'Ugly' Phil O'Neil is returning to Triple M Brisbane to host weekdays 1-4pm from June 3.  He told JJ: "Very excited to be back on the M's playing music I'm very passionate about." His previous gig was at Central Coast's Star 104.5 FM hosting drive.  He has also has hosted the Hot 30 Countdown, drive at Nova 969 and has also hosted evenings at Triple M several times.

After appearances on air and on location at the Greek Festival, Paniyiri, last weekend, News Talk 4BC has announced that Queensland My Kitchen Rules contestants, Jake and Elle are joining the 4BC On Air team. Regular host of the popular Sunday “Fresh” Program, Dominique Rizzo, is on leave in June, so  Jake and Elle have been secured to fill in while she is away. Content Director Anthony Frangi commented “Fresh” is a new show that we’re very proud of – and we’re excited to have Jake and Elle join us to sit in for Dominique. We think they’ll bring some great energy, new ideas and an interesting younger feel to the show.”

Macquarie Radio Network director Jack Singleton, son of John, has blasted the media for misreporting radio statistics and said both newspapers and radio stations "should be sued" for painting 2DayFM as the top dog.  Full story.   Your comments.

George Smilovici joins with Poppy Savakis to host a new program on 2SM.  "Tuff Talk" airs on 2SM 1269 AM Sundays at 2PM.  George is best known for his comedy routine "I'm Tuff" that became a hit single in 1984.

Tali is moving on from the Radio 97 breakfast show. She co-hosted with Luke.  (Like to work on the Gold Coast or Tweed region?  See 'Radio Jobs.')

 

Allan Casonati, ex-4BC/4BH sales is now heading up the Sales Department with Terry Blacker at 101 FM Logan.

Adam Spencer has announced he is stepping down from his ABC 702 Sydney breakfast show gig in December after more than seven years in the role. The ABC radio presenter took to Twitter to announce to his fans that December 6 will mark his last show. Full story.

Macquarie Radio Network Executive Chairman, Russell Tate, has confirmed that Alan Jones has signed on for another 2 years. "Alan has committed to maintaining his current broadcast hours for another two years definitely and this contract gives us the right, if he chooses to continue beyond June 2015, to ensure he does so with 2GB."  Yesterday he achieved his 82nd consecutive rating win. His current rating is 17%.  Nearest rival is ABC 702 (Adam Spencer) with 12.2.

2GB's Ray Hadley has launched a broadside at Mike Carlton, describing him as "the most hateful and vengeful broadcaster I've ever encountered". Full story.

The Nielsen Metro ratings (#3/2013) are out today (May 21). 2GB was No 1 again in Sydney.  It's the only station in double figures with 14.7% share. Ray Hadley, who featured in Australian Story, recorded his 74th consecutive win. This is his 10th year ranking No 1 (18.9% share).  3AW was No 1 in Melbourne with 12.7 % (+0.1). ABC 774 are not far behind with 11.4. ARN's 97.3 continue at No 1 in Brisbane with ABC 612 rating No 1 in breakfast. Another ARN station, MIX 102.3 continue at No 1 in Adelaide (14.5%). In Perth, MIX 94.5 (13.3) were No 1 just ahead of 96 FM (12.7).  Full ratings details.

smoothfm, the newest station in the radio landscape, celebrates 12 months on air today Tuesday 21 May. smoothfm 95.3 in Sydney and smoothfm 91.5 Melbourne launched with a marketing campaign fronted by Michael Bublé, on 21 May 2012.  Paul Jackson, dmg Radio Australia’s Group Program Director said, “We launched the new radio brand smoothfm 12 months ago, after identifying a gap in the market for a music position that was unique to the Australian radio landscape. With a more music, less talk format and a playlist, not confined to a genre or era, comprised of great songs from world class artists including the Bee Gees, Michael Bublé, Whitney Houston, Adele, Aretha Franklin, Ed Sheeran, Elvis and even new discoveries like Passenger. We were confident that listeners would embrace smoothfm and the results to date are extremely pleasing.”  More details.

SEA FM Devonport, Burnie, Scottsdale is on the search for the SEA FM Apprentice.  The competition for SEAFM listeners in Northern Tasmania was announced in SEAFM Breakfast with Lee Dixon on May 17.  With the recent departure of co-host Dayna Sayer, it was announced that SEAFM would give the opportunity for one lucky listener to win a job as Breakfast Co-host. Full details.

 

Australian cyclist Anna Meares is eyeing a career in radio once she retires from the sport, but admits she’ll have to overcome some nerves before taking to the airwaves full-time. ‘‘It’s really nerve-racking because it’s so out of my comfort zone,’’ she says.  She has already enjoyed guest spots on stations around Adelaide and recently completed a course at Sean Craig Murphy’s Australian Radio School, taking out the 'Most Improved' award.  Sean, a presenter on Mix 102.3, says:  "She definitely has what it takes to become a radio presenter. You can tell why she’s a champion . . . she worked harder than any other student I’ve ever had, writing and re-writing scripts, recording and re-recording audio."

 

Nick Slater will join the Nova 100/Smooth FM Melbourne production team as Network Imaging Producer on Monday 3 June. Nick will work closely with the Group Production Director and Group Programming team. Matt Dower, Group Production Director said, “Nick’s time at Nova 106.9 Brisbane has seen him grow into one of this networks most promising imaging producers. This position is the perfect next step in Nick’s career and fantastic opportunity to utilise his talents across the network.’ Most recently Nick was Assistant Imaging Producer for Nova 106.9 in Brisbane. Nick first joined dmg Radio in 2010 as Commercial Producer for Nova 106.9.

 

The best of comedy hits Australia as YouTube Comedy Week launched on Monday 20^th May. Fitzy & Wippa are excited to be the face of YouTube comedy week and were obvious participants. No strangers to viral videos; two of their videos have featured in YouTube Australia’s top 10 most watched videos of 2012 (Aussie Battler Style, Call Me Maybe Aussie Blokes Version). Ricky Gervais, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sarah Silverman, among others, are fronting the campaign. More details.

2GB morning host Ray Hadley was featured on Monday night’s 'Australian Story' on ABC TV.  He was recently named by The Australian newspaper as the most influential broadcaster in Australia. Hadley was driving taxis when a chance encounter gave him the break he'd dreamed of since he was a kid in a working class suburb.  In this program Ray Hadley opens up and reveals some uncomfortable truths about the past and about the temper that's been getting him into trouble.  Full story and video.

Southern Cross Austereo's Mamamia Today program is coming to an end. The hourly afternoon program commenced in August 2012 and is hosted by Em Rusciano and Dave Thornton.  

Tim Johnson, who at one time was Merrick & Rosso & Kate's executive producer, has been appointed as producer of a new morning program on SiriusXM in the US.

Please note entries close for the 2013 ACRAs on Friday the 24th May. More details.  The 25th Australian Commercial Radio Awards will be held in Brisbane at the Royal International Convention Centre on Saturday 12^th October.

The future of community radio stations in Australia is in danger, with the Federal Budget not committing the $1.4million needed to secure the future of community digital radio. Adrian Basso, President of the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia, spoke to ABC presenter Steve Austin about his concerns for community radio. Audio.

6PR Perth Nightline presenter Graham Mabury was presented with a lifetime achievement award at the Connect: 2013 Media Conference dinner held on the Gold Coast. Graham, who is a Baptist minister, has hosted the 6PR weekday evening program for an amazing 32 years.  (Graham is pictured with his wife Merle.)  Norma Sargent, the widow, of Brisbane talk radio legend Haydn Sargent, was also in attendance and received the same award which was given in honour of her late husband.  Haydn passed away earlier this year and was very much responsible for helping to establish the licence for Christian community station 96Five. Guest speaker was ABC Managing Director Mark Scott. (More details and pics in new Jocks' Journal.)

