by Lindy Hume. Published in Music Forum magazine, Vol 19 Issue 3 (May 2013)

In the last couple of years a new direction for Opera Australia has been established, and there have been new appointments at Australia's state opera companies based in Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane. Imagining and repositioning Australia's opera companies for the art form’s potential future is now core work for this current crop of Artistic Directors. 

Last year I returned to the heightened, irrational, sensuous world of opera after a decade directing two of Australia's international arts festivals, during which period my field of vision was vastly expanded. I've gained a healthy perspective, a craving for big ideas, adventure, connection with communities, originality, beauty and meaning in the experience of bringing artists and audiences together. I've found a deepened love and respect for the rehearsal studio. I still wear my heart on my sleeve, but I’ve become brutally pragmatic about the commercial realities of showbiz.

by Graeme Hinckley. Published in Music Forum magazine, Vol 19 Issue 3 (May 2013)

Last year radio stations of all creeds, commercial, non-commercial and government, ceremonially joined together to celebrate ten years of digital radio in Australia. The champagne was out again but there was definitely less fizz and fuss as this corner of the industry is still unsure of its future with many believing the celebrations were a precursor to a wake.

Digital Radio had quite an arduous task getting started in this country. It had to wait what seemed an eternity to even be considered and then decisions about the right format kept many people awake late at night. Despite the wait and the fact that the first receivers cost the equivalent of a hefty speeding fine in Melbourne, the trial period seemed to go quite well. The sales and listeners for digital radio have also grown steadily to the point that even the retail giants have now settled on a range of relatively cheap receivers, affordable for traditional users of radio and even the people working in the industry. It does however remain a city vs. country argument where the only winners are the cities that can receive the signal with still no noises from the Government as to rolling it out in the regional areas. You would never guess that this is an election year but I suppose it's not over yet!