What's New
BY RadioToday Network June 25, 2026
What's New November 29, 2024
WSFM content boss Mike Byrne made redundant
WSFM Content Director Mike Byrne has been made redundant.
Byrne was told the news this week, just days after steering the station to number one in survey 7.
ARN staff heard about the news yesterday and, this morning, just after helping Jonesy and Amanda finish up their program year Byrne started preparing for his exit next week.
A statement from ARN reads:
“At ARN, we are continually evolving our structure to meet the needs of our clients and audiences in a sustainable and cost-effective way. Unfortunately, this process sometimes involves making difficult decisions and farewelling remarkable team members.
“Mike Byrne has been an integral part of the business since he returned to ARN in January 2020. Over the past five years as Content Director of WSFM, Mike has demonstrated exceptional professionalism and leadership, drawing on his 35 years of experience in the radio industry.
“Mike leaves having achieved the milestone of taking WSFM to number one overall for the first time since it converted to FM. A loyal and passionate member of the ARN family, we sincerely thank Mike for his outstanding contributions to WSFM and the broader network and wish him nothing but the very best for the future. Mike’s final day will be next Friday December 6.”
Mike Byrne said:
“It’s been a privilege to lead the best radio team in Australia for the past five years. Leaving WSFM as the number one station is a career high.
“I look forward to seeing the team go from strength to strength as Gold101.7 in 2025 and a new challenge for me!”
Byrne’s redundancy coincides with a rebrand of ARN’s Gold format stations next year.
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What's New
BY Sarah Patterson June 25, 2026
Nothing says ‘thanks for making us #1’ like being shown the door.
A real d**k move ARN. All the best to Mike, I’m sure he’ll find a another (better) spot.
Oh dear ARN, how embarrassing. Not even metro CDs are safe from cost-cutting!
Mike should be proud of his achievements. The amount of people he has mentored and with his exceptional leadership skills he can hold his head high. One of the radio industries good ones. Its a decent legacy just quietly.
Apparently being one of the best men in radio isn’t enough to keep your job.
Aaron Woods in.
Mike fricken Byrne out.
#cooked
ARN do have a history of culling people as soon as they hit #1 (unless you’re K&J of course). It seems that if you want longevity at ARN, try and not be too good at what you do (again, unless you’re K&J).
We all know what is going on here. ARN is bleeing because of two people. Watch out for networking and more job losses
Is the entire industry just punching itself in the face now as a strategy?
Also who’s programing Sydney’s number 1 station now?
Congrats Mike on finishing at the top with WS.
When you have a great leader in a business ( Mike Byrne ) who has lead a station to No 1 for the first time in 20+ years, you reward them….why on earth would you make them redundant ?
I believe they have made the wrong person redundant…..I think we all know who should have been shown the door.?
Mike is top class but unfortunately radio doesn’t need content directors anymore.
Mike, you should be proud. What you achieved through your tenacity and methodology, working with a small but talented team at WSFM, did not go unnoticed by your peers in the industry. Time to chillax for a while mate and enjoy the break. It’s Great to go out on a high and leave a great legacy! I fear for those working across the day now at the so-called “new” Gold in Sydney and Melbourne.
Yep, do your best, get the station to an historical #1 and boom you’re fired.
Having been through the exactly same thing before Mike at WS I’m not surprised.
But it’s gutting. You think you’re on top of the world but management don’t care. They have their own separate agenda. Which in this case I imagine is feeding the hungry beast called KIIS.
Mike is the only Content Director in the country I have respect for.
Such a good human being MB is! Another one of the good ones.. a kind talented legend.. has been so lovely to me during a difficult time.. I’ll never forget that.. I hope he pops up somewhere asap.. what a shame ♀️
This is irresponsible management at its best…..firstly removing the best PD in the business, then replacing four people with one person to be responsible for content & ratings on the Gold stations.
Burn out – Burn out – Burn out !!
Radio is literally eating it’s self.
Not many people can leave at the absolute pinnacle of Australian radio: taking a station to #1 in Sydney for the first time ever. It’s like Michael Jordan scoring to win his 6th championship and then retiring. Huge.
You will be missed Mike.
Why would anyone want to work with ARN if this is what’s going on over there?
Headline in December 2026:
“Gold101.7 makes music director redundant. Kyle and Jackie now the only two employees left at ARN’s Sydney operations”
Hopefully Smooth snatches him, they could use his talent!
All the best Mike, amazing job at WS!
Next it’ll be Kyle & Jackie O that become the bosses and CEOs of ARN, on both KIIS and GOLD. It’s going to and it will eventually happen. It won’t be too long now. Watch this space…