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===Foundation and early years=== ===Foundation and early years===
2JJ commenced broadcasting on the ] ] in ]. The AM-band precursor to Triple J broadcast only to the greater Sydney region, and its local reception was hampered by inadequate transmitter facilities. It was later relayed to other stations in the ABC network after midnight, when their regular programming ceased, but it could also be heard in outlying areas of coastal ] after dark, thanks to the "ionospheric skip" effect. 2JJ commenced broadcasting on the ] ] in ]. The AM-band precursor to Triple J broadcast only to the greater Sydney region, and its local reception was hampered by inadequate transmitter facilities. It was later relayed to other stations in the ABC network after midnight, when their regular programming ceased, but it could also be heard in outlying areas of coastal ] after dark, thanks to the "ionospheric skip" effect.


Double Jay was initially intended as the first link in a new national "youth network", this expansion was long delayed by the electoral defeat of the ] Labor government at the end of 1975 and by budget cuts inposed by the incoming Liberal government led by ]. The station was largely restricted to the ] area and the AM band for the next five years, although its influence gradually spread after it began to be relayed after midnight to other stations in the existing ABC network. Double Jay was initially intended as the first link in a new national "youth network", this expansion was long delayed by the electoral defeat of the ] Labor government at the end of 1975 and by budget cuts inposed by the incoming Liberal government led by ]. The station was largely restricted to the ] area and the AM band for the next five years, although its influence gradually spread after it began to be relayed after midnight to other stations in the existing ABC network.

Revision as of 13:38, 24 July 2004

Triple J (JJJ) is a nationally-networked, government-funded Australian radio station (a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation), aimed mainly at youth (defined as those between 12 and 25). Triple J originally commenced operation in Sydney as 2JJ or Double Jay.

Station history

Foundation and early years

2JJ commenced broadcasting on the 19 January 1975 in Sydney. The AM-band precursor to Triple J broadcast only to the greater Sydney region, and its local reception was hampered by inadequate transmitter facilities. It was later relayed to other stations in the ABC network after midnight, when their regular programming ceased, but it could also be heard in outlying areas of coastal New South Wales after dark, thanks to the "ionospheric skip" effect.

Double Jay was initially intended as the first link in a new national "youth network", this expansion was long delayed by the electoral defeat of the Gough Whitlam Labor government at the end of 1975 and by budget cuts inposed by the incoming Liberal government led by Malcolm Fraser. The station was largely restricted to the Sydney area and the AM band for the next five years, although its influence gradually spread after it began to be relayed after midnight to other stations in the existing ABC network.

Universally known as "Double Jay", 2JJ was often embroiled in controversy, which began with the choice of the first song played on air on the first broadcast day -- "You Just Like Me Cos I'm Good In Bed' by Skyhooks, one of six tracks from their debut LP which had been banned by Australian commercial radio stations. The establishment of Double Jay marked an historic change in Australian radio -- it was Australia's first non-commercial 24-hour rock music station, one of the first rock stations in the world to hire female disc jockeys and it was granted the first new radio licence issued in any Australian capital city since 1932.

1980s: from 2JJJ to going national

On 1 August 1980 2JJ moved to an FM frequency and becomes 2JJJ, or Triple J and by 1988 leading commercial radio manager and program director Barry Chapman (ex-2SM Sydney) was appointed as general manager to oversee Triple J's network expansion. It was not until the late 1980s that the ABC was finally able to begin to development of the long-delayed national "youth network" and in 1989 JJJ expanded nationally to Melbourne, Hobart, Adelaide, Perth, Darwin, Brisbane, Newcastle and Canberra

1990s: regional expansion

Throughout the 1990s, Triple J commenced expansion to more regional areas of Australia. In 1994 it was extended to another 18 regional centres throughout the country. In 1996, the total was brought to 44, with the new additions including Launceston (Tas), Albany (WA), Bathurst (NSW) and Mackay (Qld).

