Although the channel launched a couple of weeks ago, Foxtel formally showcased its new Fox Cricket brand this week. Earlier this year Foxtel and Seven together agreed to pay Cricket Australia $1.18b for the broadcast rights for six years, almost doubling the previous amount paid by Nine and Network Ten.

Hosted by Nine’s Richard Wilkins, the nominees in all categories were announced.

The winners will be revealed at The Star Event Centre, Sydney, on Wednesday November 28, 2018. The Awards Ceremony will be broadcast around Australia on the Nine Network, hosted by Keith Urban.

Highlights of the nominations ceremony included Gurrumul posthumously winning two ARIA Awards for Best World Music Album and Best Cover Art, along with receiving seven nominations. His album Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow) debuted at #1 on the ARIA Charts, making Australian chart history by becoming the first indigenous language album to debut at #1.

It was also a big day for Gold Coast’s Amy Shark, leading the nominations tally with nine. The singer-songwriter has been nominated for Apple Music Album Of The Year, Best Australian Live Act, Best Female Artist, Best Pop Release, Best Video, Apple Music Song Of The Year, Producer Of The Year, Engineer Of The Year and Best Cover Art. The two-time ARIA Award winner has had huge success with her 2x Platinum single I Said Hi and her critically acclaimed debut album Love Monster, which came in at #1 on the ARIA Album Charts.

Melbourne’s Courtney Barnett follows closely behind with eight nominations for her second studio album Tell Me How You Really Feel. Released by her own independent label Milk! Records, it reached #2 on the ARIA Charts and, since the release, Barnett has toured her record globally and graced the stages of The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon, The Jimmy Kimmel Show, Seth Meyers and CBS Saturday Morning.

Australian dance trio Pnau were nominated for seven ARIAs for their fifth studio album Changa. The album features 4x Platinum single Chameleon, plus Go Bang, which was a Top 10 ARIA single.

Gearing up to head out on a headline US tour, Tash Sultana has commanded world attention with the release of the highly anticipated debut album Flow State. Nominated for six Awards, the ARIA #2 charting album also cracked the top 10 in the Billboard Top Albums Chart at #8 and #3 on the Billboard Independent Album Chart.

Dean Lewis has today picked up five nominations for this year’s ARIA Awards. The Sydney artist’s 3x Platinum single Be Alright spent five consecutive weeks at #1 on the ARIA Singles Chart and is currently in its eighth week at #1 on the Australian airplay charts. The track has also scored major global radio and playlist support, having been streamed over 175 million times.

Also securing five nominations are 2017’s Apple Music Song Of The Year winners Peking Duk. Nominated for this Award again this year, as well as Best Australian Live Act, Best Dance Release, Best Video and Best Group, their track Fire reached Platinum status with over 20 million streams in Australia.

5 Seconds Of Summer and Troye Sivan have both scored four nominations for this year’s ARIAs. 5 Seconds Of Summer’s track Youngblood peaked at #1 on the ARIA Charts, spending eight consecutive weeks at the top. Their album Youngblood also reached the top of the ARIA Albums Chart. Troye Sivan’s sophomore album Bloom peaked at #3, making it Sivan’s highest-charting studio album in his home country.

ARIA has welcomed Apple Music back for the 2018 ARIA Awards and announced their support across two categories, Song Of The Year and Album Of The Year.

With Apple Music, ARIA is giving fans the power to determine the winner of the coveted Song Of The Year award. From today until November 21, fans can cast their vote by simply listening to their favourite song on Apple Music.

Following the nominations announcement, music fans will now be able to access songs, albums and specially curated playlists that celebrate the 2018 ARIA Awards nominees on Apple Music.

Denis Handlin, ARIA Chairman and Chairman and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment Australia and New Zealand and President, Asia, said: “On behalf of the ARIA Board, congratulations to all of today’s winners in the Fine Arts, Artisan & Best Comedy categories. It is a very talented group of artists and creative contributors, and we celebrate their outstanding achievement by winning an ARIA Award in their particular genre or craft.

