AMRAP staff who have gone out on their own in an attempt to stop a restructure of the project have released another video today focusing on the funding and governance model of the Australian Music Airplay Project.

In the video, the newly declared ‘Republic of AMRAP’ (see yesterday’s report) spokesperson Chris Johnson explains his view of what is going wrong with AMRAP, asserting that the funding model is flawed and that the governance structure is not suitable.

He wants AMRAP to break away from the CBAA to receive direct funding and form its own management structure.
 

Any bean counter can see that’s a fair future for community broadcasters and Australian musicians

“We want to ensure that every dollar into AMRAP is used to distribute new Australian Music to community radio and to help broadcasters promote Australian music on air and on line… for years AMRAP has achieved this through a cost effective stand alone project structure…” he says in the latest video.

“The CBAA is carving up this successful approach and restructuring AMRAP,” according to Johnson, who says the planned restructure “goes against years of advice.”

“The restructure mashes up AMRAP resources and funding with the CBAA’s… that’s bad news for Australian artists and broadcasters…

“This stuff can get dull, so let’s get a sugar hit and explain it using Jelly Beans… The Australian Government is smart enough to see AMRAP as an innovative and cost efficient project. So they kick on $600,000 of funding each year… The government gives the beans to the Community Broadcasting Foundation [which] convenes a committee of volunteer experts… that provide expertise and financial oversight…”

He goes on to explain that the Foundation appoints the CBAA as project manager and both bodies “take some beans.”

Johnson says the restructure, the changes to the volunteer committee and the increased costs of project management mean that AMRAP will be worse off.

In a statement yesterday, the CBAA said: