10 Questions: Paul Bartlett

Staff Writer

 

Paul Bartlett is the General Manager of the two Southern Cross Austereo stations on the Gold Coast: Sea FM and Gold FM. In between trying on a new bikini and applying sunscreen we hit him up with 10 questions.

 

What stations have you worked at through your career?

2MG Mudgee, 2AD Armidale, 2NM Muswellbrook, 2UW /Magic 11 Sydney, 2GO Central Coast, 2WS Sydney, 2SM Sydney, 2UE Sydney, FIVEaa/NOVA 919 Adelaide

 

For Southern Cross, the Gold Coast was the big market. Now, after the merger, it’s the 6th biggest. What’s the transition been like for staff there who for so long were used to being the prime market?

The merger has been very well received at all levels. It has given the staff access to resources, ideas and opportunities they never had before. At the same time we moved from our home of 20 odd years at Southport to a fantastic new facility at Broadbeach, so it was a very big and exciting year for the Gold Coast Media Centre.

 

Your radio competitor on the Coast is Hot Tomato, who has had some good results recently, particularly 25-54. What are they doing right?

They’re a well run and programmed station. They’ve been in the market for about 7 years now and have aimed to put themselves into a target wedged between our two stations. They now have some longevity in their lineup too which helps. They’re a very good competititor.

 

On the Gold Coast, the Brisbane stations can be heard quite strongly. Does this affect how your stations are put together?

We rarely if ever give any consideration to Brisbane stations when planning our tactics. It’s the old cliché, but by being very local, Gold Coast listeners don’t give them much either. Survey results show they have minimal impact here on the Gold Coast. Between all the commercial stations they pull less than an 8 share combined, with the highest at 2.4%

 

Outside of Sea and Mix, what was the last station you listened to?

MMM in Brisbane

 

First concert you ever went to?

Skyhooks, AC/DC and Ol 55 together on the one bill at the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney 1977

 

What’s your ringtone on your mobile?

The Who’s Wont Get Fooled Again

 

You left Adelaide for the Gold Coast a couple of years ago, how’s your surfing coming along?

Having grown up in Mudgee where the surf is 300 kms away I was never a surfer, and haven’t seen any reason to start now. It is great though to take the body board down to Burleigh on a Sunday morning and try and catch a couple.

 

Be honest. What do you prefer and why, Glenelg or Surfers?

No contest. Having waves you can see and hear make Surfers, or even better Broadbeach where the station is, just a great spot to live and work near.

 

Finish this sentence. The key thing we need to do better, or continue to do, to ensure Sea FM and Gold 92.5 are successful is…..

…..to deliver the highest possible level of execution across all parts of the Media Centre.

 

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