Top 40 Most Influential Men in Australian Radio

Contributor

Following on from last year’s list of the most influential women in radio, here are the men who have the greatest influence in Australian radio in 2014.

They include management, programmers, owners, directors, sales executives and key talent.

Some of the names have other media and business interests, this list takes into account only their radio influence.

Of the on air talent chosen, the question was asked “If the CEO of that respective network left, would they have as great an impact on the business (as if this on-air talent left)?”

The size and reach of companies/organisations have also been taken into account.

These are the people who influence the airwaves and the business of radio. They contribute to contemporary culture and can influence society’s views, standards, ethics and opinions. They help shape the radio landscape and are a part of shaping the future of the Australian radio industry.

They provide leadership to radio groups, returns for owners and shareholders, develop new talent and shows, attract listeners with their unique on air content and bring clients and brands to the medium of radio. They are setting the standard of radio and they help set the tone and culture of radio stations, networks, communities and the entire radio industry.

Some command hefty salaries, wield considerable power and are charged with how the radio industry will adapt and change in this digital age.

They are the radio industry leaders and most live and breathe the radio business.

If you’d like to add any other names to the list or make a comment, make sure you do below. We welcome your feedback.

So, here are The Top 40 Most Influential Men in Radio Today.

 

 

1. Malcolm Turnbull

Minister of Communications who has the future of the Australian radio industry in his hands; currently reviewing cross media ownership and diversification.

 

 

 

2. Rhys Holleran

CEO of Southern Cross Austereo (SCA), the country’s largest radio network with over 88 radio brands across metro, regional and digital. Arguably the most challenging role in Australian radio today.

 

 

 

3. Lachlan Murdoch

Chairman of Nova Entertainment including the Nova, smooth and Rdio brands.His company Illyria purchased DMG’s 50% in 2012, taking full ownership of the group.

 

 

4. Ciaran Davis

CEO of the Australian Radio Network overseeing ARN’s diverse mix of radio and digital radio assets including iHeart. He recently scored a coup securing Kyle and Jackie O for Kiis breakfast.

 

 

 

5. Mark Scott

CEO of the ABC which has the biggest radio market share in Australia behind SCA (includes Radio National, Triple J, Classic FM, News Radio and Local Radio).

 

6. Max Moore-Wilton

Chairman of the country’s largest radio group SCA and former public servant who recently put SCA execs on notice due to declining ratings

 

 

 

 

 

7.  Michael Miller

CEO of APN, the parent company of the ARN. He was recently the architect of the buyout of Clear Channels 50% shareholding.

 

 

8. Kyle Sandilands

Breakfast announcer at ARN’s Kiis. He’s winning the Sydney FM breakfast ratings after taking audience from previous station 2DayFM.

 

 

 

9. Alan Jones

Breakfast announcer and co-owner at Macquarie Radio’s 2GB. He is one of the most highly paid and influential radio personalities in Australia.

 

 

10. Guy Dobson

Chief Content Officer SCA and co-owner Resonate Broadcasting; previously CEO / Group Program Director of Austereo prior to its merger with Southern Cross Media. Oversees 82 stations, 5 digital brands and Songl.

 

 

 

 

 

 

11. Ray Hadley
2GB’s high-rating morning announcer; currently with the highest rating shift in Sydney with a 17.2 %  share

 

 

 

 

 

12. Craig Bruce
Group Content Director SCA. He is responsible for the ratings and content of Australia’s largest radio group including 10 metro brands 2Day, Fox and Triple M, 41 Today Network regionals and 31 Localworks regionals.

 

 

 

 

13. Duncan Campbell

Group Content Director of ARN who recently scored the number 1 and 2 FM station positions in Sydney with Kiis and WSFM.  Under Duncan’s leadership, ARN can now boast #1 FM stations in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide.

 

 

 

 

14. Ross Stevenson & John Burns

Breakfast announcers of Fairfax’s 3AW who have lead Melbourne’s breakfast ratings since 2001.

 

 

 

15. Jeremy Millar

Former ARN Group Program Director and now Manager of Metropolitan Local for ABC Radio overseeing 60 ABC stations, including 51 regional stations and 9 metropolitan.

 

 

 

16. Adam Lang

CEO of Fairfax Radio which includes 3AW, 2UE and 96FM; was formerly from SCA.

 

 

 

17. John Singleton

Owner of Macquarie Radio Network‘s 2GB / 2CH, originally creating his success and wealth in the advertising business

 

 

 

18.  Paul Jackson

Group Program Director of Nova Entertainment’s Nova and smooth brands; was previously in the UK at Global Radio and Virgin Radio.

 

19. Dave Cameron

Content Director of FoxFM and Network Content Director for SCA’s Today Network .

 

 

20. Grant Cameron / Dugald Cameron

Directors of Grant Broadcasters, Australia’s largest regional broadcaster owned by the Cameron family.

 

21. Peter Charlton

Group Sales Director at Nova Entertainment, joined the company from Adshel in 2012; previously worked at Capital Radio in London

 

 

 

22.  Kevin Whyte

Managing Director of Token which manages key radio talent including Merrick Watts, Dave Hughes, Dave Thornton and Tommy Little.

