Digital radio is high on the agenda for the BIG SOUND Music Industry Summit and Showcase program on Wednesday, 10 September at the Judith Wright Centre. The program will include a panel on the evolution of Digital Radio in Australia and the ways it could change the music industry and the ways Australian’s listen and interact with the communication medium.

Radio experts Joan Warner (CEO of Commercial Radio Australia), Stuart Matchett (Program Director, ABC DIG Internet Radio), Mike Walsh (Head of Music, XFM Network UK), Jarrod Graetz (Program Director, Stripe) and Stuart Buchanan (Media Producer, Community Engine, Fat Planet, FBi Radio) will make up a tasty panel taking on the hot topics including the recent successful tenders focusing on the development of Digital Radio infrastructure in Australia , and the launch of mobile and internet digital service Stripe.

Chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia , Joan Warner, announced in July how the sector was developing towards of Australia ’s migration to a Digital Radio platform.
“We are now literally building towards a new era, one that will deliver a multi-media experience to radio listeners, broadcasters and advertisers alike.” Ms Warner said.

Digital radio services are said to begin in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth from early 2009, seeing Ms Warner and other panel associates focusing strongly on this new age media.
Stripe is another radio development the panel speakers will address detailing how the new service caters for all music tastes by allowing the public to access 100 stations by the end of 2009, via the internet and 3G mobile phones.
"We are proud to launch Stripe, a first in Australia offering a huge range of genre specific radio stations and is listener driven,” he said.

“If you've got 3G coverage, you can access your favourite music and programs from your (3G) mobile phone and on broadband internet for less than $10 a month with no ad breaks and less interruptions.” Mr Graetz said.


Joan Warner and Jarrod Graetz will be joined by ABC's Stuart Matchett, XFM UK Program Director Mike Walsh and Stuart Buchanan to present and discuss at BIG SOUND‘s Digital Radio: The New Age summit on 10 September at 4:00pm at the Judith Wright Centre.