Hey thanks, Triple J: I kind of dig Dig

http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2013/oct/25/hey-thanks-triple-j-i-kind-of-dig-dig

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The digital radio station Dig Music is now powered by Triple J, in a move the national youth broadcaster hopes will draw those fans who have “moved on” (its words) or “think Triple J got shit” (not its words).

As I listen to it the Bloodhound Gang’s Fire Water Burn is playing and I can’t help but feel happy and a little defiant that it’s the uncensored version and not the one with the donkey hee-haw overdub. Because back when this song was big, I was of the age when I felt happy and defiant about things like gratuitous swearing on the radio.

I think this station is definitely aimed at me.

It wasn’t really before. Dig Music was just that odd station I could find through my set-top box that was perfect for family get togethers because no one would complain about the songs. It wasn’t great, but it served a purpose.

The renewed station will reportedly share just 10% of Triple J’s current playlist and fill the rest with songs from the Triple J archives, old alternative favourites and new music – which is good because I don’t actually want to live in a time capsule. The names announced as future guest programmers and collaborators are comfortably familiar: Sarah Blasko, Billy Bragg, Tim Rogers, Moby, Adalita, Tex Perkins, Katalyst, Jen Cloher and the Bamboos, among others.

The move to give old fans a new radio destination is – on the surface – an odd acknowledgement for Triple J to be making: we know you don’t like us anymore so rather than try to get you to come back, here’s a new station for you. But it’s actually pretty sensible. Triple J was never chasing those of us no longer in the 19-24 age group. We just wanted it to.

The thing about radio – why people are still so passionate about it and why it will never be replaced by an iTunes genius playlist or Spotify – is that it offers community connection. You know there are others listening along with you.

There are those of us who think that sometime around the dawn of the new century, Triple J went downhill. Too much hip-hop/Skrillex/whimsical female vocalists. There are also those of us who agree that Triple J went downhill but acknowledge that the coincidence of this happening right around the time we outgrew the Triple J demographic might not actually be a coincidence.

There are former Triple J listeners outside the age group who won’t be drawn to Dig – those with their fingers still firmly on the musical pulse. These people (wizards) still find the time in their world of full-employment, bills and babies, to stay on top of all the new music coming out each and every week, expertly discerning the quality stuff from the pretenders and flashes in pans. These people are impressive and I am in awe of their ability to ignore television and other distractions to focus on their passion for music.

The ex-Triple J fans who might be drawn to Dig are those who are still really into their music, but need or want to consume it easily and comfortably. Once upon a time they could tell you not just the top 10 of any given Hottest 100 but a fair proportion of the other 90 as well.

But now they have been distracted by life, and a lot – like me – will switch to Dig with hope and enthusiasm. I shamefully let my music knowledge slip once I left uni and a job in a CD store.

So Dig is kind of appealing.

As I finish up, the station is playing Throw Your Arms Around Me, a song universally loved by everyone – and don’t try to tell me otherwise. But it’s the Neil Finn and Eddie Vedder cover which I haven’t heard in a long time. I’m glad it’s playing. It’s a good song.

It’s not that I Like Your Old Stuff Better Than Your New Stuff, but sometimes it’s really nice to listen to songs that I have a connection to, whether that’s nostalgic, historic or just plain emotional.

Yes I could hit shuffle on iTunes, but it’s nice to know there are others listening at the same time as me, and enjoying it just as much.

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