{{Short description|Australian digital media company}} {{Promotional|date=March 2023}} {{Use Australian English|date=January 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}} {{Infobox company | name = Junkee Media | logo = | former_name = Sound Alliance | type = | foundation = {{start date and age|2000|df=yes}} | industry = Digital media | location = Surry Hills, New South Wales, Australia | key_people = Piers Grove, Publisher | num_employees = | products = Junkee<br>Punkee<br>AWOL | revenue = | parent = RACAT Group | homepage = {{URL|JunkeeMedia.com}} }} '''Junkee Media''', formerly known as '''Sound Alliance''', is a digital media company based in Australia.
==History== Junkee Media was founded in 2000 when Matt Callander, Libby Clark, and Andre Lackmann launched their dance music website ''inthemix''.<ref name=Sinclair>{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/sound-alliance-beats-advertising-blues/story-e6frg996-1225738875552|title=Sound Alliance beats advertising blues|first=Lara|last=Sinclair|date=22 June 2009|publisher=News Corp|newspaper=The Australian}}</ref> The website began as a part-time hobby for the three,<ref>{{citation|url=http://andrewmcmillen.com/2009/08/07/a-conversation-with-neil-ackland-sound-alliance-managing-director/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221071016/http://andrewmcmillen.com/2009/08/07/a-conversation-with-neil-ackland-sound-alliance-managing-director/|archivedate=21 February 2014|title=A Conversation With Neil Ackland, Sound Alliance Managing Director|first=Andrew|last=McMillen|date=7 August 2009}}</ref> who were soon joined by Neil Ackland. Ackland discovered the site online and got in touch with its creators.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://digitalministry.com/AU/articles/827/DIGITAL+PEOPLE+NEIL+ACKLAND/1 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403233425/http://digitalministry.com/AU/articles/827/DIGITAL%2BPEOPLE%2BNEIL%2BACKLAND/1 |title=Digital People - Neil Ackland |first=Denise |last=Shrivell |archivedate= 3 April 2012 |date=31 July 2009 |newspaper=Digital Ministry |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Sound Alliance acquired ''Mess+Noise'' in October 2008 from failed media group Destra Corporation.<ref name=Sinclair/> ''Mess+Noise'' has been operating since 2005 when it began as a bimonthly print publication.<ref name=Toller>{{cite web|title=What went wrong at Mess+Noise?|url=http://dailyreview.com.au/what-went-wrong-at-mess-noise/|publisher=Daily Review|first=Annie|last=Toller|date=3 August 2015|archivedate=8 January 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160108231241/http://dailyreview.com.au/what-went-wrong-at-mess-noise}}</ref> In 2006, Tim Duggan co-founded the national LGBT site ''Same Same'' with Sound Alliance.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mumbrella.com.au/junkee-media-names-tim-duggan-publisher-following-rebrand-and-appoints-head-of-video-304919|title=Junkee Media names Tim Duggan publisher following rebrand and appoints head of video|last=Miranda Ward|date=2015-07-10|website=Mumbrella|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-16}}</ref>
Sound Alliance launched ''Junkee'' in March 2013, an online title aimed at an audience aged 18 to 29 years.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://mumbrella.com.au/youth-publisher-launches-mobile-title-junkee-com-144686|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150708102546/http://mumbrella.com.au/youth-publisher-launches-mobile-title-junkee-com-144686|archivedate=8 July 2015|title=Youth publisher launches mobile-first title Junkee.com|publisher=Mumbrella}}</ref> Sound Alliance used ''Junkee'' to trial native advertising, which is now used across all of its publications as of October 2014.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.adnews.com.au/news/sound-alliance-formalises-native-advertising-team|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404203021/http://www.adnews.com.au/news/sound-alliance-formalises-native-advertising-team|archivedate=4 April 2015|first=Rachael|last=Micallef|date=16 October 2014|title=Sound Alliance formalises native advertising team|newspaper=AdNews|publisher=Yaffa Media Pty Ltd}}</ref>
