What’s happening?
So Bae Party Mix, the Redland City program on Bay FM 100.3, has been named a finalist in the inaugural 2026 Australian Audio Awards. The show is up for Best Non-Commercial Program, with winners to be announced on 28 May 2026 at Carriageworks in Sydney during Mumbrella360.
The nomination puts the local program into a national field that includes ABC, SBS and other well-known broadcasters. Radioinfo’s shortlist names So Bae Party Mix alongside Nightlife, Regional Queensland Drive, SBS Chill and other finalists in the category.
Why it matters?
A community radio show from Redland City is being recognised on the same awards stage as much larger national outlets.
It is also a strong nod for queer programming, local storytelling and non-commercial radio at a time when the new awards are aiming to recognise the full Australian audio sector.
Producer and host Tony Tranter felt like a “pinch-me moment” and a “dream come true”.
Local Impact
For Redland City, the nomination gives a local Bay FM show a much wider national profile. Bay FM says So Bae airs every Sunday from 6 pm to 10 pm, and the station broadcasts live and local from Thornlands.
The program has also helped build local media talent. Bay FM backed So Bae as a training ground for new announcers before they moved into their own programs.
By the numbers
- Six finalists are competing in Best Non-Commercial Program, which places So Bae Party Mix in a tight national field.
- The program fills a four-hour slot each Sunday, airing from 6 pm to 10 pm on Bay FM 100.3.
- In the past year, the team delivered 17 Australian radio-first moments, a run that helped secure the nomination.
Zoom Out
A major part of the show’s recent rise came in November 2025, when So Bae Party Mix produced a live broadcast linking Bay FM with 4ZZZ and JOY FM.
This latest recognition also builds on the program’s 2025 nomination for Event of the Year at the 64th Annual Queens Ball Awards.
What To Look For Next?
The winners will be announced in Sydney on May 28. No matter the result, the shortlist has already given Bay FM and Redland City a stronger place in the national audio conversation.
