Nova Sends SmoothFM National With Local Announcers In New Cities

NOVA Entertainment is extending the smoothfm brand across all Australian markets from 5 September, with Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth listeners getting a new breakfast show hosted by local announcers.

Ten years since launching in Sydney and Melbourne, smoothfm has become one of the most successful media brands in the Australian radio landscape. The first Australian radio station to be programmed based on a mood rather than an era or genre, smoothfm’s playlist is curated to make listeners ‘feel good’ with announcers handpicked to complement the music format.

The brand has attracted a highly engaged audience across broadcast with 2.4 million listeners, a 291 per cent increase in cumulative broadcast listeners since launching in May 2012, and a further 76 per cent increase in audiences accessing the station via streaming from March 2020 to July 2022.

NOVA Entertainment’s CEO, Peter Charlton said: “smoothfm has built a solid organic listener base in Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth on our DAB+ and digital platforms, without any prior promotion. This indicates that the brand’s unique ‘feel good’ proposition transcends geographies and that the time is right to give smoothfm a national platform. In addition, our audiences rightly expect a local flavour to the station, so we’re delighted to welcome respected broadcasters, Kelly Golding in Adelaide, Nick Michaels in Brisbane and Kate Mac in Perth, to host local ‘More Music Breakfast Shows’ in their states.”

A versatile media professional, Kelly Golding has extensive experience across a range of media platforms including TV, radio and corporate communications. With over a decade in commercial radio, Golding got her start in radio as an announcer at 3HA in Hamilton before moving to Fox FM in Melbourne. Following a stint overseas she returned to Adelaide to work for SAFM and Mix 102.3. Golding has spent 18 years with Channel Seven as one of South Australia’s popular travel and lifestyle presenters. She is currently host and presenter for the Seven Network’s ‘Discover with RAA Travel’ show.

Golding said: “I’m excited to be to joining the smoothfm team and can’t wait to return to radio where my media career began, it’s going to be so much fun. I love smooth’s music and can’t wait to bring the ‘feel good’ to Adelaide listeners in breakfast.”

A respected radio broadcaster with over 20 years’ experience, Nick Michaels got his start in radio in Roma Queensland, before moving to various stations in Wollongong and Canberra. Michaels has worked across multiple radio stations in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane including 2Day FM, TTFM, Gold 104 and Mix 101.1 and most recently spent 15 years with 4KQ in Brisbane.

“It’s an exciting time to be joining smoothfm, a network with amazing success over the last 10 years. To be able to offer Brisbane listeners a breakfast show with local content and more ‘feel good’ music is quite an honour. I can’t wait to start on air on September 5,” added Michaels.

Kate Mac is one of the most versatile talents in Perth, with over 15 years’ experience in the media and entertainment industry in Australia and internationally. No stranger to NOVA Entertainment, Mac spent nearly 10 years with Nova 93.7 Perth, was heard on Nova 96.9’s Fitzy & Wippa breakfast show in 2015 and hosted Nova’s national Summer Breakfast that same year. Kate also has extensive TV experience and is currently a presenter for ‘Destinations WA’ and the brand-new series ‘Everything Outdoors’ for Channel Nine in Perth.

Mac is looking forward to this opportunity to return to the network. “Being able to return to full time radio in my home state is just so exciting. I grew up in Perth and started my radio career with NOVA Entertainment, so it really feels like I’m coming home. After a small hiatus from radio, I can’t wait to get back on the mic and being part of the smoothfm family is such a privilege. I’m excited to deliver what’s important to Perth listeners and spend my mornings playing the incredible mix of music that smooth offers.”

As well as live and local breakfast shows, NOVA Entertainment will undertake a brand campaign to launch and support smoothfm in Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth, starting 4 September. The multi-million-dollar investment will include a brand awareness campaign, including localised Breakfast executions, a comprehensive experiential campaign and digital assets to educate new listeners on how they can access their new favourite radio station.