If you care about music and you live in Sydney then you know about FBi. For over ten years the radio station has championed, recorded, broadcast, interviewed, discovered and shared the best local and international artists. Alongside other community broadcasters they've helped consolidate a whole new culture around music in the city and beyond. The revolution has not been televised, but it continues to spread, and FBi Click is the next step in the station's growth. It's a whole new digital channel, and it's filled with programs hosted by a select range of tastemakers, beatmakers, and troublemakers. We caught up with Former FBi General Manager of Music, Dan Zilber, to find out more about the channel and what people will hear when they click over.THUMP: FBi celebrated it's tenth year in 2013. What growth, or changes have you seen in the local music scene over that time, particularly with electronic and dance styles?
Dance music has always been very important to me and to FBi in general, ever since we started broadcasting full-time in 2003. Prior to that the station was an "aspirant" and would broadcast for a few months per year as it tried to secure a permanent license. In those aspirant days, the station was pretty much a 100% indie/rock station. When I came on board as Music Director before launch, that focus didn't seem to properly represent what was happening in Sydney or more broadly in the music world. Along with the station's original Program Director, we knew we wanted to craft as more contemporary sound and that resulted in "Sunset" our flagship, daily dance music show which still runs today and has always been hosted by some of Australia's most prominent dance music dj's.The growth over the past decade has been monumental. Dance music is no longer niche, it has completely crossed over to the mainstream. As that transition has slowly happened, it's been my job to stay ahead of the curve, predict the emerging trends in electronic music and represent that on FBi and now on FBi Click. We've been through the rise of indie/dance and electro in the mid nineties, the resurgence in Baltimore, the emergence of dubstep (no brostep, please) and even that blip in dance music history that was Baile Funk. Now we're a couple of years in to "The Australian Sound" (whatever that means) and seeing some of the scenes most exciting producers coming from our home turf is really exciting.What was the motivation to launch the entirely separate digital channel of FBi Click?
There were an increasing number of dance music crews who were doing amazing things in Sydney and around the country. Selfishly, I wanted to work with them and (less selfishly) give them a platform on radio to expand their audience, share quality music and offer something more to our listeners.How does the content of FBi Click relate to the analogue FBi radio broadcast, and how does it differ?
FBi Click is more focused on the spectrum of electronic and dance based music. FBi 94.5 is much broader, musically. Having said that, there will be crossover as we'll be re-broadcasting both 'Sunset' and FBi's specialist electronic/dance shows on FBi Click. Another difference is that each show is programmed 100% by the hosts, so the genres and styles will change show to show. FBi 94.5 has a much more general approach to programming, particularly through daytime hours.Can you take us through some of the shows/DJs/music crews that form part of the programming?
The shows we've pulled together is the thing I'm most proud of. From young gun promoters/managers Astral People, to long term dance music exponents Purple Sneakers and Sweat It Out and Ultimate Vibe Council, the boys from Motorik. Then we've got a couple of Sydney's most important institutions in Goodgod (where most of the good dance stuff in Sydney happens) to Halfway Crooks (dirty, dirty rap music) and Picnic (probably the most tasteful rave in Sydney). Then we've got a few lesser known names who have come on board for their music knowledge and depth of their music collection - hopefully offering an informed and fun mix for our listeners.Any stories you can share of hard bargaining or difficult negotiations to entice certain groups onboard to get the roster looking like it does?
Well, the pay isn't great (in fact, it's nothing at all), so all dj's had to actively want to get involved with FBi in a more meaningful way then before. The whole roster has history with the station, but now they've all joined the family as volunteers and will contribute a significant amount of time to making good radio. I'm pretty proud to say that one ONE crew turned down the opportunity to have a show due to not having enough time to commit to it. I had my doubts about Astral People coming on board given their business is rapidly turning into an empire. Halfway Crooks was never guaranteed as Levins (who hosts the show with Captain Franco) has done several shows on FBi over the years. I thought his time was done in terms of radio, but it was either my powers of persuasion or his ego wanting to hear his voice on the radio that lured him back! Either way, both of those felt like a bit of a coup and were up top of my wishlist. Unfortunately, FBi doesn't have the budget for enticements, gifts or drugs. Just a common interest with all these crews to spread the sounds we love.In Australia digital radio is a comparatively recent development, what are your views on it's current place in the media landscape, and how are people engaging with it?
