BIGSOUND 2012: Nick Findlay

12 September 2012 | 6:00 am | Staff Writer

Five minutes with triple j Assistant Music Director, Nick Findlay.

How did you first become involved in the music business?

Music has always been a huge part of my life and I have been involved in music radio since I was a 16-year-old kid playing records for shits and giggles at my local suburban community radio station. Things started to get serious when I was 18 and got involved heavily with (at the time, brand new) Sydney community radio station FBi 94.5, which really helped widen the styles and sounds I was loving.

What do you perceive to be your area of expertise, and how did you gain experience in this field?

My area of expertise is radio music directing, which for those who don't work in the industry, is the act of choosing what music a station will play and how the music is scheduled across the station. With almost six years of non-stop community radio experience already under my belt, I studied an Advanced Diploma in Radio Broadcasting at the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) in 2005. Here, my love of radio, music, and making mix tapes completely took over as I focused my attention during the course on music directing. This led me to a full-time position in the triple j music department, which in turn led me to my current position.

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What will you be primarily discussing during your appearance at the BIGSOUND conference?

At this year's BIGSOUND I am taking part in two panels - Great Songs That Make The Emotional Connection and Mobile: The Most Powerful Marketing Tool Ever. I love involving myself in panels like this, but even more I just love having one-on-one chats with musicians who stop me in the halls to throw their CD at me. These informal chats are the best as it really breaks down any walls that young bands sometimes feel are stopping them from approaching people in the industry, and allows for a real frank chat about any hopes or queries that people have about radio or triple j in general.

What are you hoping that people will be able to learn from your panel/interview?

I hope that people learn something – it's disappointing when people leave a panel not coming away with what they went there for, either because they didn't get a chance to speak, or because the panel got sidetracked about stories from 'the good ol' days'. Don't be afraid to ask questions, and don't be afraid to approach us when we're off stage.

What are you expecting to take away yourself from your visit to BIGSOUND?

A shitload of CDs and a swagful of bands to follow up with.