Cuts proposed to ABC Music Libraries

The ABC is proposing to centralise its CD collection, cut music library staff, and eventually rationalise its vinyl record collections.

A document made available to radioinfo says the proposals are part of wider changes to the Technology Team, which will be rolled out over coming months.

It is proposed that the ABC moves from physical collections of information and music, to using technology to enable content makers to directly access these resources as digital files.

The ABC currently maintains physical Sound Libraries comprising CDs and vinyl in each of the capital cities. The introduction of the Broadcast Music Bank has enabled digital delivery of music as FLAC files to music programmers. This service replaces the physical loan of CDs, with content makers now able to access the content via their desktops and drag and drop files directly into their production and playout systems.

The ABC proposes to centralise all CD music holdings into a single location in Melbourne, which would then become a centre for the management, acquisition and delivery of music to content makers digitally via the Broadcast Music Bank service. 

As part of the transfer the existing collections will be culled to remove duplicates and CDs no longer required, (approximately 50% of current holdings), with only a single copy held in Melbourne. 

It is proposed that a physical holding remain in Sydney, to support the large amount of specialist classical music that is programmed from Sydney. 

The ABC’s vinyl collection is not included in the proposal, and content makers who wish to access a vinyl recording not available on CD will continue to be able to do so. The future of the vinyl collection will be subject to a separate project. As vinyl usage by ABC content makers is low, ad hoc access requests will be dealt with by the Archives team in each state. 

It is anticipated that the the proposed changes will see ten positions made redundant, including six at the Sound & Reference Library in Sydney. A new role will be created in Melbourne for a 12 month period to assist during the transfer of the CD collections to Melbourne and transition to the proposed new delivery model. 
 

 

Tags: |