Radio stars return to air, GfK Survey 8 2025 out Tuesday January 20

Radio’s stars are returning to the airwaves after their festive breaks with one day to settle in before GfK Radio 360 Survey 8 2025 launches at 9:30am on Tuesday January 20, 2026. This is the first time that the final survey of the year has been released in January of the following, with the 2026 Survey 8 out January 19, 2027. The 2026 Survey calendar can be found here.

There was extensive change across the period that Survey 8 was measured, which was from October 5 to December 13, 2025 with some of the shake-ups, Like ARN‘s shift of Sydney’s Gold 101.7‘s Jonesy and Amanda from breakfast to drive with Gold 104.3 host Christian O’Connell (main image) now networking to Sydney and Melbourne on FM and across the other capital cities on DAB+, already locked in.

There were also some shows that were un-changed. Radio could have trademarked that word last year.

When Survey 8 drops on Tuesday I’m heading straight to Bris-vegas whose loyal radio listeners didn’t know whether they were Arthur or Martha as 2025 wound up. Firstly ARN announced that the KIIS 97.3 breakfast team of Robin, Kip and Corey (pictured above – L-R Corey Oates, Robin Bailey and Kip Wightman) were to be replaced by Craig ‘Lowie’ Low, a former radio fellow who’d been living in the states for the last decade or so. Robin, Kip and Corey decided to depart before the Survey 8 measurement period had ended but, significant was the audience backlash that the Lowie decision that on December 16 the network announced they had changed their minds and Robin, Kip and Corey would be back on air together on Monday January 19. Lowie will now host a networked nights program.

On the same day that the KIIS 97.3 team wrapped up early, November 28, Nova 106.9 sprung a huge surprise with Ash Bradnam (pictured above), who had been part of the Brisbane breakfast team since the station launched in the city in 2005, announcing his departure, effective immediately. Over at 4BC, Ash’s twin brother Luke was covering breakfast after Peter Fegan‘s departure, also during the Survey 8 measurement period. It was his last morning on air too for the year and he signed off with a scathing indictment of Nova’s treatment of his twin.

Nova sees Susie O’Neill returning to breakfast on Monday after Nikki Osborne left in similar circumstances to Susie herself a year prior, with Nick Allen-Ducat, from the Hit Network in Newcastle, taking Ash’s place.

4BC basically had a total overhaul. The only local Brisbane show that remained the same from the start of 2025 to 2026 was Gary Hardgrave on Drive who only accepted the role himself when Peter Gleeson stepped aside late in 2024.

I rarely predict survey results correctly but with all the changes above I would think in Brisbane that KIIS 97.3 should be close to No 1 in Survey 8, however stability and consistency may work in SCA stations Triple M and B105‘s favour instead.

SEN (Sports Entertainment Network)‘s regular lineups don’t return till Tuesday January 27. triple j teams are already back. We’re excited for another year of radio, podcasting and the upcoming Australian Audio Awards. Entries are now open with more details via this link: https://mumbrella.com.au/audioawards

Join us here too for GfK Radio 360 Survey 8 at 9:30am on Tuesday January 20 as we finally put a line through 2025.

Related articles:

‘We’re going national’ – The Christian O’Connell Show to broadcast to Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide

Set your 2026 radio survey calendars

ARN Upfront 2026 – All the comings and goings

Robin, Kip and Corey Oates to return, Lowie to Nights

Peter Fegan departs 4BC with immediate effect

Nick, Luttsy & Susie O’Neill for Nova 106.9 breakfast in 2026

Chad Townsend joins SEN 1170 breakfast, new three-year deal for David King

Jen Seyderhelm is a writer, editor and podcaster for Radioinfo. Email: [email protected]

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