 | |
| |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Worldwide (internet radio) |
| Frequencies | DAB+,DVB-T Ch. 200 |
| Programming | |
| Language | English |
| Format | Eclectic |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Australian Broadcasting Corporation |
| History | |
First air date | November 2002 |
Former names | ABC Dig Music |
| Links | |
| Website | abc |
Double J is an Australiandigital radio station owned by theAustralian Broadcasting Corporation. A sister station of the youth-orientedTriple J, it was founded in 2002 asDig Music and aims to appeal to an older audience with a more refined music catalogue, as well as archive content from Triple J's library. It is available to stream online or via theDAB+ network in Australia.
ABC Dig Music was founded in November 2002. It emerged from formats developed by Bill Gates and Phil Cullen at ABC Coast FM, which broadcast anadult alternative music format and was for many years ABC Radio's only continuous stream. It was part of a suite of three digital channels, alongside Dig Jazz and Dig Country.[1]
SomeABC Local Radio,ABC Radio National andTriple J music programs were also broadcast on ABC Dig Music.
In July 2009, Dig Radio, Dig Jazz and Dig Country was rebranded as the launch of digital radio stations ABC Dig Music, ABC Jazz and Country.
On 24 October 2013, the operations of ABC Dig Music were transferred to the staff of Triple J, and it was announced that the station would undergo a relaunch by April 2014. It was reported that the new station would be positioned as a spin-off of Triple J targeting older listeners, including a focus on new music, and archive content from the Triple J library.[2][3]
On 9 April 2014, it was announced that the new station would be known as "Double J" and launch on 30 April; the name is a homage to the originalcall sign of Triple J, 2JJ (also pronounced Double J). Former Triple J announcerMyf Warhurst was named as Double J's first on-air personality, hosting a weekday afternoon show. Manager Chris Scaddan explained that Double J would take the "best elements" of Triple J's history "into the future with the best new sounds around."[4][5]
On 28 April 2014, ahead of the launch, the station beganstunting with a loop of 13 different versions of "Express Yourself" byN.W.A, including covers bythe Audreys,Darren Hanlon andWagons. The song was chosen in homage to a 1990industrial action by Triple J relating to their censured airplay of "Fuck tha Police".[6][7]
Double J officially launched on 30 April 2024 at 12:00 p.m.AEST, with a special presented by Warhurst from the Calvin Club in Melbourne. The launch programme was simulcast by Triple J, and featured introductions to the new station's lineup and programming, as well as live performances byPaul Dempsey andKate Miller Heidke.[8][9]
On 19 January 2015, the station broadcastBeat the Drum Again, a special day of programming to commemorate Triple J's 40th anniversary. It included programs staffed by past personalities such asMikey Robins andHelen Razer,Angela Catterns,Chris &Craig, andRoy & HG, as well as rebroadcasts of 2JJ's first hour on the air, and ofMidnight Oil's1985 concert onGoat Island for Triple J's 10th anniversary.[10]
In March 2022, a group of female Australian singer-songwriters wrote to federal communications ministerPaul Fletcher and shadow communications ministerMichelle Rowland requesting that Double J be granted an FM licence to enable the station to have a broader reach by allowing it to expand into regional areas of the country.[11]
Missy Higgins,Kasey Chambers,Kate Miller-Heidke,Sarah Blasko,Vikki Thorn andDeborah Conway said that ageing female artists get much less exposure on FM radio than their male counterparts and noted there was no female equivalent to male-orientated FM stationTriple M. They said Double J was a station that played a lot of new music by female artists over the age of 30 but its reach was "severely limited". They said an expansion of the station by granting it an FM license, enabling access to a much wider audience, could be a way of getting closer to equality. The women also launched aChange.org petition to garner support from fans.[11]
In response, Rowland and shadow arts ministerTony Burke said moving Double J onto the FM band would be a positive step for Australian music. They said if theOpposition was elected to power at the2022 Australian federal election, they would examine the issue and work with the ABC andACMA and consult with musicians.[12] However, they didn't commit to the plan outright.[12]
While visiting theByron Bay Bluesfest during the campaign, then opposition leaderAnthony Albanese said if his party was elected at the election, they would commission the ABC to undertake a feasibility study into extending Double J into regional areas.[13] Albanese declared: "I want more people in regional Australia to experience the joy I have of listening to Double J, singing along to songs they love or maybe discovering something new."[14]
As of 2025, the line-up on Double J includes:[15]
Double J also plays archive content from Triple J, includingLive at the Wireless performances.
Long-running music director of Triple J,Richard Kingsmill, hosted a program from 2016 to 2023 calledThe Funhouse which was one of Double J's longest-running specialty shows at over 350 episodes.[17] It became available to stream as a podcast onABC Listen andSpotify.[18]
Zan Rowe'sTake 5 podcast won Gold at the 2020 Australian Podcast Awards for Best Radio Podcast, andInside The Big Day Out won Silver for the Best Documentary Podcast.[19]