May  Radio News

Sonia Kruger has threatened to walk unless MIX FM's executive producer is reinstated from suspension. Full story.  Well - who wish has been granted ... Brenden Wood returned to duty this morning (Tuesday).

Adelaide's Raegan Wormwell has joined Macquarie Southern Cross Media Albury as a copywriter.

Pete 'Disko' Diskon is heading to Batemans Bay to host a new magazine show out of 2EC's Batemans Bay studio. He leaves 2NZ Inverell on the 30th of May and starts on June 10. 

Ron E. Sparks hates being called a radio veteran, yet it's hard to find a better way to describe the disc jockey, whose career spans four decades and who continues to thrive on classic hits station WS FM. Full story.

After more than 50 years on radio, FIVE aa's Bob Francis has finally proved he's a softie at heart. Full story.

Daily Telegraph reports: "2CH - Sydney's daggiest radio station a giant killer". Full story.

Dugald Saunders, 2DU/Zoo FM PD, is moving on. He's joining ABC Western Plains radio in Dubbo to do a new morning show 8.30am - 11.00am. (See 'Radio Jobs'.)  And in other ABC Western Plains news ... Scott Simmonds never thought he would be holding press conferences on the day of his engagement. Scott proposed to ABC news journalist Carolyn Garner while thousands of listeners tuned in to hear her reply “yes”. Full story.

The X Awards were presented at a Gala Dinner at Ballarat as part of the National Regional Rural and Sub Metro Broadcasters Conference.  Full list of winners.

An advertisement for RACV Financial Services called “Disclaimer”, written by Paul Reardon and Julian Schreiber from Clemenger BBDO in Melbourne, has won the 2008 Gold Siren award for best radio ad of the year. More details.

Brenden Wood has been benched "indefinitely" by MIX 106.5 FM Sydney management, seemingly scapegoated after Todd McKenney's sledging of newsreader Mark Ferguson angered his Channel 9 boss. Full story.  (Editor's note: A pity that Brenden has copped it.  Since the new MIX brekky show began, Newmedia has received numerous emails and updates from Brenden enthusiastically advising us of any promotion or newsworthy item that the breakfast duo has been up to.)   

The Australian Press Council has dismissed a complaint by a former 3AW executive producer of football that The Age treated him unfairly by not seeking his comment in what he described as a "biased" year-end analysis of the performances of the radio station.

Stephen Bugg, announcer/music director Sea FM Hobart, is leaving radio to join the Tasmania Police.

Jacqui Kassulke, ex-Triple J, has been appointed as Music Director at Vega 95.3 Sydney.

Gavin O'Reilly, the new chairman of Australia's fourth-largest media group, APN News & Media, has warned the worst is yet to come for Australian media stocks in the wake of the global credit crunch. APN owns half the Australian Radio Network. Full story.

Triple M Sydney has fallen from grace. Today it is languishing in eighth spot in the ratings and is even taking a whipping from 2CH.  Full story.

The latest Nielsen Media Research survey results (metro) are out today - May 6. 3AW remained at No 1 in Melbourne, 2GB are No 1 in Sydney (only 1% ahead of 2DAY). FIVE aa Adelaide, NOVA 106.9 Brisbane and MIX 94.5 Perth also continued their reign at No 1. Full details. dmg (press release), ARN (press release).

Todd McKenney's future at Mix FM was on a knife-edge but perhaps a passionate call of support from McKenney's on-air partner, Sonia Kruger, to chief executive Bob Longwell may just have swung the balance. Full story.

Jim Glennon, general manager of Hot 91.1 FM in Maroochydore, talks about his humble beginnings. Full story. (Sunshine Coast Daily)

Rod Boyd of Stereo 974 in Melbourne has been elected the fourth President of the Southern Community Media Association.  He succeeds Graeme Macartney (FM 98.5 Shepparton) who stood down at the AGM after 2 years at the helm

David Oldfield is apparently lobbying 2GB for a co-host for his overnight program - his failed TV presenter wife Lisa. Only problem being that Mrs Oldfield reportedly doesn't fare so well on the air. (Daily Telegraph)

1116 SEN Melbourne's Tony Schibeci has won the Cricket Victoria Radio Media Award for Outstanding Journalisim relating to a story he wrote and voiced on Womens Cricket.

The Nine Network has pulled more than $1 million in advertising from MIX 106.5 that employs Todd McKenney. Full story.

