The search for new and emerging Australian music talent is on again with the commercial radio industry announcing that the New Artist to Radio Showcase (NA2R), its annual event, aimed at unveiling the chart-toppers of tomorrow, will be held on October 13 in Sydney. The NA2R will be held in conjunction with the Australian Radio Conference and 2006 Australian Commercial Radio Awards (ACRAs) at Luna Park.


Chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner, said this year the event would focus on unsigned Australian artists – acts that do not have a record deal but may or may not have an independent distribution deal.”


“This is a refinement of the criteria used in previous years which allowed both unsigned and signed artists to submit where the latter had not had significant airplay on commercial radio,” Ms Warner said.


This year for the first time ever the winner also receives a prize of $100,000 in radio advertising across the four major networks down the east coast of Australia. The advertising, run over two weeks, will be provided on Austereo, NOVA, Australian Radio Network and Macquarie Regional Radio network stations down the east coast of Australia in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Central Coast, Sydney and Melbourne.


“The radio industry wants to hear from artists and bands who have at least three songs ready to be played on commercial radio but who have not yet been signed by a record label,” Ms Warner said.


The submissions will be judged on commercial radio play potential by a panel of commercial radio network program and music directors.


Four acts will be selected from submissions by the program and music directors to play at the NA2R Showcase on Friday, October 13. The winner will be chosen at the Showcase event by a combination of the judging panel scores on the night and sms votes from the radio industry audience present at the event. The winner will be then invited to perform the following evening at the ACRAs in front of 850 Australian radio industry executives and on-air presenters.


Ms Warner said unearthing new talent has always been one of the key roles played by commercial radio in Australia and was one of the ways in which the commercial radio industry supported Australian music and artists.


“This is an industry-wide initiative which has helped launched some very successful music careers in the four years it has been operating including artists like Delta Goodrem, Kid Courageous,Sarah Blasko, Nessa Morgan, Thirsty Merc, Jade Macrae and last year’s winner Figgkidd.


“The commercial radio industry is committed to encouraging the development of Australian music and NA2R provides an important and innovative way of opening the door for emerging Australian artists to be showcase to the decision makers in the commercial radio industry.”  View PDF