“I would also like to congratulate all of the nominees announced today for the 2018 ARIA Awards with Apple Music. We are excited to offer Australian music fans a truly unique and memorable experience for the 32nd Annual ARIA Award celebrations, together with Apple Music and other partners. We look forward to a wonderful night of awards, music and magic moment performances at The Star Sydney.”

Dan Rosen, ARIA Chief Executive, added: “2018 has been another remarkable year for Australian artists both at home and across the globe. The artists honoured today as winners in the Fine Arts, Artisan and Best Comedy Categories show that the high quality of artistic achievement in the Australian music scene is spread across a wide range of genres.

“The Artisan Award winners exemplify that hard work, innovation and creativity are not limited to those who play the music but also those who contribute to the recordings behind the scenes. It is also with great excitement and anticipation that we look forward to November 28 when we reveal the winners of the remaining categories and bring more ARIA magic moments to the stage.”

2018 ARIA AWARD NOMINATED ARTISTS

Winners to be announced Wednesday, 28th November, The Star, Sydney

Apple Music Album Of The Year

• Amy Shark – Love Monster (Wonderlick Recording Company)
• Courtney Barnett – Tell Me How You Really Feel (Milk! Records / Remote Control Records)
• Gurrumul – Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow) (SFM / MGM)
• Pnau – Changa (etcetc Music)
• Troye Sivan – Bloom (EMI)

Best Male Artist

• Dan Sultan – Killer Under A Blood Moon (Liberation Records)
• Dean Lewis – Be Alright (Island Records Australia / Universal Music Australia)
• Gurrumul – Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow) (SFM / MGM)
• Troye Sivan – Bloom (EMI)
• Vance Joy – Nation Of Two (Liberation Records)

Best Female Artist

• Alison Wonderland – Awake (EMI)
• Amy Shark – Love Monster (Wonderlick Recording Company)
• Courtney Barnett – Tell Me How You Really Feel (Milk! Records / Remote Control Records)
• Sia – Flames (What A Music Ltd, Under Exclusive Licence to Warner Music Group)
• Tash Sultana – Flow State (Lonely Lands Records / Sony Music)

Best Dance Release

• Alison Wonderland – Awake (EMI)
• Fisher – Losing It (etcetc Music)
• Peking Duk – Fire (Sony Music)
• Pnau – Go Bang (etcetc Music)
• Rüfüs Du Sol – No Place (Sony Music)

Best Group

• 5 Seconds Of Summer – Youngblood (Capitol UK / EMI)
• DMA’s – For Now (I OH YOU)
• Peking Duk – Fire (Sony Music)
• Pnau – Go Bang (etcetc Music)
• RÜFÜS DU SOL – No Place (Sony Music)

Breakthrough Artist

• Alex Lahey – I Love You Like A Brother (Nicky Boy Records / Caroline Australia)
• Jack River – Sugar Mountain (I OH YOU)
• Mojo Juju – Native Tongue (ABC Music / Universal Music Australia)
• Odette – To A Stranger (EMI)
• Ruel – Dazed & Confused (RCA Records / Sony Music)

Best Pop Release

• 5 Seconds Of Summer – Youngblood (Capitol UK / EMI)
• Amy Shark – Love Monster (Wonderlick Recording Company)
• Dean Lewis – Be Alright (Island Records Australia / Universal Music Australia)
• Jack River – Sugar Mountain (I OH YOU)
• Troye Sivan – Bloom (EMI)

Best Urban Album

• 360 – Vintage Modern (Forthwrite / EMI)
• Esoterik – My Astral Plane (Flight Deck / Mushroom Group)
• Hilltop Hoods – Clark Griswold (feat. Adrian Eagle) (Hilltop Hoods / Universal Music Australia)
• Kerser – Engraved In The Game (ABK Records. Marketed & distributed by ADA, a division of Warner Music Australia Pty Ltd)
• Mojo Juju – Native Tongue (ABC Music / Universal Music Australia)

