97.3 breakfast: Robin Bailey taken off-air, colleagues on-air rebellion

Who took the wrecking ball to 97.3 breakfast – Radio star’s management or ARN?

A milestone day in Brisbane commercial radio yesterday with ARN falling out with the star of its 97.3 breakfast show. Contract negotiations between Robin Bailey’s new management and ARN’s Duncan Campbell broke down with ARN announcing it would drop Bailey from the breakfast team.

Campbell said yesterday: “Robin has had a great 10 years on-air with 97.3 and we’re sad to see her go. While we worked hard to keep Robin as part of the team, we’re disappointed that we were unable to agree terms. All at ARN and the team at 97.3 wish her the very best.

“We’ll have further announcements soon regarding the new breakfast show for 97.3FM but what we’re very happy to confirm now is that Terry Hansen will remain with the show and be joined by a new host, along with Bob Gallagher who will continue as the show’s anchor.”

Robin Bailey was off-air this morning with Lisa Jane Stockwell filling in. While her colleagues decided to stay on-air without their longtime colleague, the station was making its not-so-silent protest.

The first talkback subject was about jobs with crappy wages!

The first three tunes on the show also made a statement – Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball”, Michael Jackson’s “The Way You Make Me Feel” and then P!nk’s “Leave Me Alone” (with its “go away, come back” lyric).

Robin Bailey said on Monday:

“The announcement today that I am leaving the 97.3FM breakfast team has come as a complete shock. I have been blindsided by ARN’s decision not to renew my contract. After minimal feedback during a protracted negotiation period, at no stage did ARN make me any offer for 2017. I was ambushed this morning and told of the decision to cease my employment with the station. This was not a joint decision and I certainly saw my future with 97.3, a place that has been my home and my solace for so many years.

“To the loyal Brisbane listeners and public, thank you for allowing me into your lives and thank you for being such an important part of mine. I will be back on radio, it’s who I am, it’s what I do and it is what I love – I can promise you that, Brisbane.”

A second statement from ARN in response said:

“ARN tried very hard to keep Robin at 97.3. While we won’t comment on specific elements of contract negotiations for privacy reasons, what we can say is this negotiation was ongoing for a long period of time with Robin’s management. We are very disappointed we weren’t able to agree to terms, but unfortunately, based on the information ARN was consistently given throughout the negotiation process, we were led into a position where we were unable to proceed with contract renewal.”

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