National Film And Sound Archive Launches New Celebration Of Australian Music TV

The National Film And Sound Archive has well an truly lived up to its name, launching a new online collection that celebrates the power and impact of music television in Australia.

While music television in Australia these days might be a far cry from what it used to be (the mere absence of chart shows, or live performance programs such as Recovery, Countdown, and even Studio 22 is proof of this), we still do have perennial favourites such as Rage helping provide education and content to music-lovers around the country.

But, what about the history of music television in Australia? We can’t talk about the highlights without talking about what came before and helped us walk that path toward those lofty heights.

That’s the focus the NFSA’s new online collection is taking as it urges viewers to “tune in, [and] freak out.”

“Before streaming queues and social feeds, Australian teens turned to television for their music fix,” a description on the site explains. “Whether it was Countdown on a Sunday night or a sleepy Saturday morning clip show, music television was the heartbeat of pop culture.

“From tightly choreographed variety shows to chaotic live interviews, it reflected the sounds – and the mood – of each era. This timeline rewinds through the decades, starting in the 2000s and heading back to the 1960s, when pop and television were both on the rise.”

Indeed, the exhibit collects plenty of classic moments, ranging back to the likes of Olivia Newton-John on the short-lived Boomeride in 1965, or Roy Orbison appearing on Sing Sing Sing, the year prior (sans his iconic shades).

There's plenty of classic '70s material, ranging from Nightmoves, Bandstand, and Countdown, while the '80s takes a look at Young Talent Time, the Australian version of MTV, and SBS' The Noise. While the '90s dives into the likes of Nomad, Video Smash Hits, Songlines, and a young Silverchair on Recovery, we can’t go past Iggy Pop at the Big Day Out on Channel V, the Red Hot Chili Peppers' Flea on The House Of Hits, and SBS' beloved Alchemy.

“This collection explores music TV as a cultural phenomenon, from the 1960s, when Australia was just learning to groove, to the Noughties when the line between backstage and broadcast blurred,” explained the NFSA’s Chief Curator, Meagan Loader. “It really celebrates that pre-streaming era when music television was the heartbeat of pop culture.”

The online collection is available for viewing now via the NFSA’s website.