Triple M puts extra focus on Australian music through Oztober

On October 31 about 350,000 Triple M listeners from around the country will fly into Melbourne for the 2019 Garage Session.

They’re there to see The Angels, Baby Animals, Diesel and Boom Crash Opera.

The concert makes the end of Oztober, through which legacy and new homegrown music are celebrated across all stations including Triple M Aussie on DAB+.

Each day in October Triple M will showcase the greatest hits from Aussie acts playing the songs that put Australia on the map.

The network’s head of music Mickey Maher says that it plays more Australian music than the others and that its main demo of 25 to 54 is supportive of domestic music.

“They love to hear the music that they grew up with, like heritage names like Jimmy Barnes, Paul Kelly and AC/DC.

“We’re not a new music format, we’re not necessarily out to play that space, the triple j’s of the world focus on that.

“But our listeners do like to keep in touch with what’s happening.

“That’s not at the forefront of what we do but it is part of our DNA to break some new songs and some new artists.”

As a result, he notes, the network also plays relatively newer acts as Kingswood, Busby Marou, Amy Shark, Dean Lewis, Casey Barnes and Tori Forsyth.”

An important element of the month is Dave Gleeson of the Screaming Jets and The Angels hosting the daily Oztober Lunch show.

“What a rock legend he is!” Maher enthuses.

“He’s no stranger to Triple M having been on Triple M Adelaide for many years, so it’s great to have him back on board this year.

“What we can expect is a somewhat warts-and-all and share stories on what it’s like to be on the road.

“He’ll get a bunch of his mates from the Australia music industry and they can share war stories about life on the road and the songs they love.”