Triple J Unearthed is an Australian digital radio station and online music discovery platform. It is a sister station of Triple J, owned by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Unearthed began in 1995 as a regional talent competition open to unsigned musicians. In 2006, the Unearthed website was launched as a way for local artists to have their music heard by the station's team and listeners. As of 2023, the platform hosts over 170,000 tracks from over 85,000 independent musicians. Its success led to the launch of a dedicated digital radio station in 2011, which only plays Australian music uploaded to the site.
Cited as a "revolutionary idea" that "arguably changed the entire Australian music landscape," the Unearthed brand has been responsible for discovering some of Australia's most celebrated musical acts, including Flume, Missy Higgins, Vance Joy, Gang of Youths, Grinspoon and the Kid Laroi. The network continues to host initiatives to progress independent artists in the industry, including Unearthed High, an annual award given to high school musicians to have their work recorded professionally.
Formats
Talent competition
thumb|[[Missy Higgins says her 2001 Unearthed success led to her initial record deal and subsequent success.]]
In July 1995, Triple J launched its regional Unearthed competition, whereby emerging musicians from across Australia could send in their demos to be professionally recorded and played on the station. In its inaugural year, 1,000 artists entered; Lismore rock band Grinspoon won the competition.
In its following years, the Unearthed demo program helped discover several acclaimed artists, including Killing Heidi (1996) and Missy Higgins (2001). Motivated to cut out the need for publicists and A&R, she was inspired by the similar New Music Canada initiative by CBC Radio 3.
In 2021, the website received its first major redesign since its initial launch.
On 18 December 2024, the New South Wales Police Force alleged that two men used the Unearthed website– particularly its profile customisation features, like writing a user bio– to recruit a Goulburn Correctional Centre inmate to carry out a stabbing on gang leader Bassam Hamzy in February that year. The ABC, which owns Triple J, did not comment on the matter.
Digital radio station
Seeing the success of the website, Unearthed executive producer Stephanie Carrick and ABC music director Chris Scaddan ideated creating a dedicated digital radio station to accompany the online platform. It was launched on 5 October 2011, on digital radio in the five major Australian capital cities, and via the Unearthed website.
Initiatives
Unearthed High
thumb|[[Gretta Ray won Unearthed High in 2016 and has since released two ARIA-charting albums.
The Unearthed High Indigenous Initiative was founded in 2016, rewarding an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander musician with mentoring and airplay on Triple J.
Celebrating 15 years of the competition in 2023, Triple J held a one-night, all-ages concert during Vivid Sydney featuring notable past entrants, including Lastlings and Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers.
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