OK, we’re halfway through the 4.5 hour mix – time to find some more Easter eggs (surprise audio) inside. More secrets from the Hitz Reunion Mix
Continue reading “EVEN MORE: Secrets from the Hitz Reunion Mix – part 2”Category: History of Hitz
EXPOSED: Secrets in the Hitz Reunion Mix – part 1
OK, it’s been three weeks. Time to reveal our first batch of secrets in the Hitz Reunion Mix. Every rare remix. Every little Easter egg.
Let’s do this.
Continue reading “EXPOSED: Secrets in the Hitz Reunion Mix – part 1”Right in the Night: The Hitz FM staff reunion
After 3 years of organising and a small pandemic, last Saturday saw the first ever Hitz FM staff reunion. And from what I hear, it won’t be the last. Hit that ‘read more’ button for photos, stories and all the action.
Continue reading “Right in the Night: The Hitz FM staff reunion”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”Hitz FM’s unforgettable Summer: And your 30th anniversary gift
It was 30 years ago – tonight – that Hitz FM’s unforgettable Summer broadcast of 93-94 began. To celebrate, I’ve researched & created a special 150 song Spotify playlist of tracks Hitz played at that time. It’s at the bottom of this post!
But first, a quick recap.
Continue reading “Hitz FM’s unforgettable Summer: And your 30th anniversary gift”The lucky 7th Hitz FM Broadcast signed off tonight
Some of my favourite Hitz broadcasts were the Summer ones. Number 1 (from John Gardner), number 3 (the famous one) and of course, the 7th Hitz FM Broadcast – when I actually got to host the breakfast show! But we’ll get to that later.
Oh, and I’ve got a recording for you from that time too.
Continue reading “The lucky 7th Hitz FM Broadcast signed off tonight”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”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…
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”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”The final hour of Hitz FM
It was Melbourne Cup Day – this week in 2001. The day we heard the final hour of Hitz FM.
Not that the Hitz crew – or their listeners – were particularly interested in horseracing. But for such an important part of Melbourne culture in the 90s, its probably fitting for one of the station’s anniversaries to coincide with a public holiday.
Continue reading “The final hour of Hitz FM”Out with a bang: Hitz’s 9th Broadcast wraps up
It was this week, back in 1996 when Hitz’s 9th broadcast wraps up. Songs like On the Bible (Deuce), Passion (A-Man), Born Slippy (Underworld) and Keep Pushin’ (Boris Dlugosh) battled it out for the end of broadcast countdown.
And a LOT had happened since the broadcast began on September 14.
Continue reading “Out with a bang: Hitz’s 9th Broadcast wraps up”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”Today: OJ’s defence finished and Hitz broadcast 6 began
September 22. Not today – I mean September 22 in 1995. When the defence team for the OJ Simpson case was just wrapping up. When the real life battles of the film “Black Hawk Down” were happening in Somalia. And Hitz FM returned for Hitz Broadcast 6.
All morning, a recording of “test tone” (a long ‘beep’) played onair, with the occasional announcement by Adele Cookson – asking for listener requests and sponsorship enquiries.
And most excitingly, I’ve found a recording.
Continue reading “Today: OJ’s defence finished and Hitz broadcast 6 began”On this day: Hitz FM’s 9th Broadcast blasts into life
September 1996. Some of us were watching the first ever series of Friends on TV. At the movies it was all about Independance Day and The Nutty Professor. And on the radio, it was the first day of Hitz FM’s 9th Broadcast.
We were smashing Inspiration (Strike), Wannabe (Spicegirls), Macarena (Los Del Rio), Ready or Not (The Fugees), Professional Widow (Tori Amos) and a tonne of other great tracks.
Continue reading “On this day: Hitz FM’s 9th Broadcast blasts into life”LISTEN: 2 hours of chaos – Hitz’s 2nd broadcast ends
July 18, 1993. 28 years ago – TONIGHT! After two fun-filled weeks, Hitz’s 2nd broadcast ends. The station had yet again managed to stay onair 24 hours a day using voluntters and borrowed equipment. And I’ve got 120 minutes of audio to share with you.
Looking back… compared to Hitz FM’s first broadcast – we’d made some great improvements.
On this day: Hitz FM’s 2nd broadcast fired off
When Hitz FM’s 2nd broadcast kicked off on July 3rd, 1993 – things were a bit different from the first time around. The music was a bit broader; less rock (sorry Guns n Roses), more pop (hello Sub Sub) and hip hop (hello Informer). The announcers sounded a bit more polished too. But the biggest change was the location.
Hitz FM’s 1st broadcast was held at a government school, John Gardner Secondary College. It was chosen for the location (near public transport) and the cost – free. But this time around, the station was a little further north – in the rather fancy Xavier College in Kew. Picture lots of big old buildings in a slightly Harry Potter style.
Continue reading “On this day: Hitz FM’s 2nd broadcast fired off”