ripitup.com.au's Stories of the year

In our very first year of existence, Rip It Up Online was there when all the big news broke in 2010. And when we weren't, we started creating our own. Here are the five biggest stories to appear on ripitup.com.au this year.

5. A STATE OF (IN)DEPENDENCE

The Independent Music Awards this year raised some serious questions about what it means to be ‘indie’ in the current day and age. Because when you’ve got an awards ceremony celebrating independent music that’s sponsored by Nova Radio, Jagermeister and MySpace, just how independent is it? And with the growing dependence on outside endorsements from commercial enterprise, is there such a thing as independence in music anymore? These questions were addressed in Jimmy Bollard’s editorial.

4. THE FRESH 50

Australian music reached some sort of intangible apex in 2010. The quality and diversity of artists currently plying their trade in this industry seems more apparent than it ever has been. In an effort to highlight and celebrate this fact, Rip It Up Online compiled a list of the 50 most promising young acts in Australian music. Did it have any impact? We like to think so, but that’s really up to the people to decide.

3. THEBARTON THEATRE VS THE ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE

No one asked any questions about the Ent Cent’s multi-million dollar upgrade until the directors of Weslo Holdings took out a slew of print ads pointing out the State Government’s apparent attempts to undercut Thebarton Theatre. All of a sudden it was a war of words, only it was fairly one-sided as the Government just bent over and took Bob Lott’s vitriol. At the end of the day it was Thebarton Theatre: 1; Entertainment Centre: 0.

2. SOUNDWAVE TURFED OUT

In an amazing story of public mobilisation and engagement, the promoters of the Soundwave festival took a potential threat to their 2011 Adelaide leg and blew it out of the water. With Adelaide City Council demanding unreasonable fees for use of the Bonython Park site, it was up to the characteristically vocal AJ Maddah to stir the pot. With the public (and music press) on their side, Soundwave was able to wrest control of the situation and come out of the episode unscathed. Bravo Mr Maddah, that’s good karma for you (you needed it).

It was the story that divided Adelaide’s underground punk community. Because as soon as it surfaced on Rip It Up Online, the underground element of it vanished and lots of people took exception to that. The ethics of alleyway shows were brought into question, as were the people hosting them and the role the media should play in them. Opinions were thrown around, insults hurled, feelings undoubtedly hurt. Alleyway shows have been going in Adelaide for years and will probably continue in some way, shape or form well into the future. But after this article, they will never be the same again.

What were the stories that made 2010 for you?

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