Revealed: Radio Today’s Top New Talent to Watch in 2019

Staff Writer

Radio Today‘s top new talent lists have become a much-anticipated part of radio’s calendar, and that time of year is upon us once again.

We’ve looked to commercial radio and far beyond, from street teams to regional markets, community radio, stand-up stages, newsrooms and more.

After weeks of deliberation, we’ve whittled down a long list of potentials to the Top 10.

As always, Radio Today invited submissions from group content directors, metro and regional CDs, talent managers and industry consultants. To remain relevant, these networks, programmers and executives have a responsibility to develop the talent pipeline.

For the first time, we’re joined by a presenting partner, with Southern Cross Austereo‘s talent development program Hubble coming on board.

“Hubble is proud to support such a diverse list of talent from around the country and we’re looking forward to helping as many as we can to realise their unique potential,” says SCA’s head of talent development Adrian Brine.

“With an increased amount of content needed to power the future of the audio industry, it’s so great to see we have a broad landscape of talented personalities to choose from.”

Previous editions have helped to unearth stars of the industry, featuring the likes of Ben & Liam, Tommy Little, Kristie Mercer, Amos Gill, Will & Woody, Brooke Boney, Danny Lakey and many more.

This year’s list breaks new ground, with female talent dominating the list. It’s a clear display of networks prioritising the development of women in on-air roles, something that has traditionally lacked in our industry.

In no particular order, here are Radio Today’s Top New Talent to Watch in 2019 and beyond.


Grace Garde – Breakfast, Power FM Nowra

Grace got her start in radio as a promotions assistant at SCA in Gosford.

Graduating from AFTRS in 2017, Grace secured a job doing Workdays at Grant Broadcasters-owned Power FM in Nowra, where she now hosts Breakfast and also works as a digital content producer.

Her great on-air personality has already been recognised by the industry in the form of a nomination for Best Newcomer On-Air (provincial) at the 2018 ACRAs.


Tim McDonald and Sammy Garlepp – Lunch, Triple M Aussie

Accomplished comedians Tim & Sammy have been on radio for less than a year, but that hasn’t stopped them from making waves in the industry with their Triple M Aussie Lunch show ‘The Smoko’.

The boys secured their gig through the SCA Hubble program after racking up an enviable social media following from the start of 2018 thanks to their podcast and a steady stream of hilarious social content.

With a perfect mix of satire, observational humour and fake callers, Tim & Sammy will have you harking back to some of the great radio shows of the past.


Paris Humphrey – Breakfast, Hit South Queensland

Originally from South Australia, Paris kicked off her career in community radio and stand-up comedy, before eventually attending the Australian Radio School.

Paris has been in commercial radio for just over a year, a journey that began at Super Radio Network’s Onefm in Tamworth before she secured a move to Southern Cross Austereo’s Hit South Queensland through the mentorship of the Hubble program.

She was recognised at the 2018 ACRAs as the winner of the Best Newcomer On-Air (Provincial) and also has an enviable social media following, producing regular videos to a sizable audience.


Amber Lawrence – iHeartRadio Country

Amber needs little introduction, with the singer-songwriter having won multiple awards including multiple APRAs and Golden Guitars for her country stylings over the years.

Before her more recent stint at ARN’s iHeartRadio, Amber was already an experienced media personality, having been MC of the Golden Guitars, host of Foxtel’s CMC Music Awards and a presenter on Nine’s Getaway.

She began her foray into radio in 2018 when she began hosting the new iHeartRadio Country show ‘Amber Nights’ and has brought significant profile to the weekly show.


Those Two Girls (Sarah Wills & Lise Carlaw) – Hit Network Early Mornings

Sarah and Lise can be heard Australia-wide across the Hit Network every Morning from 5am-6am, before even the dedicated Breakfast hosts of the nation go to air.

The duo met on Facebook via mutual friends a few years ago, and began hosting events as ‘Those Two Girls’ and quickly, selling them out. It took less than three years to land their own pre-Breakfast show in the wee hours of the morning.

They were recognised recently with a call up to host a National Breakfast show across the Hit Network last summer, while Lise has recently been covering for Hit105 Breakfast host Abby Coleman.


Mel Tracina – Announcer, Nova Network

Mel has been bouncing around the industry for the best part of a decade, having got her start at Student Youth Network (SYN).

Like many in the bizz, she spent time cutting her teeth as a street teamer with her first job at Nova, but grabbed her first announcer role at Zoo FM in Dubbo.

Since then she’s worked as an announcer at Light FM, and returned to Nova at the end of 2018 for a dual role as an announcer and in operations.

Recently she’s filled in on Nova 96.9 and Nova 100 Afternoons, and anchored The Best Of Chrissie, Sam & Browny, but she can regularly be heard on Nova 100 Weekend Mornings.


Jess Eva – Breakfast, Triple M Sydney

Jess may have cracked through into Australia’s mainstream consciousness after the 2018 series of Nine’s The Block, but she was already an experienced radio head before that.

She spent six years hosting 91.9 Sea FM Breakfast on the Sunshine Coast, and while doing so she launched her own childcare support service.

