What's New
BY Sarah Patterson April 24, 2024
What's New January 29, 2024
Country music honour for Ray Hadley
Reporter
Ray Hadley has been honoured at the 52nd Golden Guitar Awards.
The high profile broadcaster received the special Country Music Capital Award for his ongoing support and promotion of Australian country music.
It’s one of only a handful of times the award has been handed out since its inception at the Golden Guitars in 1977.
It recognises individuals who are not singers, musicians, composers, or music producers (and therefore not covered by the regular criteria for the Awards), but who’ve made a long-term, outstanding contribution to the country music industry.
Hadley has now presented 533 editions of the Country Music Countdown program across the country, providing a platform to both emerging and established country music artists.
He also uses his Mornings program on 2GB to promote Australian country music.
Hadley says “It was a wonderful surprise and I was very humbled by the Toyota Golden Guitars decision to acknowledge my contribution to Australian country music.”
Congratulations Ray! and thank you for the ongoing commitment to Country Music!
Probably a pertinent time to raise the issue which hasn’t changed in over half-a-century, so where are Australia’s 24/7 commercial – cap city/regional stations – playing Country Music?
Sydney’s Country Hits, 2CH, has a ring to it, as a possible starting point!
Thankfully, Country Music fans keep turning up at festivals and concerts – yet, without community radio, the ABC and select commercial broadcasters (KIX) .. broadcasters/streamers haven’t taken that next committed terrestrial broadcast step for Country Music fans listening at home and on the move.
I have heard all the cringey comments over the decades – funny, I don’t believe today’s audience share the criticisms that programmers have traditionally held.
Yes, 2SM and 4BC were among the cap city vanguard, who tried previously.
Thank heavens, Nick Erby, for 2TM-4WK and the Country Music Radio Network.
But, maybe in 2024, Country is now cool enough for mainstream Australia radio without having to sound like a Nashville clone!
Kind regards,
Garry Blair,
Maitland NSW