Digital Radio Gets A GLOW-Up With New Local-Focused Station: ‘We Just Want To Celebrate Good Music’

Australia and New Zealand may be relatively small countries as far as the rest of the world is concerned, but one thing we certainly possess in abundance, is talent. 

From icons and heritage artists to fresh emerging performers, the music scene down under is bursting at the seams with unique and creative voices, and some truly epic musicianship. 

With that in mind, an enterprising crew of music sector professionals have come together to create GLOW Radio, a platform designed to champion not only Aussie and NZ musicians, but to shine a spotlight on historically underrepresented cohorts. 

Officially launching in February 2026, GLOW’s digital radio station will create a space where women over 35, gender-diverse, and First Nations musicians can get the airplay and recognition they have long deserved. 

GLOW Founder and Project Manager Grant Gillies gave The Music the lowdown on this exciting and much-needed new initiative.

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“For years, we’ve seen incredibly talented artists, especially women over 35, gender-diverse musicians, and First Nations creators, making brilliant music that deserves to be heard widely,” Gillies says. 

“The talent is there – the platforms to support them are not, so it’s about creating opportunities for talent to reach new audiences.”

The idea for GLOW began to take shape when label manager and journalist Gillies started chatting with Milly Petriella OAM, Director of Member Relations & Partnerships at APRA AMCOS, about the gaps they saw across the industry. 

From there, they brought together a team of independent music consultants, including Shaun Heron, Grant Donges, Mardi Caught, David Gillett, and Nat Files to brainstorm the project. Everyone involved shared the same mission: to create a home for great music without gatekeeping or commercial constraints. 

“Australia is overflowing with music talent, but the avenues for actual exposure and impact have never been narrower,” explains Gillies. 

“Commercial radio is increasingly globalised, streaming is algorithm-driven, and so many incredible voices slip through the cracks. Women are particularly underrepresented.

“GLOW exists because we need a platform that puts local artists first – no ads, no bias, no restrictions, just music that deserves to be heard. We’re reducing reliance on foreign-owned media and creating a space where Australian and New Zealand artists can finally claim their narrative.”

With a focus on artists with real depth and longevity, as well as the next wave of exciting new talent, GLOW Radio is all set to feature icons like Kasey Chambers, Natalie Imbruglia, The Veronicas, Jessica Mauboy, Bic Runga, and more alongside emerging and First Nations artists, in what promises to be a unique, meaningful and eclectic listening experience.

“It’s a powerful mix across generations and genres, and that’s precisely what GLOW is about,” Gillies says.

The GLOW team comes from a broad spectrum across the music industry, but they all have the same compass when it comes to curating their artists: quality. 

“We’re not looking at charts or chasing trends; we listen for great songwriting, authenticity, and artistry that feels meaningful,” Gillies explains. “If a song makes you pause, lean in, or feel something, that’s a GLOW song. 

“We focus on artists creating great music but aren’t getting the exposure they deserve, regardless of age, genre, or commercial profile.

“We’re looking for reasons to play Australian music, not excuses, not to,” he adds. “We don't care if the song has any Shazams, or the artist has 100,000 social media followers, or if the song is old or new – we just want to celebrate good music.”

With that in mind, the expectation is that GLOW’s audience will also cover a fairly broad demographic with one thing in common: A love of great music.

“There’s nostalgia, discovery and so many voices that will feel familiar and like home,” says Gillies. 

“I hope we’ll see a really diverse audience, from longtime fans of iconic female Australian artists to younger listeners who want something different from algorithm-led playlists.

“We also hope industry professionals, tastemakers and media will tune in, because GLOW is a discovery platform as much as it is a listening experience.”

And the initiative doesn’t stop at GLOW Radio, either, Gillies notes.

“The dream is for GLOW to become a significant force in championing Australian and New Zealand music, not just a radio station, but a movement. We want to build more platforms, expand opportunities for artists, and continue breaking down the systems that limit exposure. 

“Long-term, we want GLOW to shift culture, helping create an environment where local artists are consistently heard, celebrated, and supported at every stage of their careers. GLOW RADIO is just the beginning. We have more to come for GLOW — it’s not just a radio station, it’s a brand, with exciting projects and platforms set to launch next year.”

Meet The Glow Team

The team brings together some of the most respected and experienced figures in the Australian music and media landscape. 

• Grant Gillies, formerly of The Sydney Morning Herald, has built a dynamic career spanning journalism, label management at Jive Records, senior roles at Channel Ten, and artist management and marketing consultancy. 

• Milly Petriella OAM draws on 28 years at APRA AMCOS as Director of Member Relations & Partnerships, continuing her lifelong commitment to supporting songwriters through her leadership of the Vanda & Young Global Song Comp; she was awarded an OAM in 2024 for her service to the arts. 

• Shaun Heron brings deep broadcast expertise, having served as the former Program Director of Nova and Group Head of Entertainment at Foxtel & BINGE. 

• Mardi Caught, founder of The Annex, is one of Australia’s leading independent music strategists, following senior executive roles at Warner, EMI, Sony, and as VP of Talent & Music at MTV UK, as well as serving as a Mercury Music Prize judge. 

• Grant Donges brings 25 years of extensive industry insight as a former Vice President Marketing, Publicity and Promotions at Sony Music and a seasoned music industry consultant. 

• David Gillett has a decade of managing artists and, prior to that, was Marketing Manager at ABC TV. 

• Rounding out the team is Nat Files, whose work through The PR Files has driven major communications campaigns for artists including Adele, Sia, Radiohead, Gang Of Youths, Bon Iver, Kesha, Passenger, and Leon Bridges, alongside five years as the ARIA Awards’ publicist and leadership of PR for major festivals such as Party In The Paddock and Junction Arts Festival.

Watch this space and tune in for the launch of GLOW Radio in February 2026.