A new report released today through Monash and Griffith Universities has quantified the economic, social, and cultural heavy lifting done by Australia’s community radio music stations to uncover, nurture and build grassroots Australian talent.
On the first day of National Volunteer Week 2026, The report, Community Radio and Australian Music: Building the music media ecosystem, found that Australia’s largely volunteer driven community radio music stations generate an estimated $153 million in added value to the music industry annually, broadcasting more than double the volume of the local music that is played by commercial networks.
The report’s lead author, Associate Professor Shane Homan from Monash University’s School of Media, Film and Journalism, said the findings highlight the critical role of community radio:
“Our findings prove that community radio is not just a broadcasting platform; it is the vital infrastructure holding up the broader Australian music industries.
As digital streaming platforms dominate and local music struggles for visibility, these stations act as the ultimate champions for grassroots talent. They are the essential link connecting local artists with passionate audiences who are eager to discover new music and actually show up to support it.”
The report used a Social Return on Investment (SROI) methodology to map the value of volunteer hours, local airplay, and artist promotion against commercial sector benchmarks. Researchers also utilised a nationally representative survey of nearly 1000 Australians conducted by the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA), as well as financial and airplay data from 10 case-study stations, interviews with station staff, listeners and leading Australian musicians.
The research found that community radio stations were still a key source of local music discovery and spending. In 2023, 30% of weekly listeners (1.6 million Australians) discovered a local or emerging artist by listening to community radio. 28% looked up an artist on digital platforms like Spotify after hearing them on community radio, while 19% then recommended an artist to friends or shared them online. More than 1.3 million listeners went on to buy merchandise, music or gig tickets.
Associate Professor Homan said the value of this sector is being overlooked:
“These listeners aren’t just passive consumers; they are a dedicated audience that the commercial platforms are failing to serve. Community radio is filling a gap, providing the essential support for Australian artists that is increasingly absent elsewhere in the industry.”
The report also highlighted the role of First Nations community radio stations, which make up a third of the country’s top 39 most music-intensive stations. This high volume of local content fosters a sense of ownership and belonging to Indigenous community radio stations among First Nations listeners, with 60% of weekly listeners reporting that the music directly enriches their cultural experience and deserves financial support.
Beyond the cultural and financial impact, community radio is a training ground for Australia’s future music media workforce. In an average year, 136,687 volunteer hours are logged across this project’s 10 case-study stations. The on-the-job training gained by volunteer hosts and producers makes them highly employable in the commercial and public service media sectors.
The research was launched Monday May 18 at the Victorian Music Development Office conference, Music Data and Insights Summit 2026. The report was an Australia Research Council-funded research project, conducted by Associate Professor Shane Homan (Monash University), Professor Susan Forde (Griffith University), Professor Heather M. Anderson (Monash University), Sarah Hellyer (Monash University), Dr Nat Kassel (Griffith University) and Dr Erin Mclean (Griffith University), between 2023-2026. Creative Australia was an industry partner, along with the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA), the Community Broadcasting Foundation (CBF) and APRA AMCOS.
You can read the full report here.