Justin Rouillon has joined the 96.5 FM Brisbane production department.

Trevor Long has created a free tool for radio broadcasters who have difficulty timing out. Check out his creation and add your thoughts at: www.radiotimeout.com

Is there such a thing as a great radio advertisement? The Age's Wendy Hargreaves believes the seemingly endless stream of ads ranges from tedious drivel to excruciating crap. Never great. Full story.

ABC Radio has held their 2008 ABC Local Radio Awards at a presentation ceremony in Sydney. The coveted Station of the Year (Metropolitan) award went to 666 ABC Canberra. Townsville station, 630 ABC North Queensland took out Station of the Year (Regional) and 774 ABC Melbourne’s Red Symons was named Broadcaster of the Year. Full details.

Guy Mylecharane makes his radio debut as morning announcer at 93 5 Eagle FM Goulburn. He will also handle Production/Imaging for both 2GN and Eagle FM. 

The Age's Wendy Hargreaves writes: Is there such a thing as a great radio advertisement? For this radio junkie, the seemingly endless stream of ads ranges from tedious drivel to excruciating crap. Never great. Full story.

Gold FM and Sea FM maintain market dominance with the number one and two positions overall in the results released today from the first commercial radio survey of 2008. In results given today by Nielsen Media Research, figures overall show an increase in radio listening on the Gold Coast, with Gold FM continuing its lead with the number one position overall with Sea FM standing strong as number one in the under 40 demographic. More details.

Dani Bellamy has resigned from Brisbane’s 97.3FM. She finishes up as morning announcer and music director on Friday May 2. Dani, who has been with the station since its launch in 2001, will spend a few weeks travelling before moving back home to Sydney to become a ‘voice for hire’. She says: "I'd like to thank Peter Verhoeven and Barry Drinkwater for all the opportunities that working at 97.3 has presented, and of course, the listeners for their passion and loyalty all these years. I'll miss 97.3 and Brisbane but I'm very excited about moving on and exploring new opportunities." 

Vega 95.3 presenter Rebecca Wilson says she won't be holding back on her new television panel show Big Brother Big Mouth - and first on her hit list is new host Kyle Sandilands and midget belly dancer Rima. Full story.

ABC News Radio has acquired a TV star. Anne Fulwood who started as a cadet at the Adelaide Advertiser and moved through commercial radio and networks Ten and Seven. Fulwood, who began this week, will be working across the breakfast and drive shifts as a presenter and producer. Also ABC broadcaster Virginia Trioli looks set to co-host the ABC's new television breakfast show on ABC2. It would mean Trioli relinquishing her part-time Lateline hosting role and moving back to Melbourne. (Source: The Australian.)

Nikki Webster has thrown a massive on-air wobbly at the wrong radio duo for sending up her rent-a-crowd 21st birthday party. She blasted Triple M's Wil Anderson and Anthony Lehmann, but their drive-time rivals, Hamish Blake and Andy Lee, were actually to blame. Full story.

Irena D'Elia has resigned from Canberra FM Radio. Irena, who was for many years the Assistant to the General Manager, finshes up on Tuesday May 27. She is leaving to take up a position as EA to the CEO of the National Accreditation Authority of Translators and Interpreters.

When Rebel FM breakfast co host Ashley Palmero was a boy, he dreamt of being a firefighter. Last week, he got his wish. When a large semi trailer burst into flames at the intersection outside Rebel Media's Beaudesert studios Ash was first on scene, armed with one of the stations fire extinguishers. One of the rear wheels had burst into flames and it was only Ash's quick thinking that prevented what could have been disaster. With his new Rebel Rock Red Tee, his staff mates reckon Ash looks more like Wiggle number 5 than the firefighters Mr October 2008! 

Jen Seyderhelm, 4GY Breakfast/Production, is moving to 4AK/4WK Toowoomba. She leaves 4GY on Saturday 17th May.

April Radio News

Rick Knight is leaving 2LF/93.9 FM Young and has accepted a new radio role in Darwin.  (See 'Radio Jobs'.)  Station manager Scott Goode left earlier this year to take up a job in property development.  Scott Curphey is currently the acting GM.

Dee Elferink is leaving her role as afternoon announcer and copywriter at MIX 1049 Darwin. Dee says she has been lured into the murky waters of politics as Media Advisor to Federal Northern Territory Senator Nigel Scullion. “I have been assured that my life will now resemble an episode of the West Wing – there had better be someone in the office who looks like Rob Lowe!” 

