Amrap is once again running it’s successful Music Correspondents scheme for community broadcasters in what may be the project’s last year. The Amrap initiative did not receive further ongoing federal funding in the most recent budget allocation, despite a concerted lobbying effort from the Community Radio sector, but the CBAA remains committed to the project and
will continue to campaign for further government support as well as explore alternative sources of income.
Amrap is a contemporary music initiative that works with musicians and community broadcasters to get more Australian music on radio.
Amrap’s Paul Mason has told radioinfo: “We (the CBAA) did recently receive a modest grant from the CBF to continue the Music Correspondents for another round
under the Amrap banner. It’s unlikely that this will be funded again via that source, so it’s possible that this will be the last time it is offered.”
Under the scheme grants are available for community radio stations and broadcasters to produce short program content for satellite and web distribution. The funding is available in two categories; experienced community broadcasters and their sponsoring stations can be paid to produce five short radio pieces about contemporary Australian music. Community radio stations can also be paid to produce edited radio packages of live music performances.
Mason says Amrap is “a great opportunity for
community broadcasters to get paid to produce work that will help them
develop their production skills. It creates a pool of short radio features
that are available to all stations, as well as being a great opportunity
for the musicians who get featured.”
The community radio sector has a lot of stations that record and broadcast local music. Recent CBOnline research showed the sector produces a healthy 271 hours of live
recordings a week. Through the Amrap funding recordings can be packaged and
made available throughout the sector.
The Amrap Music Correspondent scheme has been producing fresh and interesting radio content about Australian Music since 2004. Specialist music broadcasters and talented radio makers are selected to participate from almost 300 community radio stations across Australia. The radio packages produced include artist profiles, reports on musical developments and snapshots of particular music scenes or events. The packages produced through this partnership are used extensively throughout the community sector, and can be heard online via Amrap’s website.
Applications close Monday 20th November 2006.
For guidelines and application forms email [email protected] or click on the link below.