The thing is, there might be a reasonable number of people in Australia who have an HD radio in their car since HD Radio is included in US market cars, and most full-size pick-ups in Australia that are converted to right hand drive might have the original US spec infotainment system which could include HD Radio but not DRM, which there are very few options for compatible hardware.
Jim Carlyle has such a great voice (and itâs not just the âaccentâ). But then again, Shango has a decent voice as well.
Call me old-fashioned, but a ½ decent voice should be a prerequisite to being an on-air talent.
We seem to celebrate mediocrity in Australia. Listen to any community station and all youâll hear is wall-to-wall squeaky, high-pitched, nasally ocker accents. Whatever happened to the notion of needing a âradio voiceâ?
Jim Carlyle definitely has a radio voice. I could listen to his deep and smooth dulcet tones all day and all night long.
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Relatability/connectability. That person sounds like me etc. Not many people have âradio voicesâ and the âvoice of Godâ type broadcasting has died out.
Yep. Thatâs exactly the reason. I remember reading The Listener back in the early 90s and the âTop Marksâ (89X Auckland) were being interviewed and the fact that neither of them had a radio voice was put to them and they said âpeople just want voices on the radio who they feel comfortable with, like theyâre talking to a neighbor over the back fenceâ.
And thatâs been the way ever sinceâŚ
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Unless you listen to 3RRR or 3PBS in Melbourne, where almost all the presenters sound very polished and professional such as Brian Wise, Denise Hylands, Matt Frederick, Neil Rogers and others.
Australia does have a good history of radio announcers with decent voices (need we even go past the golden tonsils of John Laws).
On commercial radio, Richard Mercer, what a great voice, and so perfect for Love Song Dedications. Trevor Sinclair, also, just absolute velvet tones. Sharyn Doolan and Julie Brodsky were blessed with great voices.
Have we seen the end of great voices on radio?
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Barry Drinkwater more recently comes to mind.
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Yes indeed. Absolutely awesome voice.
From a time too when the whole FM104 line-up were big boss ballsy rock jocks.
I could just imagine how shocked Jim Carlyle would be if he came to Australia and visited some community stations - heâd be like âwho are all these chubs with pipsqueak voicesâ.
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Still no updates to the ACMA Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations Book.
Last update was Sept 2024.
The update frequency in the not so distant past was quarterly, but updates have become increasingly irregular in recent timesâŚ
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A lot of us on here are of the same vintage. So my question is:
Whatâs the best station for 80s music?
I was listening to some old XFM airchecks today and on âSongs of Phraseâ they played Donât talk to me about love - Altered Images which was a huge track on 3ZM at the time.
Youâre not going to hear that on KIIS 80s or OldSkool 80s.
But maybe Smooth 80s?
I donât think there is a single âbestâ station anymore⌠you used to hear from great rare tunes on the âForever Classicâ regional stations like XLFM/GNFM in NSW, but their playlist has become pretty safe in more recent years too.
2RE Taree plays some good rarer tunes when they are local, not just 80s ones though.
I would have to say itâs just the bespoke shows on community radio mostly, 2SWR FM Blacktown has some good shows and plays some good ones during workday shifts too. And Iâd get in trouble if I didnât mention the likes of 2BRW and 2BBB too!
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And the TV data spreadsheet hasnât been updated since 2017. Updating these things is not on the priority list for ACMA and that wonât change.
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XS80s always has a good mix of hits and deep cuts.
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That was the station heard in Melbourne on 99.7 FM in January (prior to AO Radio commencing).
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Wouldnât have thought it would be hard to update. Looks like a crystal report.
Lol
Just at the pub having a beer, and saw what looked like the number 1224 tattooed on the back of the arm of a young girl, she must have been her early 20s
Doubt she was a 2WS listener, and doubt anyone getting anything radio related tattoo!
But it made me giggle.
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I donât think Iâve spotted a nerdish radio related tatt on anyone thus far.
That said Iâm sure someone somewhere has one 
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Yeah youâre probably right. Iâm just looking for something to have on in the background.
XS80s are currently playing New Order - Shellshock which is the type of music Iâm looking for. Iâve put in a request for Naked Eyes - Promises Promises. I suppose thatâs the thing, just because a station plays 80s, it still comes down to personal preference. Theyâre now playing Simple Minds - Sanctify Yourself, so, so far so good.
Iâm probably liking it more than Stereo 10, less pub rock and more Brit pop. Which is a true reflection of Kiwi radio in the 80s. Nice work.
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Maybe Iâm just nuts, but Iâve been thinking for quite a while about getting an old 2NX (sticker ID logo) from the 80âs tattoo & probably a 2KO one from a similar era, also been thinking about getting an AM guyed mast & self supporting tower (maybe Mt Sugarloaf Newcastle) tattoo, but not sure how well theyâd come out as theyâd have to be quite detailed but still small.
I have a tattoo of the Sydney Harbour Bridge & Centrepoint Tower on my upper arm & they are medium sized & detailed but they worked out okay. Thereâs DAB+ transmitted off the top of Centrepoint Tower, so guess you could say I already have a radio related tattoo, lol.
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