‘We can’t lose Australian stories’: Missy Higgins issues desperate plea for Aussie artists

Australian music royalty Missy Higgins has dropped a bombshell about the “unfortunate truth” of the country’s struggling music industry.

Australian music’s biggest names, including Missy Higgins, have issued a desperate plea to platform local artists who risk being lost as international artists dominate Aussie charts.

Higgins was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame at the 2024 ARIA Awards on Wednesday night and used her speech to point out Australian artists aren’t being seen on Australian charts.

“We’re seeing less and less of our own songs on our own charts these days,” Higgins said.

“International content dominates the platforms and algorithms here in Australia, so the young singer songwriter just starting out won’t be as fortunate as me, and that is the unfortunate truth.

“So we have to keep demanding local content be prioritised here.”

Missy Higgins said Aussie artists are seen ‘less and less’ on Aussie charts. Picture: NewsWire / Christian Gilles

She said Australian artists risk losing “who (they) are” without change.

“We can’t lose Australian stories,” she said.

“We lose that and we lose who we are.”

Only two Australian artists are featured on the ARIA Top 50 Singles charts for the week of 18 November, with The Kid Laroi coming in at 25 for Nights Like This and Vance Joy charting at 35 with Riptide, which was released more than 10 years ago in 2013.

Speaking backstage at the ARIA Awards, Higgins encouraged people to add more Aussie artists to their playlists.

“We need to prioritise Australian artists on our algorithms and our playlists,” she said.
“Most people listen to curated playlists on their online platforms now, so we need to make sure the people that make those algorithms highlight Australian artists and always prioritise putting local artists in the playlist.”

Grinspoon’s Phil Jamieson (second from the right) pushed for radio and television quotas on Aussie music to be legislated. Picture: Richard Dobson

Oliver Leimbach from Lime Cordiale pushed for more Aussie music in TV, film and ads. Picture: Richard Dobson

Higgins wasn’t alone in her push to platform Aussie musicians, with Grinspoon singer and guitarist Phil Jamieson calling for quotas to be legislated.

“(Australian television and radio) should be playing more Australian artists and I think a quota would be helpful,” Jamieson said.

“Go on, just legislate it.”

Oliver Leimbach of Lime Cordiale echoed Jamieson’s call.

“Commercial radio could play Australian music a bit more, not at midnight. That would be very nice,” Leimbach said.

“I think there should be just more Aussie music on TV, film, and ads — maybe put some more quotas in there that can’t be escaped so easily.

“Jack River called out the Olympics for not plugging Australian music enough, for something that’s so patriotic, Australian music just gets shafted.

“Australian music is idolised on the other side of the world so much … but then for some reason we have to idolise not so good music from overseas.”

Katie Noonan said “Australian radio doesn’t sound Australian”, also pushing for legislated quotas.

She said “paying for music ethically” is important, urging people to purchase Aussie CD’s, tote bags and T-shirts.

According to the Commercial Radio Code of Practice, the amount of Aussie music radio stations are required to play depends on their format of service.

Peach PRC said the Australian music scene ‘sucks’. Picture: Richard Dobson

Mainstream rock, album oriented rock, contemporary hits, top 40 and alternative stations must ensure at least 25 per cent of music played is Australian, while other formats like oldies, easy listening, easy gold and country gold only need to play at least 10 per cent of Aussie music.

Another section requires between 15 and 25 per cent of all Australian performances broadcast during performance periods to be new acts.
The further guidelines are applicable to stations who fall under mainstream rock, album oriented rock, contemporary hits, top 40, alternative, hot/mainstream adult contemporary, country, classic rock, soft adult contemporary, hits & memories, gold – encompassing classic hits and hip hop.

Peach PRC said the Australian music scene “sucks”, with local artists often “forgotten”.

“The Aussie music scene — it sucks, I’ll be honest. I wish it was more expansive and I wish that it was more seen in other mainstream media,” she said.

“I feel like Australia really gets forgotten when we have some really cool stuff happening here … it’s just not showcased enough.

“I’m also very new to the music industry, so let me not say too much …”

Daryl Braithwaite said he’s encouraged music is ‘still very much a priority’ among young people. Picture: NewsWire/Clareese Packer.

Katie Noonan urged people to support Aussie artists. Picture: Richard Dobson

Sydney metal band Polaris said “incidental music” could be another great way to platform more Aussie artists.

“More avenues and more established means for people to get promoted,” the band said on the red carpet.

“For example, Triple J having heavy metal shows — there is nothing like that on TV at the moment, so see some kind of nod towards that would be great.

“More use of Australian artists from the alternative genres in placements in television, advertising, TV shows … just incidental music, I think anytime you get a metal track in an Aussie TV show always adds a really cool moment.”

However Daryl Braithwaite said he’s “encouraged” to see music a priority among young people.

“It’s a tough one because things are changing so quickly,” Braithwaite said.

“I think just support it a bit more, I reckon, but I’m encouraged by the fact that there are young bands still wanting to play, and artists as well.

“Music is still very much a priority with a lot of young people which is great.”

Originally published as ‘We can’t lose Australian stories’: Missy Higgins issues desperate plea for Aussie artists