4zzz

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.

History

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.4ZZZ – 'About'
/ref> The station was the first FM community broadcaster in Brisbane transmitting in stereo. 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.

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.

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.

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, led by Victoria Brazil. 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

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

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.

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 2017.4ZZZ appoints advocate for people with a disability to increase inclusion

Programming

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 1980s 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

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 available on thei
website
below are a few examples of each programming category

General Music Shows

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

Specialist Music Shows

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

Brisbane Line
- 4ZZZ's Flagship News and Current Affairs Show
Eco Radio
- Sustainability, environment, non-violence and wildlife show with Dave, Issy & Zack
Know Idea
- Science show with Gabe, Peta, Issy & Max
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
Radio Reversal
- modern academic, political and sociological analysis of societal issues with Shreya, Anna, Natalie, Han, Lamisse, Aleea and Helen

Sociocultural Shows

Workers Power
- Workers and trade unions discuss workplace issues and the culture of trade unionism in Australia
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
Indigenous 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

The Hot 100 is currently broadcast New Years Day from Midday to approx 8 pm. In 2007, 4ZZZ commenced online voting. Songs from the previous year are voted for and listed as the winners of the year of release.

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)

1996 market day riots

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. 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.

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

References

Sources

*
* Knight, A. 2000. Won't get fooled again

* Olah, P. 2003. 4ZZZ market day riots of 1996

* 4ZzZ Homepage, About 4ZZ

* Stafford, A 2004 Pig City
* 25th Birthday Celebration

* Media Search (including map of studio location

* Poster Archiv

* CBAA 2007 Award

* 4ZzZ Market Day 200

* 4ZZZ appoints advocate for people with a disability to increase inclusio

External links

*

Hot 100

Finding feminist voices in the early years of Queensland community radio

{{Brisbane radio

Community radio stations in Australia
Radio stations established in 1975
Radio stations in Brisbane
1975 establishments in Australia