The CBAA and First Nations Media Australia have launched First Sounds, a new and unique initiative to get more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists heard across Australian radio.
First Sounds is a special collaborative undertaking broadening the reach of Indigenous heritage, history and culture and supporting the burgeoning First Nations music industry.
A series of music compilations curated by FNMA’s indigiTUBE with a select panel of First Nations individuals, First Sounds focusses on developing more awareness of regional, remote and city-living Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and the songs and stories they have to share.
First Sounds also ensures new and emerging First Nations artists have a clear pathway to develop an audience through community radio, which in turn develops momentum for artists to continue writing, recording and performing in their early stages.
The compilations will be distributed Australia-wide by the CBAA’s Amrap to the community radio network.
Groote Eylandt singer-songwriter Emily Wurramara is one First Nations artist who found community radio crucial to their career pathway: “This is such a great initiative. There is so much deadly talent in this country and having a dedicated strategy to share their music across the country through AMRAP and community radio will not only benefit the artists, but also expose and educate Australian listeners.”
Unsigned First Nations artists can submit their music to be a part of the premier First Sounds compilation via indigiTUBE.
The selection panel includes leading First Nations artists Leah Flaangan and Warren H Williams as well as Gavin Ivey, Program Manager at Sydney’s Koori Radio, who says First Sounds is a crucial initiative for stations such as Koori Radio: “The CBAA/Indigitube Initiaitive is vital to the Australian Musical landscape and I look forward to being involved. As Program Manager at Koori Radio 93.7 FM, a project like this, with music being distributed via Amrap and Indigitube, is instrumental in supporting and promoting First Nations Artists, nationally and globally.”
Applications are now open for Compilation One and close on 30 November
