It’s been five decades since youth radio station Triple J first hit the airwaves. Initially broadcasting to Greater Sydney on the AM band, it expanded nationally in 1981. It's 50th birthday was celebrated with a special replay, honouring the music and memories that have shaped generations of listeners.
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:0050 years ago, a hopeful youth radio station was born.
00:10We've got Sydney's newest radio station, what's happening?
00:13Triple J, or Double J as it was known then, would become a sensation.
00:17If they tune in to Triple J, you're going to hear a lot of different new music, a lot
00:21of Australian music.
00:23Playing music others ignored or had banned.
00:27Midnight Oil, Skyhooks, Hush, all those great Australian bands.
00:33Complaints from outraged members of the public became regular practice.
00:37The station made a habit of challenging censorship and didn't shy away from radical politics.
00:42The conservative backlash was pretty strong and there were times when we wondered whether
00:50we'd be on the air the next week.
00:52Triple J has always been at the forefront, has really pushed boundaries across all decades.
01:00In 1981, the station was rebranded Triple J.
01:03When I first started, there was a top 40 and two of the people on that top 40 were only women.
01:10Today, a special 12-hour broadcast of the station's first day on air was replayed and
01:16an event was held to celebrate the milestone.
01:18It's an extraordinary achievement and it's something worth celebrating because Triple
01:23J has provided so much fun, entertainment and information.
01:30As audiences turn away from legacy media in favour of social media and streaming services,
01:35Triple J has adapted.
01:37The fact that it's survived is great.
01:39It's still making a contribution to Australian music.
01:44A contribution many hope will continue for years to come.