Sound Alliance formally rebranded itself as Junkee Media in July 2015.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sound Alliance rebrands as Junkee Media, says half its revenue now comes from native|url=http://mumbrella.com.au/sound-alliance-rebrands-as-junkee-media-says-half-its-revenue-now-comes-from-native-303187|publisher=Mumbrella|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150730163034/http://mumbrella.com.au/sound-alliance-rebrands-as-junkee-media-says-half-its-revenue-now-comes-from-native-303187|archivedate=30 July 2015|date=2 July 2015|first=Nic|last=Christensen}}</ref><ref name="Mason">{{cite news |last=Mason |first=Max |date=3 July 2015 |title=Half of Junkee Media's ad revenue coming from branded content |newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald |publisher=Fairfax Media |url=http://www.smh.com.au/business/media-and-marketing/50-per-cent-of-advertising-revenue-coming-from-branded-content-for-junkee-mede-20150702-gi3kxv.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614084442/https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/50-per-cent-of-advertising-revenue-coming-from-branded-content-for-junkee-mede-20150702-gi3kxv.html |archivedate=14 June 2020}}</ref> CEO Neil Ackland told media the name change reflected the company's transformation from being a music-only publisher to becoming a youth-focused lifestyle publisher.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.adnews.com.au/news/sound-alliance-rebrands-to-junkee-media|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160108233528/http://www.adnews.com.au/news/sound-alliance-rebrands-to-junkee-media|archivedate=8 January 2016|title=Sound Alliance rebrands to Junkee Media|first=Sarah|last=Homewood|date=2 July 2015|newspaper=AdNews|publisher=Yaffa Media Pty Ltd}}</ref> In September 2015, Junkee Media sold the LGBT title ''Same Same'' to Evo Media.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mumbrella.com.au/junkee-media-offloads-lgbti-community-hub-samesame-to-evo-media-for-undisclosed-sum-321663|title=Junkee Media offloads LGBTI community hub SameSame to Evo Media for undisclosed sum|last=Miranda Ward|date=2015-09-30|website=Mumbrella|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-16}}</ref>
In 2016, oOh! Media purchased an 85% shareholding in Junkee Media.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://mumbrella.com.au/ooh-media-buys-junkee-media-surprise-move-376329|website=Mumbrella|date=24 June 2016|first=Alex|last=Hayes|title=Ooh Media buys Junkee Media in surprise move|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625130830/https://mumbrella.com.au/ooh-media-buys-junkee-media-surprise-move-376329|archivedate=25 June 2016}}</ref> It acquired the remaining 15% several years later.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ward|first=Miranda|date=2021-12-07|title=oOh!Media offloads Junkee Media to RACAT Group|url=https://www.afr.com/companies/media-and-marketing/ooh-media-offload-junkee-media-to-racat-group-20211205-p59ey4|access-date=2021-12-09|website=Australian Financial Review|language=en}}</ref>
In April 2017, ''FasterLouder'' was rebranded to Music Junkee,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mumbrella.com.au/junkee-media-rebrands-the-vine-as-punkee-while-it-retires-fasterlouder-in-favour-of-music-junkee-436801|title=Junkee Media rebrands The Vine as Punkee while it retires FasterLouder in favour of Music Junkee|last=Miranda Ward|date=2017-04-04|website=Mumbrella|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-16}}</ref> and a new site targeting Generation Z, ''Punkee'', was launched the following month.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mumbrella.com.au/junkee-media-officially-launches-punkee-448273|title=Junkee Media officially launches Punkee|last=Samios|first=Zoe|date=2017-05-31|website=Mumbrella|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-16}}</ref> In November 2018, Junkee Media closed down ''Inthemix'' after 18 years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://junkee.com/inthemix-goodbye/179992|title=A Farewell From inthemix: Thanks For All The Memories|date=2018-11-01|website=Junkee|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-16}}</ref>