Best Independent Release

• Angus & Julia Stone – Snow (Angus & Julia Stone Pty Ltd / EMI)
• Courtney Barnett – Tell Me How You Really Feel (Milk! Records / Remote Control Records)
• DMA’s – For Now (I OH YOU)
• Gurrumul – Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow) (SFM / MGM)
• Pnau – Go Bang (etcetc Music)

Best Rock Album

• Camp Cope – How To Socialise & Make Friends (Poison City Records)
• Courtney Barnett – Tell Me How You Really Feel (Milk! Records / Remote Control Records)
• DMA’s – For Now (I OH YOU)
• Luca Brasi – Stay (Cooking Vinyl Australia)
• Middle Kids – Lost Friends (EMI)

Best Adult Contemporary Album

• Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile – Lotta Sea Lice (Milk! Records / Remote Control Records)
• Dan Sultan – Killer Under A Blood Moon (Liberation Records)
• Missy Higgins – Solastalgia (Eleven: A Music Company / EMI Music)
• Odette – To A Stranger (EMI)
• Vance Joy – Nation Of Two (Liberation Records)

Best Country Album

• Adam Eckersley & Brooke McClymont – Adam & Brooke (Lost Highway Australia / Universal Music Australia)
• Fanny Lumsden – Real Class Act (Red Dirt Road / AWAL)
• Kasey Chambers & The Fireside Disciples – Campfire (Essence Group Entertainment. Marketed and distributed by Warner Music Australia Pty Ltd)
• The Wolfe Brothers – Country Heart (ABC Music / Universal Music Australia)
• Travis Collins – Brave & The Broken (ABC Music / Universal Music Australia)

Best Hard Rock / Heavy Metal Album

• DZ Deathrays – Bloody Lovely (I OH YOU)
• King Parrot – Ugly Produce (EVP Recordings / Rocket)
• Parkway Drive – Reverence (Resist Records / Cooking Vinyl Australia)
• Polaris – The Mortal Coil (Resist Records / Cooking Vinyl Australia)
• West Thebarton – Different Beings Being Different (Domestic La La / Sony Music Entertainment)

Best Blues & Roots Album

• Angus & Julia Stone – Snow (Angus & Julia Stone Pty Ltd / EMI)
• Emily Wurramara – Milyakburra (Wantok Musik / MGM)
• Mama Kin Spender – Golden Magnetic (ABC Music / Universal Music Australia)
• Ruby Boots – Don’t Talk About It (Island Records Australia / Universal Music Australia)
• Tash Sultana – Flow State (Lonely Lands Records / Sony Music)

Best Original Soundtrack or Musical Theatre Cast Album

• Evelyn Ida Morris – Acute Misfortune (Original Soundtrack) (ABC Music / Universal Music Australia)
• Jessica Mauboy – The Secret Daughter Season Two (Songs for the Original 7 Series) (Sony Music)
• Jimmy Barnes – Working Class Boy: The Soundtracks (BLOODLINES)
• LIARS – 1 / 1 (Original Soundtrack) (Mute / Inertia)
• Various Artists – Muriel’s Wedding: The Musical (The Original Cast Recording) (Global Creatures / Sony Music)

Best Children’s Album

• Justine Clarke – The Justine Clarke Show! (ABC KIDS / Universal Music Australia)
• Lah-Lah – 10th Birthday Party (Stella Projects / Sony Music)
• Sam Moran – Santa’s Coming! (Sony Music)
• Teeny Tiny Stevies – Helpful Songs For Little People (ABC KIDS / Universal Music Australia)
• The Wiggles – Wiggle Pop! (ABC KIDS / Universal Music Australia)

PUBLIC VOTED AWARDS

Apple Music Song Of The Year

• 5 Seconds Of Summer – Youngblood (Capitol UK / EMI)
• Amy Shark – I Said Hi (Wonderlick Recording Company)
• Angus & Julia Stone – Chateau (Angus & Julia Stone Pty Ltd / EMI)
• Conrad Sewell – Healing Hands (Sony Music)
• Dean Lewis – Be Alright (Island Records Australia / Universal Music Australia)
• Peking Duk – Fire / Reprisal (Sony Music)
• Pnau – Go Bang (etcetc Music)
• Sheppard – Coming Home (Chugg Music / MGM)
• Troye Sivan – My My My! (EMI)
• Vance Joy – Lay It On Me (Liberation Records)

