A new Board of Directors has been appointed at today’s Annual General Meeting of industry body Commercial Radio Australia, held in Melbourne before the National Radio Conference. 

In an exciting new collaboration, music, news and talkback stations from Fairfax Radio Network will soon be added to iHeartRadio, Australian Radio Network’s (ARN) platform as part of a new partnership.
 

APN's New Zealand operation, now rebranded NZME, has moved one step closer to its planned listing on the NZ stock exchange, with the apointment of a company chairman (designate).

APN News & Media Limited announced the appointment of Sir John Anderson as Chairman designate for a new company that will own the newly re-branded NZME businesses (see our earlier report).

ARN and Universal Music Australia have announced plans to release two new compilation albums in October, as part of a new commercial partnership.

The first album, Pure Gold, will be released this Friday October 3, with the second release of music from popular urban station The Edge will be released ther following week, on October 10.

Financial performance in the 2014 fiscal year was fairly benign for metropolitan commercial radio, according to the latest analysis from Bob Peters' company GMA.

Total revenues were virtually flat and operating profits and margins declined slightly. 

Comment from Peter Saxon

Radio is fraught with health hazards. Chief among them is Workaholism. 

Radio demands deep commitment from it’s workers and there’s no better way to demonstrate that commitment and loyalty than through working long hours while sacrificing one’s own leisure time.

While for some, not taking holidays may be a way of showing the boss that they are indispensable,  for others it’s a way of boosting their severance pay should they unexpectedly find themselves on the DCM list. 

KIIS FM has been a huge success in Sydney, so why not Melbourne?

Of course, there are lots of reasons, starting with the fact that it was not the name change but Kyle and Jackie O’s defection from 2Day that made the difference to the ailing Mix 106.5. But no one has ever been successful networking a Breakfast show to another city - especially from Sydney to Melbourne.

Jimmy Barnes wouldn't get up early for just any old breakfast team. It took Brig and Lehmo from GOLD 104.3 to entice the legendary rocker into the studio for a very special live performance.

The entire GOLD 104.3 team were treated to the show in the ARN boardroom. Barnes belted out songs such as "Ride the Night Away" and "When Your Love Is Gone" with his band that includes daughter Mahalia, Jackie, Ben and Danny.

Let's talk Sydney first. Given the giant swings they’ve experienced, ARN Content Chief Duncan Campbell is first to admit that it’s lucky for ARN that they own both KIIS 106.5 and WSFM. After just two surveys in the top FM Breakfast spot, Jonesy and Amanda came back to earth with a thud dropping a massive 2.1 in audience share while their stable mates. Kyle and Jackie O shot up by 1.5… a 3.6 turnaround.

Second year students of the CRA sponsored Charles Sturt University Commercial Radio Degree visited ARN and Fairfax Media where they received presentations from senior staffers on producing relevant and applicable sales solutions for clients.

At ARN Sydney Sales Director Ben Gialourias also took the student on a station tour where Rosso told them "to be successful in this business you need enthusiasm dedication and persistence."