Austereo Bosses Hail Hamish & Andy “Rock Stars” As Duo Take Swipe At Kyle
Hamish Blake and Andy Lee celebrated their return to Southern Cross Austereo’s drive time slot after a five year hiatus – and a rumoured $10 million contract – with a flash soiree on Sydney Harbour last night.
After firing himself out of a canon in Sydney’s freezing Darling Harbour yesterday to celebrate the comedic duo’s return in the coveted Drivetime spot, Hamish and Andy’s Andy Lee told B&T he is suffering and coming down with a croaky voice.
“I’m losing my voice because it was so cold,” he said.” Hot water and lemon and an early night for me!”
The presenters held the People’s Launch Party on a boat in Sydney harbour for 300 fans and industry types to celebrate their return to Austereo who are pinning their hopes on the duo following tough ratings since the departure of Kyle and Jackie O to cross-town rival KIIS.
And firing Lee out of a cannon is just one of the stunts the twosome have planned. Lee said, “If it’s there for the taking I’ll do it.” With Blake chiming in, “Andy got shot out of a cannon and wanted to wear a monkey suit but the circus folk said he couldn’t wear one as it would catch fire.”
On-stage, the duo joked that former colleague and now rival, Kyle Sandilands, was copying them as had called the canon company asking to do be fired out of a canon.
Lee joked: “I said to the guy, surely you don’t have enough compressed air in the world to be able to launch Kyle? Even with explosives you’re going to struggle.”
Earlier on in the day the pair held their show from the boat, where one listener unveiled her new boob job and Delta Goodrem offered a personal message.
The duo actually made their return to the national weekday drive slot they once dominated a week earlier than planned, and Southern Cross Austereo bosses hope their show, on the newly rebranded Today’s Hit Network – which is across 42 stations, including 2DayFM in Sydney and FoxFM in Melbourne – will boost figures for the station.
Their departure from 2Day FM in 2010 sent SCA’s audience share and stock price plummeting, while Kyle and Jackie O’s new station, KiiS, and network, ARN, have soared to success in the Sydney radio market.
Austereo’s CEO, Grant Blackley, who called Hamish and Andy “rock stars” also revealed his joy at achieving 10/10 with Survey Four last week, and threatened his radio rivals that it’s just a matter of time before the network is “number one in every slot that we deem appropriate by demographic. It may take us a little while in some cases, but rest assured, that’s our goal.
Talking about Lee’s cannonball stunt, Blackley laughed, “I’m on my way home last week, just the second week in the role, and I got a phone call at about five o’clock and they said, ‘There’s something you didn’t sign before you left.’ I asked what? And they said, ‘the insurance because we’re firing Andy out of a cannon.’
“Hamish and Andy are rock stars and when they were on drive time, only a short period ago, they were delivering over two million listeners and it was Australia’s most successful radio show and we’re absolutely delighted to see them back at Southern Cross and back on radio.”
Speaking about Survey 4, he added: “We were rewarded with 10 performances that all improved across both the Today and Triple M networks on a national level.
“We gained 200,000 listeners in that survey and we’re now reaching, for those marketing we’re measuring, 4.3 million listeners across our metro cities, and that’s without the 74 radio stations around the nation. So an outstanding effort to everyone involved in that achievement.
“I think the most important thing through all the results I saw last week is that we were delivering directly on two key milestones, the first one being number one metro solution for 18-49s, and the second one, being number one metro solution for 25-54s.
“I actually think the talent we have at the network is outstanding. What we’re going to do is make sure over the ensuing months and years that we deliver more often in a number one slot as much as we can. In terms of the phasing of the Hit Network, naturally the first thing was the rebranding, and secondly we’ve got Hamish and Andy coming into that market.
“So we will be number one in every slot that we deem appropriate by demographic. It may take us a little while in some cases, but rest assured, that’s our goal.
“To actually achieve those goals we do have a fairly determined effort in everything we do and what I promise you is that we’ll do it with some priority and on a consistent basis, so you can rely on us more often than not. I think it’s a really strong and vibrant business, and my role is to make it a great business,” Blackley said.
Latest News
Sydney Comedy Festival: Taking The City & Social Media By Storm
Sydney Comedy Festival 2024 is live and ready to rumble, showing the best of international and homegrown talent at a host of venues around town. As usual, it’s hot on the heels of its big sister, the giant that is the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, picking up some acts as they continue on their own […]
Global Marketers Descend For AANA’s RESET For Growth
The Australian Association of National Advertisers (AANA) has announced the final epic lineup of local and global marketing powerhouses for RESET for Growth 2024. Lead image: Josh Faulks, chief executive officer, AANA Back in 2000, a woman with no business experience opened her first juice bar in Adelaide. The idea was brilliantly simple: make healthy […]
Is Meta’s New AI Chatbot Too Left-Wing?
Meta's chatbot accused of being left-wing after being caught wearing a Che Guevara T-shirt & listening to Billy Bragg.
TV Ratings (23/04/2024): Why Did No One Tell Angela That Farmer Wants A Wife Is Set On A Farm?
As wonderful as this headline is, let's face it, we all know an 'Angela', don't we?
PubMatic Unveils New AI Partnership To Turn Social Posts Into Ads For Any Digital Channel
Here's some nifty tech for turning social posts into ads. Assuming said posts aren't one-star character assassinations.
Intuit Mailchimp Makes A Splash With Its First Australian Brand Campaign
Ever laugh along at a gag you didn't get so as not to appear dumb? Get ready for more feigning with this new work.
