50 years on, 17,000 people are still paying to keep Triple R alive

Seventeen thousand people voluntarily pay for a Melbourne radio station they could listen to for free.

At a time when traditional media is shrinking, and Big Tech algorithms increasingly decide what information audiences see, Melbourne radio station Triple R is showing there’s still strong demand for local, independent media.

Now marking 50 years on the airwaves, the station has weathered five decades of upheaval in the media landscape.

“They [subscribers and donors] do this because they know how rare these genuine goodwill projects are, and they know they need to do their bit to keep these special things alive,” said station manager Dave Houchin.

Triple R is currently holding its annual subscription and donation drive, Radiothon 2026.

This year alone, 695 volunteers have contributed 46,000 hours to the station, showing what people are prepared to do to keep independent media alive.

“Our presenters are volunteers who are experts in their field, so they’re really motivated by very little other than creating discovery opportunities and connections for our audiences,” said Mr Houchin, who described them as “tastemakers”.

“Because our presenters are deeply rooted in the local music community, and they’re given the freedom to make their own creative choices, the music that finds airplay has credibility and artistic merit.”

He said a recent study by Monash and Griffith Universities found that Triple R delivers more than $15 million in social impact returns to local music.

“Community broadcasters support talent very early in their careers, that’s certainly been the case for artists like Courtney Barnett, Sampa The Great, Amyl and the Sniffers and so many others that have gone on to be breakthrough artists,” he said.

At the same time, he said the station provides a platform for “in-depth long format conversations, niche talks content, and things of local interest”.

The Australia Institute’s Director of International & Security Affairs Program, Dr Emma Shortis, has been appearing on the station for the past decade.

She said there was “clearly an appetite” for deeper discussion on issues and topics not covered elsewhere.

“I think when mainstream media is so constrained and becoming increasingly risk averse, there are so few spaces for that long form discussion where there is an existing community and where the values are really clear and they’re inclusive,” she said.

Dr Shortis said the station had allowed her to carve out a unique space connecting US and Australian politics.

“I am ostensibly an expert on US politics, and usually that means being constrained just to that,” she said.

“Your show has helped us make an important connection between those two issues and push back on the idea that they should be treated as separate.”

She said audiences wanted experts “labelling what we can all see”, rather than “still playing this game where we pretend everything’s fine” while ignoring what else is happening in the world.

Reflecting on her time at the station, host Amy Mullins said she wanted to use her show Uncommon Sense to dig deeper into issues and provide more in-depth interviews with industry disruptors.

“I was really determined to spotlight those people who are doing that really important work, and who aren’t getting the length of time, the considered type of time and conversation,” she said.

Mr Houchin also credits consistent leadership with keeping the station focused, noting it has had just five station managers in five decades.

He also believes its success is intrinsically tied to Melbourne.

“I don’t think Triple R could exist anywhere but Melbourne/Naarm,” he said.

“We reflect the city and have evolved alongside it. We’ve been informed by Melbourne and informed its cultural underbelly for 50 years in a way that means they can’t be extracted from one another.

“I’ve said it many times, but I’m continually struck by the feeling of volunteer pride dripping from the walls at Triple R.”

The radiothon runs until Wednesday 16 September.

Radiothon 2026 is Triple R’s largest annual subscription and donation drive. If you believe in the power of Triple R, help them Celebrate 50 Years. Subscribe and donate now.