The Australian Music Radio Airplay Project (AMRAP) will receive $2.4 million over the next four years in the 2008-09 Federal Budget. The news is good for the community radio sector, where the AMRAP funding had been cut last year.

AMRAP is a community radio initiative that works with musicians, community broadcasters and the recording industry to increase radio airplay of contemporary Australian music.

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy says:

“AMRAP is a unique initiative that promotes Australian music through the community radio sector and is an important tool for local musicians to connect with national audiences.

“The Australian Government is pleased to provide funding for AMRAP that will enable community broadcasters to continue their vital role of promoting contemporary Australian music.”

Through this initiative, contemporary Australian music will be broadcast by the community broadcasting sector to more than four million listeners who listen each week.

AMRAP provides regular and genre specific distribution of new Australian music to Australia’s community radio stations. AMRAP also produces and distributes radio content which promotes Australian music and is developing an online resource for community broadcasters, musicians, industry bodies and audiences to learn about emerging artists.

“AMRAP has also been extremely successful promoting music from rural, regional and remote communities, particularly indigenous music. It enables a diverse range of music to be distributed across the country,” says Conroy.

The Community Broadcasting Association of Australia, which manages the project, has welcomed the announcement of the funding for AMRAP.