On the Record
Calling all music makers! On The Record returns for a third year, an exciting competition created by Air Raid Records to give Territory music acts the chance to win their tunes pressed to vinyl.
By Tierney Seccull
Ryan Sage is the owner of Air Raid Records, and says he formed the competition in 2021 to help raise the profile of Territory music.
“I wanted to elevate the NT’s musical profile. I think it’s underrated – there’s so much untapped talent in the NT,” he says.
On The Record isn’t a funded initiative, so Air Raid Records covers all costs with support from record-printing company, Zenith Records.
“Without Zenith’s sponsorship, we wouldn’t be able to run the competition. They pretty much halve the cost of the production – without them, there’s absolutely no way the comp would run,” Sage says.
On The Record has successfully run twice, with singer-songwriter RachelRachel taking out the inaugural comp and pop-punk outfit Danger Den taking out the comp last year. Jeremy Uyloan, frontman of Danger Den and judge for 2023, says having their tunes pressed on vinyl was not something the band ever expected to achieve.
“It was such a good opportunity for a young band like us to have our music pressed to vinyl, we’d never done that. It’s a great competition, especially in the Territory, there’s not often the opportunity to do something like this.”
The competition has made a great contribution to the local music scene, with almost 50 entries each year, a number Air Raid Records is keen to crack.
There are a few guidelines for entrants, who must be based in the NT, not signed to a label, and never have had their music pressed to vinyl. The winner receives 100 12- inch personalised records – enough for a full album of 10-12 tunes on both sides – in a colour and cover of their choice. To be in the running, simply email your best two original tracks to the Air Raid Records team.
Sage says winning the comp could have extra benefits down the track.
“What people may not realise is that the major cost in record production is getting the stamper, or the master, which is the imprint of the record on hard metal. Once the artist wins, and they’ve sold all their records, they can reissue or repress their record really cheap, because Zenith already have their stamper on file.”
So throw your tunes in the ring for a chance to make some records.
On The Record Competition
WHEN ENTRIES CLOSE MON 1 MAY
INFO facebook.com/airraidrecords | airraidrecords@gmail.com
Header, thumbnail & inset: 2022 winners Danger Den. Photo: Jesse Vicencio