Jon Faine is taking a 6 month break from his ABC 774 Melbourne morning program.  He's fulfilling a 30 year ambition to drive a car from Melbourne to London commencing on July 1. 

Jan Le Maitre is now working as a casual newsreader with 4BC/4BH Brisbane. She left ABC radio in 2007 after 17 years with the national broadcaster.  

Several Australian radio personalities have been nominated for the The Fuglies Australian television awards. They include: Kyle Sandilands, Jackie O, Sonia Kruger, Myf Warhurst, Julia Zemiro, Hamish Blake, Ryan Shelton and Julia Zemiro. For all the details go to: www.fugly.com.au   Voting closes at midnight Thursday May 1 and winners announced 10am Friday May 2. (* The Fuglies were started as an alternative to the Logies for people who wanted to vote for the worst of what has been on TV in categories that TV Week magazine keep forgetting to add to the Logies voting form.) 

The Brisbane Radio Broadcasting Museum was conceived in the early part of 2008 to pay homage to the radio industry in South East Queensland. The museum is seeking former staff members of any current or defunct Brisbane radio station and the public in general, to consider donating any memorabilia that they may have collected over the years, so that it may be inducted into the museum. More details.

The radio announcers at Kick FM (narrow cast station) have been kicked out of the station. Jason Bouman, Kerry Denten, Lindsay Fisher, Ross Hutchison and David Archer, who have 100 years of experience between them, have been replaced with staff from the Penrith-based newspaper Western Weekender. Full story. 

Alex Dalrymple has resigned from Nova 96.9 Sydney. He's the station's longest serving music announcer having been with the station six and a half years. He was the station's floater and studio producer of Merrick & Rosso & Kate. He will now concentrate on his acting and voice over career.

2GB's Alan Jones spoke out against ABC's Media Watch on his Anzac Day program. Full story.

SA FM's Andrew "Cosi" Costello, Biggest Loser star, claims he has been threatened with violence by a fellow contestant if he turns up to the show's finale this week. Full story.

(Update) Todd McKenney says he will "strongly fight" drug charges laid against him. MIX 106.5 boss Anthony Fitzgerald says McKenney is a victim of drug spiking. Full story and video.

MIX 106.5 FM Sydney breakfast co-host Todd McKenney is reportedly facing drug charges after being found unconscious in a Sydney park. Full story.

3AW's Philip Brady tells Larry Schwartz (The Age) what it takes to survive 50 years in broadcasting. Full story. (The latest Jocks' Journal also has an interview with Phil.)

Ever thought of working in radio in the Caribbean?  See Radio Jobs.

ABC Riverina personality Chris Coleman won the 'People's choice award' on Thursday (Apr 24) for 'Wagga Wagga Takes 2' a local charity version of the TV show. For his efforts Chris raised almost $1500. 

When it comes to top-rating radio shows, what listeners hear isn't always what they get. Full story.

Dom Evans is leaving HOT100/ Mix 1049 and moving to Darwin’s Geelong sister stations
BAYFM and KROCK. Dom will be replaced by Jordan Peters from Nova 919 Adelaide.

Vega 91.5 has all the ingredients of FM radio success, but after almost three years on air, nobody's listening writes Wendy Hargreaves. (Full story)

Tim Webster is set to take three steps back from Ten in an effort to tune into his new role on 2UE. Full story.

The best radio ad of 2008 will be battled out between 50 ad agencies and radio stations as part of the national Siren Awards, which will be announced in Melbourne on May 9. More details.

Merrick Watts and Tim Ross have signed an ongoing production deal with Foxtel's Comedy Channel, allowing them to develop and star in their own programs. The first, originally titled The Merrick and Rosso Show, is a 10-part, half hour, weekly series which will appear on the Comedy Channel mid year. More details.

CVC Sunshine Coast English PD Wayne Harrison has left.  (The Christian network station is now seeking a new PD. See 'Radio Jobs'.)

Paul Arandale, KO-FM Newcastle, is joining the announcing team at 2TM / 92.9 FM Tamworth.

Sandy Kaye is wondering if any of our JJ readers knows where she can contact Leigh Drew ex-3AK Melbourne. If you can help: sandyk@bigpond.net.au 

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