After 15 years at the helm of our iconic community radio station PBS 106.7FM, our General Manager, Adrian Basso, will be stepping down mid-year.
During Basso’s tenure, our station has grown into a nationally and internationally respected music institution that has survived many challenges, including the Global Financial Crisis and the Covid pandemic, to emerge bigger and stronger than ever before.
We recently secured a long-term lease in the heart of the Collingwood Arts Precinct and moved into our new $2.5 million digital studios on Johnson Street over Christmas, after many years at nearby Easey Street.
Basso holds degrees in accounting and in music. He has been passionately involved in community radio for more than 20 years, having worked previously at classical music station 3MBS.
He was President of the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA) for six years during which he fronted the national campaign that successfully lobbied the federal government for adequate funding for community radio stations to broadcast on the digital radio platform (DAB+).
“PBS has been my family for the past 15 years and I think it has never looked better, sounded better or had a brighter outlook than it does now. But it’s time for me to let someone else shape the next chapter.” Basso said.
“I leave the station financially strong, well-governed and well equipped for the future so I feel I can step away to see what’s next for me, confident the station is in a great position to take on whatever lies ahead.
‘’I look forward to enjoying my time as a committed PBS member and listener and I urge all music fans to keep showing their passion for the station because it’s only going to get better.”
PBS Chair Jurgen Schaub said “During Adrian’s guardianship, PBS has gone from strength to strength. Not only did he work tirelessly to get us in to our beautiful new studios – an incredible feat in itself – but over the past 15 years, he helped PBS focus on its stated mission to nurture and champion Melbourne’s music community. With that focus, and Adrian’s ability to manage the organisation professionally, we’ve seen sustainable, long-term growth in our membership, finances and community impact, as evidenced by our recent induction into the Music Victoria Hall of Fame. Adrian’s legacy is a well-managed, stable, and professional organisation – that still enjoys a couple of beers at the pub while listening to some live music. While I look forward to seeing what PBS’s next chapter will be, I will miss Adrian’s leadership, energy and good humour.”
Recruitment for the role to fill the role of PBS General Manager will occur over the coming months.