Dear friends, A quick update. We realise it’s a difficult time of year to stay focused, so we appreciate your continued support! We’ve had an incredibly busy couple of weeks so far and have learned a lot along the way. Unsatisfied with the reply last week from the ABC, we have done a lot of research, taken note of all your comments and concerns, and are preparing another open letter to the board that will be released publicly in coming days. This week we were also made aware that the music show ‘Saturday Night Country’ on ABC Radio is also to be moved to digital format in 2017, which has aroused great anger within the country music community and a swag of regional listeners. We have spent a lot of time looking into issues around digital radio and access to regional and rural areas. Here are a couple of links that might be of interest to those interested in the topic: https://www.communications.gov.au/what-we-do/radio/digital-radio http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-06-21/almost-half-of-regional-australia-reports-internet-very-poor/7529734 Attached is a cartoon outlining the difficulties that some of you might appreciate! By artist Colin Suggett. Busks occurred in Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne, Hobart and Perth last weekend with more announced for this coming weekend: Brisbane, QLD - ABC Studios on Sat 10th 12pm (Featuring Cara from Hatz Fitz & Cara, Jen Mize and Aine Tyrrell) Canberra, ACT – City Walk on Sat 10th 12pm Ballarat, VIC – ABC Studios Sat 10th 12pm THIS WEDNESDAY 7th the ABC Board are meeting at the ABC Studios in SYDNEY 12pm, so if you’re local and want to help us make a noise, please be in touch and keep an eye out for announcements here: https://www.facebook.com/RNorBUSK/?fref=ts Here is a link to some pics in The Age from the Melbourne busk: http://www.theage.com.au/photogallery/victoria/melbourne-busk-protest-20161203-gt3ard.html Today ABC Managing Director Michelle Guthrie visited ABC studios in Melbourne. We had a small crowd gathered out the front and sent some #saveRNmusic cupcakes up for the RN staff afternoon tea. Thanks Monica and Jo! Lastly, we are still encouraging people to sign this petition. Are you an artist / music industry professional / business with an email list? Please consider using this to get the word out for us! More news in coming days. All the best from the #saveRNmusic team.