 

 

23. David Kidd

Group Content Director and Research Director at Macquarie Radio’s 2GB and 2CH, previously from ARN and Austereo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

24. Hamish and Andy

National drive show hosts & ratings leaders on SCA’s Today Network. Forming in 2003, they are one of radio’s most sought after on air acts.

 

 

 

25. Mark Klemens

Managing Director of Profile who steers the careers of top radio talent including Fifi Box, Tim Blackwell, Tim Ross, Jules Lund, Hamish & Andy, Michael Wipfli, Will & Woody and Brigitte Duclos.

 

 

 

26. Bill Caralis

Owner of the Super Radio Network, the largest privately-held radio network with 36 stations across NSW

27. Eddie McGuire

Co-host of SCA’s Triple M Hot Breakfast show with Mick Molloy and Luke Darcy and main driver of Triple M’s ratings resurgence.

 

 

 

28. Clark Forbes

Group Program Director at Fairfax Radio responsible for 3AW’s outstanding ratings success.

 

29. Kevin Blyton

Owner of regional radio group Capital Radio Network across NSW and WA and a raft of digital stations.

 

 

 

30. Mike Fitzpatrick

Content Director of SCA’s Triple M Network who has recently been one of the main drivers behind Triple M Melbourne’s success.

31. Bruce Gordon / Andrew Gordon
Bruce the owner and architect of WIN Media which owns radio assets in NSW; son Andrew is Executive Director.

32. Derek Bargwanna
Content Director of ARN’s Kiis, having recently defected from 2DayFM. One of the keys to the success of the Kyle and Jackie O Show.

33. Clive Dickens
Director of Digital and Innovation at SCA. He is charged with SCA’s digital, online and mobile future.

34. Adam Williscroft
Regional Head of Content SCA, he’s charged with overseeing more than 70 SCA regional markets.

35. Tony McGinn
Executive Director and Founder of MCM, syndicating shows like My Generation, Hot Hits and Today’s Weekend Breakfast show.

36. Geoff Handbury / Rowley Patterson / Stephen Everett
Co-owners / Chairman / Managing Director of Victorian broadcaster ACE which includes 13 radio stations.

37. Matthew Granger
National Sales Director at ARN. He was previously Group Sales Manager at the Seven network, making the switch from television to radio in 2007

38. Neil Mitchell
Morning Announcer at Fairfax’s 3AW who leads Melbourne morning ratings and an inductee into the Australian Commercial Radio Hall of Fame.

39. Gary Roberts
Managing Director Nova 937, one of the stalwarts of Perth radio; previously oversaw the fortunes of SCA’s 92.9 and mix94.5, and the launch and growth of the legendary 96FM in the 1980s.

40. Mick Molloy
Formerly part of the groundbreaking national show Martin Molloy, now host of the Hot Breakfast with Eddie McGuire on Triple M Melbourne.

Just outside the Top 40 includes the following names:

41. Brian Ford – Managing Director ESP Media, programming consultants to SCA; was responsible for discovering highly successful radio duo Hamish and Andy

42. Michael Anderson – Former Austereo CEO and Group Sales Director and now a Director of Fairfax who sits on the Fairfax Board

43. Jeremy Simpson – General Manager of SCA Sydney’s 2DayFM and Triple M, formerly Group Sales Director SCA.

44. Marty Sheargold – Announcer from Nova’s Kate, Tim and Marty national drive show

45. Barrie Quick – CEO of Pacific Star radio network, MyMP and SEN

46. John Musgrove – head of research for SCA.

47. Dan Bradley – Executive Director of media consultancy and talent/artist agency Kaizen Media and co-founder of Radio Today

48. Hans Torv – Executive Director of Hot Tomato on the Gold Coast

49. Matt Tilley – Former Fox breakfast now co host of The One Percenters on Triple M’s national drive show.

50. John Laws – Former talkback ratings leader, now heard on Sydney’s 2SM

51. Richard Barker – General Manager of SCA Brisbane’s Triple M and B105

52. Merrick Watts – formerly from Merrick and Rosso and The Highway Patrol, now breakfast co host on 2DayFM

53. Eriks Celmins – Managing Director of Third Wave Media / Insider Focus.

54. Rex Morris – Former Austereo programmer and now Director/co-owner of regional Resonate Broadcasting

55. Rod Brice – Regional radio consultant, formerly Head of Regional Programming & Research for SCA

And it’s worth noting some former radio greats who still have a huge influence throughout the radio industry because of their legacy from mentoring and championing great talent, staff and executives and their pioneering initiatives in the radio industry.

They are Paul Thompson. Greg Smith, Steve Price, Jeff Allis, Rod Muir, John Brennan, the late Paul Ramsay, Ian Grace, Bob Scott and Glenn Wheatley

Brad March is a Director of Radio Today, is a former CEO and Group Grogram Director of Austereo, has been named Media Executive of the Year and was previously ranked number 21 in the Entertainment Industries Power List 200.

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Paul Martin
10 Sep 2017 - 4:51 pm

There is yet to be ANY real intl. standard talent unleashed on the Aussie airwaves for the long suffering listeners who have to endure mediocrity 24/7 !

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