Sound Quality (radio program)
Encyclopedia
Sound Quality is a program on the ABC
Radio National
network, featuring new music, generally in the genres of electronica
, but including other genres as well. Tim Ritchie presents the program. Ritchie is an icon in the Australian radio scene. He started in 1976, when as a schoolboy, he rang ABC youth radio station Double Jay and gave a critique of the presenter's performance. The presenter suggested that if Ritchie could do a better job, he should do the show the next day. Ritchie presented the next days breakfast program and his radio career was started.
Tim Ritchie worked his way through a university degree while presenting mid-dawn shifts on Double Jay and then Triple J. He became a full time presenter after he finished university. Despite the fact that he still remains the highest ratings announcer Triple J has ever had, Ritchie clashed with management over musical direction and the ever-narrowing playlist. Eventually he parted company with Triple J in 1990. In 1992 ABC Radio National approached Ritchie to become their Music Director. Then in 1995, Ritchie started Sound Quality on Radio National. The program has always aimed to find new music and innovations in contemporary music. Never happy to replicate yesterday tomorrow, Ritchie has taken the path of challenging his audience with the unexpected. And in so doing, he has developed a loyal listenership and a reputation for not chasing popularism, but bringing in the new.
More recently the programme has come in for criticism suggesting Sound Quality has departed from the new and innovative more toward a peculiar and repetitive expression of Ritchie's personal preference. Although it could be argued Ritchie does this to avoid chasing popularism, it can also be peceived as simply indulgent self expression. If a public radio programme such as Sound Quality is to succeed over time it should offer material that listeners broadly enjoy. That Sound Quality is still confined to air time only in the 'graveyard' hours of public radio suggests the offerings of late are not finding any traction amongst listeners.
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
Radio National
Radio National
ABC Radio National is an Australia-wide non-commercial radio network run by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.Radio National broadcasts national programming in areas that include news and current affairs, the arts, social issues, science, drama and comedy...
network, featuring new music, generally in the genres of electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
, but including other genres as well. Tim Ritchie presents the program. Ritchie is an icon in the Australian radio scene. He started in 1976, when as a schoolboy, he rang ABC youth radio station Double Jay and gave a critique of the presenter's performance. The presenter suggested that if Ritchie could do a better job, he should do the show the next day. Ritchie presented the next days breakfast program and his radio career was started.
Tim Ritchie worked his way through a university degree while presenting mid-dawn shifts on Double Jay and then Triple J. He became a full time presenter after he finished university. Despite the fact that he still remains the highest ratings announcer Triple J has ever had, Ritchie clashed with management over musical direction and the ever-narrowing playlist. Eventually he parted company with Triple J in 1990. In 1992 ABC Radio National approached Ritchie to become their Music Director. Then in 1995, Ritchie started Sound Quality on Radio National. The program has always aimed to find new music and innovations in contemporary music. Never happy to replicate yesterday tomorrow, Ritchie has taken the path of challenging his audience with the unexpected. And in so doing, he has developed a loyal listenership and a reputation for not chasing popularism, but bringing in the new.
More recently the programme has come in for criticism suggesting Sound Quality has departed from the new and innovative more toward a peculiar and repetitive expression of Ritchie's personal preference. Although it could be argued Ritchie does this to avoid chasing popularism, it can also be peceived as simply indulgent self expression. If a public radio programme such as Sound Quality is to succeed over time it should offer material that listeners broadly enjoy. That Sound Quality is still confined to air time only in the 'graveyard' hours of public radio suggests the offerings of late are not finding any traction amongst listeners.