Mix FM Sunshine Coast yesterday conducted what may be a radio first in Australia, an Auditorium style Music Test (AMT) live on air.

As part of the station’s annual Great Radio Checkup, Mix FM went a few steps further by squeezing 200 samples of songs into one hour, asking listeners to rate each song on a scale from 1 (unfamiliar) to 6 (love it).

“Test Forms” were distributed via a full page ad in the local Newspaper and online at the station’s website.

Acting Program Director Ross Edwards has told radioinfo:

“Being aware of the benefits of a traditional auditorium music test, we thought we’d be really cheeky, albeit slightly reckless, by doing the same thing live on air… Who knows, it could start a new trend in radio music research!”

As of 1pm yesterday afternoon, Mix FM’s office fax machine was struggling under the weight of return test forms.

Mix FM has put a cash prize up for grabs which will be drawn at the end of the month.