4 weeks of ACRA’s Finalists Fever 2013 #2

There are thousands of hard-working, dedicated and amazingly creative people throughout the radio industry – and every year a small fraction of those people make the short list as a finalist in the ACRA’s.

Just like we did last year, over the next month, Radio Today will shine a spotlight on the best of the best.

4 weeks of ACRA's Finalists Fever – counting down the days to the big event on October 12 by profiling the finalists across all categories. You can get involved by emailing us here.

In #2 we feature a Best Community Service Project entry from Adelaide, Tammii Caught who is up for Best Show Producer (Talk), and we chat to one of the 4 metro MD's hoping to win the Best Music Director ACRA.

JACK BALL

BEST MUSIC DIRECTOR (M)
Fox FM, Melbourne VIC, Southern Cross Austereo

Give us a quick snapshot of your radio background

• 6 months work experience Triple M Brisbane – panelling drive / weekends / ob's
• 18 months casual B105 panelling / on air brekky street kid / learning music / mid-dawn announcing / content helper / everything I could get my hands on
• 2 years NXFM from AMD / panel op up to Mornings Announcer / Music Director
• 9 Months SAFM from Music Director then Assistant Content Director / MD
• 1 Year Fox Music Director
• Currently B105 Music Director

What was in your ACRA entry that you think impressed the judges ?

I really stressed the importance of the TMN Top 100 Airplay chart in music meetings, their 10 Songs To Watch feature is dangerous though – it can make you sound too progressive so scheduling with the right balance between the two is key.

I highlighted the importance of relationships in radio too, putting an A1 on its correct rotation is not what makes a great music director. So I somehow tried to showcase how that’s relevant to me.

What’s the best part of your job ?

There are so many, on a personal level and public level…personal level it hardly feels like ‘work’, on a broader level you’re constantly surrounded by a lot of friends who genuinely want to do good things for people. We’re the dream / that escapism that ‘normal’ people talk about why they listen to radio.

What are your key achievements over the past 12 months ?

Ticking off 2 career achievements, working at Fox and working at B105.

It’s surreal but a good feeling when you’re sitting down with Dave Cameron asking “what next Jack?” and your answer is “I have no idea…actually never set a goal past working as MD for Fox, that was always the dream”

You can’t make a speech on the night but you can here. So let’s pretend you won…. what would you say ?

Thanks to Shaun Gough for not entering this year, it’s like Usain Bolt not running the final.

TAMMII CAUGHT

BEST SHOW PRODUCER – TALK CURRENT AFFAIRS (M)
Mornings with Leon Byner
Fiveaa, Adelaide SA, dmg radio australia

Give us a quick snapshot of your radio background

I've been working at FIVEaa for almost 20 years. I started out producing weekend shows like the gardening show and Psychic Saturday night! Eventually moved into weekday programs – I've produced every shift across the day, from breakfast to evenings, and then settled into a strong working relationship with Leon Byner. We've been a team on the morning show now for 14 years. I can thank fellow ACRA nominee Mark Parton for my first job – I nagged him until he got sick of me and said yes!

Here's Tammii's audio entry
https://radiotoday.com.au/music/ACRATammiiCaught.mp3
or hear it here

What’s the best part of your job ?

Not really knowing what’s going to happen each day! We go into it with a plan, but the joy is that it can change at a moment's notice. I love the immediacy.

What are your key achievements over the past 12 months?

Our achievements come through highlighting and solving problems for the community. The listeners are essential to our show, which sounds obvious, but it's because of them that we often have such great content.

You can’t make a speech on the night but you can here. So let’s pretend you won…. what would you say ?

I’ll be in Hawaii so won’t be able to attend the ceremony (!) but I would firstly thank my husband and son who have to put with the craziness that is radio! Also Leon Byner who I've worked with for the past 14 years. And the many people I've worked with over the years. I’ve learnt from all of them!
 

SAFM's KICKSTART FOR KIDS

BEST COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT (M)
SAFM, Adelaide SA, Southern Cross Austereo
 

Michael Hayley and Burgo is a relatively brand new breakfast show on SAFM! We’ve been on the air for about 9 months with the new-to-radio Michael Beveridge, formerly of Big Brother fame!

Here's audio from their project entry from Sarah Rogers
https://radiotoday.com.au/music/KICKSTARTFINAL.MP3
or hear it here

What’s the best part of your job ?

EVERYTHING! Between the three of us, we’re constantly saying the best part of our day is the 3 hours we spend on air. It’s a lot of fun, our whole team are good friends from our producers to our Content Director – it’s just a good time. We’re also extremely active in meeting listeners when and wherever possible. When something like Kickstart for Kids comes along, and we’ve got the opportunity to raise over $100,000 in 3 hours for kids in need on our very own doorstep, it’s the most rewarding thing you’ll ever do!

What are your key achievements over the past 12 months ?

As I said above, we’re a brand new show but we’ve managed to squeeze in a few highlights. For us, Kickstart for Kids is definitely up there, raising such a large amount of money for such an amazing cause. As far as the show goes, we really pride ourselves on our chemistry and friendship! People comment often on the chemistry between the 3 of us, and being genuine friends definitely helps to put together a solid 3 hour show every single day!

You can’t make a speech on the night but you can here. So let’s pretend you won…. what would you say ?

Thank you to our entire team! From our content producers for their support and backup, our audio producer Tony for the incredibly gruelling task of high-rotation production on the morning of the Kickstart for Kids telethon, everyone who came in nice and early to man the 20 extra phones we had set up around the office, our Content Director Donna for allowing us to basically do whatever it takes to raise as much money as possible for such an amazing cause! Our integration & promotion team for their efforts on the morning!

See all the ACRA's fever so far (and 2012's) here.

If you're a finalist in Metropolitan, Non-Metropolitan, Provincial or Country drop us a line and we'll shine the spotlight on you. Email Halesy here.