ARIAs 2017: Is Australian music recognised on the world stage?

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This was published 6 years ago

ARIAs 2017: Is Australian music recognised on the world stage?

By Andrew Hornery

It was a distinctly "old fogey" moment at Tuesday night's ARIAs when I found myself frantically Googling many of the nominees in a vain attempt to look cool and discreetly ascertain exactly who was being welcomed into the pantheon of Aussie rock gods and goddesses.

Turns out I was not the only one.

Adam Briggs and Dan Rankine, aka AB Original, are redefining indigenous identity with their hip-hop offerings.

Adam Briggs and Dan Rankine, aka AB Original, are redefining indigenous identity with their hip-hop offerings. Credit: Michell Grace Hunder

Yes, a middle-aged professional(ish) man with a vast collection of Kylie Minogue and Barbra Streisand albums is probably not the key demographic being targeted by AB Original and their hip-hop offerings that are redefining Indigenous identity for a whole generation of young Australians.

Nor are those affable lads from Gang Of Youths high on my playlist, though they gave a killer performance for the packed room at The Star.

Intenational acts such as Ed Sheeran dominate Australian charts.

Intenational acts such as Ed Sheeran dominate Australian charts.Credit: Evan Agostini

Thankfully I was well versed in Pnau's fabulous performance of Chameleon – its been around for over a year now and played ad infinitum as upbeat background music on breakfast television – and I grew up on Paul Kelly. Sia's music is unavoidable, and pleasantly so, though ironically she has had greater success overseas than she did in Australia.

So exactly what is the status of the Australian music business when it comes to local rock and pop?

Judging by the ARIA charts, not so great.

It's international names like Ed Sheeran, Harry Styles, Taylor Swift, Drake and Miley Cyrus who dominate Australian charts these days.

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In May it was reported that just two Australian acts featured in the ARIA top 50 singles chart, a sorry state of affairs that no one in the business could recall having a precedent.

Clearly there are still plenty of talented homegrown acts on the scene, as showcased on Tuesday night with the likes of Amy Shark and Sia receiving due recognition.

But it cannot be ignored that when it comes to commercial success, the money is definitely with big global names, which ultimately comes at a price for fledgling Australian acts.

Much of this has to do with the way the music industry has evolved with digital downloads and music streaming rather than physical music sales and the impact that has had on how our charts are compiled.

Two-and-a-half years ago ARIA started to include digital streaming data into its singles charts. Music streaming bears little correlation with geography, and today's tech-savvy teenagers will sample music from all over the world with the swipe of a finger on their smartphones – la musique sans frontiers.

There was a time when Australian acts dominated Australian music charts. But the likes of Normie Rowe and Denise Drysdale being crowned the King and Queen of Pop on national television is a distant memory for today's music business.

Back then Australia produced some extraordinary acts that went on to global success.

The Bee Gees cracked the American market in August 1971 with How Can You Mend A Broken Heart, the first of a staggering nine No. 1 singles in the fiercely competitive US market.Helen Reddy went from being a Melbourne-born singer to global superstar in the 1970s, with 15 songs in the American Top 40 during the decade.

"Our" Olivia Newton-John dominated the North American music scene long before she appeared in Grease, with her first of five American No. 1s – I Honestly Love You –released in October 1974.

And the list goes on: Air Supply, The Easybeats, Rick Springfield, AC/DC, Men At Work, INXS, Savage Garden and Kylie Minogue and so many more, all enjoying global fame and fortune borne from humble beginnings here in Australia.

We can only wonder if AB Original and Amy Shark will be able to follow in their footsteps.

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