Save it Stream it: The Hitz FM Melbourne tape drive

Clips from the GabeMcGrath website promo going into a cassette in a magical lit-up box

It was 30 years ago – this week – that Hitz FM Melbourne came into being. And from 1992 to 2001 people used to ‘tape Hitz off the radio’. But those cassettes are being lost.

Today – we do something about it.
Welcome to the Hitz FM Melbourne tape drive.

Box of Hitz FM cassettes and video logtapes
A selection of Hitz FM cassettes and VHS log tapes

WHY the Hitz FM Melbourne tape drive?

Over the years, I’ve heard from people who’ve found the occasional ‘Hitz tape’ somewhere at home. And I’ve happily digitised them, cleaned the audio, and shared them with you here.

But there must be more out there, and every day we wait they’re at risk of damage or being thrown out.

We need to take action.
Now.

A single Hitz FM cassette with "The Real Hitz" and a yellow logo
A Hitz tape – found in a Melbourne Op Shop.

How you can help

1. Share this page.


Simple as that.

Please help me contact more Hitz fans by clicking one of the blue ‘share’ buttons at the bottom of this post.

There were tens of thousands of Hitz fans back in the 90s. Many of them used to tape the station. We just need to find them.

2. Think about friends who loved Hitz in the 90s


There’s a chance they have an old tape or two. Maybe in a shoebox. Maybe at their parents’ house. Just hit that blue ’email share’ button (at the bottom of this post) so you can contact your Hitz-loving mates.

Orange cassette labelled "Hitz 93/94 broadcast intro"
A cassette with the start of the famous Moorabbin Hitz broadcast

3. Have a look for tapes yourself


Could there be an old Hitz tape in your ‘dump everything’ cupboard? What about that old tape deck – is there a cassette in it?

Don’t worry if you don’t have a tape deck any more – contact me and we’ll sort something out.

4. Contact me with any ideas/leads you have


Easy – just click here to shoot me an email. Think long and hard about any fans of the station or leads that might get us closer to more Hitz tapes.

A number of piles of Hitz FM cassettes
More Hitz FM recordings are slowly being added to this site

5. Finally – start listening to the collection here



So, how will YOU spread the word?

Let’s find more tapes, so there’s even more classic Hitz broadcasts to stream.

Would your friends enjoy this post? Every share helps.

Author: Gabe McGrath

Gabe McGrath is a radio creative and freelance writer. He helped set up 89.9 Hitz FM Melbourne in the 90s. This youth radio station caused a sensation and 30 years later many a 90s kid will smile when 'Hitz' is mentioned. Gabe is working on a book about that era and now blogs about Hitz Melbourne. GabeMcGrath.com includes tonnes of streaming audio recordings, photos, stories and behind-the-scenes info.

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