Best Video

• Amy Shark – I Said Hi (Wonderlick Recording Company)
• Client Liaison – Survival In The City (Warner Music Australia Pty Ltd)
• Courtney Barnett – Need A Little Time (Milk! Records / Remote Control Records)
• Dean Lewis – Be Alright (Island Records Australia / Universal Music Australia)
• Gang Of Youths – The Heart Is A Muscle (Mosy Recordings / Sony Music)
• Mojo Juju – Native Tongue (ABC Music / Universal Music Australia)
• Peking Duk – Fire (Sony Music)
• Pnau – Go Bang (etcetc Music)
• Tash Sultana – Salvation (Lonely Lands Records / Sony Music)
• The Presets – Do What You Want (Modular / EMI)

Best Australian Live Act

• 5 Seconds Of Summer – Meet You There Tour (Capitol UK / EMI)
• Amy Shark – Love Monster Tour (Wonderlick Recording Company)
• Client Liaison – Expo Liaison (Warner Music Australia Pty Ltd)
• Courtney Barnett – Tell Me How You Really Feel National Tour (Milk! Records / Remote Control Records)
• Dean Lewis – 2017 National Tour (Island Records Australia / Universal Music Australia)
• Gang Of Youths – 2017 National Tour (Mosy Recordings / Sony Music)
• Paul Kelly – Life Is Fine Tour 2017 (EMI)
• Peking Duk – The Wasted Tour (Sony Music)
• Pnau – Pnau Changa Australian Tour (etcetc Music)
• Tash Sultana – Homecoming Tour (Lonely Lands Records / Sony Music)

Best International Artist

• Camila Cabello – Camila (Syco / Epic / Sony Music)
• Drake – Scorpion & More Life (Republic / Universal Music)
• Ed Sheeran – ÷ (Warner Music)
• Eminem – Revival & Kamikaze (Interscope / Universal Music)
• Imagine Dragons – Evolve (Interscope / Universal Music)
• Khalid – American Teen (RCA / Sony Music)
• P!nk – Beautiful Trauma (RCA / Sony Music)
• Post Malone – Beerbongs & Bentleys & Stoney (Universal Music)
• Sam Smith – The Thrill Of It All (Capitol / EMI)
• Taylor Swift – Reputation (Big Machine / Universal Music)

Music Teacher of the Year

• Becky Hall (Education Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne VIC 3052)
• Scott Maxwell (Grant High School, Mount Gambier SA 5209)
• Dean Harawira (Nerang State High School, Gold Coast QLD 4211)
• Deborah Skelton (Caladenia Primary School, Canning Vale WA 6155)

2018 ARTISAN AWARDS | NOMINATED ARTISTS

Best Cover Art

• WINNER: CAITI BAKER FOR GURRUMUL – DJARIMIRRI (CHILD OF THE RAINBOW) (SFM / MGM)
• Steve Wyper for Amy Shark – Love Monster (Wonderlick Recording Company)
• Dean Hanson for Ball Park Music – Good Mood (Stop Start (Label) / Inertia (Distributor)
• Caiti Baker for Gurrumul – Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow) (SFM / MGM)
• Ben Lopez for Tash Sultana – Flow State (Lonely Lands Records / Sony Music)
• Jonathan Zawada for The Presets – Hi Viz (Modular / EMI)

Engineer Of The Year

• WINNER: BURKE REID FOR COURTNEY BARNETT – TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL (MILK! RECORDS / REMOTE CONTROL RECORDS)
• Dann Hume & M Phazes for Amy Shark – I Said Hi (Wonderlick Recording Company)
• Sam Cromack for Ball Park Music – Good Mood (Stop Start (Label) / Inertia (Distributor)
• Burke Reid for Courtney Barnett – Tell Me How You Really Feel (Milk! Records / Remote Control Records)
• Ted Howard, Robin Mai & Matthew Cunliffe for Gurrumul – Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow) (SFM / MGM)
• Holly Rankin, Xavier Dunn, John Castle for Jack River – Sugar Mountain (I OH YOU)

