This week, we ask the big question: can radio truly own a story that’s already broken the internet? Taylor Swift’s engagement to Travis Kelce lit up the feeds—so what role should radio play when the world is already talking? We also break down the latest financial scorecards: momentum is clearly with SCA while ARN faces tougher headwinds. What’s driving the split and what does it mean for the future of both networks? Media analyst Tim Burrowes joins us to unpack the fallout. Plus, who deserves t...
Aug 29, 2025•55 min•Season 2Ep. 37
It’s Q&A time on the podcast, we have a bunch of great questions from our game changer listeners and on this week’s episode, we’ll get through all of them. Plus we talk about the new CRA campaign promoting the power of audio with Adam Ferrier, and finally Wade’s List is getting the support it so desperately needs with a special guest host, one of Australia’s biggest podcasters. Will they be able to save this segment that has been teetering on the brink for months? Find out by hitting play no...
Aug 22, 2025•58 min•Season 2Ep. 36
In this episode, we discuss the fallout from this week's big radio resignations - the moves are coming thick and fast as the jockeying begins for 2026. Also this week, we talk with UK media expert Matt Deegan about the latest data on Gen Z and Gen Alpha radio consumption. Thanks to Matt Deegan for joining us - you can find Matt at themediaclub.com Email us at mail@gamechangersradio.com Game Changers Radio is edited by Abe’s Audio. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Aug 15, 2025•57 min•Season 2Ep. 35
In this week’s episode, we discuss the move that has been months in the making - Christian O’Connell is going national in 2026. What will this mean for Gold in Melbourne and Sydney? What are the opportunities for stations like Smooth and MMM? Also this week we talk to the legendary Clive Dickens about his new tech advisory firm Meliora and how AI will be at the forefront of new content opportunities in audio. Thanks to Clive Dickens for a thought provoking discussion. Find out more about Meliora...
Aug 08, 2025•56 min•Season 2Ep. 34
In this episode, we review the fall out from Triple J's Hottest 100, Wade and Irene loved it, Craig may have joined the fun police. Also this week, we announce the winner of the Magnificent 7 - who is the best music announcer in Australia right now? You’ll meet them when you hit play on this episode. Subscribe free to Irene's Substack - go to 'Content This' Thanks to the magnificently talented Tim Lee for joining us. Level up your announcing with the best in the business, go to radio101 You can ...
Aug 01, 2025•56 min•Season 2Ep. 33
In this episode, we take one last look at the Survey 4 fallout, we unpack Matthew O'Reilly's first test as top content boss for Southern Cross Austereo, and we explain why emotional connection - not clichés - should power music radio. Plus: a cameo from the legendary Todd Campbell and a kiss cam controversy we didn’t ask for… You can email us at mail@gamechangersradio.com Game Changers Radio is edited by Abe’s Audio. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jul 25, 2025•50 min•Season 2Ep. 32
Hear our first thoughts on today’s GfK survey 4 numbers. Gold has an historic win in Melbourne, Jase & Lauren dominate breakfast and a tiny glimmer of hope for Kyle & Jackie O with increases in Melbourne and Sydney. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 22, 2025•19 min•Season 2Ep. 31
In this week’s episode, we’ll bring you all of the pain and rejection from the worst aircheck moments that poor, unsuspecting radio folk from all corners of the globe have been subjected to. It’s messy, it’s ugly, it’s cathartic. It’s trauma with a capital T. Also this week, we’ll unveil “the Magnificent 7”, with all this talk of perfect execution and quality announcing, we have chosen the 7 best music announcers on Australian radio right now and we’d love to know who you think is the best. See ...
Jul 18, 2025•45 min•Season 2Ep. 30
Dave Cameron, SCA's Chief Content Officer, is leaving his role in a bombshell move announced yesterday. This is big news, let’s see if we can make sense of it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 15, 2025•18 min•Season 2Ep. 29
In this week’s episode we talk about the dreaded aircheck - judgement, rejection, admonishment and the occasional positive comment that you never notice - oh, the PTSD! We’ll talk about whether air checking is a useful tool in this new creator economy and how you can deliver useful feedback if you’re a content director. Plus we talk TSL with one of the best programmers in the world - Mike Fitzpatrick. If you want to generate more time spent listening for your show or station, this episode is a m...
Jul 11, 2025•48 min•Season 2Ep. 28
In this week's episode we debate Kyle’s studio walk out, was it real or was it for ratings? Fair to say we have strong opinions on both sides of the argument. And we reveal the Top 5 social media accounts right now, you won’t believe what comes in at number 1. Have any feedback for us? Email us at mail@gamechangersradio.com Special thanks to Kieran Simpson for joining us on this episode. If you want some guidance on socials, you can contact Kieran at kieran@seenit.au. Game Changers Radio is edit...
