This month we’re spotlighting Chestr as our volunteer highlight! 

They help everything run smoothly behind the scenes on Right Here, Right Now and on our live reviews team. As you can imagine, having a band play live to air each week is no small feat and can often be a hectic environment. We’re so grateful to have someone so talented as a part of the 4ZZZ team! 

We asked Chestr some questions about their volunteer journey at 4ZZZ, give them a read!

What made you want to volunteer at 4ZZZ?

I'd been wanting to volunteer/ work at a radio station for a while and found the 4ZZZ website which had all the volunteering information.

What’s your favourite 4ZZZ volunteering story?

My favourite story/ experience is honestly every week at Right Here, Right Now. It’s so fun seeing live performances every week + being a small part of putting those together.

I love that volunteering has given me insight into how radio works and the community within 4zzz. I have also learnt so much about how live performances are put together and what goes into making the Right Here Right Now sets happen.

What would you say to anyone who has been thinking about subscribing but hasn’t gotten involved yet?

To anyone who’s thinking about volunteering I would say absolutely do it. I am such a shy person and was very nervous to start but everyone I’ve met is so welcoming and kind. The entire 4ZZZ community is so supportive and makes it so fun every time I’m at the station. 

Massive thank you to Chestr and all our 4ZZZ volunteers!

Our very own, Brody Hayes won Volunteer of the Year and PROUD awards at the 65th Annual Queens Ball over the weekend!

Brody is the co-coordinator of Queer Radio, Zed Digital host for Static Mindzzz and 4ZZZ Accessibility Coordinator for 4ZZZ. Outside of 4ZZZ, they also deliver LGBTQIA+ training and consultancy. Their work amplifies voices, educates organisations, and strengthens community understanding and inclusion.

We wanted to share some words from Brody, "Volunteering is a special kind of experience and every single volunteer does it for the pure love of it. I want to recognise and dedicate this to those who do so very much for our community, who cannot be proud yet, who cannot be supported or cannot be loved."

Huge congratulations to Brody and thank you for the amazing work they do within and outside the station.

In extremely exciting news! Nick and Branko announced Zed51 on Unnecessary Knowledge on Wednesday morning. So… mark your calendars Meanjin for October 24th, 2026 at Roma Street Parklands.

The wave of community support for last year’s ZED50 was nothing short of incredible and one thing we kept hearing after the event was how great it would be to do it all again.

Full lineup and ticketing details soon…

Did you know that every six months the 4ZZZ grid? You may have heard some of the new shows on air or heard some of your loved shows in different time slots, so here’s your quick guide to the new grid!

YOUR GUIDE TO 1021.FM

A massive hello to Dirty Laundry with Georgie, Lachlan & Cass (Monday 2-6am), Ozone with Billie moving across from Zed Digital into Thursdays 12-2am and last but not least, Smoke ‘Em If You Got ‘Em with Liz and Charlie (Sundays 1-2pm).

We’ve also got some of your favourite programs moving timeslot. Full of Air will now be broadcast 7-8pm on a Tuesday night with Rachael, Amy-Jean and Sol after RHRN, The Rewind Line with Bella and Bimmie will be on a Friday from 1-3PM, Pale Interior with Dane and Klaire now on Thursdays from 10-12PM, Indigi Briz with Jimmy, Kihi and Jarra on a Saturday from 4-6PM and finally Squeaky Chairs with Ari from 6-9AM on a Sunday.

YOUR GUIDE TO ZED DIGITAL
Say hello to Borborygmus with Georgie (Tuesday 8-9pm), The Wire Rewired with Dan (Saturday 6-7pm), Lofi Beats to Chill and Overthrow the Government To with Dan (Sunday 7-8pm) and The Lobster Trick with Tristan (Tuesday 10-12pm) on Zed Digital.

Some shows who are jumping across the grid are Static Mindzzz with Brody which moves from Thursdays 8-9pm and Le Sound with Marie-Hélène & Cyril moving to Tuesdays 7-8pm. 

This month we’re spotlighting Protis Reviews hosted by Alan as our Zed Digital highlight. Protis Reviews airs on Wednesdays from 6-7PM and this week celebrated the first birthday of the show! 

