There’s no doubt it’s been a tough couple of weeks for radio shock jock Alan Jones. Following his controversial Jacinda Ardern comments, advertisers have been ditching the broadcaster in droves, but was it the right move?
If yesterday’s radio rating survey results proved anything it’s that Jones still rules the roost in the Sydney radio market in spite of recent events that saw Macquarie Media chairman Russell Tate issue the host his final warning.
Jones’ breakfast program retained its number one position in the breakfast show market with 17.1 per cent market share, which was only marginally down -0.3 per cent since the last survey.
However, the results were from the period of 14 July to 17 August, while Jones made his comments about the New Zealand prime minister on 15 August. It’s likely we won’t know the true effect of Jones’ comments (if any) until the next radio rating survey in six weeks time.
And yet, in a rare move for the broadcaster, Jones hit back at his critics live on-air this morning, with the host telling listeners 2GB rated number one in Sydney and has been in the top spot for the last 122 rating surveys.
He said: “I rarely talk about myself here, nor do we talk about ratings but there are plenty of people who report on radio ratings that don’t know a thing about it.
“I suppose given some of the headlines over the last few weeks this may be worth mentioning.
“There are only eight radio ratings a year in Sydney and this breakfast program has now won 221, which is over 30 years.
“We must be doing something right. It appears as though we do it successfully.”
Jones also thanked his “very loyal” listeners before reading out messages he’d received from his fans, including one that described him as “the voice of the people.”
