4ZZZ (pronounced "Four Triple Zed" or simply "Triple Zed") is an independent community radio station operating in Brisbane, Australia at the frequency 102.1 FM. As a community radio station, 4ZZZ is a member of the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA). The station broadcasts to much of South East Queensland, parts of northern New South Wales and web streams from its website.

4ZZZ
Broadcast areaBrisbane RA1 ([1])
Frequency102.1 MHz FM (also on DAB+)
Programming
Language(s)English
FormatCommunity radio
Ownership
OwnerCreative Broadcasters Ltd
History
First air date
4 March 1975 (1975-03-04)[1]
Technical information
ERP12,000 watts
HAAT233 m[2]
Transmitter coordinates
27°27′47″S 152°56′49″E / 27.46306°S 152.94694°E / -27.46306; 152.94694
Links
Websitewww.4zzz.org.au

History

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In the 1970s, activists in Queensland were pivotal in establishing Australian community radio amidst a conservative political climate. Australia's first community station, 4ZZZ, launched on December 8, 1975, in Brisbane, aimed to provide a radical alternative to mainstream news, promote community engagement and activism, and support Australian music.[3] The station was the first FM community broadcaster in Brisbane transmitting in stereo.[3][4] This model inspired other stations across the state. Today, there are 70 community radio stations in Queensland, including Indigenous services. Despite the significant contributions of women, trans, and non-binary individuals, their roles have often been overlooked.[5]

The station's first studios were constructed by announcing staff and volunteers, using second-hand building materials and furniture. The first transmitter was hand built by the station engineer Ross Dannecker with help from Dave Aberdeen. Founders included activist, Jim Beatson, journalist Marian Wilkinson, Arts Administrator, John Stanwell and academic Alan Knight. Announcer John Woods launched the station with The Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again" at Midday 8 December 1975 (a month after The Dismissal). Along with 2JJJ and 3RRR, 4ZZZ has been a major promoter of independent and alternative music providing exposure for many Australian and international artists. Through the late 1970s and early 1980s the station also produced many groundbreaking and award-winning features and documentaries.

On 30 November 1978, the transmitter moved from the University of Queensland student union building to Mount Coot-tha when the station was granted a full licence. At this time, the frequency changed from 105.7 MHz to 102.1 Mhz.[6]

4ZZZ pushed the boundaries by broadcasting illegal obscenities. In 1981 an organisation called "The Society to Outlaw Pornography" reported them to the Australian Broadcasting Authority. 4ZZZ successfully defended themselves, leading to changes which make it legal to swear on Australian TV and radio under certain circumstances.[7][8]

On 14 December 1988, as part of a conservative backlash to the ousting of Queensland Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen, 4ZZZ was taken off air and forcibly evicted from its University of Queensland premises by the then UQ Union ALSF and Young Nationals student union executive. While university students rallied to support the station, 4ZZZ moved to alternative premises on Coronation Drive in the suburb of Toowong. In 1994 the station was able to obtain a loan to buy the former headquarters of the Communist Party of Australia. 4ZZZ still broadcasts from these premises on Barry Parade in Fortitude Valley.

Station philosophy and funding

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The motto for the station is agitate, educate, organise. (The saying dates from New York in the early 1880s.)[9] They aim to "Provide a voice for marginalised communities" -[10]

4ZZZ aims to challenge the mainstream media by providing access for the community to radio, by supporting local bands, artists and events, by providing training for station volunteers, and by disseminating alternative news and current affairs.[3]

All fundraising is run by the station. The main sources of income are subscriptions, sponsorship, promotions and 4ZZZ events. 4ZZZ collaborates with local businesses, gig promoters, etc. to provide incentives such as discounts for subscribers.

The station's volunteers have won many awards including Community Broadcasting Association of Australia awards and national media awards.

In 2015 4ZZZ won the Tony Staley Award for excellence in community broadcasting for its efforts to include more people with a disability via the Ability Radio Project and appointed the first Station Advocate for People with a Disability in 2017.[11]

Programming

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As a community radio station, 4ZZZ broadcasts a wide variety of music, information and news. Presenters do not have to follow a playlist. Announcers personally choose the on-air musical content, or station subscribers request tracks. Unlike other radio stations, there is no music or program director. There are coordinators for those departments, however the ultimate decision rests with the program makers who must abide by the station policy.

The station has set minimum quotas for music content since the 1980's with the original floor quotas set for female & Non-binary, Australian and New Zealand, Brisbane and South-East Queensland Artists. 4ZZZ also sets a target for New music (defined as any new song published in the last 4 months)

The quotas and targets have changed over the course of the station's history, with New Zealand quotas being dropped, and Quotas for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander produced content added. The below table is an abridged history of those changes

Quota Type 1980 2017 2019*
Female and Non Binary Artists 30% 50%** 50%
Austrialian Artists*** 30% 50% 50%
Brisbane & South East Queensland Artists 15% 15% 30%
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Artists - - 5%
New Songs (Released in the last 4 months) 30% 30% 30%
* Current Quotas

** Aspirational Target set in 2017

*** Included New Zealand artists up to 2017

All 4ZZZ announcers are current financial subscribers to the station as well as dedicated volunteers who have completed the station's In House Announcer Training.

