A: Enough to get himself on a “most influential” list.

Much to Ray’s horror, his name was omitted from a list of the supposed “40 most influential men in radio” compiled by an internet blog.

Displeased by this blatant snub, Ray used his top rating 2GB morning show to berate the author, who was himself an influential FM radio executive many years ago.

Ray was perplexed that he didn’t make the cut along with other Macquarie Radio Network identities, including executive chairman Russell Tate.

Not long after the blog’s editor got wind of Ray’s spray, his name and picture was hurriedly inserted into the list at #11, squeezed between SCA’s Guy Dobson and Craig Bruce. Everyone below 11^th place was bumped down a peg.

The list which was topped by Communications Minister, Malcolm Turnbull included all the network chiefs with Kyle Sandilands in 8^th spot, one ahead of 2GB’s Alan Jones. Kyle more influential than Alan Jones? By what measure? Audience share? Political connections?

Apart from the author, who evidently excused himself from selection, many of the blog’s connections managed to earn themselves a place on the list. Yet, despite Hadley’s urging, Russell Tate remains absent from it.

Another glaring omission from the list, in my humble opinion, is my co-editor Steve Ahern who was awarded an OAM for services to Radio. Through his company IMBA, Steve takes his teaching skills to fledgling radio markets in far away places including India, Afghanistan, South Sudan and Iran.

During his decade-long tenure as Head of Radio at AFTRS he mentored hundreds of young people, helping them get their start in the industry in which they work today. If that’s not influence, I don’t know what is.

Peter Saxon