Dear friends, Wishing you all a wonderful New Year! Welcome to those of you who have recently signed on. Our numbers are rising, which shows us that a great many people are still concerned about the future of ABC music content. For newbies: If you're into social media you can join our online community with lots of discussion here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/handsoffrnmusic/ For updates and news posts only, you can keep informed here: https://www.facebook.com/HORNMNews/ Twitter: @Save_RN_Music NEW MUSIC SHOW! A new music show (available via your local ABC radio station) has been launched on ABC Local with Myf Warhurst. "In 2018, ABC Radio introduces a new, daily national music program hosted by Myf Warhurst. Kick off your afternoons with Myf and a great mix of music, culture and everything in between! Listen in capital cities from 12:30pm to 2:00pm and on regional stations from 1:30pm to 3:00pm". Link here: http://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/myf-warhurst/ Let us know what you think of the new show! We'd love to hear your feedback via social media or savernmusic@gmail.com Alternatively, let the ABC know what you think: http://www.abc.net.au/contact/contactabc.htm ** FOR MUSICIANS & PUBLICISTS** You can contact producer Hayley Crane to submit your music for airplay consideration. Digital tracks and promo materials preferred. Email: Crane.Hayley@abc.net.au ON ANOTHER NOTE: Last year, we contributed to the development of a completely separate new music show proposal in conjunction with a staff member from ABC Regional. (See our last update for details). This show (featuring cross-platform delivery and a specialist music presenter), was successfully submitted to ABC management in November - before Myf's program was announced. We are yet to hear any feedback, presumably due to the launch of Myf's program, and ongoing re-structures within the ABC. While we are supportive of the ABC's current offering, which should be given time to develop, our proposal has many distinctive elements, and we will continue to lobby for independent Australian and alternative genre-based music to be given quality exposure at a national level. ABC LIBRARIES UNDER THREAT: The ABC has recently announced that their sound libraries are to be reduced and dismantled, and ten staff to be made redundant. This is of enormous concern to us and a great loss to the cultural assets of the ABC. Rather than writing about it here you can read further by following these links: "The ABC library in Perth was largely curated by Doug Spencer and Robyn Johnston and myself. Many a night I stayed up after midnight doing unpaid work looking for good music that would enrich the library. There are literally tens of thousands of hours of research that went into the making of the Perth Library on its own." - former presenter The Daily Planet, Lucky Oceans https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/jan/30/abc-dismantles-sound-libraries-and-axes-staff-to-improve-budget?CMP=soc_567 https://neighbourhoodpaper.com/issues/x-files-sad-deja-vu-abc-music-library-death/ FURIOUS? SO ARE WE! Keep sharing this petition and keep up the fight. Contact your local member. Write an email or call the office of Senator Mitch Fifield: (02) 6277 7480 / Minister@communications.gov.au Let the ABC know what you think: http://www.abc.net.au/contact/contactabc.htm All the best, from the #saveRNmusic team