SYN

21/12/2023

SAVE SYN FEST ON FILM 📸

Woweeeeeee what a massive day that was! Save SYN Fest was a volunteer-led mini music festival held at - organised as the final sprint to save our station (which, it did!) 👏

We want to give the biggest thank you to all of the volunteers who contributed their time to planning and hosting the event, the artists and DJs who slayed the stage, all gig-goers from our community for coming by and donating throughout the day, our raffle prize donors, and Nick, John and The Evelyn Hotel team for hosting us. The dedication and kindness of you all were crucial to the success of this event, and of the emergency fundraiser.

Our hearts are bursting with gratitude ❤️‍🔥

20/12/2023

Since our beginning, SYN FM has always been a stalwart defender of The New; new voices, new stories, and new art. Following in this tradition, we bring you 10 albums which we believe to have exemplified the best in new music for the year. All 10 are exemplary works of art exploring new facets of their respective genres with remarkable prowess.

To hear a full breakdown of why we chose these albums, tune in this New Year’s Eve from 1pm-4pm as our General Manager Ruby Smith breaks down the best music of 2023.

We’d like to also take this opportunity to once again thank the many supporters of the station who showed up for us in an incredible way this year. Thanks to our incredible community, SYN FM is here to stay!

13/12/2023

SYN FM x SOUNDBOX 🎙📦

HA-UGE congrats to our volunteers who jumped back into the ALWAYS LIVE SOUNDBOX last month for a stellar show filled with live and local music, and dynamic discussions on music, arts and culture that matters to young people in Naarm/Melbourne right now

A very special mention and thank you to and for those incredible live performances too ✨

What a day!

05/12/2023

💥 ATTENTION TEACHERS & COMMUNITY LEADERS 💥

Bookings are open for our 2024 educational media programs!

For over 10 years, SYN has been delivering radio & podcasting workshops to schools and community groups, with 4000+ students participating each year. That's a lot of media content made by young people!

Choose from four workshops, presented by young media professionals, at SYN's studios—or we can bring the workshop to you. We work with primary & secondary schools, community groups, and tertiary institutes, and have contributed to 60 school curriculums in 2023.

All 2024 bookings made before 11:59pm, Friday 15 December will receive a 15% early bird discount. Don't miss out!

If you are an educator looking to engage your students in media, email [email protected] or head to syn.org.au/learn/ to find out more.

SYN, where young people proudly run the show 🔥

ID 1: Four hosts of Gen U's Communities on Air show are smiling in SYN's live studio, with their scripts and four microphones in front of them. On the studio desk is the live panel and a pair of headphones.

ID 2: 18 members of a local tertiary institute's english language class are smiling, standing closely together, and posing with their hands in peace signs.

ID 3: The same four hosts of Gen U's Communities on Air show are posing cheekily in SYN's live studio. From left, Daniel is smiling, giving a shaka with his left hand, Jeremy is next to him, smiling, with his right arm raised, Choung is next to him, posing with a peace sign, and Jonathan is next to him, poking his tongue out.

03/12/2023

Today is International Day of People with Disability!

We want to give a huge shout out to two people in particular who have had a massive impact at SYN FM in 2023.

First, former Disability and Access Coordinator, Is Hay! Is supported in facilitating .syn a radio show and podcast dedicated to advocating for, and amplifying the stories of young disabled people. Is also spent their time at SYN FM running access and inclusion training workshops including SYN Enabled and SYN Kickstart, and progressed SYN’s Disability Action Plan. Is’ bright personality and bright coloured hair is sticking around SYN to continue assisting with our DAP that works to continue making improvements to SYN’s operations, programming, and culture in consideration to access and disability inclusion.

Next, Imi! .syn Executive Producer and Host, and Content Producer. Imi, is a dedicated SYN FM volunteer with a staunchness for human rights, advocacy, and local music. Imi loves a chat and a good tune, which we think is why they helped lead Raise The Platform to securing that CBAA Finalist spot at the 2023 Community Radio Awards in the Excellence in Creative Audio category! Imi also co-produced another rockin’ season of the best local music TV show in Naarm 🤘

Thanks to the work of Is and Imi, and all of our volunteers with disabilities SYN has been able to increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability amongst our volunteers and communities!

ID 1: A photo of Is Hay who has pink/red hair, wears red glasses and a face mask, and a rainbow tie-dye top. Is is sitting at a table with two laptops covered in stickers, papers and lots of coloured textas. Behind them is a TV monitor that has a white screen, text that reads “… with a disability?” and a red waved corner. Also needing them are large glass windows that look to a concrete building.

