Pop music show Countdown, ARIA charts, Split Enz all making comeback

Countdown's ringtone revival

by Vincent Blake, from australianit.news.com.au

IT was back to the future last week for the local music industry.

Reports of the resurrection of the ABC music program Countdown coincided with the rebranding of the Australian Recording Industry Association's popular music charts and New Zealand band Split Enz getting back together.

Countdown was required viewing for many younger baby boomers and others who were into popular music between 1974 and 1987.

Its relaunch is reported to include a highlights DVD of the series, a book, merchandise, a radio show and a ringtone of the show's theme.

Countdown's former host, Ian (Molly) Meldrum, has reportedly said that someone younger should front the show.

Younger people who have only seen Meldurm as a guest on other people's programs or reruns of Countdown may wonder why he became so famous.

While he has a tendency to mumble and rant, he is a great supporter and creator of Australian music and it should not be forgotten that he produced The Real Thing, the Australian single with the longest run on top of the charts.

Given the popularity of portable music and downloadable ringtones, it will come as no surprise that the new sponsor of ARIA's charts is Motorola.

The Motorola ARIA Charts will be broadcast nationwide on Nova radio stations in a program hosted by Jabba, a presenter well known to watchers of Channel (V) and listeners to Nova Brisbane.

Ironically, one of Split Enz's better-known hits is History Never Repeats.

The Kiwi rockers, who defy pigeonholing, formed in 1972 and disbanded in 1984.

Frontman Tim Finn says the idea of getting back together came up during rehearsals for a special performance last year, when Split Enz was inducted into the Australian music industry's hall of fame as part of the ARIA awards.

The Split Enz Australian tour will begin in Brisbane on June 7, followed by Sydney on June 9, Melbourne on June 11, Adelaide on June 13, and it will wind up in Perth on June 16.

The launch of the Motorola ARIA Charts last week had a touch of back-to-the-future about it as well.

Local band, the Rogue Traders, performed a few songs from its album Here Come the Drums.

The first number sounded to this reviewer a lot like the Knack's My Sharona and the title track brought to mind Elvis Costello's Punk it Up.

The punters love it, however.

Here Come the Drums is charting at number four on the Aria album listing after 14 weeks.

The ARIA charts are available at www.ariacharts.com.au