Digital Radio is a really interesting platform. FBi has always taken risks with our programming and tried to adopt new technology as early as possible. We want to be wherever our listeners want us to be and digital radio offered us the chance to start something entirely new. As it's an unknown quantity in Australia and doesn't have the numbers listening that a more developed market does (such as the UK), our digital feed will be backed up by an online stream so anyone can listen, anywhere in the world. Internet radio may yet prove a challenge to digital radio, but this way we get the best of both worlds and we'll see how digital radio goes. We're excited to extend what FBi does, whatever the platform.Are there any mixes or guest selectors coming up that you most excited about on a personal level?
I'll be hosting the launch program from 1-3 on launch day. We'll be simulcasting on 94.5fm and digital radio in Sydney, as well as our online stream. We've got an amazing array of massive talent for each show's debut episode (Sinden (UK), The Hacker (FR), Andrew Weatherall (UK), Jay Daniel (US), Midnight Juggernauts (AUS), HTRK (AUS) DJ Pierre (US), Nadastrom (US), Tasker (UK) and Swick (AUS).On a personal level, I'm really looking forward to our first 2 mixes on launch day.The UK's Zed Bias is one of the producers that got me really excited about dance music in the early 2000's and he's announced he's retiring from dj'ing to focus on production, so this mix will be one of his last. Then we've got an exclusive mix from Aussie export and former FBi dj, Anna Lunoe. Anna's done so well having moved to LA a few years ago - playing the biggest festivals in the country and releasing music through A-Trak's Fools Gold label and Skrillex's Nest HQ label. We're proud of her and I'm looking forward to her homecoming, even if it is in the form of a dj set.How do you see FBi Click evolving, and interacting with other media entities locally and internationally?
While FBi 94.5 generally focuses on having live-in-studio guest mixes, FBi Click will be more flexible and will secure exclusive pre-recorded mixes from partners all over the planet. Given it's focus on dance music, we want it to be part of the world-wide dance music community and an important representation of what's happening in the Australian scene. As with everything we do at FBi, FBi Click will be Sydney and Australia on show to all who tune in. FBiClick will evolve as the dance scene evolves. We'll find new, young crews who are exciting and deserve a show, we'll find new forms of dance music we want to support and hopefully we'll soundtrack pool parties, house parties and BBQ's across Australia and the world.Click over to the FBi's new digital platform here
Advertisement
Dance music has always been very important to me and to FBi in general, ever since we started broadcasting full-time in 2003. Prior to that the station was an "aspirant" and would broadcast for a few months per year as it tried to secure a permanent license. In those aspirant days, the station was pretty much a 100% indie/rock station. When I came on board as Music Director before launch, that focus didn't seem to properly represent what was happening in Sydney or more broadly in the music world. Along with the station's original Program Director, we knew we wanted to craft as more contemporary sound and that resulted in "Sunset" our flagship, daily dance music show which still runs today and has always been hosted by some of Australia's most prominent dance music dj's.The growth over the past decade has been monumental. Dance music is no longer niche, it has completely crossed over to the mainstream. As that transition has slowly happened, it's been my job to stay ahead of the curve, predict the emerging trends in electronic music and represent that on FBi and now on FBi Click. We've been through the rise of indie/dance and electro in the mid nineties, the resurgence in Baltimore, the emergence of dubstep (no brostep, please) and even that blip in dance music history that was Baile Funk. Now we're a couple of years in to "The Australian Sound" (whatever that means) and seeing some of the scenes most exciting producers coming from our home turf is really exciting.
Advertisement
There were an increasing number of dance music crews who were doing amazing things in Sydney and around the country. Selfishly, I wanted to work with them and (less selfishly) give them a platform on radio to expand their audience, share quality music and offer something more to our listeners.How does the content of FBi Click relate to the analogue FBi radio broadcast, and how does it differ?