Producer Of The Year

• WINNER: DANN HUME & M PHAZES FOR AMY SHARK – I SAID HI (WONDERLICK RECORDING COMPANY)
• Dann Hume & M Phazes for Amy Shark – I Said Hi (Wonderlick Recording Company)
• Ball Park Music for Ball Park Music – Good Mood (Stop Start (Label) / Inertia (Distributor)
• Courtney Barnett, Dan Luscombe & Burke Reid for Courtney Barnett – Tell Me How You Really Feel (Milk! Records / Remote Control Records)
• Michael Hohnen for Gurrumul – Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow) (SFM / MGM)
• Tash Sultana for Tash Sultana – Flow State (Lonely Lands Records / Sony Music)

2018 FINE ARTS AWARDS | NOMINATED ARTISTS

Best Classical Album

• WINNER: SLAVA GRIGORYAN – BACH CELLO SUITES VOLUME II (ABC CLASSICS / UNIVERSAL)
• Greta Bradman, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Adelaide Chamber Singers, Luke Dollman – Home (Decca Classics Australia / Universal Music Australia)
• Ray Chen – The Golden Age (Decca Classics Australia / Universal Music Australia)
• Sally Whitwell – Philip Glass: Complete Etudes For Solo Piano (ABC Classics / Universal Music Australia)
• Slava Grigoryan – Bach Cello Suites Volume II (ABC Classics / Universal Music Australia)
• Tamara-Anna Cislowska, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Johannes Fritzsch – Into Silence: Pärt | Vasks | Górecki | Pelēcis (ABC Classics / Universal Music Australia)

Best Jazz Album

• WINNER: JONATHAN ZWARTZ – ANIMARUM (JONATHAN ZWARTZ / PLANET / MGM)
• Barney McAll – Hearing The Blood (Extra Celestial Arts)
• Elixir feat. Katie Noonan – Gratitude And Grief (KIN MUSIC / Universal Music Australia)
• Jake Mason Trio – The Stranger In The Mirror (Soul Messin’ Records / Inertia Music)
• James Morrison, Patti Austin, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Benjamin Northey – Ella And Louis (ABC Jazz / Universal Music Australia)
• Jonathan Zwartz – Animarum (Jonathan Zwartz / Planet / MGM)

Best World Music Album

WINNER: GURRUMUL – DJARIMIRRI (CHILD OF THE RAINBOW) (SFM / MGM)

• Gurrumul – Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow) (SFM / MGM)
• Joseph Tawadros – The Bluebird, The Mystic and The Fool (Independent / Planet)
• Melbourne Ska Orchestra – Ska Classics (ABC Music / FOUR FOUR / Universal Music Australia)
• Mista Savona – Havana Meets Kingston (ABC Music / Universal Music Australia)
• Xylouris White – Mother (ABC Music / Universal Music Australia)

BEST COMEDY RELEASE | NOMINATED ARTISTS

• WINNER: BRIDIE AND WYATT, TONIGHTLY WITH TOM BALLARD – SEX PEST (ABC MUSIC / UNIVERSAL)
• Akmal Saleh – Transparent (Universal Sony Pictures Home Entertainment)
• Aunty Donna – Aunty Donna The Album (etcetc Music)
• Lawrence Mooney – Moonman (Universal Sony Pictures Home Entertainment)
• Luke Heggie – Tiprat (Century)
• Bridie and Wyatt, Tonightly with Tom Ballard – Sex Pest (ABC Music / Universal Music Australia)

By James Manning

PodcastOne’s How To Build An Online Business

Ad agency account executive-turned-online educator Bernadette Schwerdt is the host of a seven-podcast series for PodcastOne that takes listeners through the different stages of building a digital enterprise. She features specialist interviews with successful online entrepreneurs to illustrate the way to success.