ID 2: A photo of Imi who has black hair tied up in a pink bow and wears a red jacket and blue top, is sitting at a white table with colourful textas and a paper handbook. Imi is smiling at the camera. Behind them is more white tables and chairs, and SYN volunteers.

30/11/2023

AUSMUSIC T-SHIRT DAY 👕🎶

Get around Australian artists and all music industry workers! Rock a local music tee for and donate to if you are in a position to so do. All funds raised goes towards helping Support Act continue their work supporting music industry professionals who may be in crisis, and run their mental health and well-being programs.

Head to supportact.org.au/give-help/donate-now/ and donate!

We 🫶 local music!

ID: photographs of SYN volunteers wearing various tee shirts.

28/11/2023

24HR EMERGENCY MARATHON 1 FILM DUMP 📸

As our SOS emergency has come to an end, and as we sit in awe of our dedicated volunteers, we want to give some huge thanks.

To the SYN FM volunteer team who fired the first flare and first 24HR Emergency Marathon broadcast! An amazing crew of volunteers past and present dedicated their time and sacrificed their sleep to host an unforgettable broadcast of donation dares, donor shout outs, music of all sorts, and silly sleep deprived discussions 😴

During the broadcast, these volunteers racked up thousands of dollars that contributed to keeping SYN alive! Well done to and for producing this incredible broadcast and accomplishment!

These volunteers we tell ya, are something special 🥲

ID: 10 film photographs of volunteers and SYN staff posing in the radio studio.

27/11/2023

🚨 SOUNDBOX LINEUP: We’re so back and ready to bring you three great live and local performances from Naarm/Melbourne artists this week. You’ll hear Mathilde Anne (), Chey Jordan (), and Jewel Owusu () exclusively in the ALWAYS LIVE SOUNDBOX.

It all starts from 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, 29 November at the Arts Centre Melbourne. Catch SYN live in person at the Arts Centre – or tune in from anywhere on the go on 90.7 FM, digital radio and online.

ALWAYS LIVE are proud SYN supporters. Check out the schedule to explore the extended ALWAYS LIVE program.

23/11/2023

RAMONA SKY ROCK SHOW ⚡️

As our SOS emergency fundraiser has come to an end, and as we sit in awe of the dedicated local music community who support us, we want to give some huge thanks.

To Ramona Sky () - As soon as they heard the news of SYN FM’s uncertain future they immediately took action, and got to work on organising a fundraiser rock show just for us 🤘

Supported by and
(who also want to give a huge shoutout to!) they had the band room pumping and raised a whopping amount of dollars to help save our station.

Truly, our hearts are bursting ❤️‍🔥

Watch this space for more teary thank-yous as we reflect on these past six weeks, that kept SYN alive!

Photos:

ID 1: A photo of Ramona Sky performing on stage under red lighting. On stage is a singer, guitarist, bassist and drummer. A disco ball hangs from the roof.

ID 2: A photo of Ramona Sky performing on stage under red lighting. On stage is a singer, guitarist, bassist and drummer, they are all blurred by the action of them playing their instruments and the singer is bending backwards singing into a microphone. A disco ball hangs from the roof.

22/11/2023

SYN is back in the ALWAYS LIVE SOUNDBOX. Owen and Marzi will soundtrack your morning with Victorian acts and bring you candid conversations from the Arts Centre Melbourne.

You’ll hear live and local performances from Naarm/Melbourne artists Mathilde Anne and Chey Jordan. Plus, Jewel Owusu debuts her single ‘outside’ exclusively in the ALWAYS LIVE SOUNDBOX.

SYN music and talks volunteers will also share why this community is so meaningful to them. New and Approved’s Issy Coldbeck and The Sports Desk’s Sam Menhennet are among those stopping by.

We’re so back and ready to give youth a voice.

It all starts from 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, 29 November at the Arts Centre Melbourne. Catch SYN live in person at the Arts Centre – or tune in from anywhere on the go on 90.7 FM, digital radio and online.

ALWAYS LIVE are proud SYN supporters. Check out the schedule to explore the extended ALWAYS LIVE program.

21/11/2023

🚨SYN FM IS SAVED 🚨

After six weeks of intense fundraising, SYN FM is thrilled to announce the success of our ‘Save Our Station - Keep SYN Alice’ campaign!

