Radio Today
BY Jen Seyderhelm December 18, 2023
Radio Today May 31, 2018
The top 10 most influential content directors in Australian metro FM radio
The role of content director is arguably the most crucial at a radio station, especially for those in a highly competitive metro market.
Content directors are responsible for the ‘sound’ of a radio station. The music, Breakfast and Drive shows, announcers, imaging/production, social media, execution of promotions, implementation of network shows and execution of sales promotions.
Of course their performance is largely measured on ratings performance.
Without further ado, here is Radio Today‘s top 10 metro FM content directors, taking into account their overall influence in the radio station, ratings, talent choice, talent management and direction, music influence, experience, market size, competitive landscape, group/network input and the scale of their position.
Note: No group or network CDs have been included in this list, only single station CDs.
1. Adrian Brine – Fox FM
Originally from South Australia, newlywed Adrian Brine came out of Survey 2 grinning from ear-to-ear, as Fox claimed the #1 spot once again overall, as well as in the highly competitive Breakfast and Drive slots. Formerly the CD at SCA’s Hit105, his track record at the helm of Fox for the past two years has been exceptional, and the station now has the biggest audience in Australia, the highest cume of any metro station.
2. Derek Bargwanna – KIIS 106.5
Derek Bargwanna‘s dominance over Sydney Breakfast with the unstoppable Kyle and Jackie O shows no signs of slowing, with KIIS 106.5 claiming the #1 FM station in Sydney in Survey 2. Originally at 2DayFM Derek made the move the KIIS around the same time as Kyle and Jackie O. The team now rating even higher than at their previous station.
3. Jay Walkerden – Nova Brisbane
Jay Walkerden is one of NOVA Entertainment’s Jack’s of all trades. Not only CD of Nova 106.9 Brisbane, but also their first head of podcasting, Jay has been fighting the good fight, with Nova placed at or near the top of the ratings for several years now. He was previously at MCM and Global Media in the UK.
4. Scott Muller – WSFM
Scott Muller took over from long-serving veteran WSFM CD Charlie Fox at the start of the year. A former director of MBOS Consulting Group, Scott has had highly successful runs as PD at Capital Radio London, Triple M Network and took Nova Sydney to its first ever #1 position.
5. Jamie Angel – Triple M Sydney
Coming into his 26th year at SCA, Jamie Angel has overseen significant on-air changes this year to Triple M’s Sydney lineup including new shows from The Chaser and Kennedy Molloy. Jamie has been a successful CD at 2DayFM, FoxFM and B105.
6. Rohan Brown – Nova 100
Rohan Brown was previously assistant program director at SCA’s FoxFM and Triple M. He has also been PD for Smooth Melb/Sydney and is now at the helm of top rating Nova 100, and in addition recently took over as PD of Adelaide’s Nova 919. He’s anchored The Shebang and has had several assistant PD roles over the years.
7. Mathew Eggleston – Hit105
Hit Brisbane CD Mathew ‘Eggo’ Eggleston has helped to turn his station into a real ratings threat, claiming third place narrowly behind 97.3FM and Nova (beating out stablemates Triple M) in Survey 2. Eggo has become something of a new talent champion, and recently penned a piece on new talent. He has previously served as an MD and announcer at 2DayFM, FoxFM, SAFM and NXFM.
8. Daniel Underhill – Nova 93.7
Daniel Underhill has helped to keep Nova 93.7 at the top of Perth’s ratings since its launch in December 2002. Daniel previously held the roles of creative director and creative writer, and has been a finalist for program director of the year.
9. Ben Latimer – Nova 96.9
For 15 years Ben has beens a successful program director for the smooth network, and also ARN’s Mix 106.5 and Mix 102.3 Adelaide. He enjoyed success as executive producer of WSFM’s Jonesy and Amanda, one of Sydney’s top rating breakfast shows. Ben has been PD at Nova Sydney since October last year.
=10. Amanda Lee – Hit Perth
Arriving at Hit92.9 mid 2016, Amanda Lee has put her stamp in the station and driven the station’s recent rating success in Perth over the last two years. Amanda was previously assistant content director at FOXFM and has also worked for Nova as a music director.
