Dom Alessio leaves triple j to drum up support for Aussie artists on a global stage

The beat goes on for Dom Alessio, who will drum up support for Aussie artists on a global stage with Sounds Australia.

When Triple J last week announced a shakeup to its lineup of presenters, one of the big question marks was the whereabouts of Home & Hosed host Dom Alessio, who departed after eight years and more than 1,400 radio shows for an “exciting new opportunity.” That opportunity was revealed Monday morning by Sounds Australia, which tapped Alessio as Digital Export Producer.

“You’d be hard pressed to find anyone that knows about and has supported more Australian artists throughout their career. Hard-working, passionate and knowledgeable are just the surface of traits that make Dom the perfect choice to join Sounds Australia's cheer squad,” says Millie Millgate, Sounds Australia’s Executive Producer, of their prized recruit.

Alessio will be charged with finding new ways to promote Aussie artists

His focus will be around finding new avenues for acts to make it big in the digital age and to muscle-up their profiles on international streaming playlists.

These duties include cultivating long-term relationships with streaming curatorial teams and building partnerships with key platform gatekeepers, while driving Sounds Australia's digital presence into a “premier content discovery portal," according to a statement. And with his “finger-on-the-pulse” expertise, Alessio will create, maintain and pitch playlists and tastemaker blogs to help the next generation on their way.

It’s a great time for Aussie artists right now.  Royalties earned overseas by APRA-AMCOS members in 2016-17 grew to $43.5 million, up 13.6 per cent year-on-year and more than double the $21.8 million collected just four years earlier. Aussie and Kiwi songwriters represented by APRA/AMCOS are behind 26 Grammy nominations and the likes of Sia, Flume, Courtney Barnett, Starley and many more are making big splashes on both sides of the Atlantic.

On his departure from the ABC, Alessio was described as a skilled interviewer and entertainer, a "driving force" in the industry, and an early champion of Flume, Meg Mac, Camp Cope, Alex Lahey, Courtney Barnett, and many others.

Prior to triple j, Alessio hosted The Bridge, the flagship Sydney music show on local station FBi. But before that in 2007, he was Arts & Assistant Editor at Seventh Street Media's street press and online platform, The Brag.

On his new role, Alessio says, "I'm so excited to be joining Sounds Australia. They're some of the hardest working and most well-respected people in the Australian music industry and it's such an honour to be working alongside them. Australia is producing some of the best music in the world right now and I can't wait to be part of a team that helps spread that word around the globe.”