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Book Review Changing Stations The Story of Australian Commercial Radio
by Bridget Griffen-Foley
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Changing Stations jacket.
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Let's get straight to the point with this book. If you have even the
faintest interest in Australian radio heritage, from any angle, you
must buy this book. It's big [530 pages], it's a bold traverse of the
subject and it's worth every penny.
The author says 'material recording the development of Australian
commercial radio, held in multiple forms and formats, is scattered
across Australia and beyond' and recollects turning up to a radio
research roundtable in 2006 with a paper entitled 'Writing a history
of commercial radio in Australia: The Kiss of Death?'.
In late 2009, after using 7 research assistants, scouring icy
basements full of old documents and interviewing countless people,
Bridget has actually achieved in pulling together the strands of the
story.
The book does duty to 'The Industry' and 'The Programs' and wisely
concentrates the substance of its coverage in this latter area,
supported by some 100 pages of notes, appendices and blazing beacons
for further study.
It's a bit like going along to one of those city wide restaurant
tasting days, where you can taste the highlights of tantalizing
menus. You get a glimpse of what's possible.
For instance, 'Radio Periodicals' coverage takes up just two pages,
but we know that within those hundreds of thousands of pages of
hundreds of titles hinted at, there are so many diamonds [and rocks
and dust] to discover if we go looking further.
Is it really 'The Story' of Australian commercial radio? Yes, in the
sense that it traverses some 90 years of cultural heritage and local
politics interwoven with technology changes and the shifting mores of
popular culture.
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Broadcasting Business Year Book ad © Broadcasting Business Year Book of Australia 1939,
Radio Heritage Foundation Collection
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No, in that there can never be just 'The' story when the subject
touches millions of Australians, each with their own 'radio story'.
Many have been lost forever, others remain to be recorded.
Tackling commercial radio history and heritage is not for the faint
hearted. There's a definite snobbery within Australian academic, arts
and cultural circles against 'commercial' anything [look at how badly
commercial art fares compared to other works] and mention of the
words 'commercial radio' soon brings out the latent preferences of
many commentators for the noble use of radio a la the ABC.
In fact, the book usefully covers the early philosophical battle that
resulted in the hybrid system of broadcasting that eventually emerged
in Australia.
Of course, Australian commercial broadcasters have never helped their
own cause. With the exception of some individuals, commercial radio
has shown little inclination to preserve its heritage - which once
reflected that of its local communities - spending more time on
ratings and the money.
However, the author makes a valiant effort to augment official
records with anecdotes, memories and other 'colour' to lift the study
out of the quicksands of paper based minutae of passion draining
detail. This blend is what makes the book fascinating and riveting
reading.
The Radio Heritage Foundation warmly welcomes this genuine and
serious attempt to bring together many of the scattered resources
telling the story of Australian commercial radio.
It's the core of our own approach towards connecting popular culture,
nostalgia and Australian radio heritage and we're grateful to Bridget
for developing the subject further and so professionally in this very
entertaining book.
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