Triple J Takes Over ABC’s Dig Music Station

Triple j have today added a third station to their stable as they take control of ABC's Dig Music, effective immediately, with a view to a major rebrand in the next six months.

The move, announced today in Sydney by ABC's Managing Director Mark Scott, means that digital station Dig, best known to listeners for streaming through digital TVs, will join fellow digital station triple j Unearthed and the main triple j frequency under the youth broadcaster's banner.

The station – which changed over its allegiance from ABC immediately after this afternoon's announcement – will initially look to attract listeners who feel they have 'moved on' from the triple j playlist, a listenership which has long been discussed by triple j bosses. While station executives told theMusic.com.au it will still have a strong focus on new music, the revamped Dig will take tracks from the triple j archives and have a loose '90s directive at times.

Today's announcement marks the start of a six-month evaluation period where artists such as Sarah Blasko, Billy Bragg, Tim Rogers and Moby have been asked to program material for the station. Following listener and consultation, the station will undergo a complete re-launch in six months times, with everything from the playlist to the station's name on the table for discussion. A “modest” budget has been allocated to bring in hosting talent for the official launch in April 2014.

Megan Loader, Content Director at triple j and now Dig Music, told theMusic that Dig would remain a digital station and avoid picking up its own frequency.

“The [three] stations will be complementary,” she said. “We imagine some listeners will be able to find parts of each station that they love and listen to, while others may settle on the one for their primary source of new music.”

Staff from triple j are now overseeing the station's operations.                    

“It's hard to believe when you listen to it, but Dig has been running with thanks to a very small team for years, of only a few people, so we've now absorbed them into triple j and will be growing that team over the next six months.”

It's been a successful year for triple j so far, with the station picking up its first ever ratings win in a metro market in a recent Perth survey. This week their Live A Version Volume Nine release has a chance of going to #1 on the ARIA Albums Chart.

Other artists who have provided content for Dig Music include Adalita, David Bridie, Missy Higgins, Bernard Fanning, Tex Perkins, Katalyst, Amanda Palmer, Jen Cloher, Josh Pyke, Eskimo Joe, Kevin Mitchell and Clare Bowditch.