Ten years ago, this would have been a ‘best music blogs’ post, but these days, things are a little weirder in music media land. I think artists and fans still want to know who’s out there celebrating and promoting new music though? I hope so. In case that’s you then here you go: a list of all the music media makers I can find in Australia – blogs, zines, pages, channels, creators, collectives, newsletters, and anything else I can dig up.
I’ll keep checking in on this from time to time to keep it up to date, and if there’s stuff I missed or if your fav isn’t on here, then let me know who they are, and I’ll get it added.
The criteria:
- Predominantly covering Australian artists, and significantly covering emerging, independent, or DIY artists
- No charge for coverage (this includes no use of SubmitHub etc). I’ve tried as hard as I can to verify this for each one listed, but let me know if I’ve accidentally included any here who charge artists for coverage.
Australian Music Blogs, Pages, and Creators A-Z
Artist Archive Australia
Website | Instagram | Spotify
Why I π€ this: The design aesthetic is brilliantly minimalist and stark, the coverage of artists is wide, and there’s some nerdy-ass data in there is well, which is basically me-catnip.
AUD’$
Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Spotify
Why I π€ this: Super-sized, hip-hop focussed media platform covering Austrlian and international artists. Does have a SubmitHub account, but you can also submit tracks for editorial direct.
Backseat Mafia Downunder
Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
Why I π€ this: Having a dedicated Oz section under the broader BM umbrella is clearly an excellent idea, but the live coverage is spot on (plus it features photo work from some of the very best in the game round these parts).
Ballpoint Press
Website | Instagram | Facebook
Why I π€ this: Fiercely devoted to supporting locals, this Brisbane-based outfit interviews and covers releases from bands from across Australia, as well as putting on events themselves.
Band Banta
Instagram | TikTok | YouTube
Why I π€ this: Fiercely devoted to supporting locals, this Brisbane-based outfit interviews and covers releases from bands from across Australia, as well as putting on events themselves.
NB: from what I understand (correct me if I’m wrong!) there is a cost attached to interviews in particular with this title.
Ben Madden
Website | Instagram | TikTok | Substack
Why I π€ this: Tons and tons of interviews – a truly dying art – with Australian artists are the standout feature here, but you get an experienced industry observer thrown in for some sharp added analysis.
Blunt Magazine
Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
Why I π€ this: Long-running full-fledged magazine born from the punk and alternative scenes of the 00s, and still one of the best in the game for guitar-driven stories about artists in Oz and beyond.
Bridie Shield
Instagram | TikTok
Why I π€ this: 4ZZZ presenter and a huge champion of gender-diverse artists in Australia.
caitlin dyson
Instagram | Website | Spotify
Why I π€ this: Wide-ranging interviews and reviews with a focus on Australian artists. Tons and tons of breadth and plenty of depth to boot.
Cameron Menegoni
Instagram | The Band Next Door
Why I π€ this: The encyclopedic brain behind 2ser’s The Band Next Door show, Cam’s seemingly never-ending curiosity for new artists will lead you to strange and wonderful places..
Charlie In The Rain
Instagram | TikTok | YouTube
Why I π€ this: Recommendations for and reviews of Australian artists, all delivered with pinging enthusiasm.
Coalprint
Website | Instagram | YouTube
Why I π€ this: Excellent concert photographer with a really thoughtful approach. Also the brain behind Webspinner (see below).
Colour Television
Website | Instagram
Why I π€ this: Great, stark shots of mostly punk shows in Sydney, with some added bonus in-depth content on the site. Photos would make a great looking book.
David James Young
Website | Instagram
Why I π€ this: because it’s impossible not to love the current holder of the Guiness World Record for seeing the most gigs in a year. And because he shares clips and thoughts on SO much music. And because David is just the nicest fucking person.
Doghouse Digital
Website | Instagram | YouTube
Why I π€ this: Literally just starting out as of late 2025, but notable for the focus on the Hawkesbury and Hills regions in the north-west of Sydney, a sorely under-represented part of the world.
Dug By Us
Instagram | YouTube | Spotify | Newsletter
Why I π€ this: Running since 2019, this podcast serves up short and sweet hits of chat about music recommendations. Wide-ranging without ever overstaying its welcome.
FFO Zine
Instagram
Why I π€ this: A truly manic zine (like the best ones are) with live coverage shooting on bonkers phones, expired film, and strange video contraptions. Brilliantly mad.
Friends & Strangers
Instagram | Substack
Why I π€ this: The super-charming scrapbook vibe adds sparkle and delight to this Sydney page-and-substack combo that talks to and about a range of Australian artists.
God I’m Tired Zine
Instagram
Why I π€ this: A zine from Tasmania in the classic form, cutouts and photocopies, politics and punk rock. Puts on DIY shows as well.
Grassroots Earworm
Website | Instagram | Spotify
Why I π€ this: Fully committed to Australian aritsts, there’s both broad cover of Aussie music as well as initiatives like their ‘Homegrown Hundred’ alternative to the Triple J Hottest 100, and playlists with brand new, hear-them-first releases.
Heavy And Weird
Instagram
Why I π€ this: Long-running, ever-evolving edge space for art and music on the stranger margins of culture. Fearsomely dedicated to remaining unusual in a sea of sameness.
Liberate
Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Discord
Why I π€ this: Less a single voice than a collection of many, Liberate acts as connective tissue in the Melbourne scene, creating a collective voice from members of the Liberate community.
L.I.M.P (Local Independent Music People)
Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube
Why I π€ this: Less a single voice than a collection of many, Liberate acts as connective tissue in the Melbourne scene, creating a collective voice from members of the Liberate community.
