The Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA) have launched the Community Radio Airplay Charts, a new weekly snapshot of Australian music being played on community radio across the country and on all community stations.
The Community Radio Airplay Charts will be available on amrap.org.au, replacing the current amrap.org.au download charts, offering artists and industry professionals insights into which acts are resonating with audiences, and where. The impact of community radio on the discovery and support of local music will be quantified using Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) technology. This new tool provides promotional opportunities for artists, labels and teams and recognises the valued role that community broadcasters play in the national music ecosystem.
CBAA Music Director Andrew Khedoori said:
“We have countless stories from Australian artists about the impact community radio has had on their music. At last, the value of community radio is no longer anecdotal and there for everyone to see.”
The influence of community radio is evident in recent data. Between October 2024 and May 2025, AMRAP reported 250,000 plays of Australian music on community radio, tracked via their internal reports. The December 2024 Community Radio Listener Survey further found that 60% of respondents reported feeling more connected to their local music scene through community radio. Additionally, over one-third discovered local cultural or music events via community radio, and one in ten financially supported an artist by purchasing music or merchandise after hearing them on a community station (see above)
AMRAP and the CBAA have paired before supporting First Nations artists to be heard (First Sounds), presenting Australian artists to US audiences (Global Beat: Australia) and empowering community stations to produce live music events (Community Hubs). The Australian Music Radio Airplay Project offers free and easy access to unsigned and signed Australian musicians, independent and major record labels, and music business enterprises, creating airplay opportunities for Australian artists. By uploading music releases, artists can make their work accessible to Australian community radio stations and program makers, and potentially earn royalties through copyright. The platform’s Airplay tracking technology also allows artists to monitor where and when their songs are played, including the specific station.
“Community radio is the backbone of artists; it allows our music to be heard throughout remote regions and communities. It’s very important for us as artists to be a part of something that promotes community and local stories.” – Emily Wurramara
HOW THE CHARTS WORK
National Top 20 Chart
All tracks uploaded and available via amrap.org.au are eligible to chart.
A weekly, all-genre ranking of the 20 most-played Australian tracks, updated and published every Friday at 10.00 am AEST
Genre-Specific Charts
Supplementary charts breaking down airplay across genres, including:
Pop
Indie/Alternative
Rock & Metal
Hip Hop & R&B
Country / Blues / Roots
Electronic / Dance
Each chart entry includes
This Week’s Position (TW), Last Week (LW), Artist Name, Track Title, Highest Position (HP), and Weeks in Chart (TI).
Eligibility Criteria
Only tracks uploaded to amrap.org.au from November 1, 2024 onwards are eligible for airplay monitoring. Songs can chart for up to 12 weeks before becoming recurrent. Tracks older than 12 months will be excluded from November 2025.
New Features
The AMRAP Airplay Charts are designed not only to celebrate artists but also to serve the music industry by:
Listen & Download Directly from the Chart
Broadcasters can preview each track with a built-in play button, and download broadcast-ready files straight from the chart page.
Highlighting Discovery & Diversity
Charts are calculated using a play cap of 25 spins per station, ensuring tracks need support from multiple broadcasters to chart. This promotes a wider variety of Australian music and reflects genuine nationwide appeal.
Community radio plays a vital role in the discovery and promotion of Australian music, often highlighting artists before they achieve mainstream success and amrap.org.au airplay tracking is made possible with support from the Community Broadcasting Foundation and APRA AMCOS.