Crikey takes aim at FM Radio’s “fixed categories” of hosts

Staff Writer

Crikey‘s latest ‘think-piece’ titled ‘Why does every FM radio show sound like it’s hosted by the same five people’ takes aim at the “fixed categories of people you’ll find on your airwaves.”

The piece breaks down the five categories that the writer reckons all FM radio show talent fits into, to help navigate “the people behind the nicknames offering you icy cold cans of coke, and how they got there.”

The first category is the ‘Comedian’, whom the writer points out is often paired with one or more co-hosts, going on oversimplify the role of that co-host.

Using Dave ‘Hughesy’ Hughes and Kate Langbroek as an example, “It’s a gig that works well for both parties: the station gets someone willing to play the clown, oversharing with an audience for the sake of a laugh, while the comedian gets a vehicle to grow their following, promote their stand-up shows and the all-too-rare full-time, well-paid job.”

Then there’s ‘Ex-reality TV “stars”‘, who Crikey describes as “wannabe” B or C Grade celebrities, giving former Big Brother contestants Ryan ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald and Chrissie Swan as examples.

We then come to ‘Athletes’, who are apparently included for their “inside knowledge of a key water cooler topic.”

The article then addresses the category of ‘Stalwarts’, like Amanda Keller, Wendy Harmer, Fifi Box, Tony Martin and the like.

Finally there’s ‘The… who?’ which are hosts with key nicknames like Soda, Wippa, Dobbo and Smallzy, and of course Jackie O, whose nickname is “baffling.”

The full article is available here.

Have Crickey nailed it or are they way off the mark? Have they missed any of the staple categories of FM hosts? Sound off in the comments.

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Recent comments (7)
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Jonesy
23 Apr 2018 - 3:58 pm

Crikey does have a point a lot of FM’ers do sound the same. Tommy sounds a lot like Kyle and Eddie sounds like Fitzy and Chrissie sounds like Amanda blah blah blah.

Anonomous
23 Apr 2018 - 4:32 pm

Pretty ignorant article by Crikey. They are usually quite insightful.

Lee
23 Apr 2018 - 5:04 pm

Spot on. I haven’t heard any truly unique original talent on FM radio since Agro and The D Generation.

MW
23 Apr 2018 - 6:31 pm

Yet another article from RT that denigrates the very industry it’s meant to be empowering. I fully realise you won’t publish this comment, but I hope you do take on board that – as someone who loves this industry – we’re sick of you writing and promoting articles that shit-can radio.

Nicole
23 Apr 2018 - 7:15 pm

A truly moronic article. Thank god it’s behind a paywall. The writer’s knowledge of commercial radio appears to be entirely derived from comedy sketches.

Jason
23 Apr 2018 - 9:06 pm

Crikey got it spot on!

Sam
24 Apr 2018 - 3:41 pm

Sounds like listeners can’t tell the difference between Will and Woody and Hughesy and Kate. What happened in the ratings today ?

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