The programming strategy has evolved in the station over time, but the current approach breaks shows into 4 distinct groups, General music shows, Specialist Music Shows that focus on a single or set of genres, News and Current Affairs programming, and Sociocultural Shows which focus on a subculture of the audience.

A full list of shows is availalbe on their website, below are a few examples of each programming category

General Music Shows

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Brighten the Corners - A show of mostly post-punk music from local and australian bands with Ian and Adelle

The Brown Couch - 4ZZZ's Thursday afternoon request show with Paulie D and Ben

To Infinity - A pop culture and pop music program with Bryant and Darcy

this! - Power pop & rock and roll with Robert

Wildcard - Morning comedy and performing arts program with Orlando Furious & Chachie

Specialist Music Shows

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Dark Essence - Electric and Industrial music with Josh

Electric Crush - Underground electronic music with Nam-Shub, Kamu, Rob & Orthotyp-a

Goldilocks Folk - Folk, acoustic, blues, roots, reggae, country, Americana, funk & groove with Tina

The Jazz Show - Classic and modern jazz with Don, Knox and Andrew

The New Zealand Show - New Zealand based bands and artists with Lindsay, Bernie and Jeff

Nothin But The Blues - US and local blues with Lynne and Jules

4ZZZ Punk Show- Classic and new punk including pop, garage, street, hardcore, crust, powerviolence and grind with Nel, Josh, Steph and the Punk Show Collective

SkaTrek - Ska Music and related genres with the SkaTrek Crew

News and Current Affairs

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Brisbane Line - 4ZZZ's Flagship News and Current Affairs Show

Eco Radio - Sustainability, environment, non-violence and wildlife show with Dave, Issy & Zack.

Megaherzzz - Feminist Show with Sarah & Denise

Only Human - Disabled led community radio highlighting disability and social justice issues with Belle, SteveK, Brody, MC Chosen & Nate

Paradigm Shift - Political alternative, protest, justice, solidarity and sustainability topics with Andy

The Pineapple Rebellion - State Politics, Local Politics and activism from here and around the country with Alexis and Izrin

Radio Reversal - modern academic, political and sociological analysis of societal issues with Shreya, Anna, Natalie, Han, Lamisse, Aleea and Helen

Sociocultural Shows

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Dykes on Mykes - General News, Views, music and fun produced for the queer and lesbian community in Brisbane with Ruth, Kate, Bec

Film Club - Lively discussions about new cinema releases, interviews, guests, plus the latest film-related events with Garry, Gabrielle, Hannah, Adam, Sally and Peter

Indigi-Briz- Indegenous Interviews and yarns, deadly discussions, community announcements and alternative news with DJ J4H (Jarra)

Locked In (Prisoners' Request Show) - A program that focuses on people that are currently in jail in QLD who write into our show to have personal messages and song requests played on air each week with the Locked In Crew

Queer Radio - The world's longest continuously running diverse in gender & sexuality radio show with Blair, Brody & Jack

World Beat - Traditional music from international artists and bands with Rick and Garry

4ZZZ events

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The Hot 100 is broadcast New Years Day from Midday to approx 8 pm. In 2007, 4ZZZ commenced online voting.

Fundraising events include:

