4ZZZ
4ZZZ is an independent community radio station operating in Brisbane, Australia at the frequency 102.1 FM. As a community radio station, 4ZZZ is a member of the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia. The station broadcasts to much of South East Queensland, parts of northern New South Wales and web streams from its website.
History
In the 1970s, activists in Queensland were pivotal in establishing Australian community radio amidst a conservative political climate. Australia's first community station, 4ZZZ, launched on December 8, 1975, in Brisbane, aimed to provide a radical alternative to mainstream news, promote community engagement and activism, and support Australian music. The station was the first FM community broadcaster in Brisbane transmitting in stereo. This model inspired other stations across the state. Today, there are 70 community radio stations in Queensland, including Indigenous services. Despite the significant contributions of women, trans, and non-binary individuals, their roles have often been overlooked.The station's first studios were constructed by announcing staff and volunteers, using second-hand building materials and furniture. The first transmitter was hand built by the station engineer Ross Dannecker with help from Dave Aberdeen. Founders included activist, Jim Beatson, journalist Marian Wilkinson, Arts Administrator, John Stanwell and academic Alan Knight. Announcer John Woods launched the station with The Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again" at Midday 8 December 1975. Along with 2JJJ and 3RRR, 4ZZZ has been a major promoter of independent and alternative music providing exposure for many Australian and international artists. Through the late 1970s and early 1980s the station also produced many groundbreaking and award-winning features and documentaries.
On 30 November 1978, the transmitter moved from the University of Queensland student union building to Mount Coot-tha when the station was granted a full licence. At this time, the frequency changed from 105.7 MHz to 102.1 Mhz.
4ZZZ pushed the boundaries by broadcasting illegal obscenities. In 1981 an organisation called "The Society to Outlaw Pornography" reported them to the Australian Broadcasting Authority. 4ZZZ successfully defended themselves, leading to changes which make it legal to swear on Australian TV and radio under certain circumstances.
On 14 December 1988, as part of a conservative backlash to the ousting of Queensland Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen, 4ZZZ was forced off the air and evicted from its premises at the University of Queensland by the then UQ Union ALSF and Young Nationals student union executive, led by Victoria Brazil. 4ZZZ moved to new premises on Coronation Drive in Toowong. In 1994 the station was able to obtain a loan to buy the former headquarters of the Communist Party of Australia. 4ZZZ still broadcasts from these premises on Barry Parade in Fortitude Valley.
Station philosophy and funding
The motto for the station is agitate, educate, organise. They aim to "Provide a voice for marginalised communities" -The station's volunteers have won many awards including Community Broadcasting Association of Australia awards and national media awards.
In 2015 4ZZZ won the Tony Staley Award for excellence in community broadcasting for its efforts to include more people with a disability via the Ability Radio Project and appointed the first Station Advocate for People with a Disability in 2017.
Programming
Announcers personally choose the on-air musical content, or station subscribers request tracks. Unlike other radio stations, there is no music or program director. There are coordinators for those departments, however the ultimate decision rests with the program makers who must abide by the station policy.The station has set minimum quotas for music content since the 1980s with the original floor quotas set for female & Non-binary, Australian and New Zealand, Brisbane and South-East Queensland Artists. 4ZZZ also sets a target for New music
The quotas and targets have changed over the course of the station's history, with New Zealand quotas being dropped, and Quotas for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander produced content added. The below table is an abridged history of those changes
All 4ZZZ announcers are current financial subscribers to the station as well as dedicated volunteers who have completed the station's In House Announcer Training.
The programming strategy has evolved in the station over time, but the current approach breaks shows into 4 distinct groups, General music shows, Specialist Music Shows that focus on a single or set of genres, News and Current Affairs programming, and Sociocultural Shows which focus on a subculture of the audience.
