OzInDi Radio Heads to the Regional & Remote Music Summit in Byron Bay

June 19, 2025 279 2 5

OzInDi Radio Joins National Effort to Empower Regional Music

Baz and JD of OzInDi Radio Australia are heading to the Regional & Remote Music Summit in Byron Bay (July 23–25, 2025), marking their debut at one of Australia’s most important gatherings for the music industry outside capital cities. OzInDi Radio, founded in Cairns just over a year ago, will be showcasing their 100% Australian indie music platform while connecting with industry leaders, artists, and community broadcasters from across the country.

To support their attendance, JD was awarded a $2,500 travel bursary from QMusic, specifically designed to ensure regional Queensland voices are part of the national conversation. The bursary, funded by Music Australia and facilitated by QMusic, helps offset the cost of travel, accommodation, and meals, while summit registration has been waived by host body MusicNSW [QMusic, 2025].

What is the Regional & Remote Music Summit?

The Regional & Remote Music Summit is a national initiative that brings together musicians, arts workers, policymakers, community leaders, and broadcasters who live and work outside the capital cities. Launched in 2024 by MusicNT, the summit was created to centre regional voices in the broader conversation about the future of Australian music.

The inaugural event took place on Larrakia Country (Darwin, NT) and united over 160 delegates for two days of panels, workshops, keynotes, and industry showcases. It was deemed such a success that it became an annual rotating event, hosted in a different regional area each year to ensure inclusion and relevance [MusicNT, 2024].

In 2025, the baton passes to MusicNSW, who are hosting the summit in Byron Bay on Bundjalung Country—a symbolic choice given the town’s rich music legacy and regional identity. The theme this year is “Strengthening Regional Music Communities,” with a focus on sustainability, connection, and cultural leadership [Regional Music Summit, 2025].

Why Regional Music Needs a Dedicated Summit

More than 28% of Australians live in regional or remote areas, yet access to music infrastructure, touring opportunities, and industry networks remains heavily skewed toward metro areas. A band from a mining town or a solo act in the outback rarely has the same exposure or career pathways as a musician in Sydney or Melbourne.

At the 2024 Darwin summit, issues like digital access, transport costs, regional touring viability, and youth arts programs were discussed in detail. Attendees emphasized how natural disasters, poor infrastructure, and limited funding disproportionately affect regional creative communities [MusicNT, 2024].

Artists like Dr Shellie Morris shared how regional music isn’t just about commercial success—it’s about cultural survival and community healing. Teaching children to sing in Indigenous languages or performing in flood-affected towns can have more long-term impact than major awards [Rolling Stone AU, 2024].

What Happens at the Summit?

The 2025 Byron Bay program includes two days of events at the Byron Community Centre. Highlights include:

Panel Discussions & Keynotes on:
- Sustainable regional touring: tackling rising insurance costs, climate challenges, and the closure of key venues.
- Building inclusive industry pathways: ensuring remote Indigenous artists and culturally diverse musicians are heard.
- Community radio & DIY music media: platforms like OzInDi Radio are essential tools for regional storytelling and music discovery.
- Case studies in regional resilience: from NT’s Barunga Festival to WA’s Nannup Music Festival, examples of surviving and thriving through innovation.
Workshops such as:
- Grant writing for remote projects.
- Regional content creation & mobile production techniques.
- Touring toolkits for artists who want to plan their own runs through inland Australia.
Showcases & networking events:
- Live performances from handpicked regional artists.
- Breakout sessions where radio makers, artists, and funders connect over shared goals.

The summit is also a space for policy updates. Millie Millgate, head of Music Australia, will deliver a keynote on the federal government’s Revive cultural policy and what it means for regional musicians [Music Australia, 2025].

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From Cairns to Byron: Why It Matters for OzInDi Radio

For OzInDi Radio, attending the summit is more than a professional development opportunity—it’s a statement. Launched in 2024, the station was built by JD and Baz as a non-profit digital radio station playing 100% Australian independent music, 24/7. With roots in Cairns and the broader Far North Queensland region, the platform has already started turning heads for its artist-focused programming and grassroots storytelling.

What sets OzInDi apart is their local-first approach. They provide free airtime, interviews, and playlist support to artists often overlooked by larger radio networks. They’ve also invested in original content creation, including video showcases, live performances, and interviews—recorded on iPhones, edited on laptops, but full of passion and regional pride.

JD’s QMusic bursary means he can now represent that work in a national space. It’s a huge moment for a 1-year-old project, and a chance to find collaborators, share ideas, and learn best practices from peers across the country. For example, attending sessions on community radio growth and funding could open up new streams of sustainability for OzInDi.

QMusic’s Support: A Win for Regional Queensland

QMusic, Queensland’s music industry development body, offered three travel support packs of $2,500 each, in partnership with Music Australia. JD was selected for his demonstrated commitment to uplifting regional artists and helping them access audiences beyond their postcode.

The support package covers travel and living costs for the summit, and directly acknowledges the value of regional voices in national discussions. It also reinforces a broader goal: making sure Queensland’s music future includes Mount Isa, Mareeba, Hervey Bay, and Cairns—not just Brisbane.

As QMusic described in their announcement: “We want artists, community broadcasters and workers from across the state to have direct access to this national platform, and the ability to bring back connections and knowledge to their region” [QMusic, 2025].

The Bigger Picture: Building a Network, Not Just an Event

A key philosophy behind the summit is to build a national network of regional music leaders who can support each other year-round. What starts as a conversation in Byron Bay can become a new initiative in Tasmania, a shared radio show between QLD and WA, or a cross-state artist tour.

By investing in relationships, sharing ideas, and listening to each other’s experiences, the summit aims to close the disconnect between regional work and national policy. It’s not about token inclusion; it’s about real participation.

Each year, the summit will move to a new location, with Music Victoria set to host in 2026. Each host region will spotlight its local scene, and each visiting delegate will take home knowledge that benefits their own town or network.

Final Thoughts

The Regional & Remote Music Summit is becoming more than an event—it’s a movement to rebalance the national music conversation. And this year, Cairns-based OzInDi Radio is proudly part of it.

JD and Baz’s journey to Byron Bay is proof that with passion, community, and the right support, even the smallest stations can have the biggest impact. As OzInDi enters its second year, the summit may well be the launchpad for even more ambitious projects, new collaborations, and greater visibility for the regional voices that keep Australian music alive.

For those in the industry and beyond, the message is simple: regional music matters. And in Byron Bay this July, it’s going to be heard.