Interview with Tim Daley • Program Director
of the Country Music Channel in Australia

by Scott V. Palmer

Have you ever wondered what happens when you play Australian country music backwards? Well, you get your sport ‘ute back, your pet dingo comes home and your Sheila comes back to you. My apologies for the sardonic, clichéd opener, yet it’s an entirely appropriate and warmly delivered poke of fun in the direction of our ‘down under’ friend and program director at the Country Music Channel near Sydney, Australia, Tim Daley.

Tim and I got together recently at the beautifully appointed and restored Union Station in downtown Nashville a few days before the kick off of the Country Fan Days festival. And, I have to say that as soon as I spotted Tim strolling across the lobby of that historic train station, we were going to have a great interview. Tim, wearing long-board shorts, and pair of Vans casuals and a broad smile met me with a solid handshake and an infectious energy. But, Tim wasn’t alone in that lobby. The legendary LeGarde Twins, Ted and Tom flanked him. The Australian twins, after 50 years in the Australian and US country music and television scene, produced so much energy together in that station lobby before the interview that I was convinced the light bulbs across the first floor were going to blow. At one point, Tom LeGarde clowned with 6’ 7” country rhythm artist Ben Stillwater for an unforgettable photo-op that staff and hotel lobby guests stopped in their tracks to witness.

I sat down with Tim Daley in a comfortable station enclave with posh seats and carved marble and we were off for a bit of a chat. It must be pointed out that Tim was born and schooled here in the state of Colorado. He attended Mesa College in Grand Junction, Colorado where he himself admitted to being more focused on the, “…college radio station” temptations than standard, “…academics…”
After a three-year tour of the hallowed halls of higher education, Tim left school (much to his mother’s dismay) for a career in radio. He found himself at KQYL and then KREX working the pop and country scene through the 1980s and into the 1990s, laying the groundwork for his eventual shift into full-on program director work. The infection of broadcast media was spreading through Tim’s veins and would lead to a fever in program directing and broadcasting that hasn’t broke to this day.

Another fever to wash over Mr. Daley was his Australian wife that swept him away to his new home in 1993. After settling in, Tim did his time in classic rock radio and then Channel V. Tim then launched ‘MusicMax’ (a VH-1-esque production now known as ‘Max’) and shortly thereafter created Australia’s Country Music Channel (CMC) in 2002, much to the delight of many in the country willing to sign up for the pay channel via FoxTel and AuStar...the eventual backers of CMC. The channel features music and programming from native Australian talent and country music from around the globe. The idea of true country music has always been present in Australia as represented by ‘Bush Ballads’ and traditional genres, however, the volume of native music videos and material is slow in coming. Tim pointed out that the majority of the population of the country lives in urban, city areas that dot the coastlines and city centers just inland. Less than 30% of the residents live farther inland and throughout the rugged, unforgiving outback. Filling that ever-narrowing gap is the introduction and representation of international influences in their country music scene. Many stateside American artists can be found touring throughout the country and frequently along the southeast coastal region.

Many of the performers native to Australia bring their music and skills to performance competitions and talent quests sponsored by a farm system that spotlights and supports the region’s ever-growing number of fresh Australian performers and acts.

Tim and I also talked about a new production airing on CMC that highlights the travels and experiences of Mark and Jay O’Shea as the Australian country music performing couple traveling throughout the USA experiencing American country music culture. The O’Sheas in the USA chronicles their journey in bite-sized, less than 6-minute video segments. These fun-size snippets offer a unique perspective of the American music scene as witnessed and lived by this Australian couple. The series (brought to CMC by Digital Rodeo) airs every two weeks and the O’Sheas already have their first CD produced.

Mr. Daley is in town for the CMA Festival and a myriad of other industry meetings. Tim brought along his shopping bag, as well, as he seeks out new television programming possibilities, acts and performers for his CMC line-up. With any luck, Tim will be able to take in a few acts at Nashville’s Country Fan Days, as well.

In closing, it must be said that Mr. Daley is a truly neat guy with a truly great career within a truly great country. As country music blossoms down under with the help of visiting international acts and performances, Australia will continue to embrace the genre from within and grow in ever increasing popularity.

The day grew hot and muggy. It was time to say goodbye to our new good friend Tim and get back to the business of the music business. With a firm and sincere handshake, we went our separate ways. Nashville won’t say ‘goodbye’ Mr. Daley, rather…until next time. Cheers mate!

www.countrymusicchannel.com.au