Triple J Unearthed
| Company type | Digital radio station and online music platform |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music, Broadcasting |
| Founded | 1995 (regional competition), website launched 9 August 2006, digital radio station launched 5 October 2011 |
| Founder | Australian Broadcasting Corporation |
| Headquarters | Australia , Australia |
Area served | Australia |
Key people | Linda Bracken (former manager), Stephanie Carrick (executive producer), Chris Scaddan (music director) |
| Products | Online music discovery platform, digital radio station, talent competitions (Unearthed High) |
| Owner | Australian Broadcasting Corporation |
| Website | www |
Triple J Unearthed serves as an Australian online music discovery platform and digital radio station, operated by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and functioning as a counterpart to Triple J.
Beginning in 1995 as a regional competition aimed at uncovering unsigned musical talent, Unearthed established its website in 2006 to promote emerging local artists. By 2023, the platform featured upwards of 170,000 tracks contributed by over 85,000 independent musicians. This success culminated in the launch of a dedicated digital radio station in 2011, which exclusively broadcasts Australian music uploaded through the site.
Hailed as a "game-changing concept" that reshaped Australia's music industry, Unearthed has been instrumental in launching the careers of prominent acts such as Flume, Missy Higgins, Vance Joy, Gang of Youths, and Grinspoon. The initiative continues to nurture independent artists through programs like Unearthed High, an annual competition for high school musicians that provides professional recording opportunities.
Talent competition
In July 1995, Triple J initiated the regional Unearthed contest, inviting emerging Australian artists to submit demo recordings for professional production and radio exposure. The inaugural year saw participation from 1,000 entrants, with Lismore-based rock group Grinspoon securing the win.
Over the following years, the competition uncovered notable talents including Killing Heidi (1996) and Missy Higgins (2001). By 2006, Triple J had visited more than 43 regions and discovered upwards of 100 artists, many of whom went on to release albums independently and secure distribution agreements.
Website
In 2006, under the leadership of former Triple J manager Linda Bracken, an online platform was created allowing unsigned musicians to upload their work directly to station staff and listeners without relying on traditional publicists or A&R representatives. Drawing inspiration from CBC Radio 3’s New Music Canada, Bracken collaborated with software engineer Ann Chesterman and received funding from the Australia Council for the Arts to launch the Unearthed website on 9 August 2006. The site rapidly gained popularity, with thousands of tracks uploaded during its first week and reaching approximately 100 daily uploads by 2010. As of 2023, Unearthed hosts more than 170,000 tracks contributed by over 85,000 independent artists.
The platform experienced its first significant redesign in 2021, improving both user interface and overall functionality.
On 18 December 2024, NSW Police alleged that two individuals misused Unearthed’s profile customization tools to enlist an inmate from Goulburn Correctional Centre in a stabbing attack targeting gang leader Bassam Hamzy earlier that year. The ABC, which owns Triple J, chose not to provide a statement regarding these claims.
Digital radio station
Building on the website's popularity, Stephanie Carrick, the executive producer of Unearthed, together with ABC's music director Chris Scaddan, introduced a dedicated digital radio station on 5 October 2011. This station broadcasts digitally across Australia's five largest capital cities and is also accessible through streaming on the Unearthed platform.
Unearthed High
Since 2008, Triple J Unearthed has hosted an annual contest targeting high school musicians and bands, providing winners with mentorship, recording sessions, and exposure through Triple J airplay. Noteworthy artists who have emerged from this competition include Hockey Dad, The Kid Laroi, Genesis Owusu, Japanese Wallpaper, and Gretta Ray.
Launched in 2016, the Unearthed High Indigenous Initiative offers support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musicians by providing mentoring and opportunities for broadcast on Triple J.
In celebration of the competition’s 15th anniversary in 2023, Triple J organised a one-night all-ages performance during Vivid Sydney, showcasing prominent former participants such as Lastlings and Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers.
