List of Australian music television shows

This is a list of Australian produced music television shows.

Early days of music television pre-dated video clips, and included variety style series, miming series, and pop series, and with the advent of music videos, shows gave way to slickly prepackaged film clips with a host compère mixing live local acts (e.g. Countdown). The most recent trend has been towards near and complete compère-free shows which show music videos exclusively (e.g. Rage and AMV).

Talent quests and competitions are shown in the second table below.

Music television

TitlePeriodNetwork/channelPresenter(s)NotesAccent on Strings1956TCN-9?Sydney only. Piano and string recitals. Series debuted during the first official day of programming on station TCN-9Campfire Favourites1956TCN-9Frank IfieldSydney onlyThe Isador Goodman Show1956–1957HSV-7Isador GoodmanConsisted of Isador Goodman playing the piano in a 15-minute time-slot.Billabong Band1957ABV-2?A live program which ran for a short series of four episodes. It featured Australian folk songs, but little else is known about the series. Broadcast in Melbourne. At least one of the episodes survives as a kinescope recording.Blues, Studio One1957HSV-7Joan Bilceaux and her Quintet. Joan Bilceaux was a jazz singer. This short-lived series aired live in a 15-minute time-slot. Replaced on the schedule with first Australian-produced sitcom Take ThatNeptune Presents1957GTV-9?Melbourne only, this was a weekly 5-minute series featuring vocalists.Rhythm Roundup1957–1960ATN-7Roy HampsonExact format is unknown. Hampson, a disc jockey, also hosted Record Roundup during the late-1950s.Teenage Mailbag1957–HSV7Ernie Sigley, Heather Horwood and Gaynor BunningMelbourne; Cast sang requested songsHillbilly Requests1957–1958GTV-9Tom CampbellEpisodes starred the Victoria Banjo ClubThe Hit Parade1957–1959 ?HSV7John Eden (3DB)Melbourne. Juke Box Saturday Night1957–1958GTV-9Bob HorsfallReplaced with The Astor Show in early 1958Choice of the People1957–1958ATN-7Milton SaundersThe series presented songs requested by viewers. Milton Saunders was a pianist and played the requests on the piano.Melody Time1957–1959ABV-2Ormonde DouglasProfessional musicians performed liveTV Disc Jockey1957–1958TCN9John GodsonSydney onlyAccent on Youth1958TCN-9John Godson, quickly replaced with Brian Henderson (?)This was the follow-up to TV Disc Jockey. There is conflicting information as to when the series debuted and who was the host. The format consisted of teenagers dancing to records, while there was also guest vocalists. It later became Bandstand.Ardath Hit Parade1958–1959ATN-7Keith Walshe (1958), Jimmy Parkinson (1959)A different series to the Melbourne "Hit Parade", this series featured the top 10 hits of the week. There were guest singers and groups from time to time. It was a spin-off from the variety series Sydney Tonight.The Astor Show1958GTV-9Country Style1958ABC ?Aired in Sydney and Melbourne, this was a live variety series with emphasis on country and western music. Frank Ifield appeared and sang in several episodes.Eunice Gardiner Presents1958TCN-9Eunice GardinerSydney only. Eunice Gardiner played selections on the piano, and also interviewed personalities in the field of music. After several months it was replaced on the schedule with Music for You.Melody with Milton1958–1960ATN-7Milton SaundersMilton Saunders was a pianist. Daytime series in Sydney only. Music for You1958–1960TCN-9Isador GoodmanSydney only. Goodman was a pianist.The Toppanos1958–1958ATN-7Enzo and Peggy ToppanoLive music and ad-libbed comedyValerie Cooney Sings1958ABN-2Valerie Cooney and the Jack Allan TrioReplaced on the schedule by Vic Sabrino SingsVic Sabrino Sings1958ABN-2Vic SabrinoSabrino's real name was George Assang, and he was a singer. At the time, ABN-2 was not a 24-hour station (and usually signed off each night between 10:30pm and 11:30pm), and Vic Sabrino Sings was used as the final program of the programming day for several weeks. Like many ABC series of the 1950s, it aired for a much shorter season than shows on commercial television. Your Hit Parade ??BrisbaneClub Seven ?SevenBrisbaneIn Time??AdelaideAt Your Request1958–1959HSV-7Charles Skase"Requested songs". Information on this series is scarce. Charles Skase was a baritone. Bandstand1958–1972Nine NetworkBrian HendersonCool Cats Show1958–1960HSV-7Don BennettsAimed at teenagers. The Ted Vining Trio were regulars.Australian All Star Jazz Band1959ABC?Variety series with emphasis on jazz music. The band consisted of Terry Wilkinson, Freddy Logan, Ron Webber, Dave Rutledge and Don Burrows.The Bert