‘on trend right now’ styles. If it’s a great song, we’ll play it.”
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“Whether it’s created in a garage by four blokes on instruments or a woman with an acoustic sitting on a bed, Triple M Modern Rock is their new home on Digital Radio.”
The new digital radio station will play the best modern rock from the 2000s to now, featuring the world’s new generation of rock acts such as The Black Keys, the Arctic Monkeys, Alt-J and Linkin Park. It will also champion Australia’s current wave of rock acts such Kingswood, Boy & Bear and John Butler Trio.
The move signals the continued growth and diversification of the Triple M brand across Australia; strengthening its position as the country’s number one network for men while it continues to carve out a niche for itself as the home of rock n roll nationwide.
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Fitzpatrick’s comments echo similar sentiments from a number of high profile Australian musicians earlier this year, including End Of Fashion frontman Jason Burford who claimed the station killed his career, and Whitley’s similar social media slam of Triple J as failing as a “tax-payer funded radio station,” as well as the burgeoning ‘make or break’ influence that Triple J has on Aussie bands.
“The station and Kingsmill himself have positioned themselves as taste makers. Thereby a very small group of people will preside over whether an Aussie act will have a chance or not,” writes Burford.
Burford’s comments potentially re-stoke the public debate that was sparked ahead of this year’s Hottest 100 countdown, putting scrutiny on Triple J following a Fairfax article that investigated claims that bands were altering their sound to secure airplay.
In response, Triple J Station Manager Chris Scaddan refuted claims that the station held a particular bias towards particular kinds of music or ‘Triple J sound’, or that artists needed to curry favour with the station to gain support.
The discussion intensified as music figures from all corners began weighing in on the topic, including attacks against Triple J (from Whitley and a scathing opinion piece from Cherry Bar’s James Young) and those in defence of the station, such as Oliver Tank saying “people just need to relax” or Helen Razer’s enlightening piece for Crikey criticised the idea of a commodified ‘Triple J sound’, arguing that – if anything – the station’s eclectic play-listing is too diverse.
An issue that most artists have skirted around in their criticism of the station however hasn’t addressed a central factor that has nothing to do with their music’s radio appeal: it’s quality. Or as Triple J’s Scaddan put it (in nicer terms) “basically we’re looking for good music.”