SEN 1116 journalist Anthony Laughton will now be adding producing duties at Pacific Star in Melbourne. The 21 year old is now producer for the weekday 9-12noon show My Melbourne with Glenn Ridge on sister station MyMp 1377. He replaces Guy LeCouteur.

The Connect: 2013 Media Conference concludes on Friday on the Gold Coast. It is Australia's premier gathering for Christian Leaders in Media and the Arts - including: Broadcasters and Communicators, Content and Media Developers, Professionals and Practitioners, Producers and Artists, Creators and Cultivators. Guest speakers included Brian Houston (Senior Pastor at Hillsong Church) and Mark Scott (Managing Director of ABC.)  At one of the Wednesday sessions, 96Five Brisbane breakfast announcer/PD Liam Renton shared on “Excellence In On Air Presenting.” CMA commemorated its 35th anniversary with a Gala Celebration Dinner on Thursday night.

Jim Carroll has been appointed as Director of News and Current Affairs at SBS.  He was prevously head of news at Channel Ten.  He replaces Paul Cutler who retires at the end of June.

Mix 106.5 Sydney breakfast producer Mike Byrne has departed.  Although in his Friday Facebook entry he wrote: "Heading home never felt so good. Off to Brisbane for the 'weekend' with the people who matter the most." (Mike's wife and family remained based in Queensland where Mike previously worked at River 94.9 as station PD.) Mitch Braund, former B105 Brisbane Content Director, will now take over Mike's role as the executive producer for Sami & Yumi whilst Simon Baggs will take over the role as anchor.  Baggs was at one time a part of the SEA FM Gold Coast breakfast team.

 

Benjamin Roberts has been appointed in the newly created role of National Research Manager for the Fairfax Radio Network. Ben will be the key driver of the network's new Group Research Program.  Ben will continue to be based in Perth where he has worked with 96FM and 6PR for nearly 10 years in the areas of Content and Programming Research, heading up the Perth research operation for the past five years.

“Dumb Ways to Die" campaign dominates best radio ads of the year.  The ad “Set Fire to Your Hair”, part of the “Dumb Ways to Die” campaign for Metro Trains Melbourne, has won the 2013 Gold Siren award for best radio ad of the year. The ad, written by John Mescall and Pat Baron from agency McCann in Melbourne, also won a Silver Siren for winning the single category and the campaign also won the campaign category. The campaign includes three ads: “Set Fire to your Hair”, “Sell Both Your Kidneys” and “Eat a Tube of Superglue”. Audio.  

 Veteran Queensland radio broadcaster Chris Jensen has died in Toowoomba - after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.  Jensen started his radio career in Brisbane,  before a successful stint with the ABC across Queensland,  starting with Rockhampton and then Toowoomba.  In his later years he also worked in community radio in Toowoomba.  Radio identity John Knox says he just visited Chris in the hospital,  and is shocked to hear the news.  In an interview on 4BC Radio - John said  he just visited Chris at his hospital bed at 3pm.  Chris died one hour later. John also said:  "The broadcasting world - and in particular,  the listeners,   are all the more poorer,  for his passing.  He was an excellent broadcaster... and an excellent human being".  4BC News Director Scott Mayman worked with Chris in Brisbane the 1980's before Chris moved to the ABC.  Scott said: "We remained friends and kept in contact ever since - he was a "happy go lucky"  funny man who loved life, loved radio and loved his friends and loved his listeners.  Chris will be sadly missed." (Read the Jocks' Journal interview with Chris from 2005. Full transcript.)  (Photo courtesy of Toowoomba Chronicle.)

 

Jenny Stevenson has left CRA (Commercial Radio Australia), after 12 years.  She says:  "It has been good fun – and great working with you all.  Melissa Fleming is continuing on. I am off to work at Just Better Care, an aged care and disabilities service provider, working on PR and government."

The Nova Network, together with Network Ten’s MasterChef Australia, launch Nova’s First Class & 50K Girls vs Boy’s edition commencing on Monday 13 May.  Meshel, Tim & Marty, Nova’s national Drive show, will announce the winners on Monday 10 June from 4pm.