Talent Watch
BY RadioToday Network November 28, 2023
Talent Watch September 3, 2018
Em Rusciano is leaving 2DayFM Breakfast
Em Rusciano has announced that she is permanently departing 2DayFM Breakfast.
Speaking this morning on Em, Grant and Ed, Rusciano revealed that she will not return to the show after her third child is born in early 2019, with this Friday September 7 her last show.
Ash London will fill in for Em until a replacement for the 2019 lineup has been determined.
In a statement republished on the Hit Network website, she said; ”The truth is when I found out I was pregnant, I made my mind up on the spot that this year would be my last year of breakfast radio.
“I had intended to work through until December, but as my pregnancy is progressing I’m finding it increasingly harder to fulfil the requirements of my job. So after talking it through with my family, and my boss Gemma, it was decided that I should finish up.
“I want to thank everyone who listened right from the start, however you consumed our show – be it podcast, Facebook videos or listening to us live, I appreciate it. I still marvel that people actively choose to let me into their lives for a small portion of their day.
“That’s my favourite part of this job, and something I sometimes forget that’s even happening when I’m sitting in that small studio talking into a stick.”
She also revealed she will fill-in for Grant when he is away later this year.
Em Rusciano started on 2DayFM in 2017 on Breakfast for The Em Rusciano show with Harley Breen. Breen departed after one year, with Em joined in 2018 by experienced radio head Ed Kavalee and TV personality Grant Denyer.
In the recent Survey #5 results, 2DayFM Breakfast slumped to a 3.3% share of listening (-1.0).
“We are so thrilled for Em and her family that after everything they experienced last year they will have a beautiful baby in their world early next year,” said Hit Network head of content Gemma Fordham.
“Em had a heart to heart with me last month and let me know that she would like to wrap up breakfast hours and focus on her growing family and her other many creative pursuits. The business 100% supports and understands Em’s decision.
“Em has always been forthright and honest with our listeners, sharing every intimate detail of her life, and she will continue to be part of the 2DayFM family when she can for the remainder of this year.”
This Friday will be her last show, and Em will have a big send off with Em’s Big Baby Brunch, where she will be joined by 100 pregnant listeners for a food celebration.
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I am waiting for a comment from Kyle. I will keep checking every hour.
Well done to EM fought a great fight now turning her attention to motherhood. Very nice. Quite a women. The past couple of years will give her loads of content for her stand up tours. Shame SCA spent millions of dollars promoting her but at least this time in radio will set her up moving forward. Just look at what’s happened to Rove since his 2DAYFM outing. It may be quite difficult to get anyone for that show now. You sure would need danger money.
She was axed come on 3% share
Would imagine it’ll be really tough to get anyone to do this gig when management have seemingly made a commitment to each of the last four shows to “give them a decent chance” and then gassed them before they even get going.
Can’t help but think that Dan and Maz would probably have found a place in this market by now if they’d been given a chance and the full support of the company. Nova and ARN must not be able to believe their luck as 2Day head back to square 1 for at least the 4th time in the last 5 years.
Poor old 2Dayfm they cant take a trick these days
This is just another blow to 2dayfm have to start all over again. As Gemma said she pleaded for Em to do this role, backed her all the way and now this. So sad. Pity the shareholders.
why do the presenters always get axed when the people that now have made 4 or 5 bad decisions remain.
Clearly management don’t have a high performance culture or they don’t hold staff accountable for millions of dollars worth of poor decisions. Seems quite bizarre in the modern corporate world
Big shock. Yawn. Next !
I would say turn it off… But most people have already
2Day has more Breakfast shows than Australia has had PM’s!
Is anyone accountable for the continuing 2Day debacle ?
This has been coming for ages, who’s gonna step up next? Is it Angus O’Laughlan? #3ShareLife
Options on the table:
1. Grant & Ed for breakfast – seems viable and likely to rate just as well, if not better.
2. Grant & Ed, plus the latest bachelor reject – that might be the content strategy of 2015 but not 100% unlikely.
3. Hughesy & Kate for breakfast (from Melbourne) – very possible.
4. Dobbo & Totters for breakfast – I’d listen to that.
5. Non-stop hits : more music, more variety – It’d probably rate better.
Shame SCA invested so heavily in marketing Em Rusciano, the ROI has been horrible for the business, but good on her for leaving on her terms. I do wonder if she had a heads up though…
So sad to see the once great 2DayFM continually at the bottom of the ratings.
How did this happen and why is no one being held accountable?
It must be so demoralising working at a station that once commanded the FM band, now largely ignored by 97 percent of Sydney.
Despite the negative rumours which circulated within the radio industry, the loss of Rusciano is a blow for 2DayFM.
Imagine if they stuck by Dan & Maz. Would they would be rating by now? This revolving door of shows has gotten them absolutely nowhere and I’d suspect they would have built an audience by now.
Em Rusciano: “Everyone go to Kyle & Jackie O, I don’t care” Sorry Em they did honey X
There are a number of similarities between 2CH and 2DAYFM – both have a 10+ share of 4.2% and a breakfast share of 3.3% after GfK survey 5, 2018.
One of them is quite funny and the other is on the FM band.
Shame Em had to finish up. If it wasnt for management interference and the quirky music they play now on 2day she would have rated better.