“Not a job, but a privilege”

Nothing – absolutely NOTHING – beats live radio.

That’s the overwhelming sentiment from newly-inducted ACRAs Hall of Famer Steve ‘Pricey’ Price.

As he came off stage at the 34^th annual awards presentation in Sydney on Saturday night, the legendary Queensland broadcaster told Radio Today the industry continues to withstand every challenge put before it.

Pricey reckons radio isn’t just surviving. It’s thriving:

“Video didn’t kill the radio star. The internet didn’t kill the radio star. The radio star – and his mates behind the scenes – all the workers that get in there, all the people, the unsung heroes – right through to the executives, the sales, the news … no-one can do that but radio.”

A favourite of Townsville audiences for more than five decades, becoming a Hall of Famer was a fitting honour for the Triple M great, who announced his retirement earlier this year.

“It’s not a job, it is a privilege,” he says. “I can see it with kids coming in.”

“That’s why I love these awards. It’s a credit to put on these awards for our kids, because if we don’t have them, we’re buggered.”

Pricey wasn’t the only Queensland radio great to join the ranks of radio’s elite.

4BC Breakfast co-host Laurel Edwards says her induction into the Hall of Fame feels surreal.

“I never ever thought that it would be me,” she said.

As to the secret of radio success, Laurel believes consistency is key.

“People – when they switch on – know what they’re going to get. That’s why you fall in love with certain programs.”

This year’s ACRAs saw the introduction of the inaugural Gudinski Australian Music Champion Award, named in honour of Mushroom Music founder, the late Michael Gudinski.

Matty O’Gorman took out the honour, for his work on Triple M’s Homegrown with Matty O.

He told Radio Today that originally, the show was a one hour program which aired on a Sunday night.

The team decided to pitch the idea of extending it to five nights a week.

It’s not always easy for up-and-coming Australian artists to get airplay.

Matty describes the show as an underdog that punches above its weight.

“It really is a passion project that we absolutely love.”

“We love getting new acts in, supporting new artists. We know how exciting it is when they get played on radio.”

“So if we can be that person that gives them that thrill, that makes it worth it.”

Music Director of the Year was won by CADA’s Jake Powell.

Whilst it could be argued music directors are a dying breed, Jake believes it’s a job that requires a human element.

“I think – given what’s happening in the world with, I guess, AI coming in, and things like that … being able to program music for a radio station … I truly think a human needs to be able to do it.”

Amie Meehan talked about the evolution of radio news, after landing the ACRA for Best News Presenter (AM).

Amie says she was beyond excited to get her start as a cadet journalist at 2GB.

“I was so thrilled to get the job. I had worked for free for a year every weekend.”

“That’s what it was like in those days. To break through, you really just had to volunteer to learn the ropes.”

“You’d have forty cents in your backpack. You’d go to a phone booth and put the receiver of the phone down over the speaker of this giant lunchbox-looking recorder.”

“When we say now to people ‘I’ll put you through to tape now,’ the reason we say that is because it used to be a tape!”

“It’s been amazing, the evolution of radio. The way we operate in news has changed a lot.”

“Radio is a trusted source of information and news.”

Patrina Jones took home the Glenn Daniel Award as Best News Presenter (FM).

Reflecting on a radio career spanning more than three decades, Patrina – one third of the The Christian O’Connell Show on Melbourne’s Gold 104.3 – said “It’s all I ever wanted to do. It just brings me such joy. I’m very blessed.”

“I’ve never had so much fun on a show. Christian is amazing, the way he motivates the team and challenges you.”

Patrina credits O’Connell with reigniting her passion for radio.

“There’s nothing quite like when he comes in, in the morning, and you can see his face – his passion for what he does, and that just permeates through the rest of the team.”

Triple M Adelaide’s Laura ‘Loz’ O’Callaghan revealed her award for Best New Talent On Air (Metro) is the first trophy she’s won since her childhood netball days.

“Under 10 netball was pretty tough, actually,” Loz revealed. “We had a pretty aggressive team and we took the title three times in a row but since then, I kind of fell off the map. Sort of like John Travolta before he had Pulp Fiction, you know what I mean?”

“I had my Grease … and this is my Pulp Fiction.”

While she’s been working int the radio industry for quite some time, Loz has only been on air in commercial radio for two years.

“They found me in the doldrums. They plucked me out and said ‘Do you want to talk about farts for a living? And I said ‘Yes please. That’d be great!’”

Best On Air Talent on Air (Provincial) Gina Jeffreys might have plenty of awards for country music. Radio awards? Not so much.

Gina says radio has been something of a revelation.

“I kind of landed in radio accidentally. It’s not anything I’d kind of planned on just yet, and I bloody love it. I love radio so much.”

She also observes that being a radio announcer is not dissimilar to being a country singer.

“You get to connect with probably a lot more people at the same time.”

Congratulating this year’s winners and finalists, CRA Chief Executive Ford Ennals says “The commercial radio industry is growing and evolving in a very exciting way, with new audio forms and new digital platforms.”

“Podcasts and audio streaming are being embraced by listeners.”

“The ACRAs recognise not only the potential of this market, but the superb Australian content being produced right now.”

Full winners list here.