A new ABC Local Radio online initiative called Oztrax has been launched to showcase contemporary Australian music.

Featuring Australian artists – “some much loved, others fresh on the scene,” the site at abc.net.au/oztrax includes “great music, supported by a range of artist images, information & biographies,” according to ABC Local Radio’s Tony Rasmussen.

The website is produced and maintained by Richard Porteous, based in ABC Local Radio’s Lismore office.

A recognised songwriter himself, Porteous has had his songs covered by the likes of Kasey Chambers, Catherine Britt, Elizabeth Lord, Laurel Edwards and many others. In 1998 one of his songs was awarded a Golden Guitar at the Tamworth Music Festival for Song of the Year. He has spent a decade presenting country music in Radio National’s Country Club, and has presented the Australian Music Show on Radio Australia. He’s also produced CDs including The Open Road Series, Kingfisher Dreaming, Highwire, and The Moving Breeze. Porteous works primarily as ABC Local Radio’s Australian Music Consultant, finding local music for the network – and now for Oztrax.

The Oztrax site features the work of two new artists each week, as well as a “jukebox” on the front page highlighting ten top tracks, plus an archive of all the music loaded to date – all playable as audio on demand.

There are already about 100 tracks on the site (click on the “Track List by Artist” or “Track List by Title” prompts) and these will build as the weeks go by to a collection of both mainstream and independent artists.

Oztrax is also calling for performers to submit their work for consideration. It’s a great opportunity for un-signed artists to bring their work to a wider public. Send a CD to: Oztrax, ABC Radio, PO Box 908, Lismore, NSW 2480.

Rasmussen, the Editor of Networked Local Radio told radioinfo: “We’ve long been supporters of Australian performance on Local Radio. This new site now gives us the opportunity to extend that support to the web. We’re excited by the potential to bring both established, budding, independent and unsigned artists to a much wider audience. We know there’s a wealth of talent out there and our on-air music policy has Australian content at its core. Now Oztrax gives us the opportunity to broaden our commitment considerably.”