Lineup change at Mix 101.1

We hear that long time Mix 101.1 announcer Simon Diaz (pictured) has left the station.

Radio Today asked Mix 101.1 Program Director, Brendon 'Whippy' Dangar if this was the case ?

"Yes Diaz has left the station, we needed to make some changes to our content structure. We are running a lean team and required an experienced Assistant Music Director to help out with day to day music and form guide, as a secondary part to the role was the 9 – 1pm shift."

So who is replacing him ?

"Aaron Chilcott (pictured below) has been on ARN’s radar for a while and had the skill set to fill the new role. Aaron is a Melbourne boy who came to us from Coast FM in WA where he was music director (6MM) and breakfast anchor (Coast)," says Whippy.

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Bevo (1:33pm 31 Oct 2012)

Wow!I know both Aaron and Simon. I also know that Simon has been Aaron's radio mentor for the duration of his radio career. I never thought I'd hear the day where the "student" would replace his "mentor". Congratulations Aaron on scoring an amazing opportunity and I wish Simon all the best on his future endeavours.

Chris Holland (1:34pm 31 Oct 2012)

Couldn't have picked a nicer bloke!

Anonymous (2:08pm 31 Oct 2012)

Maybe he can read news on weekends, and get out in the cars for drive?

Jan (2:30pm 31 Oct 2012)

The only industry where "student" replaces "mentor" would be in radio, as it would cost less!

Everything is about the bottom line in radio these days, that why the product is so bad

Peggy (2:32pm 31 Oct 2012)

Once upon a time not that long ago when cap city gigs began on midnight-dawn. Not 9-1 and assistant music director. Of course times have changed and opportunities present further up the day-part. The money though has stayed the same.

Shame same Shame

Anonymous (2:59pm 31 Oct 2012)

Congrats Aaron, but I must agree with these other comments. Disappointing to see such an experienced broadcaster left in the lurch over a few dollars. Oh and Mix... this is only moving you further away from your competition, by the way.

Nick (3:32pm 31 Oct 2012)

The radio industry is a changing landscape, losing advertising revenue to the internet.

That said, why is there an assumption that Aaron isn't a talented broadcaster who has been in the industry for a while regionally and earned this gig?

Good onya Aaron! And well done on an excellent addition to your team, Mix!

Anonymous (3:52pm 31 Oct 2012)

Peggy, I think you're being a bit unrealistic and resistant to change. The fact that you start your post with "Once upon a time" suggests that too.

Radio needs to evolve to survive in a more competitive and less lucrative environment. There's no shame in the radio industry paying people less these days, it's just a fact of life, and what we need to do to survive.

Get over it. Change is inevitable.

Peggy (4:29pm 31 Oct 2012)

Anonymous thank you for your opinion. It's made me feel so much better. I'm guessing its people like you who've taken radio to a whole new level. Backwards

Anonymous (6:19pm 31 Oct 2012)

Peggy I think you'll find it's not my fault.

Radio stations are hurting because of the expansion of choice in media, emergence of digital, and a downturn in consumer confidence which has affected the retail sector, and flowed on into radio.

All of these factors and more have combined to cause a bigger than 10% drop in revenue for radio, which means stations need to be smarter about how they hire. Dual roles in Content are now pretty common place.

But if you want to blame me, fine.

Maybe you should go and work at CH 10 where they have just laid of a bunch of staff. Or Ch 9 where they've gone into receivership.

Jan (8:04pm 31 Oct 2012)

Anonymous, I'll back Peggy on this one.

Commercial Radio is finally getting it's just deserts for treating it's listeners & employee like dirt for decades.

If it's product was so good, they wouldn't have to worry about cash as everyone would like to advertise, but now it's not the case.

By paying employees crap you get talent leaving the industry in droves.

I've worked in commercial radio from 1995 until a few years ago & I'm so happy now I've left an industry going to the dogs......all but except the owners of broadcasting licences.

Anonymous (5:22am 01 Nov 2012)

Work for the right network, and the pay still isn't bad at all.

Anonymous (11:45am 01 Nov 2012)

Peggy and Jan, I think you're missing the point.