This year Jess was tapped to join the new-look Triple M Sydney Breakfast show ‘Moonman In The Morning’, where she’s already making an impact with her sharp wit and personality.


Tiffany Rouge – Drive Announcer/MD, Wave FM

Growing up in Adelaide, Tiff cut her teeth on the airwaves of Fresh 92.7 hosting the pre-breakfast show.

She was an ACRA finalist for Best On-Air Newcomer in 2016 and also spent three years in the UK working for Global Radio’s Radio X (formerly Xfm) and the BBC.

Returning to Australia, Tiff worked on Drive at Hot 100 Darwin as the show went to a 36% market share, before recently turning her sights on Wollongong and Wave FM, where she hosts Drive and is also the music director.

If that wasn’t enough, she also has her own podcast called Miss Adventurous.


Annabelle Brett – Breakfast, Hit Coffs Coast

After working as a sports journalist and newsreader, A.B made the leap to announcing and kicked off her career with Power FM in Bega.

A.B was recognised for her contribution on that show with a call up to the Hit Network, landing landed a gig on the NSW North Coast.

Having kick-started a brand new brekky show at Hit105.5 Coffs Coast A.B. is now joined by one Radio Today’s Top New Talent to Watch in 2018 alumni, Ben Stevenson.


Josiah Shala & Elly Chaney – Breakfast, Hit Shepparton

The people of the Goulburn Valley have been getting up with Josiah & Elly on Hit96.9 since June last year.

Josiah joined the Hit Network in 2018 to pursue his dream of becoming an announcer, after spending five years as Fitzy & Wippa’s panel operator at Nova 96.9.

Elly’s radio career also started out at Nova undertaking work experience in Perth. She then worked as a street teamer, before eventually moving up the ranks to become the panel operator for Nathan, Nat & Shaun.

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Recent comments (15)
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Oracle
20 Mar 2019 - 9:44 am

10 great options for ARN drive next year

Frank
20 Mar 2019 - 10:02 am

I’ve got level 2 recurrents that are newer to the industry than this list…

Tim
20 Mar 2019 - 10:25 am

Lise & Sarah YES!!

Grant
20 Mar 2019 - 11:21 am

@Oracle and KIIS Melbourne Breakfast.

klotz
20 Mar 2019 - 12:16 pm

“New”, but previously worked in TV.
“New”, but has a metro breakfast gig.
“New”, but has worked in the UK.
“New”, but has been on a “New talent” list before.

France
20 Mar 2019 - 1:37 pm

PARIS is the best.
Tim and Sammy are hilarious too.
Great bunch!

Mike Raphone
20 Mar 2019 - 2:40 pm

Not many lads in there

Ed
20 Mar 2019 - 3:18 pm

Is this what you call ” new ” Does SCA now own this site ?

Bazza
20 Mar 2019 - 3:26 pm

What’s everyone’s thoughts on Those Two Girls on 97.3 Brisbane breakfast in July? Might be nice to have a show that like each other on air over there.

Anonymous
20 Mar 2019 - 5:09 pm

Five years in the buisness – five consecutive years I haven’t made this list. Does anybody know what the record is?

JASON ANDREW TOPPIN
20 Mar 2019 - 8:20 pm

MEL TRACINA WILL END UP AT MACQUARIE SPORTS RADIO AS WILL BEN & LIAM AS WILL THE OTHER TALEN FRIM 20-19 MARK MY WRDS ON THIS ONE THE MOMENT NINE ENTERTAINMENT TAJEJK COMPLET OWNWERSHIP OF CHANNEL 9 BEN & LIAM WILL FOLLIOW BRIOOKE BINEY TI NINE ENTERIANMENT ALOG WIH EVERY OTHER PERON FRIN TRUOLE AS WILL MEL TRACINA & EVERYONE ELSE FRI NOVA APART FROM CHRISSIE SWAN, AS WILL FEV AND TE AOTER SEC TALENT APART FORN CARRIE BICKMORE, ARREN RYUCH & FIFUI BUIX ALSO ALL THE SMOOTHFM PEIOPLE INCLUDING MIKE PERSO FRIM MELBOUREN, BIGART TORRELLI FRM SYDNEY, ALL TRTHE ARN PEOPLE INCLUDING CHRSTUAN O’CONNELL & APRT FROM YUMMI STYNE.

Brian
21 Mar 2019 - 6:55 am

Sounds like Radio Today is taking credit for ‘ unearthing ‘ names like Ben & Liam, Tommy Little, Kristie Mercer, Amos Gill, Will & Woody, Brooke Boney, Danny Lakey. Guys all of these names’s careers were well and truly on the way before mentioned here. Bit grandiose me thinks. Do you really want to claim Tommy anyway ? And Amos is out of the industry now fyi

Amanda
21 Mar 2019 - 6:57 am

ARN have talked to Those Two Girls already is my intel.

Niko
21 Mar 2019 - 8:46 am

Is Radio Today owned by SCA or is there some kind of “commercial” agreement?
Not quite the independent or unbiased report I was expecting…
There would be “new-ish” SCA Talent wondering why or how they didn’t make the list.
Interesting…

Suzy
21 Mar 2019 - 9:30 am

Go Elly!

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