Donations from our community helped raise more than $60,000, securing SYN’s financial position into 2024.

From SYN FM General Manager, Ruby Smith - “Thanks to your support, SYN will be able to continue providing a platform for young people across Naarm/Melbourne, uplifting their voices and creating spaces where they are celebrated for being themselves.”

SYN also extends a massive thanks to our incredible volunteers, their crucial contribution to our station and the massive effort they put into our SOS fundraiser!

On Sunday 19 November SYN volunteers ran SAVE SYN FEST - The Final Sprint, a mini music festival at The Evelyn Hotel () featuring seven artists and four DJs playing in support of the station’s fundraising efforts.

We want to give the warmest thank you to the artists, venue, venue operators, raffle prize donors and all involved who volunteered their time, expertise, and products to make this outcome possible. As well as all industry professionals, artists, listeners, alumni and volunteers who supported us throughout this campaign.

We literally wouldn’t exist with out you ❤️‍🔥

ID 1: SYN red’ graphic with white all-caps text that reads ‘SAVED OUR STATION’. The ‘O’ in ‘OUR’ is replaced by SYN’s red circle logo.

ID 2: A group of SYN volunteers and staff stand together posing and smiling at ‘Save SYN Fest’ facing the camera, under red lighting in front of The Evelyn Hotel’s stage.

18/11/2023

SET TIMES ARE HERE 🔥

Tickets are FLYING for tomorrow’s mini festival so be sure to snap one up, before it’s too late (fr)!

Special addition Stuckey ( ) is jumping on the decks on top of the stacked line-up 🎶

This is your last chance to help support the station during this fundraising period, so we can’t wait to see you there ♥️

Tix via our bio! 🔗

18/11/2023

TOMORROW! 🔥 Join us at to see Squid the Kid, Tamara and the Dreams, Franjapan and so many more 🌟stellar🌟 local acts for SAVE SYN FEST: The Final Sprint to support us on the last day of the fundraiser! Come down for a boogie with us to and thriving 🙌

16/11/2023

Time is running 🏃‍♂️out to get your tix to SAVE SYN FEST: The Final Sprint 🏁 Don’t miss the likes of Araminta’s angelic folk-pop, Immy Owusu’s traditional and funk fusions, and Holly Hebe’s celestial pop vibes ✨✨ Tickets avail in bio! See you at 🎟️

10/11/2023

Kicking off in an hour we have another 24HRS of broadcasting!!

From Saturday 10am until Sunday 10am (11/11-12/11) you can hear current SYN volunteers and some SYN alumni doing what they do best (radio) across a variety of music, culture and conversational programs.

See our previous marathon broadcast post for the full schedule!

This will be the beginning of SYN’s final sprint in raising crucial funds for the station, you can find out more and make a donation at: givenow.com.au/savesyn (link in bio)

10/11/2023

Come down to for Save SYN Fest: The Final Sprint & catch dreamy vocals and dancey beats 🔥🔥 Tickets in our linktree for a good cause! 🎫

02/11/2023

Did someone say syntegration?! Alumni Hay Fos and Moggy will be repping SYN on Friday Mix with to chat about the campaign! Tune in at 2pm to hear their mix and all things 🎧 share and support us at givenow.com.au/savesyn 💕💕

31/10/2023

SYN FOREVER! Just some of the reasons you all ❤️ SYN! We see and hear all the love y'all have for us and we need your help to stay on the air. Don't wait, donate at givenow.com.au/savesyn
We are so grateful for all the love so far, keep it coming so we can reach our $90K goal to keep our youth-led community station afloat 🚣

29/10/2023

TODAY 🍽️ SOULFOOD + SUNDAY SWEETS 🧁

We’ve cooked up an extra special Sunday feast for you full of SXSW goodness!!!

First up on the menu, dig into some from 3pm to hear Marzi & Noah’s interviews with &

Then stick around for dessert on from 6pm for their chat with

Hear it all on 90.7 FM, syn.org.au or the Community Radio Plus app and help us continue to serve delicious content by donating via the link in our bio 🥣

26/10/2023

TONIGHT 🌀 THE HOIST

Up next in our SXSW spotlight, Marzi & Noah caught up with the wickedly talented ENOLA

Tune in tonight (26/10) from 6pm to hear them chat about their upcoming debut EP All Is Forgiven, how new beginnings can be born from destruction, and how storytelling informs their songwriting!

