AJ Maddah Spills The Beans On New Soundwave Secret Society

UPDATE 17/12/15 5.50pm: Soundwave 2016 has been officially cancelled.

After announcing the idea earlier this week, Soundwave chief AJ Maddah has today unveiled more details about the new festival membership club, dubbed the Soundwave Secret Society, to be introduced in time for the 2016 festival.

Conversing with fans on Twitter earlier this week, Soundwave chief AJ Maddah indicataed he would be keen to pursue the concept of a Soundwave membership program, that would offer its members special “perks”.

The official Soundwave Secret Society announcement is due tomorrow, but today Maddah has revealed some of his “daft ideas” for the membership program.

In his eyes, such perks could include a “black” membership card that “will identify you at #SW16 & all the various events you’ll be invited to”. This card will allows members discount merchandise as well as discount priority access to the Soundwave Comfort Zone, that debuted at some Soundwave festivals this year.

Members will also get exclusive pre-sale access to Sidewaves, Soundwave touring shows as well as invitations to listening parties, promotional shows, after parties and Soundwave Christmas parties, plus automatic entry into meet and greet competitions.

Memberships will cost punters about $12 to $15 above an average ticket price. Maddah recently confirmed tickets for the single-day 2016 festival will revert to their 2014 price, meaning a membership should set punters back about $200, including entry to the festival.

A limited amount will be available – about 1000 per state – to ensure services will be adequate. Living up to the society’s name, Maddah’s even open to the idea of introducing secret handshakes or maybe matching members’ jackets.

Part of the “conditions of membership” he says, is to maintain the secrecy of certain events. “Blab and you’re out,” he says, though it’s unclear exactly how Soundwave plan on policing such a rule.

Interesting, Maddah also indicted that membership numbers will be fixed and “we have reached our capacity for members, the only way you can join is if someone doesn’t renew their membership in following years.” To reiterate, the official Soundwave announcement is expected tomorrow, so it’s unclear of any or all of these ideas will make their way into the actual membership program. He says’s memberships could be available to purchase as soon as next week.

When initially discussing the idea, Maddah immediately ruled out certain suggestions like the introduction of a drinks voucher system as well as making Soundwave’s “Chatcave” sessions with artists a members-only option. Speaking with fans he reiterated the festival memberships are not a “a VIP thing”, adding, “I hate that shit”.

Soundwave 2016 will be return to its single day format, and will take place in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane in January next year. Keep up to date with all the latest updates, at our dedicated Soundwave 2016 Facebook page.

UPDATE 01/04/15: The Soundwave Society memberships are now on sale, and festival organisers have shared further details on what members will receive.

Soundwave 2015 Brisbane, Day 2 – RNA Showgrounds, 01/03/15. Photographed by Rebecca Reid

All hands on deck as we get ready to announce The Soundwave Secret Society. This is going to be insane. Very limited. Very special 🙂

— AJ (@iamnotshouting) March 26, 2015

Official announcement for #TSSS will be tomorrow. But I can tell you some of my daft ideas now!

— AJ (@iamnotshouting) March 26, 2015

There’s a membership card that will identify you at #SW16 & all the various events you’ll be invited to. Needless to say, this card is black

— AJ (@iamnotshouting) March 26, 2015

Membership card gives you free access to #SW16, discount merch, discount priority access to comfort zone j various other exclusives at SW.

— AJ (@iamnotshouting) March 26, 2015

Members also get exclusive pre-sale to not only Sidewaves, SW touring shows, but also invites to listening parties, promo shows, etc.

— AJ (@iamnotshouting) March 26, 2015

@dreamylester about $12 to $15 above a #SW16 ticket price! That’s why we can’t have too many as it actually costs us money!

— AJ (@iamnotshouting) March 26, 2015

@beeanchors I love all that shit. We’ll make it happen.

— AJ (@iamnotshouting) March 26, 2015

Part of the conditions of membership will be to maintain the secrecy of the special events, invites and offers. Blab and you’re out!

— AJ (@iamnotshouting) March 26, 2015

Once we have reached our capacity for members, the only way you can join is if someone doesn’t renew their membership in following years.

— AJ (@iamnotshouting) March 26, 2015