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Triple J Hits Back At Criticism From Townsville Mayor

Mary Varvaris

The station responds to claims it doesn't support regional events enough.

Triple J has addressed claims that it doesn’t support enough regional events, stemming from Groovin The Moo festival, which the national youth broadcaster sponsors, shifting from Townsville to Sunshine Coast.

Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill criticised Groovin The Moo and triple j in relation to the festival moving the Townsville leg to the Sunshine Coast due to logistical and financial challenges. As Purple Sneakers recently reported, the Sunshine Coast leg of this year's Groovin The Moo has already sold out.

Mayor Hill told the ABC, "Three of the stops, Wayville in Adelaide, Canberra and the Sunshine Coast, can hardly be considered regional." The New South Wales stop is in Maitland, while the Victorian event is held in Bendigo and Bunbury in Western Australia.

Mayor Hill added, "As Groovin The Moo is sponsored by triple j, owned by the Australian government, one has to question the commitment of the national broadcaster to northern Australia.

"The tyranny of distance kills us for events. You shouldn't have to live in Brisbane for livability."

Triple J responded with a statement that mentioned the events it supported in Townsville in the last year: Day Trip Festival on August 20, 2022, and an Unearthed event.

The national youth broadcaster also stated that 42% of tours it sponsors feature regional as well as metro stops, while 21% of tours it sponsors are entirely regional.

The Music has reached out to Groovin The Moo for comment.

The 2023 Groovin The Moo line-up has something for everyone, from crowd favourites Skepta and Denzel Curry to Fatboy Slim. 

This year's triple j Hottest 100 was represented by artists that feature on the line-up, including Eliza Rose, who took out the #2 spot with B.O.T.A (Baddest Of Them All), Ball Park Music (#8 Stars In My Eyes), Skegss (#19 Stranger Days), LUUDE (#28 Big City Life), Teen Jesus & The Jean Teasers (#55 Girl Sports) with Teenage Dads and plenty of other festival artists taking spots across the countdown.

The UK's Sophie May and Laurel join indie-rock royalty alt-J on the line-up. Canada’s BBNO$ accompanies fellow rapper Denzel Curry (USA) along with LA-based singer-songwriters Omar Apollo and Slayyyter.

Tickets are currently on sale via the Groovin The Moo website and Moshtix.