The network dates back to the launch of Triple M Sydney in 1980. On 15 December 2016, the network was amalgamated with the LocalWorks network of regional radio stations.[1]
The first Triple M station was Triple M Sydney, which commenced broadcasting to Sydney on 2 August 1980. Triple M Sydney and then-rival 2Day FM were the first commercial FM radio stations in Sydney. Throughout the 1980s, Triple M was one of the highest-rating radio stations in Sydney, spearheaded by its morning show presented by Doug Mulray and featuring the writing of and occasional appearances by Andrew Denton. For all of this period and into the 1990s, Triple M's promotional campaign featured the character "Dr Dan", a guitar-playing satyr with wings, inspired by artwork by legendary Australian cartoonist Peter Ledger, and a theme song that was an extended reworking of the Mike Batt track "Introduction (The Journey of a Fool)", from his 1979 album Tarot Suite.
In 1988, Melbourne radio station EON FM (3EON), 92.3 was taken over by Triple M and changed its callsign to Triple M and moved to 105.1 MHz in November 1988. EON FM was Australia's first commercial FM radio station, commencing broadcasting on 11 July 1980.
Brisbane radio station Triple M Brisbane was launched in 1980 and took on the FM104 identity soon after. It returned to the Triple M identity in early 1990. Its callsign has remained 4MMM since its 1980 launch. Triple M Brisbane started broadcasting on 104.1FM, then late in the 1980s changed to its present frequency of 104.5-FM.
Adelaide radio station 5KA converted from 1197 kHz to 104.7 MHz on 1 January 1990 and was renamed KAFM (5KKA). The station was taken over by Village Roadshow, who then owned Triple M, and they successfully negotiated the purchase of the 5MMM callsign from a community radio station in 1993. That station is now known as Three D Radio (5DDD), and the 5MMM callsign is now used by Triple M Adelaide (104.7)
Perth radio station 96FM (6NOW) also carried the Triple M identity and 6MMM callsign in the early 1990s but was then sold to Southern Cross Broadcasting who changed the station's identity back to its original name. Mix 94.5 until December 2020 was "considered"[2] to be a part of the Triple M network in Perth utilising local programming (as opposed to airing networked Triple M programmes) and Mix 94.5 didn’t carry the Triple M brand, logo or call letters.
In Auckland, New Zealand, a Triple M station existed between 1984 and 1988 when 89 Stereo FM became part of Triple M. The station previously used the call sign 1ROQ and changed to 1MMM when becoming part of Triple M. New Zealand no longer uses radio station call signs. This station later reverted to 89FM in 1988 and eventually closed down in 1994.[3]
While many of the comedy and talk programs are networked, large sections of music programming originate from the local market of each Triple M.
On Friday 17 November 2006, Triple M (including Mix 94.5 in Perth) referred to itself as U2FM for the day, as part of a promotion relating to the band U2 and their 2006 Australian Tour and CD release.
Triple M launched High Voltage Radio, a "pop up" digital radio station that exclusively played AC/DC for the duration of the band's 2010 tour of Australia.[4]
On 16 August 2013, Triple M Perth was launched on digital radio, returning the station to Perth. Branded as Perth's Real Music Alternative, the station also carried Triple M AFL coverage.[5] On 27 September 2014, the station was replaced by Triple M Modern Rock Digital. Featuring only new rock music, the station also expanded to Adelaide.[6]
On 25 November 2013, Triple M Classic Rock Digital radio station was launched.[7][8] The station format is exclusively classic rock, with no announcer talkback.
Formerly known as: – Triple M Soft Rock (2019–2021) – Triple M Aussie (2019) – Triple M Modern Digital (2017–2019) – Triple M Modern Rock (2014–2016) – Triple M Perth (2013–2014)
In September 2002, Triple M and Frontier Touring held four rock concerts in Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney as part of the touring M-One festival, which featured Goo Goo Dolls, Nickelback, Garbage, Lifehouse, Default, Midnight Oil and Antiskeptic.
Triple M have held an Essential Countdown based on listener votes since 2006, beginning in October of each year, counting the same number of songs as the year (e.g., 2006 songs in 2006). The countdown has received some criticism for being overly similar to the Triple J Hottest 100 countdown, despite the Triple J Hottest 100 only including songs from the preceding 12 months.
Triple M is the only commercial FM broadcasters of the AFL in Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane and Sydney (although only the local teams - the Brisbane Lions and Gold Coast Suns in Brisbane and Sydney Swans and GWS Giants in Sydney respectively - are covered in the latter two cities with the local teams in Adelaide and Perth coverage in the two cities along with neutral games.) Triple M is best known for offering a less formal coverage than AM radio, providing listeners with a sense of comedy to the call while still calling the action. The station is the only radio station that provide listeners with the umpires microphones often heard on TV coverage. The TISM song ‘Shut Up the Footy’s on the Radio’ the radio stations theme song and is often heard throughout the broadcast before and after ad breaks in games.
National Rugby League
In October 2006, the National Rugby League announced that beginning in 2007, Triple M Sydney would be the exclusive commercial broadcaster of Monday Night Rugby league matches. The coverage began on 19 March with the Round 1 match between the Sydney Roosters and South Sydney Rabbitohs. Currently, Triple M broadcast 5 games a round, a Thursday night, two Friday nights, a Saturday and a Sunday, all Finals and all State of Origin matches.
In December 2016, Triple M became the first FM radio station to broadcast test cricket. Commentators included James Brayshaw, Kerry O'Keeffe, Michael Slater, Brett Lee, Brad Haddin, Merv Hughes, Darren Berry, H.G Nelson, Jules Schiller, Lawrence Mooney, Gus Worland, Neroli Meadows, Isa Guha, Mick Molloy and Mark Howard. In May 2018, it was announced that Triple M will no longer broadcast cricket, after the station chose not to renew their contract with Cricket Australia.[10] However in August 2021, Triple M announced that they will return to broadcasting Test Cricket along with One Day Internationals played in the next three summers starting in the 2021/22 season which included the Ashes Series.