Newton Show1959–1960GTV 9Bert Newton Became Hi-Fi Club in 1960. Artists lip-synced their songs. The Jimmy Parkinson Show1959–1960ATN-7Jimmy ParkinsonA music series starring singer Jimmy Parkinson.Johnny Gredula Sings1959–1960ATN-7Johnny Gredula Johnny Gredula sang requested songs in this series. Make Ours Music1959–1961ABCIncluded music performances and dancing. Produced by James UpshawPatrick O'Hagan Sings1959ATN-7 and GTV-9Patrick O'HaganIrish tenor sang songs in a 15-minute time-slot during daytimeSerenade1959–1960ATN-7Ray Melton (1959–1960), Peggy Brooks (1960) A half-hour music series starring singer Ray Melton, but some episodes instead featured singer Peggy Brooks.Sweet and Low1959ABV-2Bob WaltersJazz music Teen Time 1959–1961 ATN-7 Keith Walshe and Carol Finlayson Sydney only. Teen Time started on ATN Channel 7, Sydney at about the same time as Bandstand on Channel 9 and was a mix of live performance and records. It was hosted by Keith Walshe and Carol Finlayson and had a live audience. It went to air initially for a half hour only Monday – Friday at 5:30 – 6pm. After several months the time was changed to 5.30 – 6.30, 2 nights a week – Tuesdays and Fridays. The Tuesday permanent band was headed by Dig Richards and on Fridays, Warren Williams. Bob Malcolm appeared on a regular basis to teach rock and roll steps.Six O'Clock Rock1959–1962ABCJohnny O'Keefe,& othersWords and Music1959–1960ATN-7Milton Saunders and Colin CroftSydney only. Milton Saunders was a pianist.Youth Show1959–1960ATN-7Keith WalsheSydney only. A music series, with a focus on teenage talent, particularly artists who had not yet reached stardom. Bongo1960GTV-9Russell StubbingsMelbourne only. The actual format is not known. It aired live and was aimed at teenagers. The John Konrads Show1960–1961TCN-9, HSV-7John KonradsA music series aimed at teenagers, with singers, dancers and musicians.The Lorrae Desmond Show1960–1964ABCLorrae Desmond,& othersEpisodes consisted of music performances, and dance production numbers. Tea for Two1960HSV-7Jocelyn Terry A daytime music series featuring singer Guido Lorraine.The Johnny O'Keefe Show/ Sing, Sing, Sing1961–19621962–1965Seven NetworkJohnny O'KeefeThe Bryan Davies Show1962–1963ABCBryan DaviesTrad Jazz1962–1963Seven NetworkGraeme BellRe-titled "Just Jazz" in 1963Saturday Date1963–1967TCN-9 Jimmy Hannan, later Tony MurphyAimed at teenagers. Jazz Meets Folk1964ABCAlan DeanTeen Scene1964–1965ABCJohnny ChesterThe Go!! Show1964–1967ATV-0 Alan Field, Ian Turpie, Johnny YoungMelbourne onlyKommotion1964–67ATV-0Ken SparkesMonday to Friday at 5:30pm.Commonwealth Jazz Club1965ABCSix-part miniseries with the UK and Canada. The two Australian half-hours featured Graeme Bell and his All Stars, as well as the Don Burrows Quartet with Judy Bailey (piano)Club Seventeen1965?–1969?TVW-7Gary Carvolth, Johnny Youngaka 7-Teen. Perth.Gary Carvolth bio Longway to the Top Johnny YoungIt's All HappeningNot to be confused with the British music film It's All Happening1966Seven NetworkBilly ThorpeSydney.TV by Decade - TV Shows - 1960s - It’s All Happening! at Nostalgia Central Retrieved 15 October 2019"Noisy Billy has a hit", Sydney Morning Herald, 27 March 1966, p.130, archived at newspapers.com (subscription required) Retrieved 15 October 2019 themusic.com Billy ThorpeDig We Must1966ABCBobby & LauriePreviously named It's A Gas.Uptight1967–1969ATV-0 (O-Ten)Ross D. Wyllie8am to noon Saturday mornings.Where The Action Is1967TEN-10Johnny O'KeefeSydney.Start Living1967ABCJudy Jacques and Idris JonesGTK (Get To Know)1969–1975ABC10-minute show at 6:30pm weeknights/ National film and Sound Archives GTKHit Scene1969–1972ABCDick Williams Live music acts in studio performances with music clips and interviews.Sounds Like Us1969–1970ABCJeff PhillipsHappening '70 (also 71, 72)1970–1972ATV-0 (O-Ten)Ross D. Wylliepoparchives.com.au Ross D. WyllieNow Sound1970GTV-9Ronnie BurnsAge – Green Guide – 6 June 1970 – 30 Minutes, prior to Bandstand at 5:00pmSounds Unlimited/ Sounds1974–1987Seven NetworkDonnie SutherlandCountdown1974–1987ABCIan "Molly" Meldrum, various guest hostsInitially on Friday evenings, later Sunday evenings at 6pm with a repeat on following Saturday.Bandstand 76 (#2)1976Nine NetworkDaryl SomersSaturdays 7pm later changed to 8pmTarget1976ABCvariousmagazine type program which included music, week nights at 5:45pmFunky Road 1976ABCStephen McLean Bernie Cannon Albie ThomsStarted 24 February 1976 as a rebadged GTK which moved to a weekday 10:30 slot 30min programFlashez1976–1977ABCRay BurgessMon–Fri 4:30pm magazine style incl musicRight On1977–1978Network TenKobe Steele (1977–1978)