3RRR

3RRR^[2] (pronounced "Three Triple R," or simply "Triple R") is an Australian community radio station, based in Melbourne.

3RRR first commenced broadcasting in 1976 from the studios of 3ST, the student radio station of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (now Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology), on an educational licence with the name 3RMT. In 1979 it relocated to Fitzroy and adopted its present name. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, it became synonymous with the post-punk and new wave subcultures.^[3] In late 2004, supporters raised enough money for the station to purchase and move into new premises on the corner of Blyth and Nicholson Streets in Brunswick East after the 20-year lease on their previous studios, in Victoria Street, Fitzroy, expired.

3RRR's mission statement was defined in 1990 as "To educate, inform and entertain by drawing upon appropriate community resources. To develop a critical approach to contemporary culture." Triple R's programming is divided into approximately 70% specialist music and 30% talk-based shows. Hosts have creative control over content, and the station does not have playlists. As such, the nature of 3RRR broadcasts varies wildly depending on the time of the week. As 3RRR states, "With the exception of [the] Breakfasters, all of Triple R’s programs are presented by volunteers" who present their shows for no remuneration.^[4] A select few volunteer presenters are also in paid work at the station in operational roles.

Community sponsorships and public subscribers (currently around 15,000) fund 3RRR's operations entirely, removing standard commercial pressures to allow for this diverse programming. The estimated current listenership is 440,000 per week.^[5] Due to the reaction from subscribers, in the late 1990s, 3RRR cancelled sponsorship deals signed with Ford and music venue The Mercury Lounge (due to its location in Melbourne's Crown Casino). No such "corporate" sponsorship of this type has been considered since.

In 2009, 3RRR opened its performance space for live music, live comedy and literary events, among others.^[4] In 2016, 3RRR was inducted into the Music Victoria Hall of Fame.^[6]

The station celebrated its 40th birthday in 2016 with a three-month-long collaborative exhibition, ON AIR: 40 years of 3RRR at the State Library Victoria.^[7]

• 3RRR official website – includes audio streaming of the broadcast and an archive of the best shows.
  • Local and/or General on the Triple R program page
• Mark Phillips 2006. Radio City. Melbourne: Vulgar Press. (history of RRR, released to commemorate the 30th anniversary)
• Dubecki, Larissa. The Age. 2006. Rated R. 23 November 2006. (Article on 30 years of 3RRR).