How to get on triple j Unearthed

triple j Unearthed is the launchpad for unsigned and independent Australian artists, and like the best of these platforms it runs on a simple, genuinely open idea: create a free profile, upload your music, and reviewers and hosts who champion new Australian talent listen. From there, standout tracks earn spins on the Unearthed digital radio station and can cross over into airplay and support on triple j, the national youth broadcaster. It has helped launch real careers. Here is how it works and how to make the most of it. Confirm every current detail on the official triple j Unearthed website before you upload, since a national broadcaster's processes evolve.

What triple j Unearthed is

triple j Unearthed is triple j's dedicated platform for discovering and supporting unsigned Australian artists. Two things sit under the name: a website where you upload music and build an artist profile, and a digital radio station (Unearthed radio) that plays exclusively unsigned and independent Australian acts. Uploads are reviewed, can be added to the Unearthed station, and the strongest can be picked up by triple j presenters and moved onto the main national network. Unearthed also runs initiatives that spotlight new talent, including competitions and high-school-focused programs in some years, so it is worth reading what is currently active.

The key point for you: an unknown name is not a barrier. The whole platform exists to find artists who have not broken through yet.

Check that you are eligible

Unearthed is for unsigned and independent artists based in Australia. It is built to platform new Australian music, so eligibility is tied to being an Australian-based, largely self-releasing act. Definitions and rules can be updated season to season, so before you invest time, read the current eligibility requirements on the official triple j Unearthed site and confirm you qualify. Uploading music that clearly falls outside the criteria only wastes your effort.

Build a strong profile and upload well

Set up your free Unearthed artist profile properly. Add a clear artist description, your location, links, and good images, so a reviewer or presenter who likes a track can immediately understand who you are and hear more.

Upload a finished, properly mastered track, not a rough demo. This feeds a real national broadcaster's platform, and production quality is part of what gets a song noticed and played. Tag your uploads accurately with title, genre, and release information. Lead with your strongest material rather than uploading everything, because it is the standout single song that earns your first spin and your first review.

Treat the profile like a press kit while you are at it. A presenter deciding between two tracks late at night will pick the artist whose page instantly answers who they are, where they play, and what is coming next, so keep gig dates, links, and photos current and refresh the bio with each release.

Give yourself a real shot

Nothing guarantees a play, but several things genuinely help.

Make it excellent and well produced. Reviewers and Unearthed radio hear a lot of music, and the tracks that rise are the ones that sound finished and distinct.

Engage with the platform. Unearthed has a community aspect where artists and reviewers rate and discuss tracks. Being a genuine, active participant, not a spammer, keeps you visible.

Upload consistently. One track that goes unnoticed is not a verdict. Keep releasing your best new work and building a track record on the platform over time.

Build your scene in parallel. Playing shows, growing a local following, and being active in your regional and genre community all make you easier to champion when a track does connect.

Widen your Australian radio net

Unearthed is powerful, but it is one door, and it is competitive. Around it, build a broader Australian radio strategy. Community radio in particular is strong and open in Australia, with individual hosts programming genre shows and welcoming a direct, well-matched pitch, and there are excellent independent and online stations too.

Heard keeps a directory of verified Australian radio stations, with the genres they cover and how to contact them, so you can widen your airplay well beyond a single platform.

For the full method on pitching those stations directly, see Australian radio stations accepting music submissions.

Register to collect on airplay

Any airplay you earn, on Unearthed radio, triple j, or community stations, can generate performance royalties, but only if you are registered to collect them. Make sure you are signed up with APRA AMCOS and that your works are registered, so logged plays actually pay. It is a one-time setup that turns spins into income.

Beyond the upload button

Unearthed rewards artists who keep arriving with finished tracks and a genuine footprint in their scene. Between uploads, work the Australian stations in the directory, where a community host can champion you long before triple j does.