Pilerats, Stoney Roads, Howl & Echoes, Cool Accidents, InTheMix.

These are just a few of the blogs & websites no longer operating & sharing their voice in the dwindling landscape of Australian music journalism.

In this episode, we dive into the shrinking media landscape, and its impacts on the music industry more broadly, as well as right here at home.

What does this mean for musicians, labels, festivals, artists, and journalists themselves? We’re chatting with some of the country & the world’s foremost experts, including:

• Andrew Cotman (Co-Founder/Director, Stoney Roads)

• Arun Ramanathan - (Managing Director, Mixmag Asia)

• Cyclone Wehner (Journalist)

• Melody Forghani (Founder - twnty three)

• Julie Fenwick (Music and Culture Journalist)

• Shivani Sharma (City Manager Sydney, Resident Advisor + Community Engagement Manager, EMC)

• Hosted by Jack Colquhoun (Managing Editor, Mixmag ANZ)

From the power of individual creators to the expectation being placed on musicians to act as their own PR team, this conversation provides a look into exactly what the music industry needs from media, and what it’s likely to get moving forward.

This episode was produced in partnership with TAFE NSW by Gig Hope and Iain Wilson.

Additional thanks to Krystel Diola for her contributions to this series.

Bluesfest, Groovin The Moo, Pitch Music & Arts, Splendour In The Grass, who’s next? 2024 has been one of the most brutal years on record for music festivals, & Summer is fast approaching.

Depending on who you ask, everyone has a different take on why our most beloved festivals are failing. From curation to insurance, police pressure to climate change, & let’s not forget the cost of living, there’s no shortage of challenges for our local festival industry.

So, what’s next? What could this mean for Australia’s music industry, its culture, & the future of festivals overall? This episode sees us delve into the evolving landscape of the festival circuit & speaking with a variety of experts, including;

• Cate Faehrmann, MLC (She/Her - Greens MP, Member of the NSW Legislative Council).
• Erik Lamir (He/Him - Director Rabbits Eats Lettuce Festival)
• Mitch Wilson (They/Them - Managing Director, Australian Festival Association)
• Talia Jimenez (She/Her - Artist, Radio Host, Promoter)
• Tara Medina (She/Her - Co Founder, Strawberry Fields)
• Hosted by Jack Colquhoun (He/Him - Managing Editor, Mixmag ANZ)

From highlighting thriving festivals amidst change and economic instability to exploring factors that attract and retain audiences, this episode discusses the challenges being faced by festivals today, and what future solutions may be.

This episode was produced in partnership with TAFE NSW by Jac Hope and Iain Wilson.

Additional thanks to Krystel Diola for her contributions to this series.