Schwerdt is the author of How To Build An Online Business and Secrets Of Online Entrepreneurs.

Schwerdt told Mediaweek she used the process she went through with her own business as the starting point for her books and podcast.

“I started interviewing the online mavericks and asking their secrets and they were very generous with information.

“From my experience anyone can start a business but how can you keep it going and grow are crucial factors.”

The first podcast in the new series looks at the entrepreneurial mindset and Schwerdt talks to Andre Eikmeier, co-founder of the online wine subscription service Vinomofo. “He talks about the qualities needed to survive,” said Schwerdt. Other guests in subsequent episodes are specialists in areas like finance and customer acquisition.

When asked about basic mistakes when launching online, Schwerdt said many people start their businesses with a burst of energy. “They think they have a great idea but when that idea is put into practice the sharp realities kick in when challenges arise like finding customers, dealing with competitors or handling tech issues.

“A new business needs to have strategies to deal with those issues or it can quickly run out of puff and start thinking it’s all too hard.”

One trait common amongst online pioneers is the ability to teach themselves how to deal with challenges. “They took it upon themselves to find the solutions to problems.”

Schwerdt said many people think a new business needs the attention of a full-time founder. “On the other hand it can be very difficult for someone to toss in their job and the security that goes with it and go out on a limb. Some people start part-time and once they have proof of concept they can then make a decision about devoting more time to it. It can be a mistake to invest too much too soon.”

With a solid marketing background, Schwerdt said large amounts of money aren’t needed to make a splash online. “If you know how to get on page one of Google, you can topple a competitor who has more money than you. Brands like Google and Facebook offer great opportunities for smart people willing to do the work to find out how they can work for you. They level the playing field for some degree.”

Listen to How To Build An Online Business here when it launches next week.

Helping the AFL expand podcast operations

As millions of diehard fans counted down the hours to the biggest sporting event of the year just two weeks ago, the AFL Grand Final, the sporting organisation has looked to Whooshkaa to step up its podcast game.

The reach of the AFL has never been stronger with combined team memberships this year passing 1m for the first time.

“We’re excited to take our podcasting to the next level by using Whooshkaa’s audio-on-demand technology,” said AFL general manager, growth digital and audiences, Darren Birch.

“Footy fans can’t get enough of shows such as AFL Exchange, Road to the AFL Draft, Official AFL Fantasy Podcast with the Traders, and many more club podcasts. Whooshkaa’s advanced technology and advertising platform will make it easier for new and existing audiences to find our shows, and enable us to meet fans’ appetites for fresh and engaging audio content.”

Whooshkaa’s Rob Loewenthal welcomed the AFL as a valuable asset in its sports lineup, which includes the NRL, Cricket Australia, Fox Sports, SEN and individual sporting podcasts.

“Too much sport is never enough,” Loewenthal said. “Only 100,000 lucky people will get to walk through the gates on Grand Final day, but many millions more will watch or listen to the game.

Listen to the AFL’s Road To The Draft podcast here.

 Spotify launches Sound Up Bootcamp for First Nations Peoples

Spotify this week launched Sound Up Bootcamp Australia, an initiative that gives aspiring Australian-based First Nations podcasters the opportunity to undergo an intensive learning program facilitated by podcasting and radio greats and delve into podcast creation, story development and understanding their audience.

Following Sound Up Bootcamp US, which received over 18,000 applications, and the recently announced Sound Up Bootcamp UK, 10 participants will be invited to take part in the four-day workshop, based at Spotify Australia’s Sydney HQ.

Applicants do not need to have any prior podcasting experience. They only need a voice with something to say, a passion for the medium, and an eagerness to bring their great ideas to life.

Finalists will receive mentoring, practical experience, and networking opportunities with facilitators, and three finalists will receive a cash grant and equipment to produce their podcasts at the end.

“Sound Up Bootcamp US was a huge success, stimulating amazing ideas and facilitating a truly unique and important community of aspiring women of colour podcasters. We have chosen to focus Sound Up Bootcamp Australia on First Australians as part of our ongoing commitment to better represent and surface the voices of First Australian creators,” said Jane Huxley, managing director, Spotify Australia & NZ.