A full list of shows is available on their , below are a few examples of each programming category
General Music Shows
- A show of mostly post-punk music from local and Australian bands with Ian and Adelle- 4ZZZ's Thursday afternoon request show with Paulie D and Ben
- A pop culture and pop music program with Bryant and Darcy
- Power pop & rock and roll with Robert
Specialist Music Shows
- Electric and Industrial music with Josh- Underground electronic music with Nam-Shub, Kamu, Rob & Orthotyp-a
- Folk, acoustic, blues, roots, reggae, country, Americana, funk & groove with Tina
- Classic and modern jazz with Don, Knox and Andrew
- New Zealand based bands and artists with Lindsay, Bernie and Jeff
- US and local blues with Lynne and Jules
- Classic and new punk including pop, garage, street, hardcore, crust, powerviolence and grind with Nel, Josh, Steph and the Punk Show Collective
- Ska Music and related genres with the SkaTrek Crew
News and Current Affairs
- 4ZZZ's Flagship News and Current Affairs Show- Sustainability, environment, non-violence and wildlife show with Dave, Issy & Zack
- Science show with Gabe, Peta, Issy & Max
- Feminist Show with Sarah & Denise
- Disabled led community radio highlighting disability and social justice issues with Belle, SteveK, Brody, MC Chosen & Nate
- Political alternative, protest, justice, solidarity and sustainability topics with Andy
- modern academic, political and sociological analysis of societal issues with Shreya, Anna, Natalie, Han, Lamisse, Aleea and Helen
Sociocultural Shows
- Workers and trade unions discuss workplace issues and the culture of trade unionism in Australia- General News, Views, music and fun produced for the queer and lesbian community in Brisbane with Ruth, Kate, Bec
- Lively discussions about new cinema releases, interviews, guests, plus the latest film-related events with Garry, Gabrielle, Hannah, Adam, Sally and Peter
- Indigenous Interviews and yarns, deadly discussions, community announcements and alternative news with DJ J4H
- A program that focuses on people that are currently in jail in QLD who write into our show to have personal messages and song requests played on air each week with the Locked In Crew
- The world's longest continuously running diverse in gender & sexuality radio show with Blair, Brody & Jack
- Traditional music from international artists and bands with Rick and Garry
4ZZZ events
The Hot 100 is currently broadcast New Years Day from Midday to approx 8 pm. In 2007, 4ZZZ commenced online voting. Songs from the previous year are voted for and listed as the winners of the year of release.Fundraising events include:
- Dub Day Afternoon
- Brain Banana
- Birthday Party
- Radiothon, a subscription drive
- Market Day, an outdoor festival featuring local music
| Year | Artist | Song |
| 1976 | The Beach Boys | "Good Vibrations" |
| 1980 | Sex Pistols | "Anarchy in the UK" |
| 1982 | The Clash | "London Calling" |
| 1983 | Joy Division | "Love Will Tear Us Apart" |
| 1984 | President's XI | "Summer Vacation" |
| 1985 | Echo & The Bunnymen | "The Cutter" |
| 1986 | The Cult | "She Sells Sanctuary" |
| 1987 | Painters and Dockers | "Die Yuppie Die" |
| 1988 | The Primitives | "Crash" |
| 1989 | Dinosaur Jr. | "Freak Scene" |
| 1990 | Sonic Youth | "Kool Thing" |
| 1991 | Chopper Division | "Chill Out America" |
| 1992 | Ministry | "Jesus Built My Hotrod" |
| 1993 | The Breeders | "Cannonball" |
| 1994 | Beastie Boys | "Sabotage" |
| 1995 | Wishing Chair | "Dreaming" |
| 1996 | Escape From Toytown | "Fish n Chip Bitch From Ipswich" |
| 1997 | Blur | "Song 2" |
| 1998 | Not from There | "Sich Offnen" |
| 1999 | Regurgitator | "I Wanna Be a Nudist" |
| 2000 | The Dandy Warhols | "Bohemian Like You" |
| 2001 | Gazoonga Attack | "Cinderella" |
| 2002 | The White Stripes | "Fell In Love With A Girl" |
| 2003 | Dollar Bar | "Cute Gurls Have the Best Diseases" |
| 2004 | Dick Nasty | "I'm More Australian Than A Book of Bush Poetry by Russell Crowe" |
| 2005 | The Disables | "ASIO" |
| 2006 | Texas Tea | "Macy and Me" |
| 2007 | Texas Tea | "Whiskey and Wine" |
| 2008 | The Emu Smugglers | "Born and Bred " |
| 2009 | I Heart Hiroshima | "Shakeytown" |
| 2010 | Transvaal Diamond Syndicate | "Home" |
| 2011 | Gotye featuring Kimbra | "Somebody That I Used To Know" |
| 2012 | Velociraptor | "Cynthia" |
| 2013 | The Flangipanis | "I'm Drunk, So What, Fuck You" |
| 2014 | Violent Soho | "Saramona Said" |
| 2015 | The Flangipanis | "Getting Shit For Free" |
| 2016 | The Flangipanis | "Double Standards" |
| 2017 | The Flangipanis | "Sportsball" |
| 2018 | Waax | "Labrador" |
| 2019 | Goatzilla | "Dropbear " |
| 2020 | The Flangipanis | "Asshole Aunt" |
| 2021 | Waax | "Most Hated Girl" |
| 2022 | Square Tugs featuring Polly Cooke | "I Don't Like It" |
| 2023 | Square Tugs | "One Minute Love Song" |
| 2024 | Amyl and the Sniffers | "U Should Not Be Doing That" |
| 2025 | Mitch, Please | "All The Rage" |