Federal Government to conduct feasibility study into expanding Double J

The Federal Government is looking into expanding Double J pending a feasibility study.

News of the digital-only station’s potential expansion was laid out in the newly released Federal Government document Revive – Australia’s cultural policy for the next five years.

The feasibility study could, in turn, increase the discoverability of Australian artists on radio at all stages of their careers.

This comes after Australian female singer-songwriters petitioned for Double J to get an FM radio licence last year by writing to the then-Morrison Government and Opposition led by Albanese, reported The Music Network.

Missy Higgins, Kasey Chambers, Kate Miller-Heidke and Sarah Blasko were among those who highlighted to the government that it was important to “celebrate women’s achievement, raise awareness against bias and to take action for equality”, in line with the UN’s goals.

Anthony Albanese and Missy Higgins

In their letter, they highlighted that ageing female artists get far less exposure on FM radio compared to ageing female artists. They also noted that they often have a lesser opportunity to expose their new music to fans and would-be fans as their old releases continue to get airplay on FM radio.

The women called the expansion of Double J to FM radio would be “a relatively simple solution” to achieving equality.
 
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Minister for the Arts Tony Burke released the document this week.
 
In launching the document, Prime Minister Albanese said: “Revive will guide our plan to deliver a better future for our creative workers and organisations while expanding economic opportunities, supporting ethical marketplaces for creative workers, and providing more avenues to deepen and showcase our national identity.”
 
Minister Burke addressed the scope of the document: “It ensures the audience member, whether reading alone at home, gazing into a work at a gallery, seated in a theatre or cinema, or dancing in a packed mosh pit, can appreciate creativity which is distinctively Australian.”