Catch it all on 90.7 FM, syn.org.au or the Community Radio Plus app, and help SYN continue to tell great stories by donating via the link in our bio 💘

25/10/2023

WE'VE REACHED $50,000!! 🎉🎉
Thank you to everyone who has donated to and shared our fundraiser. SYN is nothing without its community and we are so grateful for the generosity and kindness of our fellow SYNers ❤️
Our goal in the next (last!) few weeks of our campaign is to double the $45,000 we raised in the first two weeks to $90,000. Can we do it by November 19? Our vols think so! Their belief in this station, spreading the word, and rallying around the fundraiser is why we've made it this far already. If we can raise $90,000 this can safeguard SYN's future and we can continue to serve our fab community and give young people a platform!

Can you help us keep that number climbing? Share and donate at givenow.com.au/savesyn

24/10/2023

TONIGHT 🎈THE HOIST

Two of our legendary presenters, Noah & Marzi, headed off to the SXSW festival last week to interview 14 incredible artists

Tonight we’re kicking off by airing their chat with none other than Eora-based legend FRIDAY*

Tune in from 6pm to hear them talk all about world-building as an artist and curating a visual and sonic aesthetic

Catch it on 90.7 FM, online at syn.org.au or through the Community Radio Plus app, and help us KEEP SYN ALIVE by donating via the link in our bio ❤️‍🔥

16/10/2023

🔊FUNDRAISER GIG INCOMING 🔊Local legends are holding a fundraiser gig to help along with and 🔥 Such a beautiful gesture from these incredible folks ❤️❤️ Tickets at link in bio!

16/10/2023

We're still fighting to Save Our Station for six weeks between October 4 and November 19! Help us continue training young media makers for generations to come. Visit givenow.com.au/savesyn to help keep us on the air 🤝

Best buddies and radio co-hosts Hamish and Andy on longevity, chemistry and the biggest payoff of their work.

12/10/2023

The hosts with the most ⭐ SYN FM celebrating live and local music at NLMA at Music Market.

Keeping SYN FM alive means we can continue to give our volunteer awesome industry opportunities and amplify our local music scene!

Donate now givenow.com.au/savesyn & continue spread the word! Anything you can do helps ❤️

ID: 10 smiling SYN volunteers all dressed up pose in front of black curtain and NLMA banner.

10/10/2023

SYN General Manager Ruby Smith and Programming Coordinator Sal Lewis with the at ✨

Ruby jumped on air to share SYN’s SOS Emergency Fundraiser with the 3RRR community. We’re incredibly grateful for the support of Naarm’s community radio stations and people 🚨❤️

09/10/2023

🆘 By donating to SYN FM you are saving a community of 300 passionate volunteers and nearly 300,000 monthly listeners who care about local music, news and culture! It’s not just our station, it’s your station at risk. 🆘

givenow.com.au/savesyn or via link in bio 🔗

05/10/2023

Our volunteers are superstars✨ and have come together to run a 24HR Emergency Marathon Broadcast to THIS SATURDAY 07 Oct 10AM TIL SUNDAY 08 OCT 10AM 🏃

Help us get to the finish line by tuning in & supporting youth community radio 🤘🏼

Listen on 90.7FM / syn.org.au / Community Radio Plus App

Donate now via link in bio 🔗

05/10/2023

Without your support, SYN’s radio waves will go silent. SYN is facing down its last weeks on air after the catastrophic hit the Naarm community broadcaster’s bottom line took during Covid-19 lockdowns, the recent unexpected loss of core grant funding, and overall economic pressures, including in...

05/10/2023

LETS DO THIS! 👊

Our hearts are bursting with the love and generosity we've received so far 🫶🫶🫶 THANK YOU it's been incredibly overwhelming!

Keep sharing, keep donating, keep SYN Alive!

Downloadable Assets now available - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1zR6uqom6wvXyT9UOJXrXYAhU3dT8k6Q5?usp=drive_link

03/10/2023

SYN and our community have just six weeks to save our station or face closing our doors for good.

For two decades, SYN FM has been a hub for young people, a community platform and a training ground for some of Australia’s most important voices in the news, culture and music sectors. SYN has championed local music and been an important source of local news and entertainment.

We need our community’s help now more than ever to support young people’s voice in radio and the arts.