=10. Sue Carter – GOLD FM
Rising to the position of CD in March, Sue Carter has quickly established herself as a more-than-able replacement for the outgoing Tony Aldridge following a successful stint at Mix Adelaide. The biggest litmus test for GOLD in 2018 is yet to come, with Christian O’Connell‘s Breakfast show earmarked to begin on June 4.
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Radio Today
BY Bray Boland September 19, 2023
They’re the same 11 I would have picked in my 10
Only two women made the grade and I think they are the only two female CD’s
Where’s the gender equality ? Radio has a way to go.
Good to see JA get some recognition. His counterpart here in Melbourne deserves a nod too. Shaun Gough. Has a monster brekky show to deal with and isnt Mick Molloy new show out of Melbourne too ? Deserves a place?
Controversial, I wonder how DB feels about being behind Adrian
I hear Adrian has FULL control of his breakfast show and drive show… can get them to do everything.
What about Matt O’Reilly at Triple M Adelaide? What he has done for the station speaks for itself
These are the guys that do all the work ha Some future Network and Group Cd’s in that bunch. 1,3,6 and 10 are all going places. Biting at the heels of those network “execs”
It’s a CD list but the breakfast talent get all the credit with a photo. That’s radio nothing new here.
Number 1 and 2 deserve this both great world class stations
DB can’t be number 1 every year. Great CD and his breakfast show is one of the best in the world. Solid list.
what happened to Ollie ?
It’d be nice to see some more females in content director roles.
I don’t think DB would have an issue at all with being behind Adrian. It’s just a pole
AB is a true master at managing people – he cares about his staff and they know it. The culture at the Fox is the best in the country, and that manifests itself into on-air success. He sets the strategy and the goal, and then lets his team execute without micro-managing. It’s a just a shame about his hair.
@old mate
It takes a real woman to handle that much man bun. I have gladly accepted the challenge.
Staggered Matt O from Adelaide Triple M isn’t on the list… he’s done an amazing job with that station. Any coincidence he and Adrian Brine are best mates and are two of the best leaders in radio?!!
DB isn’t bothered, he has the numbers. Great list.
@goodlist well played. Haha. Why is the breakfast team pictured???
@Thommo
Agreed Matt O is fantastic, he should get a man bun as well. It would go well with his XL Shirts
KIIS and DB are NUMBER 1.
Couple of big name CD’s missing here can anyone guess ?
I’d love to listen to an AB podcast on how he communicates with talent and the respect they have for him. Would be ‘very, very’ interesting. I hear the breakfast and drive show love his style …………….
Dan should be higher up, Doing great things in the West.
@greg
Nah mate – AB and FOX are NUMBER 1.
Fox 1.15 million
KIIS 0.95 million
Good to see the work A.B. Has put in with Jeff and Big Spaghett is paying off. Well deserved!
A testament to Matt O in Adelaide, his wisdom for someone his age is outstanding. He would probably be number 11
Ah yes, truly the best way to honour great programmers is obviously to put up a photo of……their breakfast show.
A little more credit for these fantastic people Radio Today!
None of this obfuscates the bleakness of the FM radio future. Youth are listening less and less to radio.
One of these people will need to pull the proverbial rabbit or FM radio will soon find itself without a significant audience.
I’d love to actually hear from each of the CDs what they think the secret is to their success… without giving away too much of course!
I feel like these people should get a hamper or something
Um, you’ve never heard of Sean Gough?
Triple M Melbourne has Eddie, 2 massive drive shows – 1 National – a National night show and a massive national AFL calm to manage, as well as his national boss sitting in the office behind him.
I’d suggest his job is bigger than Adrian’s.
So are we to assume these content directors are actually responsible for what’s supposed to be considered good content? Really? Is anyone actually listening to radio in Australia? Good content? Yeah sure!
Where’s Adrian now, he’s disappeared he should be up in Sydney turning the ratings fortunes of 2DAYFM around. Good CD but a one trick pony to date.
Isn’t dB also CD for kiis fm Melbourne ? That’s not single then is it?
Fox has been at top of rating for decades. Kudos to DB for taking KIIS to Number One and now turning KIIS 101.1 into a top station too. DB deserves the number one position.