It was September 2000, when Hitz Melbourne released one of their final compilation CDs – HitzFour Ampfarm. Like most CDs released by hopeful FM stations in that era, it had plenty of dance tracks.
But this one offered something more.
Category: Year 2022
Save it Stream it: The Hitz FM Melbourne tape drive
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.
Launching today in ’97 – Hitz Melbourne’s 12th broadcast
Hitz Melbourne’s 12th broadcast begam on this very day, in 1997. It was a broadcast that had both massive changes, and yet business as usual.
But I’ll get to those things in moment.
Let’s talk music.
Daring for gold in 2000: Hitz Melbourne’s 18th Broadcast
In September 2000, Hitz Melbourne’s 18th Broadcast began. We were smashing out tracks like Lady (Modjo), Embrace the Sunshine (Quench) and On a Night Like This (Kylie). The big films at the cinema included X-Men, Road Trip and Hollow Man. And up in Sydney, they were busy with some sporting event involving 5 rings.
But seriously, the real action was in Melbourne.
Continue reading “Daring for gold in 2000: Hitz Melbourne’s 18th Broadcast”9 unforgettable moments in TWO YEARS of Hitz FM blogging
It’s my blog’s anniversary today. Normally, after 2 years of Hitz FM blogging, you’d expect a list of favourite stories. But that seems crass and boring.
So instead, I’d like to tell you about 9 moments in the past 24 months that I won’t forget.
Continue reading “9 unforgettable moments in TWO YEARS of Hitz FM blogging”Stream: The first 2 hours of Hitz Melbourne Broadcast 16
July 26, 1999. Humberto ‘Humpy’ Texeria opened Hitz Melbourne Broadcast 16 at 9am with Hey Boy, Hey Girl by The Chemical Brothers. He kept playing hit after hit, great new music – but something was wrong. Hitz FM had returned, but there weren’t any requests coming in.
The phones were dead.
Continue reading “Stream: The first 2 hours of Hitz Melbourne Broadcast 16”Flashback to July 1997 – Hitz Melbourne’s 11th broadcast
July 1997 was a great time to be heading to the movies in Australia. Hits included Jim Carrey’s Liar Liar, Nick Cage (and his hair) in Con Air and Bruce Willis’ amazing 5th element.
It was also a time of change for Hitz FM.
Continue reading “Flashback to July 1997 – Hitz Melbourne’s 11th broadcast”STREAM THE PARTY: Queens Birthday Sunday night (in 98)
Back in 1998, it was a pretty awesome Queens Birthday Sunday night. In fact, the whole weekend on Hitz was big. They were giving away prize packs every hour to new members.
And you’ll find a TWO HOUR recording to stream below, including an hour of The Warmup with Shannon Yates “playing some of the harder sounds”.
But first, let’s jump into our time machine…
Continue reading “STREAM THE PARTY: Queens Birthday Sunday night (in 98)”See the Pics: The four Hitz Melbourne studio locations
Although most listeners interacted with the station via phone (or fax!) requests – many visited the Hitz Melbourne studio to pick up prizes, have a look around or even volunteer.
More than just a building – each location had an impact on the young staff working there. So I thought you’d like a bit of a peek into the places – and faces – of the four Hitz Melbourne broadcast locations.
Continue reading “See the Pics: The four Hitz Melbourne studio locations”STREAM: The first FIVE HOURS of Hitz FM’s 14th Broadcast
Let’s jump back to April 1998. It wasn’t just the time of Hitz FM’s 14th Broadcast. It was the era of It’s Like That (Run DMC/Jason Nevins), You make me Wanna (Usher) and Frozen (Madonna). At the movies Titanic was finally ending its mammoth run, to be replaced by Good Will Hunting and The Wedding Singer.
And now you can stream 5 hours from that era – as Hitz FM’s 14th Broadcast began…
TEN amazing bits of Hitz Melbourne audio worth preserving
Each year, ten pieces of ‘important sound’ are inducted into the National Film and Sound Archive’s (NFSA) Sounds of Australia. But which recordings of Hitz Melbourne audio would I save? How would I decide?
Last year’s Sounds of Australia included Somebody That I Used to Know (Gotye ft. Kimbra) and the Stolen Generation Apology by Kevin Rudd.
But how do I narrow down 17,543 hours of youth radio (yes, that’s the true number) into ten essential bits of Hitz Melbourne audio? At the risk of starting a big debate, I’m going to try.
And many of them are here, ready to stream!
Continue reading “TEN amazing bits of Hitz Melbourne audio worth preserving”When Hitz Melbourne smashed the radio ratings
Back in Summer 93/94 the Hitz crew were having the time of our lives. We had our music on the radio, tonnes of listeners calling in, and more free pizza than we could eat. But we never suspected what would happen next. The day Hitz Melbourne smashed the radio ratings.
And it was this very day, the 22nd of February.
Continue reading “When Hitz Melbourne smashed the radio ratings”Behind the scenes: Hitz on Hey Hey it’s Saturday
As February 1994 began, Hitz FM’s Summer 93/94 broadcast started to really take off. There were articles in the Herald Sun, along with street press faves Beat and In Press. Then within 24 hours – two major bits of national publicity. We saw Hitz FM on A Current Affair. Then the next night – Hitz on Hey Hey it’s Saturday.
And I’ve got the full segment below to watch.
Continue reading “Behind the scenes: Hitz on Hey Hey it’s Saturday”Count ’em down – the Hitz FM Broadcast 17 Top 60
Early in the year 2000, we were all relieved. The world had survived Y2K. And in February, Hitz FM broadcast 17 kicked off to smash out some more great music on the airwaves of Melbourne.
Continue reading “Count ’em down – the Hitz FM Broadcast 17 Top 60”Today’s Time Travel Simulcast: January 28th 1995
Forget the DeLorean. Don’t try to build your own time machine. I’m transporting you back 27 years RIGHT NOW – to January 28th 1995.
….and I have an 8 HOUR (!) recording to share.
Continue reading “Today’s Time Travel Simulcast: January 28th 1995”Meatloaf – Hitz played Anything for Love (but we won’t play that)
With the sad passing of Meatloaf over the weekend, the song Anything for Love (but I won’t do that) popped into my head. It was one of the more unexpected songs we thrashed during our famous Summer 93/94 broadcast.
And I thought it would be good to catch up with a few of the OG Hitz FM crew to discuss this unique song, artist and time in music history.