Jul 04, 2025•51 min•Season 2Ep. 27
The reviews are in on Lu & Jarch’s new afternoon show on Triple M and it’s fair to say, we are all massive fans of this show. We have some thoughts on how good they are, and how good they might become. Also on this week’s episode, we discuss the backlash to Jase & Lauren’s Hide and Seek contest, were the clues too hard?, was the contest too difficult to play? We’ll dissect the contest and discuss ways to make it more inclusive when they bring it back to Nova. Reach us at mail@gamechanger...
Jun 27, 2025•48 min•Season 2Ep. 26
The 2025 Infinite Dial report on Australian audio consumption was released this week and our guest is the head of Edison Research , Larry Rosin who will help explain the data. Larry has been a fan and friend of Australian radio for many years and his thoughts on the success of radio and podcasting in Australia are well worth checking out. Also this week we respond to one of the most proactive listener letters we’ve received in the last 12 months - the premise of the letter - The Fox Underdogs is...
Jun 20, 2025•55 min•Season 2Ep. 25
The results are in for survey 3, hear our first thoughts now. Zero spin, zero bias. Send us your thoughts on the survey results to mail@gamechangersradio.com Game Changers is edited by Abe’s Audio. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 17, 2025•23 min•Season 2Ep. 24
Game Changers Radio is here - and we’re off to a flying start. Our first guest is Ben Cooper, one of the most influential radio programmers of the past 20 years. As the architect of BBC’s “Listen, Watch, Share” strategy, Ben helped Radio 1 connect with young audiences around the globe. In this episode, we dive into what’s missing in Top 40 radio today - and we put Ben on the spot about how the industry should be thinking about AI. We love hearing from you. Send your feedback, questions, thoughts...
Jun 13, 2025•51 min•Season 2Ep. 23
It's our final episode of the Melbourne Radio Wars, next week we’re rebranding the podcast to Game Changers Radio. We have so much Melbourne coverage to share with you - our thoughts on Nova 100s Hide & Seek and The Fox's Underdogs 3, plus we’ll also have one final reflection on the past 12 months. and the incredible ride that Melbourne radio has taken us on. Reach us on our new email - mail@gamechangersradio.com BBC salaries can be accessed here - https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0w4xqlwr...
Jun 06, 2025•52 min•Season 2Ep. 22
In this episode, we discuss the new Australian radio rich list and whether the extraordinary salaries are accurate or justified - our collection of industry insiders have been spilling the beans and we're ready to share what we know. Also this week we reveal the key findings from our first listener survey, the good news is we're staying together….for now! The Melbourne Radio Wars is sponsored by the Australian Radio School Podcast Workshop - Hosted by Craig Bruce & Sean Craig Murphy - Regist...
May 30, 2025•40 min•Season 2Ep. 21
In this episode, we talk about chemistry - which teams have it, how to fast track it and how to make it the core part of your show’s DNA. Also this week, Kyle & Jackie O are back with a brand new marketing campaign, will going rogue, go all the way for them? We’ll discuss their new strategy with former Austereo head of marketing Jeremy McVean. And we’re loving your feedback from our first listener survey, if you haven’t filled it out yet, just click on the link below, we’d love to know how w...
May 23, 2025•51 min•Season 2Ep. 20
Fifi, Fev & Nick have landed one of the great A plus moments of the Melbourne Radio Wars and we have all the details. Irene puts the NOVA music strategy up on the hoist and we’ll celebrate the "overnight success” of Luisa Dal Din that was 10 years in the grinding. The Melbourne Radio Wars listener survey is now live, c l ick the link and give us your feedback, a ll responses will remain anonymous - https://listenersurvey/7rnsEgshjY4ZuKC99 The Melbourne Radio Wars is sponsored by the Australi...
May 16, 2025•53 min•Season 2Ep. 19
In this episode, we talk with Tim Burrowes about the fall out from ARN’s AGM this week. Also on the agenda, Kyle & Jackie O's Sydney decline and we take one last gigabyte at the Thy tale. The Melbourne Radio Wars is sponsored by the Australian Radio School Podcast Workshop - Hosted by Craig Bruce & Sean Craig Murphy - Register now at australianradioschool.com This series contains the use of AI generated voices Melbourne Radio Wars is edited by Abe’s Audio. Email us at melbourneradiowars@...
May 09, 2025•44 min•Season 2Ep. 18
This week we discuss the fall-out from GfK survey 2 with all the real or spin commentary from the key players. Kyle threatens to leave Melbourne at the end of this year, is he being serious? Radio futurologist James Cridland has named the worst commercial radio company in Australia, no prizes for guessing who that might be. The Melbourne Radio Wars is sponsored by the Australian Radio School Podcast Workshop - Hosted by Craig Bruce & Sean Craig Murphy - Register now at australianradioschool....
