In February this year, Australians were caught in a media war between Facebook/Google, the Australian Government and traditional media. For about a week, Facebook blocked all Austalian ‘news sites’ and many others.
When the ‘news’ returned, I made a little funny video on my Gabe McGrath Facebook Page to celebrate. You can watch it below.
The thing is though – whilst I’m clearly teasing our news team, it was made with much respect. Let me explain…
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.
Madness panic PANDEMONIUM when Peter Andre visited Hitz FM
First of all, happy Valentines Day. The day that Peter Andre visited Hitz FM.
Tonight I bring you news of a February 14 like no other. And for the first time ever on GabeMcGrath.com – I’ve invited a few of my old Hitz friends to help me.
As I noted the other day in our A Current Affair post, early 1994 was a pretty crazy time at Hitz FM. We had tonnes of media coverage. Hundreds of phone calls every day.
Then one night, Peter Andre dropped in…
Continue reading “Madness panic PANDEMONIUM when Peter Andre visited Hitz FM”On this Day: Hitz FM on A Current Affair
It was one crazy Summer. The Summer of ’93/’94.
When Hitz FM appeared on A Current Affair.
Sure, every day during the 3rd broadcast, things seemed to be getting bigger.
First we noticed when we stopped at traffic lights – other people listening to our youth station. Other people we didn’t even know. Then the phone calls kept coming in… soon we had 4 telephone lines ringing all day.
Then, ACA arrived…
The Top 9 CONTROVERSIAL 90s Songs
If a youth radio station’s 100% approved by parents – is it a real youth station? That’s what I thought to myself as I gathered these controversial 90s songs.
Hitz FM certainly didn’t set out to shock or offend. But if we thought our audience was going to like a track, you can be damn sure we played it. Especially if the requests were rolling in. And throughout our 9 year run, we played… some… doozies.
STREAM: 1st HOUR of Hitz Broadcast 3 – Summer 93/94
Today’s the day. December 10. The day back in 1993 when something pretty amazing started. Hitz Broadcast 3. The 3rd broadcast of a little youth-run radio station that soon caused a BIG fuss.
Over the next 90 days the request phone line went from 1 phone to 2 phones, to 4. The media went crazy. Radio ratings showed Melbourne kids were tuning in – in their thousands. And a near riot occured when we invited a popstar to visit.
Continue reading “STREAM: 1st HOUR of Hitz Broadcast 3 – Summer 93/94”Mashing up Pies n Pitbull
After a few Megamix Mondays, it’s time to get back to the mashups. Today’s track is DJ got us falling in Hot Stuff.
It’s one of those jawdropping mashups that make me wish I was DJing again. Plus the fact you don’t have to carry heavy crates of music anymore. And the fact that the new DJ lights weigh much less..
Continue reading “Mashing up Pies n Pitbull”The biggest 90s HipHop megamix had a daggy secret
Now THIS Megamix Monday will be hard to top. The Walk this Way Megamix soon became the unofficial anthem of Hitz’s Summer 93/94 broadcast.
And yet, ‘the one megamix to rule them all’ has a super-cheesy backstory very few people know.
Follow the link below to stream the famous Walk This Way Mastermix. You’ll learn a little bit about why it made such an impact, and discover the skeleton in the closet most would never have suspected.
Continue reading “The biggest 90s HipHop megamix had a daggy secret”FOUND: First Hitz FM Breakfast
As I mentioned in my recent November update, people have been going through their cupboards/garages/parents spare room. They’ve been reaching up to the top shelf, opening those old shoeboxes, and finding 25 year old cassettes of Hitz FM. And some of them, might be a recording of the Hitz FM Breakfast breakfast show.
But today’s recording is not a recent find. It’s a tape I’ve had for almost 28 years. I’ve kept it since the morning I recorded it; Friday December 11, 1992. And it’s one of the rarest recordings we’ve found so far.
After the jump – you can hear it.
Continue reading “FOUND: First Hitz FM Breakfast”November update
Hey guys, wanted to give you a quick update re everything happening with the Hitz FM book and my GabeMcGrath.com blog. And that means, a November update.
BUT FIRST – A GIFT FOR BUSY PEOPLE.
This blog can now send you the latest posts automatically.
It’s easy. Just look for the big black 
box. (If you’re on a mobile, it’s probably below this post.) Pop your name/email in, and you’re sorted.
Now, what else has been going on…?
Continue reading “November update”Megamix Mondays 2
I’m a big fan of megamixes, and today I’ve got you a real Hitz classic. Macquina Total 6. Or as the man in the megamix used to say “Ma KEENA Toe Tell – SAY!”
Maquina Total 6 was very popular during Hitz’s Summer 93/94 broadcast. The destinctive thuds of the approaching T-Rex. The crazy chicken noises. The finger-on-the-pulse inclusions of songs like Mr Vain (Culture Beat) and What’s Up (DJ Miko).
And now, I’ve been able to solve a big mystery about this megamix… 26 years later.
Continue reading “Megamix Mondays 2”