In December 2021, Junkee Media was sold to RACAT Group. Oh!media retained Junkee's branded content and production arm, Junkee Studio.<ref name="Ward">{{Cite web|last=Ward|first=Miranda|date=2021-12-07|title=oOh!Media offloads Junkee Media to RACAT Group|url=https://www.afr.com/companies/media-and-marketing/ooh-media-offload-junkee-media-to-racat-group-20211205-p59ey4|access-date=2021-12-09|website=Australian Financial Review|language=en}}</ref>
==Publications== *'''Junkee''', a pop culture and political satire site<ref name="Ward"/> *'''Punkee''', is an entertainment and pop culture site aimed at 16 to 24-year-olds <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mumbrella.com.au/building-punkee-moving-beyond-the-bachelor-recaps-539248|title=Building Punkee: Moving beyond The Bachelor recaps|last=Samios|first=Zoe|date=2018-09-05|website=Mumbrella|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-16}}</ref> *'''AWOL''', a youth travel site produced in partnership with Qantas, was founded in 2014<ref>{{cite press release|date=12 November 2014|title=Qantas and Sound Alliance launch youth travel title AWOL|url=http://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/qantas-and-sound-alliance-launch-youth-travel-title-awol/|publisher=Qantas|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150316114306/http://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/qantas-and-sound-alliance-launch-youth-travel-title-awol|archivedate=16 March 2015}}</ref>
==Awards== ''Junkee'' was named media brand of the year at the 2014 Mumbrella Awards.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Mumbrella Awards: 2014 winners|url=http://www.mumbrellaawards.com.au/2014-awards/tables/|publisher=Mumbrella|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117031402/http://www.mumbrellaawards.com.au/2014-awards/tables/|archivedate=17 November 2015}}</ref> Qantas and Junkee Media's ''AWOL'' was named the content marketing strategy of the year in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Mumbrella Awards: 2015 winners|url=http://www.staging2.mumbrellaawards.com.au/2015-winners/|publisher=Mumbrella|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160108234412/http://www.mumbrellaawards.com.au/2015-winners/|archivedate=8 January 2016}}</ref>
In 2011, Sound Alliance was named to the Digital Media Top 10 Power Index.<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.thepowerindex.com.au/digital-media-/sound-alliance|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706144348/http://www.thepowerindex.com.au/digital-media-/sound-alliance|archivedate=6 July 2015|url-status=live|title=Digital Media, no. 9: Sound Alliance|date=8 November 2011|first=Angela|last=Priestley|work=The Power Index}}</ref>
Sound Alliance was named one of Australia's best places to work in both 2010 and 2009 by the publication ''BRW''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Gardner|first=Jessica|title=Labour of Love|url=http://www.brw.com.au/p/sections/features/labour_of_love_NX7EcmmB0vkJVqTKNqcfBM?hl|publisher=BRW|date=24 June 2010|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314091202/http://www.brw.com.au/p/sections/features/labour_of_love_NX7EcmmB0vkJVqTKNqcfBM?hl|archivedate=14 March 2012}}</ref>
''Punkee'' was named the media brand of the year at the 2018 Mumbrella Awards.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mumbrella.com.au/che-proximity-steals-the-show-at-2018-mumbrella-awards-as-the-monkeys-put-in-another-strong-performance-526198|title=Mumbrella Awards winners for 2018|last=Francis|first=Damian|date=2018-06-28|website=Mumbrella|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-16}}</ref> Junkee Media was named publishing company of the year - large publishers at the 2018 Publish Awards.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mumbrella.com.au/bauer-media-bauer-trader-win-big-at-mumbrella-publish-awards-542022|title=Mumbrella Publish 2018 award winners revealed|last=Francis|first=Damian|date=2018-09-20|website=Mumbrella|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-16}}</ref>
== See also == * Junkee * inthemix
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Publishing companies established in 2000 Category:Publishing companies of Australia Category:2000 establishments in Australia