In May 2003, Arnold Frolows, the only remaining link with the original Double Jay staff of 1975, stepped down after an extraordinary 28 years as Triple J music director.

Programming

Its programming policies were in many ways a radical departure from the narrow, formats and restrictive playlists then in place in commercial rock stations. Influenced by British pirate radio and the American Album Oriented Rock (AOR) format, Double Jay featured unprecedented levels of Australian content, played long album cuts and many tracks banned by other stations, championed many styles of local and overseas music that were being exluded from commercial pop playlists (including reggae, punk rock, electronic and New Wave music), and it mixed its recorded music programming with an innovative blend of regular weekly live-to-air studio concert broadcasts, original comedy sketches and serials, groundbreaking audio documentaries and radiophonic works and hilarious "anti-ads" which parodied its commercial competitors.

As well as general pop music broadcasts (with a bias towards new music, Australian performers, and against bubblegum pop), it has nightly specialist programs in different musical genres (see the programmes section below). It also covers news and current affairs from a youth-oriented perspective. The broadcaster retains somewhat of an anarchistic air, with presenters allowed to choose the music they play, and few restrictions on music lyrics or topics discussed on programs.

Specialty music genres

Triple J programming schedule includes some shows featuring many specialty genres:

  • Hip Hop Show (hip-hop and rap)
  • Groove Train (electronic and trance)
  • Full Metal Racket (heavy metal - formerly 3 Hours of Power)
  • Short Fast Loud (punk)
  • The Sound Lab (experimental)
  • Roots N All (roots and blues)

J-Files

The weekly J-Files show has had two incarnations over the years. From 1996 to 2003, it was a three hour late weeknight show hosted by Richard Kingsmill. Each show would be topical; it may feature an artist, a particular year in the past, or songs with a certain theme. Examples of themed shows include #9 songs (which was the theme on 9th September 1999's show), Cats & Dogs, New Zealand bands, or banned songs.

Today, the J-Files is a one hour Saturday afternoon show, hosted by various Triple J presenters. Generally it is pre-recorded, and only artists are featured.

Home and Hosed

Up until 2002, the Australian Music Show was Triple J's all-Australian music segment, broadcast as a three hour late weeknight show (10pm to 1am) and hosted by Richard Kingsmill. Starting in 2003, the format changed to a two-hour show every weeknight (9pm to 11pm, shorting Super Request and the late night specialty shows by an hour each) and Robbie Buck became the presenter. It proved to be one of Triple J's most popular changes, as the audience (and the station itself) has traditionally been very supportive of local talent and unsigned bands.

Hack

Hack is Triple J's half-hour news and current affairs show, broadcast from 5.30pm weeknights. It is hosted by former Morning Show (Triple J's current affairs outlet in the past) host and reporter Steve Cannane. It was a brave move to make such an unusual change to the program schedule, particular due to the controversial topics discussed on the show, which are typically against globalisation, human rights abuse, commercial media, and, daringly, the source of Triple J's funds - the current conservative Australian government.

Events

Hottest 100

The Triple J Hottest 100 is an annual poll of the most popular songs amongst its listeners. It has been conducted for almost a decade in its present form, and attracts nearly 200,000 votes - one of the biggest music polls in the world.

Unearthed

Triple J Unearthed began in 1995. It is a project to find hidden talent, original focusing on regional areas but now in all areas of Australia. Notable success stories include Grinspoon and Killing Heidi.

Beat the Drum

Triple J occasionally runs a competition known as 'Beat the Drum' - named for their logo of three drumsticks hitting a drum. It is competition designed to promote the logo whereby whoever displayed it in the most prominent place would win a prize. This culminated in the new logo being displayed behind the presentation of a gold medal to an Australia swimmer at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996, and one of the opening ceromony participants wearing a T-shirt bearing the logo at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

Presenters

Current presenters

Past presenters (since 1999)

Past presenters (pre 1999)

Presenters (before 1990)

See also

External links

  • Triple J - includes live audio streaming of the station's broadcast, as well as archives of recent editions of shows.
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