Project Stages

Stage One - Data Collection

Specific music related questions have been added to both the CBAA Listener Survey  to  ascertain community music radio's value to listeners and  the impact it has on listener's engagement with Australian music and their local music scene. Question were also added to the Amrap User Survey to understand the role played by Amrap in promoting the discoverability of local artists.  Playlist data from a range of stations is also being analysed to determine the rate at which Australian musicians receive airplay on community radio

Stage Two - Case Study Stations

In total, 10 community radio stations across the country are being visited  for the project. The selection of case studies have prioritised a diversity of music genres, audiences and locations. To date, five station case studies have been completed (FBi Sydney, Fresh FM Adelaide, RRR Melbourne, Rhema FM Newcastle and Edge Tasmania), with another five (RTR Perth; 8CCC Alice Springs; 3KND Bundoora; 4EB Brisbane; Triple A Brisbane) to be completed this year. At each station, interviews are being conducted with key personnel including station managers,  music and program coordinators, and volunteer broadcasters.  In addition, focus groups are being conducted with listeners of each station.  Data matrices outlining operational, staffing, programming, membership and finances are also being completed by each station for the purposes of economic mapping. The project also seeks to map connections between each case study station and its local music ecosystem by  tracing stations' sponsorship relationships to local music venues and events.  A series of maps will be produced to provide a visual representation of the interconnectedness between stations and their local music scenes.

Stage Three - Artist Case Studies

Interviews will be conducted with a selection of 6 musicians from diverse genres and varying career stages to discuss the impact of community radio on their career progression and pathways. A series of podcasts will be produces to showcase findings from interviews.

Stage Four - Mapping Economic and Sociocultural Contribution

This stage of the project will estimate cost vs benefit ratios associated with community radio station activities that are related to Australian music. Our focus is on valuing the economic and socio-cultural value of stations’ music activities, and we will make use of SROI (Social Return on Investment) methodology, as well as standard accounting procedures.  This involves tracing inputs that stations receive such as volunteer labour, into activities of the station such as a live to air broadcast, and assessing the outcomes and impacts that result from the station's activities.