Bernard Fanning has taken a chance to open up about the importance of an event such as AusMusic T-Shirt Day and the lack of support that the Australian government provides its artists and creatives with. Fanning, who has spent decades in the music industry as the frontman for Powderfinger and as a solo artist, this year serves as one of the myriad acts chosen to be one of this year’s ambassadors for AusMusic T-Shirt Day, sharing the role with diverse names such as The Kid LAROI, Jessica Mauboy, Troy Cassar-Daley, Missy Higgins, Hilltop Hoods, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, and Hoodoo Gurus. As such, he’s in a suitable position to chat about the importance of an organisation such as Support Act, for whom AusMusic T-Shirt Day is designed to raise money for. Described as the music industry’s charity, Support Act exists to provide crisis relief, mental health programs, and services for individuals in the Australian music industry, including musicians, managers, crew, and other music professionals. Speaking to Nova’s Ricki-Lee, Tim & Joel yesterday, Fanning explained the impact that an organisation such as Support Act has. Embedded Content “There's so many layers to people in the music industry,” he explained. “Obviously everyone sees [Ricki-Lee Coulter] and I, the actual acts or the artists, but there's obviously the crew who you couldn't do a show without, they are the lifeblood of the industry; the live industry. “There's management and there's all sort of people, and like everybody else, they are subject to physical illness, mental health issues, falling on hard times, and all those sorts of things, but because it's generally casual work, there's no backup. There's nothing.” As he continued, Fanning also pointed to a lack of inactivity from the government as to why the music industry needs to effectively take care of itself. “Support Act was kind of formulated to try and give people some opportunities around those situations when they've fallen into difficult times or whatever,” he explains. “It goes for every industry, but we're just trying to look after our own industry. “I mean, the Government does absolutely piss-all for the arts industry in general,” he adds. “That's why the initiatives have come from the industry itself.” “It's not just the people that are on stage, it's the people who are putting the lights, doing the sound, building the stages, getting everything there,” added Coulter. “They are the lifeblood of our industry. “And the arts are always the first ones to be called on in hard times,” agreed host Joel Creasey. Alongside his role as an AusMusic T-Shirt Day ambassador, Fanning has also just announced a special national tour next year, celebrating the 20th anniversary of his debut solo album, Tea & Sympathy. Embedded Content

November 3rd 2025 edition of 979fm's all-Australian show Living In The Land Of Oz. See the playlist at https://3rim.radiopages.info/living-in-the-land-of-oz/2025-11-03

The highlights from Grinspoon’s headline show at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.

Sony Music have today announced the departure of Vanessa Picken, with the industry executive informing the company she is stepping down as the Chair and CEO of Sony Music Australia and New Zealand after three years in the role. "It has been a privilege to lead such a dedicated and talented company, collaborating with so many inspiring artists and their teams," Picken said in a statement shared today. "Supporting their growth, creativity, and bold visions has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my role.  "With my term now complete, I feel this is the perfect time to embrace my next opportunity." Picken assumed her role of the first woman to hold the prestigious title in 2022, taking over from Denis Handlin AO, who departed the company in 2021 after more than 50 years at the company, and 37 in the top job.  Handlin's high-profile exit occurred in the wake of reports that Sony Music's US head office was "investigating claims of discrimination, bullying and harassment" within the Australian arm of the business. Picken had launched her career in the music industry back in 2006, starting work with EMI Music Australia where she would spend five years working alongside the label's local and international artists. Alongside work as an artist manager and time spent working with [PIAS] (including almost two years as their Managing Director based out of Los Angeles), Picken was also the co-curator of FastForward Sydney, a music technology conference for industry leaders. During her time at Sony, Picken oversaw numerous high-profile achievements for the company, including a worldwide deal for Sydney's Mansionair, and deals for fellow Australian acts such as Gang Of Youth, Angus & Julia Stone, and more. Her time at the company also coincided with the launch of SME’s live-music and experiential division, Sony Music Masterworks Australia and New Zealand. Picken’s efforts at the company also resulted in her being named one of Billboard’s Global Power Players for three consecutive years from 2023 to 2025. “I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together over the past three years, particularly during this transformative period for our Australia and New Zealand operations," Picken continued. "We’ve modernized our organizational structure, enhanced our digital and marketing capabilities, and fueled new growth through experiential and licensing ventures. Throughout it all, we’ve placed a renewed focus on artist wellbeing and deepened their connection to the team. “As I move on from being the first woman to hold this role, I do so with great excitement for the future," she added. "I’m confident I won’t be the last, and I hope that in the process, I’ve inspired others to follow their own paths.” "We extend our thanks to Vanessa for her time at Sony Music and for her commitment to guiding our artists’ careers and championing local creative talent," added Sony Music Group Chairman Rob Stringer. "We wish her every success in the next chapter of her journey.” In August of this year, The Daily Telegraph reported that Picken was also the subject of formal complaints from employees at Sony Music Australia who accused her of "fostering a toxic workplace culture." The publication also noted that a separate, previous investigation had cleared Picken of any wrongdoing. The initial complaints included allegations of undermining senior staffers, making "rude and demeaning remarks" about and to employees, and the making of inappropriate comments about individuals on maternity leave. While "no evidence of wrongdoing" was discovered following an external investigation by Sony, the later allegations included claims of belittling staff, undermining employees, and speaking down to fellow team members. Sony were reported as addressing these allegations of inappropriate workplace by way of an internal email to staff, though no updates in regard to any further investigations were provided prior to news of Picken's exit.

