Hot off the Net

This page contains links to posts and articles from around the internet for those interested in a range of views on the radio, audio and broadcast industries.

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BBC accused of using ‘Hunger Games’-type interviews to decide which local radio presenters keep jobs

13 April 2023 Every presenter working at a BBC local radio station has been placed at risk of redundancy under proposals which will cut local programming as more content is shared between regional stations.

WorldDAB at Radiodays Europe 2023

11 April 2023 As the radio industry gathered for the 2023 edition of Radiodays Europe, held last week in Prague to mark the centenary of Czech Radio, two major themes emerged.

100+ U.S. Radio Stations Signed Off In The Past Year

10 April 2023 The current number of licensed commercial FM stations is 6,681 and AM is 4,472.

Public Science, Covid19 Vaccines, And The Audio Medium

10 April 2023 Whereas television is principally a visual medium, radio (and social media 'podcasts') are better suited to the transmission of ideas, rumours, and information.

Twitter: BBC objects to ‘government funded media’ label

10 April 2023 The BBC is objecting to a new label describing it as "government funded media" on its main Twitter account. The corporation has contacted the social media giant over the designation on the @BBC account to resolve the issue "as soon as possible".

ABC to review use of TikTok after app banned from Australian government devices

5 April 2023 The ABC is reviewing its use of TikTok following the federal government’s ban of the Chinese-owned social media app on government-issued devices.

Drew Carey made a radio show with AI. Fans weren’t pleased.

3 April 2023 Carey used an artificially generated version of his voice to handle most of his DJ work, reading a script written by ChatGPT.

How to fall asleep with the radio

3 April 2023 Tune into serenity with the BBC Shipping Forecast, a weather report from deep in the analog era.

Radio host Belle Jackson in tears after Andy Lee uncovers her childhood crush in on-air prank

30 March 2023 “Belle, could you imagine if Hamish or Andy actually saw your bedroom?” Harvey asked her on air. “We went to your house yesterday and showed Andy your bedroom.”

The NPR layoffs eat into its future

30 March 2023 National Public Radio, a foundational pillar in American news radio and one of the biggest podcast publishers in the world, moved to lay off 10 percent of its staff, or well over a hundred employees, over the past week, marking the organization’s sharpest reduction in workforce since the 2008 economic crisis.

Darwin radio host soldiers on for charity

28 March 2023 Darwin’s Mix 104.9FM radio host Dan Hilliard recruited soldiers from the 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (5RAR), to join him on a 15km march last week to raise funds and awareness for a charity close to Defence’s heart: Soldier On.

Hitz939 celebrates 30 years on air

27 March 2023 "In the past 30 years, Hitz939 had stood by the community in the bad times and celebrated with the community through the great times,' Corey Pitt.

New, audience-focused BBC operating licence fit for digital future

26 March 2023 The changing needs of listeners and a demand for greater public accountability are enshrined in a new, modernised BBC operating licence announced by Ofcom.

Journalism students experience “live” on PXL Radio

24 March 2023 "The best learning school is practice, and in this project, the “freedom to fail” principle is more important than audience ratings."

Another top-tier departure rocks MediaWorks

21 March 2023 MediaWorks’ news boss Dallas Gurney has resigned, soon after the sudden departure of the chief executive who appointed him - Cam Wallace.

ABC hires consultants amid nationwide radio ratings slump

20 March 2023 Australia’s national broadcaster has established an internal advisory group and brought in external consultants to try to stop the dramatic decline of its radio audiences in capital cities across the country.

Nine Radio newsreader embarks on 3000-kilometre journey to fight cancer

18 March 2023 Amie Meehan and her husband are heading off on a week-long adventure representing Nine Radio in the infamous Shitbox Rally!

KIIS FM’ Laura Byrne blasts male caller who said women breastfeeding in public are ‘indecent’

18 March 2023 'Do you eat in public? So why can't a baby eat from it's food source in public?' she asked the caller.

Radio ratings: Shake-up hits Adelaide’s talk stations

17 March 2023 Adelaide radio listeners have turned away from talk stations in a volatile first radio ratings survey for 2023, with the ABC and FIVEaa registering some surprising numbers in key shifts.

KIIS takes Sydney’s radio crown, as 2GB settles for second

17 March 2023 KIIS has snatched the crown in Sydney for the first time in 18 years with an audience share of 11.9 per cent (up 0.3 percentage points), while 2GB dipped to 11.0 per cent total share, down 1.5 percentage points.

Jackie ‘O’ Henderson splits from manager Brad March in bold career move

17 March 2023 KIIS FM presenter has parted ways with her manager Brad March - the radio 'super agent' who helped her to become the highest-paid woman in Australian media.

ABC Melbourne slumps to record low in first radio survey of 2023

17 March 2023 ABC Melbourne has slumped to its worst radio ratings result on record, attracting an average share of just 5.8 per cent of listeners in the first survey of 2023.

Texas woman becomes longest-serving female radio presenter in the world

16 March 2023 Mary McCoy, 85, lived briefly in a tent as a child before breaking into radio in 1951 and eventually sharing a stage with Elvis Presley

The Examiner ‘fake’ letter

14 March 2023 To their credit, the radio station checked with the Launceston mayor’s office, and when the 11am bulletin ticked over, we got an answer: MATT WATSON: … the contents of that letter have no basis in fact. No such incident occurred at that facility and they’ve expressed their disappointment that there was no efforts to check, as you mentioned, the veracity of those claims. - Tasmania Talks, LA FM, 7 March, 2023

Fitzy & Wippa awkwardly farewell ousted co-host Sarah McGilvray

14 March 2023 Fitzy & Wippa finally addressed the absence of longtime co-host Sarah McGilvray today, which marked their first show with Kate Ritchie.

Triggered shock jocks

10 March 2023 A fake Albanese tweet about ‘protecting’ paedophiles is amplified by 2SM hosts and talkback callers. But the joke is on them.

BBC renames wing dedicated to DJ John Peel at its London HQ

7 March 2023 The BBC has renamed the John Peel Wing at its Broadcasting House headquarters 'to help staff and visitors navigate the building' - after historical sexual abuse claim were made against the late DJ.

Surveillance equipment linked to Chinese government found at ABC headquarters

3 March 2023 An internal audit has confirmed cameras linked to the Chinese government had been installed within the heart of the ABC

Gold FM host Christian O’Connell’s new move to prove love for Australia

3 March 2023 O’Connell, his wife, Sarah, and their daughters, Ruby and Lois, officially became Australian citizens on Thursday at Brighton Town Hall.

Why music causes memories to flood back

2 March 2023 She didn’t recognize her husband but could still sing every word to an old Simon & Garfunkel song