Nick Findlay steps up to triple j Music Director as Kingsmill’s role broadens

Nick Findlay is now Music Director at triple j, following longtime head honcho Richard Kingsmill’s new title of Group Music Director across a number of ABC Radio properties.

Findlay has been at triple j for over a decade, and has been vital alongside Kingsmill in shaping the sound of the station. The change is more of a title bump than a promotion, recognising Findlay’s work at the top level in the broadcaster’s programming team.

Kingsmill’s role now finds him at the head of the music team including music directors – Double J’s Dorothy (Dot) Markek, Unearthed’s Dave Ruby Howe, and ABC Local Radio’s Jacinta Parsons – as well as triple j Assistant Music Director Gemma Pike and group music researcher/programmer and presenter Karla Ranby, and the presenters and specialists across the stations.

Kingsmill will continue to host 2017, his Sunday night program showcasing new music, a representative confirmed to TMN.

The title change makes sense, considering how the influence, size and remit of triple j’s music team has increased with the launch of the Unearthed and Double J digital stations, as well as ABC Local music programming. 

But it also comes after several years of gentle but sustained commentary regarding Kingsmill’s status as a 53-year-old man with a huge amount of say in the sound of the youth broadcaster, and easily the country’s most influential radio station, with many listeners and industry figures alike believing it was time for a director with a fresh perspective.

"The King" had been in the position since 2003, when founding music director Arnold Frolows stepped down after 20 years.

The Group Director position will allow Kingsmill oversight on the overall direction of the ABC’s music programming while letting Findlay take the reins for day-to-day decisions at the youth broadcaster – a title shift that recognises both their contributions and extensive experience, but will still allow Findlay a relatively fresh start. ABC Head of Music Chris Scaddan said in a statement issued to local news site The Industry Observer that the change was essentially a recognition of how the music team is already working.

Programmer and producer Pike has taken on Findlay’s former role as Assistant Music Director, making her potentially next in line for the top job – although if Findlay follows Kingsmill and Frolows’ example, she might be waiting a while.