Kicking off Ausmusic Month in earnest, triple j has unveiled the nominees for this year’s J Awards. The J Awards spotlight both established and emerging Australian artists and award them across five categories: triple j Australian Album of the Year, Double J Australian Artist of the Year, Unearthed Artist of the Year, rage and triple j Australian Music Video of the Year, and triple j Australian Live Act of the Year. For this year’s awards, 26 local artists have received nominations for their contributions to the Australian music scene. Representing hip-hop are Baker Boy and ONEFOUR; the heavy scene features nominees Thornhill and SPEED. Ninajirachi represents electronic music, and indie rock artists such as Spacey Jane, The Rions, and Folk Bitch Trio have received nominations. You can see the full list of 2025 J Awards nominees below. To find out the winners in each category, tune in to triple j Drive from 3:30 pm AEDT on Wednesday, 12 November. You can find more information about this year’s J Awards here. Last year’s J Awards winners included Sycco (triple j Australian Album of the Year), Missy Higgins (Double J Australian Artist of the Year), Lithe (Unearthed Artist of the Year), Emily Wurramara (rage and triple j Australian Music Video of the Year), and Angie McMahon (triple j Australian Live Act of the Year). 2025 J Awards Nominees     triple j Album of the Year  Baker Boy - DJANDJAY  Folk Bitch Trio - Now Would Be A Good Time  grentperez - Backflips in a Restaurant  Mallrat - Light hit my face like a straight right  Ninajirachi - I Love My Computer  ONEFOUR - Look At Me Now  Spacey Jane - If That Makes Sense  Tame Impala - Deadbeat  The Rions - Everything Every Single Day  Thornhill - BODIES  Unearthed Artist of the Year  Don West  Darcie Haven  Sam Alfred  Folk Bitch Trio  PLAYLUNCH  Double J Australian Artist of the Year  Amyl and The Sniffers  Emily Wurramara  Gordi  Meg Washington  Paul Kelly  rage and triple j Australian Music Video of the Year  Drifting Clouds - 'Bawuypawuy' (dir. Matt Sav)  Ecca Vandal - 'CRUISING TO SELF SOOTHE' (dirs. Ecca Vandal and Richie Buxton)  Ninajirachi - 'Fuck My Computer' (dir. Ball Bass John)  PLAYLUNCH - 'Keith' (dir. Riley Nimbs)  RONA. - 'Show Me' (dir. Tyson Perkins)  triple j Australian Live Act of the Year  Amyl and The Sniffers  Ball Park Music  Miss Kaninna  SPEED  xmunashe  Embedded Content Embedded Content