Despite our efforts to keep up with the already catastrophic hit our station took in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, inflation, and an unexpected loss of core government funding, we have now turned to our cash reserves – funds which can only support us for so long. We have tried what we can to overcome these challenges, including reducing to a skeleton staff, but after taking multiple hits in three years, we need your help to continue operating.

In order to stay on the air, we need you to donate now: https://www.givenow.com.au/savesyn

Without your support, SYN will close its doors forever, destroying a crucial support and community for young people. We know the rising cost of living has hit many in our community, but every dollar counts, and all donations are tax deductible.

SYN alumni can be found in every corner of the industry across the whole country, making change and supporting their communities wherever they go. Without a space for new talent to emerge, the impact on the wider media community will be drastic.

By donating, you are saving more than our broadcast. You are saving our community of nearly 300,000 monthly listeners, the passion of our 300 volunteers, and the action SYN takes to elevate youth issues across the state. Young people more than ever deserve spaces where they are respected and supported, and by donating you continue that through SYN.

SYN and the talent it generates has been a core pillar of the community broadcasting sector for 20 years, and to lose it would be a blow to the entire sector, and would dramatically reduce the access young people have to platform their own experimental, community-driven, and impactful storytelling.

If everyone receiving this message donated just $10, SYN would reach its funding goal.

We understand that times are tight, so if you can’t donate, please get the word out as far and wide as possible, send us your testimonials, or email [email protected] to find out how else you can help.

If SYN has touched your life in any way, if a show has introduced you to a favourite band or enhanced your daily commute, if you have been a volunteer at any point in our history, or if you’ve taken a workshop with us that fostered a love of broadcasting, I ask you now to dig deep and ensure that those experiences can continue for future generations of SYNers.

Don’t let our 20th year be our last - donate now to save SYN, and keep the doors open for young people pursuing their dreams and telling their stories.

- General Manager Ruby Smith

03/10/2023

NATIONAL LIVE MUSIC AWARDS - VIC

Celebrate live and local music with on 11 October at 🎶

The night will be hosted by Mia and Sam from AND hitting the stage will be nominee for Best Blues & Roots Act and Best Country Act - no wonder this event is sold out!

Lucky for you, SYN FM has double passes to giveaway! Head to the link in bio to enter 🔗

ID: A crowd of people in red hue lighting watching Sweet Talk perform on a stage. Yeh stage has band members playing guitars, drums and singing. There is a large mirror ball at the top of the photo. Image by

ID: Hana and Jessie-Lee’s Bad Habits members standing in front of a white wall. They are both looking away from the camera and wearing black clothes.

18/09/2023

ON THE BEAT IS BACK 🗞

Tune in to SYN FM on Saturdays from 5pm (VIC local time) to stay on the beat with a weekly news wrap of what matters to young people. With a rotating roster of news, music, and culture journalists, there’ll be something for everyone!

Follow 🗣

05/09/2023

THE NATIONAL LIVE MUSIC AWARDS ~ VIC NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

This morning Executive Producers Mia and Sam had the pleasure of exclusively announcing the VIC nominees of the 🎶

As the Victorian media partners of the awards, SYN FM are stoked to help celebrate local and live music!

Swipe to see the full list of VIC nominees and head to nlmas.com.au to vote in the public categories! Be quick, voting closes 19 September!

04/09/2023

SOUNDS LIKE COMMUNITY RADIO ~ WITH 4ZZZ + AMRAP

Tune in to (4zzz.org.au) from 2PM AEST to celebrate the listeners, artists, broadcasters and stations of community radio. SYN FM’s Music Directors Sarah and Tom will be on air chatting all things youth-focused music and radio right as the party kicks off!

Look at that lineup of live performances too 😮‍💨

If you’re around Meanjin/Brisbane for BIGSOUND () be sure to swing by for food, drinks and live music!

ID: a dark promotional poster that features an abstract portrait of a person’s side profile filled with stars. They are wearing headphones that includes a the text “SOUNDS LIKE COMMUNITY RADIO” and a radio tower. On the poster is lots of yellow text of information described above, with addition to the band line up: Seja, Tjaka, Yirinda, Grace Chia, Fred Leone, The Empty Threats, Porpoise Spit.

16/08/2023

Get tattooed this August!✨

All month long Vic Market Tattoo is offering over 2000 flash designs for $150 when you mention SYN FM.

Creating exceptional tattoo art in Naarm/Melbourne since 1992, head down to 324 Victoria St, North Melbourne before this offer ends. Terms and conditions apply.

Vic Market Tattoo, a proud SYN sponsor.