But firstly, I'd like to address your naivety regarding the 'product being good'. Our ratings and listener figures are roughly the same. It's ad revenue that has dropped, simply because there are more choices out there.

It's very naive to suggest if the product was better it would fix the problem. It has nothing to do with the product and everything to do with the advertising environment we're in.

Things change, and the 'good old days of radio' could never continue. It's not that employees stopped wanting to pay staff more, it's that networks were created, public companies were floated, and shareholders made demands for better profits. Every public company puts it's shareholders first. Fact of life. If you don't like it, go and buy shares.

Or take your stinky attitude to another industry where you'll find it's exactly the same.

Rodger Thornhill (12:46pm 01 Nov 2012)

so the secondary responisibility is on air.....right, well that says it all doesnt it

Peggy (1:46pm 01 Nov 2012)

Anony you sound a bit uptight. Maybe a massage would help? Even acouple of AFD's back to back?

Judging by the amount of spelling errors you might not be that bright either. Can I interest you in a Nigerian funds transfer idea at all?

Anonymous (3:18pm 01 Nov 2012)

Peggy, I AM uptight - because of people like you.

And by the way "AFD's" shouldn't have an apostrophe. It's plural, not possessive.

Now get back to work.

Chris Holland (3:59pm 01 Nov 2012)

Regardless of any of this banter...Aaron Chilcott is a great announcer of 8 years commercial experience and fully deserves this opportunity.

Phil (4:02pm 01 Nov 2012)

Wow. Hot debate. The advertising environment is certainly a factor, but content is key. If the content is good and hits the demo, people will not only listen but they will advertise. I feel people care less about radio not because there are more choices available, but because they simply don't feel inclined to. Radio is a sterile medium to them. There are very few broadcasters and communicators out there who enourage people to be a part of their station. It's all half baked TV personalities and sporting stars who may have an interesting story or two but fail to retain the listener when they run out of stories. And what is sadder is that the new generation aren't being encouraged to be communicators. They're encouraged to work 2-3 jobs for the price of one and yet they wonder why the product fails to hit the mark?

Anonymous (4:53pm 01 Nov 2012)

People, if you haven't noticed, times are tough! Whether it's radio, TV, finance or whatever other industry you're in, it's inevitable these sorts of dual/multiple roles will be created. Does it make it right? Not necessarily but it is what it is. I can't think of any job these days where you're not required to do more than one role.

Aaron obviously got the job because he was the right "fit" for the role and great talent. Good on you Aaron! Upwards and onwards!

Anonymous (6:33pm 01 Nov 2012)

as an ex radio employee, who had a fairly good career until the sales reps started to run the place, I have no problem stating that my first job (middawn in Newcastle)paid $25k, my second(middawn in Brisbane) paid $40K. At the age of 20 I was earning 90K and when I left radio 18 months ago, I was doing 9-12 in Perth for $150000. I bought myself a Porsche for my 24th birthday, but I earned it by being the best and rating number 1 consistently, because of the time I spent learning on middawns. Tell me now how Craig Bruce can make 800000 a year, whilst the morning jocks on SCA metro stations get less than $40k, and good jocks like Diaz get canned because they don't schedule music. It's bullshit, and all of you who don't agree need to pull your tongues out of Craig's crack. And before anyone asks, no I dont miss radio(but I do love reading the gossip), and yes I do enjoy being retired at 44. Cheers.

tim lee (8:50pm 01 Nov 2012)

the argument of "dual roles are the way forward" is one i (unfortunately) agree with. but systematically reducing/freezing salaries and slashing/abolishing live read fees (while sales still get to make commission based on the work i do) while increasing client commitments (and reducing my "spare" breaks) is a blatant slap in the face of day time announcers.

things are tight and everyone from entry-level-sales to ivory-tower-programmers need to move with the commercially viable times, but it often feels like us jocks are the ones that bear the main burden.

congrats to aaron, i'm sure you'll do well!

simon: i know of an arvos slot opening up pretty soon ;)

Pacman (11:06pm 01 Nov 2012)

Well aren't you all just bitter old things...

Yes, the industry is fucked but why can't we be happy for Aaron whose hard work and dedication has paid off after all these years?

Don't like the way things are run? Buy a station of your own. Your tune will change when its YOUR money on the line.

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