Loud & Clear

Technology has radically changed what Australians are listening to and how we’re listening to it. But we’re also embracing sound in a multitude of new and useful ways. Christine Sams tunes into our rapidly evolving soundscape.

The children in Gary Brown’s home often listen to music via Spotify or watch video clips on YouTube. What’s unusual about this fairly typical scenario is that their entertainment is delivered via the fridge, an internet-connected Samsung ‘Family Hub’, which has a touchscreen, speakers and a raft of apps built in. It should be noted that dad Gary is the brand manager of home appliances for Harvey Norman – it’s his job to be an early adopter of new technologies – but his home life reflects the way many Australian households will consume entertainment in the not-too-distant future. His music-playing fridge is just the latest in a conga line of gadgets that tap into our love and innate need for sound in our lives.

Australians’ love affair with music – and all things sound-related – is unwavering. And it’s no accident that entertainers such as comedians Hamish Blake and Andy Lee are shifting from traditional radio formats to podcasting. Research released by the ABC last year showed that 89 percent of Australians are aware of podcasts, while more than half of those surveyed between the ages of 18 to 75 have tried listening to them. (There was a higher level of engagement among 25 to 34 year olds, but 40 percent of 50 to 75 year olds had given podcasts a go.)

Music downloads, audiobooks and streaming sites are cementing their popularity, too, making it all the more remarkable that digital music downloads were not factored into the ARIA charts until late 2006.