Just checking in as we’re nearing 10,000 supporters. Again, our sincere thanks for all of your feedback, comments, and support. Our working team is growing; we now have fifteen people working overtime to make this petition count. Website coming soon. We’re on Twitter! @Save_RN_Music If you tweet, please use these hashtags: #saveRNmusic #ABCRN Short link for the petition is http://bit.ly/SaveRNMusic Stay tuned for media events happening this coming week! Another wonderful group of RN Music fans are coordinating a series of busking events to highlight our cause. At the moment, details and plans are close to an announcement. We will help them get the word out on our facebook page ‘RN or Busk’. https://www.facebook.com/RN-Or-BUSK-684754268357911/?fref=ts If you’d like to organise and publicise your own busking event, we’re happy to help. Please contact us via the facebook site. Confirmed details will be released in the next few days. Celebrated singer-songwriter Melanie Horsnell will be ‘Busking for Radio National Music’ this coming Friday 2nd December, ABC Studios 700 Harris Street, Ultimo at 12pm. She’s driving up from the Bega Valley with her children to highlight her concerns surrounding recent announcements. Details here: https://www.facebook.com/events/998194586959266/ We’re gaining substantial public support from notable Australians. This week, Australian author Tim Winton stated: “At a time when it seems every element of home-grown culture is under siege, it’s bewildering to see Radio National stripping music shows from its programming. To musicians, composers, producers and listeners alike, this retreat feels like a betrayal, a signal that ABC management feels no need to repay the loyalty of its audience. For years Radio National has been a defender of Australian culture and a means by which new writers, players and composers find an audience. RN listeners treasure eclectic musical programming; we appreciate being treated as grown-ups. Because music is bigger and broader than a teen demographic. So, why reduce our chances of hearing new and interesting music? When RN is already overburdened with talk, why unbalance things even more? This is a mistake”. Esteemed music writer Stuart Coupe wrote: "Last night in Sydney I was part of a sold out audience watching Eilen Jewell and Australia's Jason Walker at Newtown Social Club. I looked around and 90% of the audience was a 40+ musically aware and engaged audience spending their time and money on a Tuesday night. I turned to my partner and said 'this is a Radio National audience - there's nowhere else they'd hear this music.' And that's why music shows on RN are so important to preserve. There is a huge Australian audience whose musical interests are not catered for anywhere else. Without RN's music shows they will stop hearing the massive diversity of music that these shows provide exposure for. This audience will stop going out, fewer international artists in this demographic will tour, and local musicians will find it much harder (almost impossible) to get their music heard by a wide audience. No-one benefits from the removal of music shows from Radio National." And from Paul Grabowsky AO: "We are a nation known around the world for the quality and diversity of our music making. Rather than demonstrating a capacity for Big Ideas, the decision to axe some of the most important platforms for many of our greatest artists, particularly in non-classical fields, demonstrates a shrinking intellectual vision, and a disturbing growth of narrow, timid strategizing. This is in contravention of the charter of the ABC, for which we the taxpayers pay. My entire career has depended on the access ABC listeners have enjoyed to my music since the 70s. What does this move suggest about your attitude towards our culture, our heritage, your duty of care? Emerging artists need the support of the national broadcaster. The history of modern music proves this repeatedly. Don't bland our culture into a cold porridge of complacent indifference. Have some pride". We’re thrilled that this campaign is growing constantly, but we’d like to stress that we CANNOT succeed without your support. 10,000 is a great number, but we’re aware we need as many signatures as possible to make a difference. PLEASE share this petition widely. Let’s set our sights on 20,000. Media enquiries: handsoffradionationalmusic@gmail.com