Wikipedia 'edit-a-thons' set to amplify Australian music scene's Wikipedia presence
By Matilda Marozzi
Wikimedia Australia is calling on passionate music fans to participate in a series of "edit-a-thons" to boost the profile of Australian music on Wikipedia.
Key points:
- Wikipedia is one of the most popular websites in the world, but information about Australian music on the site is limited
- Wikimedia Australia and the Australian Council of the Arts are hoping to rectify the issue with a series of editing blitzes
- The first event is happening in Melbourne this Saturday
The Record — Australian Music on Wikipedia is holding the first of four events as part of Melbourne Music week this Saturday at the Collingwood Yards.
The idea is to train volunteers to edit or create new Wikipedia articles about the domestic music scene to increase its visibility worldwide.
Project coordinator James Gaunt said Wikipedia was one of the most popular websites in the world.
"Everyone is keen to get Australian musicians known, especially for international audiences," he said.
"Getting information on Wikipedia is a great way to promote artists to people who aren't familiar with them."
'What else is missing?'
Mr Gaunt came up with the idea earlier this year when he was interning at Wikimedia Australia, a not-for-profit organisation that helps communities contribute to platforms like Wikipedia.
"I looked to try and find information on the Melbourne street press and found that magazines like Beat didn't have a Wikipedia page," he said.
"Then I thought, 'What else is missing?'"
He found that well-recognised artists like National Indigenous Music Award nominee Stuart Joel Nuggett and composer Robin Fox did not have Wikipedia entries.
"Unless you are Kylie or Nick Cave there isn't a whole lot about Australian music on Wikipedia," he said.
"It was kind of shocking how little there was."
Plugging the gaps
Music writer Sosefina Fuamoli will be helping volunteers draft and submit Wikipedia entries at Saturday's event.
"Hopefully we'll be able to break down that stigma of everything on the internet is really scary," she said.
"I feel like having these sessions where we can actually learn more about the website, learn more about the format, and learn how to actually construct and present a really cool historical narrative of artists … I think that's a really cool thing to learn."
Kirsty Rivers, the head of music at event partner the Australian Council of the Arts, said it was important to ensure Australian cultural content was easy to discover.
"There are some gaps in terms of what is currently available," she said.
"We hope this project will increase the visibility of the Australian music industry and makers for online audiences across the world, and ensure that those searching for our music can find resources that are more reflective of the depth and breadth of Australian music talent."