The course will be facilitated by Emily Nicol, Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander radio producer and the curator of Spotify’s flagship First Australians playlist Black Australia. The Bootcamp has been designed and produced in partnership with Audiocraft, a leading Australian podcast organisation that hosts events, runs workshops and makes podcasts through its agency.

Aspiring First Nations podcasters should apply before midnight on October 29 at https://spoti.fi/soundupsydney. See website for full terms and conditions.

The announcement comes just a day after Acast announced a partnership with Spotify to create a new distribution channel for the 2,500+ podcasts hosted with Acast from around the world.

See also: Acast partners with Spotify to take podcasts to streaming audience

By James Manning

SCA’s Hit Network drive: Hughesy and Kate

This successful radio duo has been around the radio block. Dave Hughes and Kate Langbroek secured fame and possibly a small fortune holding down the breakfast slot at Nova 100 for over a decade. Originally Hughesy, Kate and Dave, Dave O’Neil left for sister Melbourne station Vega in 2006.

Close to three years later, a radio deal saw them depart ARN for SCA where they took over the drive once ruled by Hamish and Andy, who said they were really leaving radio this time.

Trying something different with the schedule, SCA’s Hit Network said the new drive show would run from 4.30pm until 6.30pm.

The radio show remains very successful in its hometown as part of the Fox FM family. This program in particular illustrates how dependent on breakfast radio success a drive show can be.

Network performance Survey 6, 2018 (share and cume):

• Sydney 5.9% (-0.6) #6 FM, 302,000
• Melbourne 10.5% (-1.5) #1 overall, 551,000
• Brisbane 12.5% (-0.1) #2 overall, 233,000
• Adelaide 9.3% (-1.3) #4 FM, 115,000
• Perth 11.3% (-0.9) #3 overall, 248,000

(NB: Metro ratings timeslots are for 4pm-7pm, Hughesy & Kate on air 4.30pm-6.30pm)

ARN’s KIIS Network drive: Will and Woody

The former SCA breakfast hosts not only changed timeslots and networks, but also moved from one side of Australia to the other. Will McMahon and Woody Whitelaw made the jump from Hit 92.9 breakfast to KIIS network drive, basing themselves out of Melbourne.

This is the duo’s first taste of a national audience and the numbers are mixed across the network, with many listeners still very new to their radio charms.

Network performance Survey 6, 2018 (share and cume):

• Sydney 6.9% (-0.5) #4 FM, 350,000
• Melbourne 6.1% (-1.1) #6 FM, 377,000
• Brisbane 10.7% (-0.4) #4 FM, 221,000
• Adelaide 13.5% (-1.1) #1 overall, 162,000
• Perth 6.4% (+0.3) #4 FM, 123,000

(NB: Metro ratings timeslots are for 4pm-7pm, Will & Woody on air 4pm-6pm)

See also: Drive Radio Week: Nova’s Kate, Tim and Marty rule competitive slot
• Tomorrow: AM radio drive shows around Australian metro markets

Nine’s lifestyle brand 9Honey has exceeded the network’s expectations in the two years of its existence.

In August 2018, 9Honey had an audience of over 2.5 million.

Its founding editor and now the digital editorial director at Nine, Kerri Elstub, told Mediaweek: “I feel like a proud parent, watching the newborn suddenly be able to walk and talk and then start running.”

Elstub’s change in roles at Nine will now see her overlook the direction of all the verticals on nine.com.au. However, she maintains that she will always have a soft spot for 9Honey. “It’s my baby, but now it’s about spreading my love to all of Nine’s digital assets,” she said.

This will see her working even more closely with Helen McCabe, digital content director at Nine. She is the mastermind behind the 2016 unification and revitalisation of Nine’s lifestyle content under the 9Honey brand.

“I work hand in hand with Helen. We have similar goals about where we want all the digital properties to be,” Elstub said.

