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4ZZZ50

4ZZZ is a radically independent subscriber-supported radio station and Australia’s first community broadcaster. In 2025 they celebrated half a century of boundary-pushing music, news, culture and activism.

For their 50th birthday milestone Inkahoots reaffirmed 4ZZZ’s community focus by involving volunteers, staff, subscribers and the wider community, inviting them to contribute a unique letter ‘Z’ – a birthday present for their favourite broadcaster.

The identity campaign had a two phase strategy: a base identity – built from our custom typeface ‘zedbit’ (lo-fi digital, DIY bit map, pop-punk tech) – kicking off the campaign solo to then platform and foreground participatory contributions.

Supporters across the city and around the world sent in their zeds, highlighting the fantastic diversity and creativity of the station’s community – professional artists and illustrators, children, prisoners, punks, crafters, doodlers... These assorted creative contributions were pasted on the city’s walls and posted across the web.

FOUNDING STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS ON December 9, 1975. PHOTO BY GORDON CURTIS

4ZZZ BROACAST AS 4ZZ-FM UNTIL FEBRUARY 1976. PHOTO BY GREG PERRY (?)

MEGAHERS (LATER MEGAHERZZZ), WOMEN’S RADIO COLLECTIVE, MARCH 8, 1984. PHOTO BY SUE BROADBENT.

 

 

Inkahoots team: Jason Grant, Ben Mangan, Mat Johnson
4ZZZ team: Denise Foley, Liz Witt, Pat King and Jack McDonnell

Thanks to Matt Deasy from No.7 Print House for the screen-printed posters
Photography Louis Lim & 4ZZZ

Story about the station's 50th year in The Guardian