A broad overview of last week’s GfK Radio 360 Survey 4 was that talk was down and music listening was up.
Except in Adelaide.
There are a variety of reasons why talk might be flourishing in South Australia; The Crows are on a five game winning streak and sitting second on the AFL ladder, Proud SA chefs Callum Hann and Laura Cassai are both still standing and in the top 5 of Network 10’s Masterchef Back to Win, and four of the triple j Hottest 100 of Australian Songs top 10 originated in SA (with an additional nod to The Angels at #12). The music, food, arts scene, culture and wine are enough to make anyone passing through want to stay a while longer.
Nova Entertainment‘s FIVEaa, Nova’s only talk station, saw morning presenter Stacey Lee (formerly of the ABC) deliver a beautiful baby girl last month (see below). Over at music station SAFM two weeks later breakfast co-host Emma Georgiadis (Emma G) also saw the arrival of her baby boy Archie. These have been the only upheavals this year on the radio front, joyous and life changing ones.
While there is a clear tendency to turn to the news in times of turmoil, Adelaide is also demonstrating that they also are tuning in when their sporting team (apologies to Port Adelaide fans here) is doing well, or local talent shines.
On July 15 a woman called Bek from Victor Harbor called and spoke to Jo Laverty who was covering ABC Radio Adelaide breakfast about her wait for scheduled heart surgery. She was grateful to her doctor and the hospital, worried about the delay’s impact but positive and articulate in her story. That same afternoon Bek called Leigh Radford to say that surgery had been scheduled for the following week and offered her profound thanks to ‘team ABC’ for not just listening but helping expediate the process. Bek rang again on July 24th as she was in the hospital the day of the procedure.
Listeners responded warmly to Bek and the story on air and on social media with Ray saying on Facebook:
“I am just one of thousands that heard your call to ABC-891 a week or two ago, and the announcement that followed, as well as your call from the hospital from ABC on Thursday. We thousands are right with you all the way and hope that this ‘shake’ of those in charge might also trigger a lot more people in the same dilemma you have endured. 
“
And Daph adding:
“abc a gr8t station that at least listens to our issues”
Bek called Jo after the operation to say things had gone well. You can listen to Bek’s story here: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/adelaide-afternoons/beks-heart-surgery/105573222
What I liked the most about the triple j Hottest 100 of Australian Songs was that the diversity of the Australian audience was represented through their votes. All those who commented about the Hilltop Hoods at No 2?
South Australian.
That state is driving a different audio narrative to others where talk is flourishing among its commercial music radio counterparts.
Jen Seyderhelm is a writer, editor and podcaster for Radioinfo.