What's New
BY Jen Seyderhelm April 12, 2024
What's New June 24, 2022
End of an era as Laurel, Gary & Mark sign off from 4KQ Breakfast
Reporter
Today marks the end of an incredible chapter in the history of radio as Laurel Edwards, Gary Clare and Mark Hine host 4KQ’s popular breakfast show for the very last time.
Their final show comes a week out from the classic hits station turning off the mics next Thursday, June 30.
This follows the sale of the station, a result of ARN’s acquisition of a regional network and need to comply with Australia’s media ownership laws.
Laurel, Gary and Mark are Brisbane‘s longest continual running breakfast show, having entertained listeners on air together for 16 years.
Laurel joined 4KQ in 1992 and recently celebrated her 30th anniversary, making her the longest serving female radio announcer on the same program.
Gary has had two stints at 4KQ totalling 31 years, while Mark has anchored the Breakfast show now for the past 16 years.
Of their final day on air, Laurel told listeners “This has been my life for 30 years and while today is very emotional, I am so grateful for all the memories I am leaving with. Today is a celebration of the success we have achieved, and all the people who have helped along the way.”
Gary added “Part of our success is how close-knit we are as a team, but we must also acknowledge our listeners. We have been inundated with so many moving calls these past few weeks and would like to thank our loyal and passionate fans who have been waking up with us for so many years.”
Mark says “We say goodbye with mixed emotions. There are so many people we work with every day that we will miss, yet I am so proud of everything we have achieved and am looking forward to what is to come. I’m feeling really positive about the future.”
4KQ will remain on air for another week, officially switching off on Thursday June 30 at midnight. The classic hits station was launched on May 7, 1947, as a Rock n Roll station, but by the 90s was winning over listeners and ratings with its classic hits music format. After 75 years of broadcasting, the station’s final hours on air will celebrate this classic music and feature some familiar voices of the many announcers across the night.
ARN’s Chief Content Officer Duncan Campbell says “This truly is the end of an incredible era in radio history and, like 4KQ’s legion of loyal listeners, we are sad to be farewelling this iconic Brisbane station.”
“I would like to thank Laurel, Gary and Mark and the entire team at 4KQ who helped make the station such a success story.”
Rock & Roll in 1947?
I have listened to 4KQ on and off for a long time, I have enjoyed the music they played as well as the special features from time to time including 25 Years in 25 Days during January through to the Special weekend features such as the Sizzling 70s, I also thoroughly enjoyed Jukebox Saturday Night during Saturday evenings and Sunday Morning 60s on Sundays, Credit must go to Brent James who is and was the Music Director as well as On-Air Presenter at the station whose hard work over the years was instrumental to the station’s success as well as of course the loyal listeners of 4KQ, The attraction of 4KQ was its local focus. It was really was Brisbane’s classic hits that were based on past Top 40 listings from the city. There was also a lot of local flavour from talking about past events, locations, TV programs, cinema etc.
I’ll won’t be listening to SEN on 693 and will be making the switch to 4BH after 4KQ finishes up in its current format & switches to sport next week (Midnight Next Thursday June 30th heading into Friday July 1st).
A Sad End to an era in Brisbane Radio, to Laurel, Gary & Mark, Brent James, Nick Michaels, Dave D Whitcomb and all the crew at 4KQ, Thank you for everything and all the very best for the future, You don’t know what you have got until it’s gone.
All the very best from a long and loyal listener of 4KQ (from Toowoomba).
Why did ARN allow 4KQ’s revenue to decline due to most direct sales staff removed from their positions in Brisbane?
The station was viable and as a metro market, writing revenue well in excess of markets such as Ipswich and Nambour.
4KQ has for years been a high performing product that was not being monetised.
ARN have never answered this question and I’m sure they will continue not to.
LAUREL, GREG AND MARK WILL END UP ON 4BH SOON AFTER THE RATINGS BREAK THEN THE OTHER 4KQ ANNOUNCER APART FROM THE BREAKFAST NEWSREADER WILL END UP AT 4BH BECAUSE 4BH ALREADY TAKE NINE RADIO NETWKR BRISBANE NEWS.