This week marks 30 years since Hitz FM’s equivalent of “the difficult second album“. Yes, it’s the week when Hitz broadcast 4 began. It was the first time the station had been onair since the history-making Summer 93/94 transmission. And so much had changed.
Continue reading “Stream it now – 30 years since Hitz broadcast 4 began!”Category: Celebrities
Unheard for 30 years: Hitz FM’s final hour at Moorabbin
My calendar can’t be right. It can’t be 30 years since Hitz FM’s biggest broadcast. It can’t be three decades since Hitz FM’s final hour at Moorabbin.
But it is.
And now for the first time ever, you can listen to it, online.
(If you’re super-keen, just flick to the bottom of this post.)
Hitz vs Fox: Grubby and Dee Dee spill the beans
Thirty years ago, Melbourne’s number 1 radio station crashed to 4th place, when Hitz FM blitzed the ratings. Hitz vs Fox was a battle that we never even imagined happening! And now, for the first time ever – we hear from the two people who were hosting the Fox FM breakfast show at that time.
Continue reading “Hitz vs Fox: Grubby and Dee Dee spill the beans”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”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”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”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”WATCH: Raw FM on ABC TV – inspired by Hitz
Throughout its lifespan, Hitz FM created and inspired a lot of other creative ventures and products. From their Hitz’s own CDs and Hitlist newsletters to their Hitz TV shows on Channel 31 and Optusvision. Then there were things like Raw FM on ABC TV.
This 13 part drama series was loosely based on the Hitz FM story. Raw FM debuted this week (late November) in 1997, and continued through till February 1998.
But the full tale starts a couple of years earlier.
Continue reading “WATCH: Raw FM on ABC TV – inspired by Hitz”STREAM: The FINAL Weekend Siesta Dance Classics
Just like today, it was the second Sunday in October, back in 1997. Time for Paul Dowsley’s Weekend Siesta – the Dance Classics edition. For a couple of years it had been one of Hitz FM’s most well-loved programs. But this week in 1997, was its final one. Paul was about to hit 25 – and Hitz FM’s famous age ceiling for presenters was non-negotiable.
Before I jump into the streaming audio, a quick look at Paul’s wonderful career at Hitz might be in order…
Continue reading “STREAM: The FINAL Weekend Siesta Dance Classics”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”Live From Inflation – The End Of Hitz FM’s 6th Broadcast
25 years ago tonight, a certain youth radio station was broadcasting live from Inflation Nightclub. It was the final night of Hitz FM’s 6th Broadcast. Time to celebrate. The station had come back onair, it had a new CD in the shops, and it had one of those brand new “webpage” things on the “internet”.
Yes – it was clearly 1995.