| Year | Winner | Notable finalists | Indigenous Initiative winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Tom Ugly[note 1] | ||
| 2009 | Hunting Grounds[note 2] | ||
| 2010 | Stonefield[note 3] | ||
| 2011 | Snakadaktal | ||
| 2012 | Asta | Montaigne | |
| 2013 | Lunatics on Pogosticks | Vancouver Sleep Clinic | |
| 2014 | Japanese Wallpaper | Hockey Dad | |
| 2015 | Mosquito Coast | Genesis Owusu | |
| 2016 | Gretta Ray | Lastlings, Ninajirachi | Tia Gostelow |
| 2017 | Arno Faraji | Ninajirachi | Becca Hatch |
| 2018 | Kian | The Kid Laroi | River & Isles |
| 2019 | George Alice | Mali Jo$e, Nick Ward | Aodhan |
| 2020 | Teenage Joans | Rudeboy E | |
| 2021 | The Rions | Kayps | |
| 2022 | Jacoténe | Proud Noongar Boys | |
| 2023 | Lee | Elianie, Ixaras, Lotte Gallagher, Redd | Inkabee |
| 2024 | Mariae Cassandra | Chris Vincent, That Gurl Bella, Zafty, Frank and Louis | Riah |
Indigenous opportunities
The Indigenous Initiative within Unearthed High spotlights exceptional Indigenous Australians artists. Past recipients include Aodhan (2019), Becca Hatch (2017), and Tia Gostelow (2016). Additionally, the network organises an annual contest exclusively for Indigenous musicians, with winners gaining the chance to perform at the National Indigenous Music Awards. Prominent previous winners are Thelma Plum, Baker Boy, Alice Skye, and Dallas Woods. Furthermore, Unearthed runs First Nations-focused competitions that have contributed artists to festivals such as First & Forever and Treaty Day Out.
Additional festival lineup opportunities
Triple J regularly organizes contests that allow victorious Unearthed artists to secure spots in prominent music festival rosters. Previous winners have appeared at events such as Splendour in the Grass, Groovin' the Moo, Falls Festival, Big Day Out, Laneway Festival, and A More Perfect Union.
Competitions for artist collaborations
Occasionally, Unearthed runs contests where successful musicians gain the chance to work alongside renowned producers and songwriters. In 2023, Flume released an unfinished track inviting Unearthed participants to complete it; the winning rendition, created by Blacktown rapper Isaac Puerile, received nationwide radio play. That same year also presented collaboration opportunities with acclaimed songwriter Sarah Aarons.
Past initiatives have included remix contests featuring artists such as Lorde and DMA's, along with "DIY supergroup" challenges utilizing samples from well-known musicians supplied by Triple J.
COVID-19 support grants
In June 2020, amid the COVID-19 crisis, Unearthed distributed sixteen grants of $7,000 each to artists on its platform to assist with recording new material, video production, and promotional activities.
Influence
In a 2022 article for the online magazine Tone Deaf, Holley Gawne highlighted Triple J Unearthed’s role in launching some of the most prominent talents within the music industry. Dave Ruby Howe, Triple J's music director, described Unearthed as a groundbreaking platform that preceded other music sharing services like SoundCloud and Bandcamp.
Distinguished alumni
Starting as a regional talent search, Unearthed has introduced artists including Missy Higgins, Sophie Koh, as well as bands like Grinspoon, Killing Heidi, and Sick Puppies.
The website’s establishment has propelled hundreds of artists into the spotlight and significantly shaped Australia's music scene. Notably, Flume, hailed by Rolling Stone as a top global producer, first appeared on Unearthed in 2011 with his track "Possum." Brisbane-based indie pop group Ball Park Music began uploading in 2008, while Gang of Youths shared demos and their debut single "Evangelists" in 2013.
Unsigned musician Vance Joy uploaded "Riptide," which gained extensive airplay on Unearthed radio before achieving 16× platinum status and securing the top spot in the Hottest 100 of 2013.
On February 15, 2019, Tones and I uploaded her first single "Johnny Run Away" to Unearthed. Following her victory in an Unearthed competition that earned her a performance slot at Splendour in the Grass, she released "Dance Monkey," which became Spotify’s most streamed Australian song and the most streamed track by a female artist globally, amassing over three billion streams.
100 Greatest Unearthed Breakthroughs
To celebrate a decade of the Triple J Unearthed initiative in November 2016, the broadcaster compiled a ranking titled the 100 Greatest Unearthed Breakthroughs, showcasing musicians who gained notable recognition after sharing their tracks on the platform. After the release of the Triple J Hottest 100 of Australian Songs in July 2025, the Unearthed channel refreshed this ranking.
| Rank | 2016 Ranking | 2025 Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Flume | Missy Higgins |
| 2 | Courtney Barnett | Rüfüs Du Sol |
| 3 | The Rubens | Gang of Youths |
| 4 | Boy & Bear | Spacey Jane |
| 5 | Meg Mac | Flume |
| 6 | Ball Park Music | Ball Park Music |
| 7 | The Jezabels | Ocean Alley |
| 8 | Sticky Fingers | Vance Joy |
| 9 | Big Scary | Sticky Fingers |
| 10 | Japanese Wallpaper | Grinspoon |
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