Finally some good news for community radio initiative Amrap! The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy has officially announced that the government will provide an additional $250,000 to ensure the Australian Music Radio Airplay Project (Amrap) continues for a further six months.
The announcement came just in time, as reserves for Amrap were due to run out at the end of 2012.
“The additional funding will ensure that Australian musicians and community broadcasters can continue to access Amrap’s services, pending consideration of the project’s long term funding in the 2013-14 Budget,” Senator Conroy said.
“Amrap has successfully increased the amount of Australian music receiving airplay by working closely with Australian musicians and community broadcasters,” said Senator Conroy.
Amrap Manager, Chris Johnson believes the government’s renewed funding is a victory for thousands of musicians and community broadcasters across Australia.
“We are relieved and delighted that Senator Conroy has championed Amrap’s survival to benefit Australian musicians, broadcasters, and radio listeners. This vital funding ensures that over the next six months Amrap can keep getting great Australian music to the airwaves and we look forward to an ongoing commitment from the government so Amrap can continue well beyond this financial year”, Johnson said.
Amrap is a community radio initiative that gathers up and distributes new Australian music to community radio stations nationwide. Amrap helps get new Australian music airplay, and supports community radio broadcasters to promote new Australian music both on air and online.
Over 4.4 million Australians (that’s 25% of Aussie radio listeners) tune in to community radio every week and thanks to Amrap, there has been a 5% jump in Australian music airplay on community radio nationally to a new average of 37%. Currently over 3,000 Australian musicians and 1,500 broadcasters from 300 radio stations rely on Amrap to get new Australian music to the airwaves.
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