Dear friends, Today, three of our team members attended a meeting (in person and via video link) with Michael Mason (Director of Radio), Chris Scaddan (Head of Music) and Judith Whelan (Head of Spoken Word). The meeting was convened by Judith Maude, Head Corporate Governance. Also in attendance was Dean Ormston, Head of Member Services Group for APRA/AMCOS and APRA/AMCOS Board member Amanda Brown. We will let you know more detail about issues discussed when we have received the minutes, and when we’ve had a chance to draw breath and compare notes. In essence, campaign members involved were very disappointed that the meeting didn’t provide any outcomes that brought us closer to some kind of resolution. We do, however, appreciate that we were offered the opportunity to talk and intend to keep lines of communication open. We can let you know that Management: • Are unwilling to discuss any reinstatement of the shows whatsoever, • The decision was made as RN music shows have a small listenership in contrast to spoken word content, • Will include music content in smaller segments across RN shows and via digital platforms, • Are concerned about Australian content but only within genres that are suited to specific platforms. We understand that it is not the duty of the ABC to foster an industry, though we feel they have failed to recognise the role that the industry has in enabling creative works from independent musicians across a very diverse range of genres, ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Similarly, the role that this music plays in the cultural conversation between music and listeners. Management DID say they would be willing to consult in regard to including some of the genres formerly represented by shows on Radio National, though we do not consider digital a viable alternative. They also listened to our arguments in regard to the importance of curated programming, though we were informed that the commissioning of such shows is a lengthy process conducted on an annual basis. We were particularly disappointed that we seemed to continuously cross paths during the meeting in regard to digital issues. Access to digital formats via TV/mobile phones/internet is something that is not seen as a fundamental problem. By all means, we intend to keep lobbying the ABC; if we cannot get the shows back we will be working to find a way that provides the Radio National demographic and population of music listeners easy access to quality, alternative and diverse Australian music. From the #saveRNmusic Team