Best of The Quarter Hour with Radio's Liam Renton

"Everything's at stake": ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd on AI and copyright

About the Guest(s): Annabelle Herd: Annabelle Herd is the CEO of the Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA), representing the interests of the Australian music industry and its creators. With extensive experience in the field of copyright law and music industry advocacy, Annabelle plays a pivotal role in driving discussions around the protection and licensure of Australian creative works in the age of artificial intelligence. Her leadership in ARIA focuses on upholding the economic and cultural value of musical works amidst global technological changes. Episode Summary: In this thought-provoking episode of "The Quarter Hour," host Wade Kingsley returns to delve into issues around copyright laws, data centres, and the impact of artificial intelligence on Australia's creative industries. Annabelle Herd, CEO of ARIA, joins the conversation to untangle claims made by tech mogul Scott Farquhar regarding the Australian copyright system and its implications on global data centre competitiveness. Highlighting the necessity for structured licensing mechanisms, they discuss the challenges creatives and industry bodies encounter as AI technologies expand. In this segment, the conversation centres on Scott Farquhar's assertion that Australia's copyright laws are hindering AI development and training. Wade and Annabelle dissect this notion, emphasising that current laws mandate proper licensing and permissions from copyright holders, contrary to the Tech Council's drive to change these legislations. This episode sheds light on the practicalities of licensing, the foundational role of copyright in the modern economy, particularly in recorded music, and the potential ramifications if legislative alterations favour large tech corporations over creative rights. The discussion presents a clarion call for creatives and industry players to actively participate in ongoing policy dialogues to safeguard their interests. Key Takeaways: * Protection Under Copyright Law: Annabelle Herd explains the importance of current copyright laws in protecting the rights of creatives, ensuring they are adequately compensated and their work is not misappropriated by AI. * Scott Farquhar's Position: The episode analyses Scott Farquhar's push for legislative changes that he argues would enhance Australia's AI training capabilities by relaxing copyright restrictions. * Potential Consequences: The hosts discuss the potential negative implications of altering copyright protections, emphasising the broader economic and cultural stakes for Australia's creative industries. * Licensing Feasibility: Offering practical insights, Herd describes how major global licensing deals are efficiently managed and could provide a structured way to facilitate AI training under existing laws. * Call to Action: Listeners are urged to recognise the significance of this debate and engage with policy discussions to protect creative rights and interests. Notable Quotes: 1. "Suddenly everybody is a copyright expert. It's definitely not something that I would have predicted." - Annabelle Herd 2. "I could give you five phone numbers and you would have 80% of the world's sound recordings licensed." - Annabelle Herd 3. "The whole digital economy is founded on intellectual property law." - Annabelle Herd 4. "They are asking to get rid of copyright protection not just for Australian rights holders, but all rights holders." - Annabelle Herd 5. "If AI is the smartest tech we've ever seen, surely they don't need special privileges that no other tech is needed." - Annabelle Herd

Generation Fresh: Sean Craig Murphy on the future talent for radio

Liam Renton catches up with Sean Craig Murphy, Content Director at Fresh FM Adelaide. They've just unveiled the winner in the 2026 'Generation Fresh' talent search. Have a listen to the Top 5 and hear the winner announced.

The Radio Survivor: Luisa Pelizzari

Filling in for Wade Kingsley, Liam Renton interviews his former co-host Luisa Pelizzari. Luisa is about to celebrate 30 years on-air on Breakfast radio in Albury-Wodonga.

Local Radio Ratings: The Scoreboard from Geelong

Liam Renton catches up with Guy Mylecharane from Bay FM Geelong to discuss the strength of local radio based on the recent ratings.

Caroline Hutchinson: from Breakfast Host to General Manager

While Wade takes a break, Liam Renton is in the host's chair. Liam caught up with someone he greatly admires in radio - Caroline Hutchinson from the Sunshine Coast. Caroline recently returned to radio - not on the air - but in the General Manager's chair. Liam asks her about her career (including working with Doug Mulray) and the charity initiative she drove from a small idea into a national campaign.