GumGum’s Rob Hall: Advertisers Can No Longer “Rely On Binary Descriptions” Of Consumers
If anyone's got their finger on adtech's pulse, it's Rob Hall. He also avoids using the good paper in the office printer
Mastercard Nabs Florencia Aimo From Marriott International
Marriott International's Florencia Aimo jumps from the hotel business to the exploitative credit card one.
Bastion Agency Appoints Cheuk Chiang As New ANZ CEO
Cheuk Chiang takes the reins over at Bastion Agency. But not the rains down in Africa.
Spotlight On Sponsors: Major Sponsorship Wins After A Disappointing Week In Sport
B&T continuing our deep dive into local sport sponsorships & that's despite not a single offer of a free ticket as yet.
Macca’s Marketing Director, Samantha McLeod On Big Mac Chant: “What Was Once Old Is Now Cool Again”
Macca's using the power of nostalgia in latest Big Mac campaign. Well, only for those who've ever eaten one sober.
World Premiere Of Midnight Oil: The Hardest Line To Open Sydney Film Festival 2024
Oil's biopic to open Sydney Film Festival. Here's hoping Molly Meldrum will take his pants down at the premiere.
Entries Are Now Open For The 2024 Brandies, IntelligenceBank’s Annual Brand Marketing Awards
The Brandies are, of course, a prestigious marketing gong and not the mystery tipple favoured by nannas everywhere.
The Fred Hollows Foundation Appoints Ardent For PR
Yes, we all like to have a joke at PR's expense. But sometimes it does important work, like this.
AI, eCommerce & Marketing Specialists Are In Increased Demand By Businesses, New Data From Fiverr Shows
Has your philosophy & anthropology degree left you with nothing but a huge HECS debt? Here's what you should've studied.
Perth’s First 3D Anamorphic Billboard Arrives Courtesy Of oOh!media
Do you love a buzzword? Now you can add anamorphic to the list as it relates to billboards, not a colleague's ears.
MasterChef Australia & Crown Resorts Launch Unique Dining Experience With ALUMNI
A pop-up restaurant staffed by MasterChef contestants! That's fine dining prices for first-year apprentice chef cuisine!
Amanda Laing Announces Resignation From Foxtel Group
Foxtel's chief commercial & content officer heads for the exits. Read nice things the bosses said about her right here.
The Lost Letters From Our Diggers: News Corp Unveils ANZAC Day Special
It's nice when brands respectfully acknowledge ANZAC Day.
Howatson+Company Acquires Akkomplice
Large indie acquires a slightly smaller indie. Much like a shark eating a tuna, just with less thrashing and blood.
Google Delays Third-Party Cookie Deprecation Again
In good news for the sale of picture library biscuit photos, Google continues to tease over the end of cookies.
Education A Low Priority For Aussies More Concerned With Cost Of Living Forethought Study Reveals
Study finds Aussies cutting back on education due to cost of living. Booze & Uber Eats sales remain largely unaffected.
“I’m Still The Same Person That I Was”: Rikki Stern Says “Fucc It” To Cancer Stereotypes
B&T always happy to promote the anti-cancer cause. Even brands that massively overdo it with the hot pink.
The Unapproved Climate Certification Allegedly Causing Mass Greenwashing
Are you left flummoxed in the canned tuna & free range eggs aisle? Just wait till this green certification gets up.
TV Ratings (22/04/2024): Fans Mock “Over The Top” Reaction To New MasterChef Judges
MasterChef returns for its 2024 season. B&T stands by putting peppercorns in Gravox & no one will be any the wiser.
Dentsu Restructure: Muddle, Harvey & Johnston Take Leadership Baton As Bass & Yurisich Exit
A large broom has swept through Dentsu's local ops this morning, taking with it some big names & the air con's cobwebs.
Industry Shares Trends Shaping The Industry This International Creators Day
B&T's asking adland creators to reveal their top trends. And it's not good news for your Jenny Kee cardigan collection.
Mable Extends HOYTS Sensory Screenings Partnership
Mable has extended its HOYTS sensory screening partnership. Vigorously defends its two-star Oppenheimer review.
Orphan Launches ‘They Need Our Help. We Need Yours’ For Children’s Cancer Institute
Anything to do with childhood cancers has B&T's 110% support. That said, we do ignore the red meat & alcohol warnings.
Smile Team Orthodontics & Keep Left Collaborate On Smile-Inducing Campaign
As parents would attest, given the cost of orthodontics you'd expect this campaign to be a lavish production indeed.
Opinion: How Video Calls Neglect Learning Diversity
Need an excuse to duck out of a video call this arvo? Show this to your boss.
DoubleVerify Achieves First-Of-Its-Kind Responsible AI Certification From TrustArc
DoubleVerify receives responsible AI certification. However, not its robotic vacuum that's been seen menacing the cat.
Smile For A Good Cause: The Social Media Campaign Giving Back To The Community
Are you known as the office Austin Powers? More for you teeth than shagability? Get snappy new fangs with this news.
Elon Musk Mocks Albo After ESafety Wins Court Injunction Against X
Albo's 2024 from hell continues - Rabbitohs in crisis, down in the polls and now feuding with world's richest man.
Real Estate Developer In Hot Water Over “Sexually Exploitative” OOH Campaign
Real estate agents again tops in the 'least trusted profession' polls, nudging used car salesmen & ad creatives.
Epsilon’s Shane Hanby: Post-Cookie Era Relies On “Teamwork” Between Brands, Marketers & Tech
This pro predicts more "teamwork" in a post-cookie era. Which spells bad news for the uncooperative or plain stubborn.