  • Dub Day Afternoon (usually November)
  • Brain Banana (usually King's Birthday weekend, June)
  • Birthday Party (near 8 December)
  • Radiothon (usually August or September), a subscription drive
  • Market Day, an outdoor festival featuring local music (annually previous to 2003)
Winners of the Hot 100
Year Artist Song
1976 The Beach Boys "Good Vibrations"
1980 Sex Pistols "Anarchy in the UK"
1982 The Clash "London Calling"
1983 Joy Division "Love Will Tear Us Apart"
1984 President's XI "Summer Vacation"
1985 Echo & The Bunnymen "The Cutter"
1986 The Cult "She Sells Sanctuary"
1987 Painters and Dockers "Die Yuppie Die"
1988 The Primitives "Crash"
1989 Dinosaur Jr. "Freak Scene"
1990 Sonic Youth "Kool Thing"
1991 Chopper Division "Chill Out America"
1992 Ministry "Jesus Built My Hotrod"
1993 The Breeders "Cannonball"
1994 Beastie Boys "Sabotage"
1995 Wishing Chair "Dreaming"
1996 Escape From Toytown "Fish n Chip Bitch From Ipswich"
1997 Blur "Song 2"
1998 Not from There "Sich Offnen"
1999 Regurgitator "I Wanna Be a Nudist"
2000 The Dandy Warhols "Bohemian Like You"
2001 Gazoonga Attack "Cinderella"
2002 The White Stripes "Fell In Love With A Girl"
2003 Dollar Bar "Cute Gurls Have the Best Diseases"
2004 Dick Nasty "I'm More Australian Than A Book of Bush Poetry by Russell Crowe"
2005 The Disables "ASIO"
2006 Texas Tea "Macy and Me"
2007 Texas Tea "Whiskey and Wine"
2008 The Emu Smugglers "Born and Bred (On Triple Zed)"
2009 I Heart Hiroshima "Shakeytown"
2010 Transvaal Diamond Syndicate "Home"
2011 Gotye featuring Kimbra "Somebody That I Used To Know"
2012 Velociraptor "Cynthia"
2013 The Flangipanis "I'm Drunk, So What, Fuck You"
2014 Violent Soho "Saramona Said"
2015 The Flangipanis "Getting Shit For Free"[12]
2016 The Flangipanis "Double Standards"[13]
2017 The Flangipanis "Sportsball"[14]
2018 Waax "Labrador"[15]
2019 Goatzilla "Dropbear (The Legend of)"
2020 The Flangipanis "Asshole Aunt"
2021 Waax "Most Hated Girl"
2022 Square Tugs featuring Polly Cooke "I Don’t Like It"
2023 Square Tugs "One Minute Love Song"

1996 market day riots

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Cybernana Market day was held on 19 October 1996 in Musgrave Park, West End. During the night, a large police presence was seen patrolling the area outside the fence around the Park. There were several arrests for alleged drug possession and other minor street offences. At around 8:20 p.m. a severe storm hit without warning and organisers were forced to close the event. Within 10 minutes more than half of the crowd had left and police began to appear in larger numbers.

It is estimated that more than 100 police were mobilised, including mounted police and police from the Public Safety Response Team equipped with riot gear.[16] The arrival of such large numbers of police at less than 10 minutes notice indicated that police were on stand-by for the event. Crowds sheltering in tents were physically forced from the park, people attending the event were beaten with batons and arrested.[16]

Complaints were made to the Criminal Justice Commission but no police were ever reprimanded.

References

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  1. ^ "Community Radio Broadcasting Licenses" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 October 2007. Retrieved 24 December 2007.
  2. ^ HAAT estimated from http://www.itu.int/SRTM3/ using EHAAT.
  3. ^ a b c 4ZZZ – 'About'
  4. ^ Sinnamon, Myles (5 December 2015). "Brisbane Radio Station 4ZZZ - 40th anniversary". State Library Of Queensland. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  5. ^   This Wikipedia article incorporates text from Finding feminist voices in the early years of Queensland community radio (7 March 2024) by Associate Professor Heather Anderson published by the State Library of Queensland under CC BY licence, accessed on 31 May 2024.
  6. ^ Radical Times (25 April 2014). "4ZZZ History" (PDF). Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  7. ^ Barry, Derek (3 May 2007). "Woolly Days: 4ZZZ: a retrospective". Woolly Days. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  8. ^ "A Brief History of Brisbane Radio Station 4ZZZ-FM" (PDF). Radical Times. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  9. ^ Robert Allen (2017). "Agitate, Educate, and Organize: Radical Networks in New York in the Early 1880s". Organizing Democracy. pp. 211–231. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-50020-1_11. ISBN 978-3-319-50019-5. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  10. ^ It's All About Community – Documentary film, 2016 (In production, as of 29 September 2016)
  11. ^ 4ZZZ appoints advocate for people with a disability to increase inclusion
  12. ^ "4ZZZ".
  13. ^ "4ZZZ".
  14. ^ "4ZZZ".
  15. ^ "4ZZZ".
  16. ^ a b "Russell Cooper to rock on, 27 October 1996". The Sunday Mail. Archived from the original on 11 September 2006. Retrieved 5 January 2007.

Sources

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  • Walker, Clinton (1996). Stranded: the secret history of Australian independent music, 1977–1991. Sydney: Pan MacMillan. ISBN 0-7329-0883-3.
  • Knight, A. 2000. Won't get fooled again. [2]
  • Olah, P. 2003. 4ZZZ market day riots of 1996. [3]
  • 4ZzZ Homepage, About 4ZZZ [4]
  • Stafford, A 2004 Pig City
  • 25th Birthday Celebrations [5]
  • Media Search (including map of studio location) [6]
  • Poster Archive [7]
  • CBAA 2007 Awards [8]
  • 4ZzZ Market Day 2006 [9]
  • 4ZZZ appoints advocate for people with a disability to increase inclusion [10]
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