Media Statement - 17th September 2007
A Rudd Labor Government will deliver $2.4 million over four years to the Australian Music Radio Airplay Project (AMRAP) to help promote contemporary Aussie bands and musicians.
AMRAP has received no ongoing funding from the Howard Government after one-off funding in 2000, forcing the highly successful project to operate at a much reduced capacity.
Federal Labor recognises the critical role of community radio broadcasters in promoting contemporary Australian music in every corner of the country.
Access to air time is one of the major challenges for emerging musicians who want to record original material.
AMRAP provides regular and targeted distribution of new Australian music to Australia’s four million community radio station listeners.
AMRAP produces and distributes radio content which promotes Australian music as well as developing an online resource for community broadcasters, musicians, industry bodies and audiences to learn about emerging artists.
The project has ensured the distribution of more than 75,000 CDs created by Australian artists and has assisted in growing the level of contemporary Australian music played on community radio by 25 per cent.
A Rudd Labor Government will recognise the critical contribution of the arts to our identity, community and economy.
NOTE: A podcast of Peter Garrett discussing AMRAP and Labor’s vision for the Arts is available at: http://www.fbi.org.au/content.php/703.html