Beloved Australian hip-hop ensemble The Herd are hitting the road in February 2026. Celebrating two decades of their iconic, era-defining third album, The Sun Never Sets, fans will have the opportunity to enjoy tracks from the album and career favourites in Thirroul, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, and Hobart. The tour begins at Thirroul’s Anita’s Theatre on Thursday, 5 February. It continues at Sydney’s Factory Theatre on Friday, 6 February, Brisbane’s The Triffid on Saturday, 7 February, Perth’s Magnet House on Friday, 13 February, Adelaide’s The Gov on Saturday, 14 February, Melbourne’s 170 Russell on Friday, 20 February, and concludes at Hobart’s Altar on Saturday, 21 February. Pre-sale tickets will be available on Wednesday, 5 November, at 10 am local time – register here to access those tickets – ahead of the general sale on Friday, 7 November, at 10 am local time. Tickets can be found on the Destroy All Lines website. Upon its release in October 2005, The Sun Never Sets cemented The Herd as one of the most socially and politically active voices in the country. The album debuted at #3 on the AIR Independent Album Charts and was nominated for the inaugural J Award for Australian Album of the Year. Embedded Content The Herd also quickly became known for their historic cover of Redgum’s I Was Only 19 on triple j’s Like A Version, which ended up being one of the most heavily requested songs on the station, landing at #18 on the triple j Hottest 100 of 2005. In March 2006, The Herd re-released The Sun Never Sets with a version of I Was Only 19, with Redgum’s John Schumann on vocals. In addition to the impact of their music on Australian listeners, core members of The Herd established and ran Elefant Traks, one of Australia’s most respected independent labels, which existed for 25 years before its devastating closure in 2024. Reflecting on 20 years of The Sun Never Sets, The Herd member and founder of Elefant Traks, Kenny Sabir (aka Traksewt), recalls: It was the first time we broke through to festivals, which wasn’t easy for a hip-hop band on an independent label back then. It came out in the shadow of the Cronulla riots, when flag-draped racism was on the rise, and we were pushing back with tracks like ‘National Holiday’. We were still deep in experimentation mode too, making the MCs rap in odd time signatures and seeing how far we could stretch things. Judging by the awkward crowd dancing, we definitely found the limit. We were lucky to be part of one of the first Like A Version sessions with ‘I Was Only 19’. That song always hit me as a kid, and reimagining it gave the album an extra life. We’re so excited to be celebrating this record on the special 20th anniversary tour and blast the jumpable crowd with faves like ‘Unpredictable’, ‘Under Pressure' and ‘We Can’t Hear You’, alongside some deeper album cuts. Destroy All Lines presents THE HERD THE SUN NEVER SETS 20TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR With special guests   Thursday 5 February - Anita's Theatre - Thirroul Friday 6 February - Factory Theatre - Sydney Saturday 7 February - The Triffid - Brisbane Friday 13 February - Magnet House - Perth Saturday 14 February - The Gov - Adelaide Friday 20 February - 170 Russell - Melbourne Saturday 21 February - Altar - Hobart Embedded Content

Amanda Brown succeeds Dale Cornelius as composers' guild President.

In devastating news for Queenslanders and interstate travellers, this year’s The Long Sunset has been cancelled due to wild weather and unsafe conditions at the festival site. The Long Sunset was set to take place in Boonah from today (31 October) until Sunday (2 November) as part of this year’s QLD Music Trails programming. The festival had locked in an abundance of local talent, including Boy & Bear, Vera Blue, The Buoys, Gretta Ray, and Jem Cassar-Daley. As well as the headlining acts, the festival secured artists like Playlunch, Tjaka, The Vernons, Bunny Racket, Paper Lane and Silk ‘N’ Oak. Camping sold out ahead of the event, and final tickets were being sold. The festival was scheduled to be held in Boonah for the first time for its biggest year to date. “We regret to advise The Long Sunset planned for this weekend has been cancelled,” reads a statement from the festival team, posted on social media this morning. ⁠ “Following the recent heavy rain and damaging weather across the Scenic Rim region, our team has been closely monitoring onsite conditions and assessing safety for staff and patrons. “After a full site inspection this morning, our assessors have determined the grounds and conditions are unsafe for staff, vendors, and event guests. As a result, a decision has been made to cancel The Long Sunset.” Festival organisers added that the current state of the festival site, combined with the official forecasts for “dangerous and destructive weather conditions” for today and tomorrow, led to the difficult decision made in consultation with the local government authority, the Scenic Rim Regional Council. ⁠The statement concluded, “While we are disappointed to cancel the event, your safety and the safety of our artists, crew and staff is our top priority.” Ticketholders have been contacted and will receive a refund. Punters with questions can contact the Long Sunset team at [email protected] or on 07 3010 6600. The festival organisers also thanked punters for their understanding and support. Daryl Raven, CEO of QLD Music Trails, recently said that The Long Sunset “is about more than great music; it’s about transforming towns through culture, connecting communities, and creating unforgettable experiences in some of our most beautiful regions in Queensland.” Embedded Content

