Many things have changed at Triple J in the last 18 years as the station constantly reassesses its position to remain relevant to the ever-changing youth market.
As the station now faces reduced audience share nationally and new competition from Nova, it has decided to make changes to the key position of Music Director. Other changes are also expected soon, as the station moves towards a relaunch and is even expected to drop the well-known Drum logo.
This week marks the end of an era in Triple J’s history with Arnold Frolows leaving the position of Triple J’s Music Director.
Frolows has overseen the musical direction and success of both 2JJ and Triple J since its beginnings. He was instrumental in achieving Triple J’s reputation for bringing new music, and particularly new Australian music, to listeners all over Australia.
Head of ABC Radio National Music Networks, Kate Dundas told radioinfo:
“Triple J has undergone some exciting on-air changes this year and is going through a phase in which we look closely at everything we do. Arnold has put many years of hard work into Triple J, but he has decided that now is the time for a different perspective on the musical direction of the network.
I’m keen to use the talents, music skills, knowledge and corporate memory that Arnold has developed over his time working in the field of contemporary music. Arnold will oversee the development of a collaborative initiative with ABC Archives to conserve our unique history of live music recording in a way which both values it as the collection of national significance it is, and allows it to be used by Triple J and other areas of the ABC.”
Frolow said: “It’s been a lot of fun over the years and now I’m looking forward to unearthing some of the gold that is in the thousands of hours of Triple J recordings and making it available for the first time to the public through ABC Music.”
The role of Music Director will now be filled by Triple J’s Richard Kingsmill, who moves to that position from 26 May. While Frolows favoured rock genres, Kingsmill is said to be planing to introduce more dance and hip hip tracks, to differentiate the station from Nova and protect it against competition from Sydney’s new community station FBi.
The national station constantly faces the dilemma of having to serve both regional and city audiences. It also has to deal with the generational question of whether to grow older with its core audience, or to throw away that audience every few years in an effort to attract newer youth demographics.