FBi Click is more focused on the spectrum of electronic and dance based music. FBi 94.5 is much broader, musically. Having said that, there will be crossover as we'll be re-broadcasting both 'Sunset' and FBi's specialist electronic/dance shows on FBi Click. Another difference is that each show is programmed 100% by the hosts, so the genres and styles will change show to show. FBi 94.5 has a much more general approach to programming, particularly through daytime hours.Can you take us through some of the shows/DJs/music crews that form part of the programming?
The shows we've pulled together is the thing I'm most proud of. From young gun promoters/managers Astral People, to long term dance music exponents Purple Sneakers and Sweat It Out and Ultimate Vibe Council, the boys from Motorik. Then we've got a couple of Sydney's most important institutions in Goodgod (where most of the good dance stuff in Sydney happens) to Halfway Crooks (dirty, dirty rap music) and Picnic (probably the most tasteful rave in Sydney). Then we've got a few lesser known names who have come on board for their music knowledge and depth of their music collection - hopefully offering an informed and fun mix for our listeners.
Advertisement
Well, the pay isn't great (in fact, it's nothing at all), so all dj's had to actively want to get involved with FBi in a more meaningful way then before. The whole roster has history with the station, but now they've all joined the family as volunteers and will contribute a significant amount of time to making good radio. I'm pretty proud to say that one ONE crew turned down the opportunity to have a show due to not having enough time to commit to it. I had my doubts about Astral People coming on board given their business is rapidly turning into an empire. Halfway Crooks was never guaranteed as Levins (who hosts the show with Captain Franco) has done several shows on FBi over the years. I thought his time was done in terms of radio, but it was either my powers of persuasion or his ego wanting to hear his voice on the radio that lured him back! Either way, both of those felt like a bit of a coup and were up top of my wishlist. Unfortunately, FBi doesn't have the budget for enticements, gifts or drugs. Just a common interest with all these crews to spread the sounds we love.In Australia digital radio is a comparatively recent development, what are your views on it's current place in the media landscape, and how are people engaging with it?
Digital Radio is a really interesting platform. FBi has always taken risks with our programming and tried to adopt new technology as early as possible. We want to be wherever our listeners want us to be and digital radio offered us the chance to start something entirely new. As it's an unknown quantity in Australia and doesn't have the numbers listening that a more developed market does (such as the UK), our digital feed will be backed up by an online stream so anyone can listen, anywhere in the world. Internet radio may yet prove a challenge to digital radio, but this way we get the best of both worlds and we'll see how digital radio goes. We're excited to extend what FBi does, whatever the platform.Are there any mixes or guest selectors coming up that you most excited about on a personal level?
I'll be hosting the launch program from 1-3 on launch day. We'll be simulcasting on 94.5fm and digital radio in Sydney, as well as our online stream. We've got an amazing array of massive talent for each show's debut episode (Sinden (UK), The Hacker (FR), Andrew Weatherall (UK), Jay Daniel (US), Midnight Juggernauts (AUS), HTRK (AUS) DJ Pierre (US), Nadastrom (US), Tasker (UK) and Swick (AUS).On a personal level, I'm really looking forward to our first 2 mixes on launch day.The UK's Zed Bias is one of the producers that got me really excited about dance music in the early 2000's and he's announced he's retiring from dj'ing to focus on production, so this mix will be one of his last. Then we've got an exclusive mix from Aussie export and former FBi dj, Anna Lunoe. Anna's done so well having moved to LA a few years ago - playing the biggest festivals in the country and releasing music through A-Trak's Fools Gold label and Skrillex's Nest HQ label. We're proud of her and I'm looking forward to her homecoming, even if it is in the form of a dj set.How do you see FBi Click evolving, and interacting with other media entities locally and internationally?
While FBi 94.5 generally focuses on having live-in-studio guest mixes, FBi Click will be more flexible and will secure exclusive pre-recorded mixes from partners all over the planet. Given it's focus on dance music, we want it to be part of the world-wide dance music community and an important representation of what's happening in the Australian scene. As with everything we do at FBi, FBi Click will be Sydney and Australia on show to all who tune in. FBiClick will evolve as the dance scene evolves. We'll find new, young crews who are exciting and deserve a show, we'll find new forms of dance music we want to support and hopefully we'll soundtrack pool parties, house parties and BBQ's across Australia and the world.Click over to the FBi's new digital platform here