Aaron Holloway
Co-host, Queer Radio
Written by Karolina Smoderek on 2009-10-09
Aaron Holloway’s prolfile is a vital contribution to the Brisbane Media Map as he overlaps in both the broadcasting and queer sectors. Also, being part of generation Y, and being a co-host for a community radio station has allowed his media savvy ways to contribute to the operations of the Queer radio show.
Why did you decide to pursue a career in the media and communications industry?
Initially I thought it would be fun. That was one of the reasons. I had been a guest on the show a couple of times in 2008 and there was an opening in the role as co-host and they invited me back to fill the position. We are a very specific show on Queer Radio; we get to talk about things that are relevant to the gay and lesbian community. I would not say I’m an expert in terms of what is going on and issues that people are dealing with but I can certainly talk to people and get information out of them and its fun.
What has been your most memorable achievement or experience working as part of Brisbane’s media landscape?
I think the most memorable moment is being the Master of Ceremony for the same sex marriage equality rally, as I was the co-host of Queer Radio. There were about three hundred people there and we marched through the streets of the Brisbane City, starting at Queens Park. This is definately something I would not have got to do if I wasn’t the co-host of Queer Radio. Although this memorable moment is not directly linked to the media landscape it is the opportunity that I have been given as being part of this show.
What are the biggest challenges you and your organisation face as a member of the Brisbane media community?
Challenges we face are that we are a small radio show and there is only two of us, and we have to source our own news and media. Not many people know about us, which is tricky. It’s not like commercial radio where your instantly recognised and they know who you are. Though, Queer Radio has been around for 16 years and we are longest running gay and lesbian radio show in the country. I think also that as a small community station we do not have the power that other stations may have. If one of our presenters were to do or say something that really pushed the boundaries of acceptable conduct, the station could be in real danger of being shut down. Unlike other networks, we simply do not have the funds to withstand a large lawsuit or damages claim like that. The other thing is that our presenters are all volunteers. This means that there is a lot more reign given to them as though they can always be told off or taken off air, finding people available to fill the spots can be tricky, if not sometimes impossible.
What do you think about the relationship between traditional media and new media?
I think it is making things easier, given that we are in Brisbane, we do not have a lot of gay and lesbian news outlets. When we are providing information on our show we usually have to find out from our own contacts or from the Internet. The Internet has made things easier for us, allowing us to download stuff and provide it on our show. One example is the Melbourne’s station JOY FM wrap up that we play on the show each week because they provide us with that podcast. It has allowed us to manage and source content. It has also enabled us to start podcasting our own show, making it easier for people to listen at a later date. We are a small community radio, but I feel we are working well with incorporating new media.
What changes do you see happening over the next five years in the radio/queer industry?
I think with the advance of digital radio it will go a long way, with how we listen and the ability of live pause and rewind on a radio show. I think with how radio is perceived as a medium will be updated, as radio has been around for like ‘a hundred years’ or so. It’s going to be an interesting next few years with how new technology takes it from analogue to digital, and you can get perfect sound no matter where you are. People are already streaming online the analogue signal through the internet but now with people logging online you can get a perfect signal whether they are online at home on their computer or in the car with their Ipod connected; they can get it anywhere and everywhere.
How does the convergence of radio and internet effect media laws?
Well I think it’s going to make things really tricky in the future in terms of copyright. At the moment we have a requirement to remove all the songs from our podcasts because of copyright issues, but with people having the ability to stream a live show from anywhere around the world, obviously, we can not control what happens to the content we put on the air. New media technologies are making radio media more accessible: for example I can stream both Nova and a German radio station live to my iPhone via the internet. As new media is made more accessible by the net, I think the laws will inevitably change to try to reign in some control of it. Organisations like APRA / AMCOS will always try to protect the rights to the music of their members, and are no doubt coming up with new laws and guidelines to do that.
Where do you see the future for community radio – with it competing against commercial stations?
I think there will always be a space for community radio stations amongst the larger commercial ones. Community radio and Commercial radio I think serve a different purpose, and cater to a different audience. On 4ZZZ for example, a lot of the presenters are people who would probably normally be considered to be on the ‘fringe’ of society, grunge types – that sort of thing. We have shows that play thrash metal, ambient instrumental, shows focused on women’s issues, political issues – just to name a few. These are things that you wouldn’t normally find talked about on Commercial Radio. I can not remember the last time I heard a Commercial DJ suggest their listeners should hit the streets as part of a political rally in Brisbane. I think Community Radio will always need to be around to provide a voice for these people, and to have people be aware of political actions they can take. If Community radio were to shut down entirely, I think it would be a closer step to a 1984 type society where the people only hear what the powers-that-be want them to.