YouTube video by bigstripeydave

Bernard Fanning is hitting the road in February 2026 for a special tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of his debut solo album, Tea & Sympathy. Upon its release on Halloween in 2005, the album topped the ARIA Albums Chart and earned Fanning three ARIA Awards and an APRA Award. It was also nominated for Album of the Year for the 2005 J Awards. More country-folk inspired than his work in Powderfinger, Tea & Sympathy spawned the ultra-successful singles Wish You Well, Songbird, Watch Over Me, and Weekend of Mystery. Wish You Well went on to top the triple j Hottest 100 of 2005, and, earlier this year, landed at #57 in triple j’s Hottest 100 of Australian Songs. Fanning will celebrate 20 years of the album early next year, starting at Adelaide’s Thebarton Theatre on Friday, 27 February, followed by dates in Perth, the Sunshine Coast, Cairns, Brisbane, Newcastle, Sydney, Thirroul, Canberra, Melbourne, and concluding at the Gold Coast’s HOTA Theatre on Saturday, 28 March. You can see the full list of tour dates and venues below. Artist and venue pre-sales open at 10 am local time on Monday, 3 November, and close at 9 am local time on Wednesday, 5 November (or until allocation is exhausted). The general sale opens at 12 pm local time on Wednesday, 5 November. You can sign up for pre-sale access and purchase tickets via Bernard Fanning’s website. Joining Fanning on all dates of the tour are another two of Australia’s finest troubadours, Sam Cromack (of Ball Park Music fame) and Georgia Mooney (All Our Exes Live in Texas). In Perth, another special guest is joining in on the fun: Jebediah’s Bob Evans. Fanning said of the forthcoming tour, “It’s such a privilege to have made a record that people connected with on such a deep, personal level. “I have had so many people tell me that it changed their lives. As an artist, that is one of the things that you hope for. Playing these songs live has always been a communal experience, with the audience sharing in both the intimacy and the full-throated sing-along glory of the songs.” He added, “It’s such a joy to be taking another lap around our country to play Tea & Sympathy again. We’ve got most of the original band back together and can’t wait to play this record front to back in some of the country’s most iconic venues. Having Sam and Georgia along just triples the fun.” BERNARD FANNING TEA & SYMPATHY – 20TH ANNIVERSARY AUSTRALIAN TOUR 2026 Friday, 27 February - Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide SA Sunday, 1 March (Labour Day Eve) - Kings Park & Botanic Garden, Perth WA Thursday, 5 March - The Events Centre, Sunshine Coast QLD Saturday, 7 March - Cairns Performing Arts Centre, Cairns QLD Saturday, 14 March - The Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane QLD Tuesday, 17 March - Civic Theatre, Newcastle NSW Friday, 20 March - State Theatre, Sydney NSW Saturday, 21 March - Anita’s Theatre, Thirroul NSW Tuesday, 24 March - Canberra Theatre, Canberra ACT Friday, 27 March - Palais Theatre, Melbourne VIC Saturday, 28 March - HOTA Theatre, Gold Coast QLD Embedded Content

Aussie music legends Thelma Plum and Keli Holiday lead the call for everyday music fans to make a change and #AUSIFYYourAlgo. Keli Holiday and Australian music advocate Ash McGregor will kick off celebrations of the #AUSIFY campaign tomorrow (1 November). The pair will host the interactive pop-up, Ausify The Aux, at the Bondi Pavilion in Sydney from 9-10 am AEDT, where they’ll invite punters to play their favourite Australian track and pay tribute to homegrown music. The #AUSIFY campaign launch coincides with Ausmusic Month, which kicks off in November. Through its social media presence, the initiative will share digital content, artist co-signs, and unveil surprise live moments that encourage viewers to seek out local talent and curate their feeds to be chock-full of Australian music talent. Embedded Content The campaign is set to celebrate the incredible diversity of Australian music by spotlighting local talent. This mission will be achieved thanks to the collective effort of artists, managers, labels, promoters, festivals, venues, industry partners and bodies, such as radio, streaming platforms, and local brands. Everyday music listeners can support the initiative and #AUSIFY the content seen on their algorithms by creating Ausify playlists, sharing their favourite local music on social media, attending gigs, buying merch, and interacting with Australian musicians, creators, blogs, and more. The #AUSIFY website will also contain a step-by-step guide of easy ways to AUSIFY your algorithm, plus Australian-focused playlists to listen to, and the Ausifyer, a live music generator with recommendations of gigs you can enjoy. You can find out more about the #AUSIFYYourAlgo campaign here. “Everyone knows how good Australian music is, and the more you explore it, the more it gives back,” Thelma Plum explained. “There are so many incredible stories and artists that reflect who we are. “This campaign is about reminding people how easy it is for people to discover and champion that, by simply choosing to search for those stories and making sure local artists get the attention they deserve!” Keli Holiday added, “We have the power to change our personal algorithm and support great Aussie music - no matter the platform. “It’s not just about streaming your favourite artists - it’s repping them by going to shows, putting them in your playlists, merch, telling your mates, purchasing physical records, making requests to radio and word of MOUTH!” He continued, “This all helps Aussie artists get heard. Let’s get together to keep our Australian talent in the conversation and make local music impossible to be ignored because we as Australians have SO much beautiful art to share with the world - we just gotta get it heard, seen and felt.” Embedded Content

Tim Blackwell and Concetta Caristo to host music awards in November.

Guest: Ross Wilson, Andrea Lam, Ali McGregor, Frank Woodly and Urvi Majumdar.

October 29th 2025 edition of 979fm's I Like Your New Stuff Better Than Your Old Stuff See the playlist at https://3rim.radiopages.info/i-like-your-new-stuff-better/2025-10-29

I Like Your New Stuff... is on Mixcloud. Listen for free to their radio shows, DJ mix sets and Podcasts