As the regular night announcers on ABC Local Radio get ready to take a well-earned holiday, there has been a hive of activity in the dig office as the on-line station prepares to be heard on the local radio airwaves.

A nightly music program called dig on the radio is taking over the Local Radio airwaves right around the country this summer. This is the second year dig on the radio has aired, presented by expert music commentators Brian Wise and Michael Mackenzie (pictured).

The music featured will reflect that played on dig radio, which can normally only be heard on the internet at abc.net.au/dig and as an audio service
on digital television. It will include blues, soul, folk, rock, pop, world, jazz and country with a strong commitment to Australian music.

Also on the program will be information on the latest releases, quizzes, music news,
interviews and live performances from some of the best musicians in the country.

Michael
Mackenzie says: “The phones and email just went crazy for the whole four weeks last year. The features and concerts were greatly appreciated and our talkback
sessions seemed to attract everyone from outback Elvis impersonators to city-slickers
reviewing gigs they’d been to the night before.”

A big part of the program revolves around its relationship with the dig website, which will be continually updating with daily polls, music play lists and
longer-form interviews and performances that are featured on dig on the radio.

Brian Wise is one of the country’s best-known music journalists. He is the founding editor of
Rhythms Magazine and a regular contributor to ABC Local Radio with his reviews and
discussions of Australian and international music.

Michael Mackenzie presents Radio National’s Bush Telegraph – a daily program looking at
rural and regional issues around Australia, while in his spare time he is an avid music buff.

dig on the radio can be heard on ABC Local Radio around the country from 6:30pm to 10:00pm between December 20, 2004 and January 14, 2005.