Protis Reviews is a program all about platforming local and Australian music, always bringing musicians into the 4ZZZ studios to talk about their artistry, music and stories. The birthday special of the show featured songs and bands that were apart of the first two episodes of the show. 

A huge congratulations to Alan and thank you for filling up our airwaves with beautiful conversations and music. 

Listen into Protis Reviews and learn more about the program here...

We’re so excited that Dr. Heather Anderson's highly sought after book 'People Powered Radio - Fifty Years of Community Radio Station 4ZZZ' is back in (very limited) stock and available for sale at reception and online! These beautiful books are too precious to post, so we're offering a pick up only special price of $55 for subscribers and $60 for non-subscribers!

From the publisher - "For fifty years, 4ZZZ has been more than just a broadcaster - it’s been a movement, a megaphone, and a meeting place for radicals, musicians, punks and radio nerds alike. People Powered Radio captures the oral and archival histories of one of Australia’s oldest and most unique community radio stations.

“From the station’s subversive roots in the 1970s to its present-day digital renaissance, this rich and deeply researched book documents the lasting contributions made by 4ZZZ; promoting independent music, producing alternative news and fostering authentic community collaborations. 

“People Powered Radio is not just a story about radio. It’s an insider’s perspective on what happens when people build something together and refuse to let it go. It’s a celebration of everything that 4ZZZ has offered over the last half a century and what the future might hold for the station."

Reception is open Monday to Friday from 10am-4pm and Saturdays from 10am-2pm to purchase one! Otherwise, purchase online here and pick up at reception in those hours. 

We’ve wrapped up our April Atonement festivities so we wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone who subscribed during the campaign. Your support goes directly to keeping us alive, broadcasting the voices of our community and platforming local bands and issues that don’t get heard anywhere else. 

We are proudly independent media, which we’re only able to achieve because of the direct support of subscribers. 40% of 4ZZZ’s income is subscriptions yet 5% of total listeners are subscribers. Therefore, we truly rely on the support of our listeners to continue broadcasting. 

Thank you so much to everyone that subscribed and may your warm inner glow shine bright!

The Workers Power team conducted a broadcast live from the heart of the Labour Day rally on May 4th from 10am-12pm.

Throughout the rally they had some really important interviews and conversations with marchers in the crowd which touched on the importance of Labour Day as a celebration of workers achievements and the labour movement. They also spoke on the cost of living crisis, Justice for Palestine and other continued struggles that workers are facing. 

Listen back to hear the whole broadcast on the Workers Power. 

4ZZZ won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the QMA for 2026!

It's hard to put 4ZZZ and our lifetime into a couple minute speech, but Dr. Heather Anderson, our 4ZZZ historian and community radio expert, more than did it justice. Shining a light to how 4ZZZ has remained unapologetic for 50 years in platforming local music, reporting matters that mainstream media don't touch and how important it is to give ordinary people access to the airwaves.

The award doesn't belong to any one person. 4ZZZ has remained alive through countless hours of countless volunteers over decades. Anyone that has walked through the doors of 4ZZZ to playlist a show, write a news story or input music, this award belongs to them. 

The 50th of the station last year was a huge milestone in the station journey. So many people from volunteers to announcers and 4ZZZ staff gave up hours and days to make sure all the events happened. It was no small feat and their work truly made the 50th anniversary one to remember. 

A special shoutout to Screamfeeder who performed the QMA’s wearing all 4ZZZ shirts and Ball Park Music dedicating their Album of the Year win to 4ZZZ Radio.

Thank you Heather for such a beautiful speech and thank you Queensland Music Awards for the recognition of 4ZZZ. 

The Banana Logo Tee is back in a new colour! Sage green colour printed on a AS staple cotton tee. Sub price: $35 | Non-sub: $40. 

We've got another tee with a brand new design coming in hot. The 4ZZZ Grid in Vibrant Neon which has already been super popular.  Printed on a black AS block cotton tee. Sub price: $40 | Non-sub: $45.

Last but not least, new tea towels are in! With a vast collection of zed logos on a black cotton tea towel, this is one to have in a 4ZZZ household. Sub price: $20 | Non-sub: $25.