Dig Music (2002–2014) ABC Dig Music was founded in November 2002. It emerged from formats developed by Bill Gates and Phil Cullen at ABC Coast FM, which broadcast an
adult alternative music format and was for many years ABC Radio's only continuous stream. It was part of a suite of three digital channels, alongside Dig Jazz and Dig Country. Some
ABC Local Radio,
ABC Radio National and
Triple J music programs were also broadcast on ABC Dig Music. In July 2009, Dig Radio, Dig Jazz and Dig Country was rebranded as the launch of digital radio stations ABC Dig Music, ABC Jazz and Country.
Double J (2014–present) On 24 October 2013, the operations of ABC Dig Music were transferred to the staff of Triple J, and it was announced that the station would undergo a relaunch by April 2014. It was reported that the new station would be positioned as a spin-off of Triple J targeting older listeners, including a focus on new music, and archive content from the Triple J library. On 9 April 2014, it was announced that the new station would be known as "Double J" and launch on 30 April; the name is a homage to the original
call sign of Triple J, 2JJ (also pronounced Double J). Former Triple J announcer
Myf Warhurst was named as Double J's first on-air personality, hosting a weekday afternoon show. Manager Chris Scaddan explained that Double J would take the "best elements" of Triple J's history "into the future with the best new sounds around." On 28 April 2014, ahead of the launch, the station began
stunting with a loop of 13 different versions of "
Express Yourself" by
N.W.A, including covers by
the Audreys,
Darren Hanlon and
Wagons. The song was chosen in homage to a 1990
industrial action by Triple J relating to their censored airplay of "
Fuck tha Police". Double J officially launched on 30 April 2014 at 12:00 p.m.
AEST, with a special presented by Warhurst from the Calvin Club in Melbourne. The launch programme was simulcast by Triple J, and featured introductions to the new station's lineup and programming, as well as live performances by
Paul Dempsey and
Kate Miller Heidke. On 19 January 2015, the station broadcast
Beat the Drum Again, a special day of programming to commemorate Triple J's 40th anniversary. It included programs staffed by past personalities such as
Mikey Robins and
Helen Razer,
Angela Catterns,
Chris &
Craig, and
Roy & HG, as well as rebroadcasts of 2JJ's first hour on the air, and of
Midnight Oil's
1985 concert on
Goat Island for Triple J's 10th anniversary.
Petition for expansion In March 2022, a group of female Australian singer-songwriters wrote to federal communications minister
Paul Fletcher and shadow communications minister
Michelle Rowland requesting that Double J be granted an FM licence to enable the station to have a broader reach by allowing it to expand into regional areas of the country.
Missy Higgins,
Kasey Chambers,
Kate Miller-Heidke,
Sarah Blasko,
Vikki Thorn and
Deborah Conway said that ageing female artists get much less exposure on FM radio than their male counterparts and noted there was no female equivalent to male-orientated FM station
Triple M. They said Double J was a station that played a lot of new music by female artists over the age of 30 but its reach was "severely limited". They said an expansion of the station by granting it an FM license, enabling access to a much wider audience, could be a way of getting closer to equality. The women also launched a
Change.org petition to garner support from fans. While visiting the
Byron Bay Bluesfest during the campaign, then opposition leader
Anthony Albanese said if his party was elected at the election, they would commission the ABC to undertake a feasibility study into extending Double J into regional areas. Albanese declared: "I want more people in regional Australia to experience the joy I have of listening to Double J, singing along to songs they love or maybe discovering something new." ==Programs and presenters==