In the last two years, 9Honey has expanded its content offering to television, online video and podcast. Elstub said there is potential for further growth on all of these platforms to reach as many women as possible. 9Honey is unashamedly a mass-market offering. This is something that hasn’t changed since day one.

“It is something that we have been very focused on,” Elstub said. “We want to be a site for everyday women. We want to be a site that is non-judgmental and feelgood,” Elstub said.

In the lead-up to 9Honey’s second birthday, Nine announced Shauna Anderson as its new editor and promoted Julia Naughton as managing editor of lifestyle. Anderson’s appointment marks her return to Nine, where she was previously the chief of staff on the Today show. It was during this time that she worked with Elstub, who Naughton described as one of her mentors.

Having worked at Mamamia and Kidspot, Anderson knows the Australian women’s lifestyle space well.

“In the past two years, 9Honey has doubled its numbers in a competitive environment. So [my job] is to build on the existing momentum with our new contributors,” she said.

On the occasion of 9Honey’s second birthday, Nine revealed that it has signed on columnists Victoria Arbiter as a royal commentator, Roxy Jacenko as branded content contributor and Rosie Waterland for a weekly advice column called I Know Nothing, Ask Me Anything! TV personality Rebecca Judd will let 9Honey readers into her new home via The Style School as she renovates a house she recently bought.

Talking about her aspirations for 9Honey in the next two years, Elstub said: “If it can double its audience, that would be pretty incredible.

“Our aim is to be #1 in all our categories. There is tough competition out there, but competition is what drives creativity and hard work.”

By James Manning

Seven

After two nights not too far below 650,000, Home and Away’s third episode of the week did 603,000.

Royalty and reality continues to hold down the 7.30pm slot as Seven works its way through Q4. Ob-docs power the mid-week schedule starting with Highway Patrol for an hour at 7.30pm on 491,000.

9-1-1 followed with 449,000.

Nine

A Current Affair’s Reid Butler has done what no one has managed in the past week apart from Lisa Wilkinson – got some words out of The Honey Badger. There weren’t many words, but enough mumbles and moments of footage to fill the first item on the show last night. A week after giving TEN a ratings boost, yet disappointing viewers who wanted more, The Honey Badger has repeated the medicine for Nine. The daily current affairs show has recorded its best audience of the week – 837,000.

The Block showed off the exterior of the building, which has kept the style of the historic Fitzroy Street private hotel. The show continues to wave bundles of cash – for both contestants and viewers – and sales of The Block Monopoly set must have soared with the prospect of winning one of the apartments. The Wednesday episode was on 918,000 after 926,000 a week ago.

The new US drama Manifest about the reappearance of a missing flight debuted at 8.30pm with a first night audience of 658,000. That’s very strong for a new drama, but history shows these numbers can tumble quickly in subsequent weeks.

Companion programming then saw the 2012 movie Flight follow the drama debut with 205,000 watching.

TEN

It was reality TV night on The Project with Survivor winner Shane Gould on the show, followed a little later by The Bachelorette’s Ali. Mumford and Sons’ Marcus Mumford ended the episode, which had a 7pm audience of 500,000.

The Bachelorette launched with Ali starting her journey to assess the 18 bachelors on offer this season. Two of them – Ben and Brendan – only managed to last one episode. This season has launched with 631,000 after kicking off with 951,000 with Sophie Monk 12 months ago.

Playing For Keeps then did 375,000 with a girls night out, which was part of a very busy evening for Madeleine West’s character Kath.

ABC

Hard Quiz followed 7.30 with the Tom Gleeson-hosted series on 686,000, up from 646,000 a week ago.

Shaun Micallef’s Mad As Hell then did 651,000 after 607,000 last week.

More comedy then followed back-to-back:

Back In Very Small Business: 303,000

Black Comedy: 195,000

Superwog: 120,000.

SBS

Michael Portillo visited Derbyshire on Great British Railway Journeys with 259,000 watching. That came after 268,000 watched him travelling in Europe on Tuesday night.

Food Safari Water then did 163,000 followed by the very timely Rise Of The Superstorms on 133,000.