Manifesto Zine
Instagram
Why I π€ this: Artist-run, this occasional zine is impeccably curated and maniacally dedicated to under-represented voices and stories.
mp3atm
Instagram | Spotify | Soundcloud
Why I π€ this: Excellent resource for Australian underground hip-hop, with killer playlists on both Spotify and Soundcloud.
Mumba
Instagram | YouTube | Substack
Why I π€ this: A really lively and immediate grab bag of content pours from this collective, including a particularly good Substack.
Newcastle Music Show
Instagram | Facebook | Spotify | Soundcloud
Why I π€ this: Newcastle produces a ton of absolutely killer artists, and this long-running show likes to talk about and promote as many of them as it possibly can.
One More Song!
Instagram
Why I π€ this: I love the design and the philosphy of OMS, infectiously enthusiastic and casting a wide net across on Australian music.
One Volume
Instagram | Cult Following
Why I π€ this: It’s based in Wollongong, but since so many batshit-good artists come out of there, One Volume is necessary reading. As well as artists and releases and a gig guide, there’s also a new monthly roundup called Cult Following that celebrates Australian creatives.
PUSH Magazine
Website | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Spotify
Why I π€ this: Without a doubt one of the very sharpest tools in Sydney’s shed, PUSH is a biannual magazine, a website, and socials, and also does gigs and parties (often through its child project Dogs Run Free). It’s on a mission to connect up and promote Sydney creatives in all forms, and it’s a bloody gem.
Ratbag
Instagram | Substack
Why I π€ this: Recommended to me more often than any other publication on this list, Ratbag is giddily and happily bonkers, a full-on zine aesthetic buzzing around the uber-sharp eyes and ears they cast over Australian artists.
Reece
Instagram | Substack
Why I π€ this: Excellent in-depth Substack covering a broad swathe of the Australian scene.
Reverie
Instagram
Why I π€ this: Coverage of and shows featuring emerging Australian artists, including some excellent live video of solo or show performances.
roots Australia
Instagram | Soundcloud
Why I π€ this: Hyperactive coverage of underground hip-hop and electronic music across Australia (and occasionally NZ), this is an awesome account (and playlist) that dives right beneath the surface of the scenes it covers.
Round The Ground
Website | Instagram
Why I π€ this: An epically strong thing for just one person to produce, Round The Ground is primarily a radio show with a broad eye on music from across Australia.
Side Stage Music
Instagram | TikTok | YouTube
Why I π€ this: Instantly recognisable design mixed with a well-run newsletter and impressively regular posts about new Australian releases.
So Many Bands
Instagram | YouTube | Substack
Why I π€ this: An absolutely titanic supporter of emerging music in Australia, there’s hardly a gig you’ll get to where Simon’s not down the front, shooting a song or two (which he then shares on his channel).
Somersault
Website | Instagram | Spotify
Why I π€ this: The star of this new publication is the A5 print version which is both spectacularly good-looking and jammed with high-quality coverage of Australian and international artists. There’s an online version too, but you’ll take one look at the physical mag and just want to grab a copy.
*SSQUARED
Instagram | Website | YouTube
Why I π€ this: The double ‘S’ in SSQUARED’ represents Sarah Silvestro, whose magazine covers Australian artists across pop, electronic and hip-hop. It’s a really impressive piece of solo work, and the video in particular is top drawer.
Starving Kids
Instagram | TikTok
Why I π€ this: One of the (far too) few dedicated groups talking about and supporting all-ages artists, based in Brisbane. Tons of interviews, and puts on shows to boot.
Suzie Scribbles
Website | Instagram | TikTok
Why I π€ this: Super high-quality music coverage based in Melbourne, with tons and tons of recommendations and interviews and reviews. Self-evidently one of the best in the game.
Tempo
Instagram | Substack
Why I π€ this: Primarily an excellent newsletter from Melbourne, with bags of coverage of news, releases, and shows, the socials are also well worth following for quick hits alongside the longer emails.
That Aussie Music Guy
Instagram | TikTok | YouTube
Why I π€ this: Boss-level gig-goer with a particularly lively TikTok page which also includes artist recommendations and industry insight.
The Aussie Music Shack
Website | Instagram | TikTok
Why I π€ this: Loads and loads of Australian artists live and on record an at gigs. Absolutely not fussed about what it covers, and does so with consistently high levels of joy.
The Brisbane Music Spew
Instagram | YouTube | Substack
Why I π€ this: Natasha’s Brisbane-focussed zine does tons of interviews and recommends loads of emerging artists, on an absolute mission to support the local scene.
The Note Magazine
Website | Instagram
Why I π€ this: Adelaide is a hotbed of musical talent in Oz and The Note focusses its efforts here, recommending and talking to local artists as well as national and international artists visiting SA. Comes in both print and online flavours, and its coverage is both pretty massive and really awesome.
The Underground Stage
Website | Instagram | TikTok | Spotify
Why I π€ this: I love this because it’s mine, and it’s what you’re reading. I hope you like it, or at least find it occasionally useful. What started in 2014 as a purely live music photography thing has grown a bit into more of a broader fanzine thing. Other blokes my age play golf or some shit, I do this. I only cover emerging, independent, and DIY artists in Australia, but I also do guides and stuff like this one.
This Song Is Yours
Website | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify
Why I π€ this: Excellent podcast focussing on talking with songwriters about songwriting, featuring artists from Australian and abroad.
Webspinner
Website | Instagram | Facebook
Why I π€ this: currently on hiatus but I’m crossing fingers it’ll be back soon, Webspinner was cool af. Also, who doesn’t love a Windows 95 aesthetic?
Worldwide Albums
Instagram
Why I π€ this: A constant stream of track recommendations from across the Australian underground. Clean and crisp and bang on point.
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