May 02, 2025•48 min•Season 2Ep. 17
Irene, Wade and Craig have their thoughts on the GFK survey 2 results. The Melbourne Radio Wars is sponsored by the Australian Radio School Podcast Workshop - Hosted by Craig Bruce & Sean Craig Murphy - Register now at australianradioschool.com This series contains the use of AI generated voices Melbourne Radio Wars is edited by Abe’s Audio. Email us at melbourneradiowars@gmail.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
May 01, 2025•21 min•Season 2Ep. 16
The reviews are in on Australia’s first robojock who’s been hosting a music shift on CADA for the last 6 months….she sounds awful. Sorry Thy. We discuss the fall-out and ramifications of ARN’s first attempt at AI announcer integration and would love it to be the start of a conversation with you as to whether AI announcing should be a part of the industry's future. The Melbourne Radio Wars is sponsored by the Australian Radio School Podcast Workshop - Hosted by Craig Bruce & Sean Craig Murphy...
Apr 25, 2025•48 min•Season 2Ep. 15
In this episode, we scratch below the surface of the $5million dawn dig, Kyle & Jackie O's first major live event in Melbourne. Also on the agenda this week is a discussion around the value of local content - can you do a “local” radio show from another market? And we’ll follow up Craig’s recent take on Dave Hughes with some strong feedback from listeners on his perspective. This series contains the use of AI generated voices. Melbourne Radio Wars is edited by Abe’s Audio. Email us at melbou...
Apr 18, 2025•42 min•Season 2Ep. 14
In this week’s episode we discuss an interview that Dave Hughes did last week with Will & Woody where he talked about the daily grind of breakfast radio and whether too much Mariah Carey can kill even the best breakfast shows. Plus you’ll meet Hayley Sproul, the girl behind one of the biggest viral radio moments of all time - Girl Maths. This series contains the use of AI generated voices / Melbourne Radio Wars is edited by Abe’s Audio. Email us at melbourneradiowars@gmail.com See omnystudio...
Apr 11, 2025•49 min•Season 2Ep. 13
In this week’s episode, we have another A+ moment to share, this time from Jase and Lauren. Ash London joins us to talk about her first book “Love on the air” the story of romance inside a radio station. And we continue to look at the 2Day music strategy with Irene finding some reasons to be optimistic for SCA… The Melbourne Radio Wars is sponsored by Radio Monitor - Australia’s most complete and accurate insight into what’s being played where across Australia and the Globe - find out more at ra...
Apr 04, 2025•48 min•Season 2Ep. 12
The dust has settled on the GfK survey 1 results, and we’re back with more analysis and a spotlight on the Fox breakfast show. They’re down a point and sliding back in the pack, the question of how they respond is now looming large. We'll also take another closer look at 2DAYs new music format. There’s plenty to like about their launch, but still plenty of work left to do. The Melbourne Radio Wars is sponsored by Radio Monitor - Australia’s most complete and accurate insight into what’s being pl...
Mar 28, 2025•48 min•Season 2Ep. 11
We’ve got some first thoughts on the first survey results of the year on what is a very big day for Christian O’Connell. The Melbourne Radio Wars is sponsored by Radio Monitor - Australia’s most complete and accurate insight into what’s being played where across Australia and the Globe - find out more at radiomonitor.com Sound design is by Dom Evans at EARSAY Email us at melbourneradiowars@gmail.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Mar 27, 2025•15 min•Season 2Ep. 10
Who are the Mad F**ing Witches , and why are they going after Kyle & Jackie O ? This week, we unpack their campaign and the broader role of activism in radio. Meanwhile, Fifi, Fev & Nick claim to be Melbourne’s biggest breakfast party, but can they balance that with their push for bail reform? It’s a question that’s been weighing on Wade’s mind. And with Survey 1 results looming, will Kyle & Jackie O finally see the boost they need in Melbourne? We make our predictions. The Melbourne...
Mar 21, 2025•54 min•Season 2Ep. 9
In this week's episode we get the full rundown from Radiodays Europe 2025 including all the goss on Wade’s chance meeting with Jackie O at the event. And big news this week - 2DayFM has a new format, aimed at younger listeners, we’ll share our notes from our listen. The Melbourne Radio Wars is sponsored by Radio Monitor - Australia’s most complete and accurate insight into what’s being played where across Australia and the Globe - find out more at radiomonitor.com Sound design is by Dom Evans at...
Mar 14, 2025•50 min•Season 2Ep. 8
