Nova Network

I reckon COVID might have something to do with it in the sense that the lockdowns saw many young Aussies try to find new music via newer avenues, such as those you mentioned.

Admittedly, I didn’t know what TikTok was until the lockdowns in 2020 kicked in.

Some of the fresh new hits they do play include “Water” by Tyla and “Lil Boo Thang” by Paul Russell which samples the 1977 hit “Best of My Love” by the Emotions. I think not just Nova, but all radio stations, should consider expanding their horizons as far as new music is concerned.

Another example is Norwegian singer Sigrid who has struggled to crack the Australian music market despite having already released two albums.

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Nova plays that.

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Clarified original post to say that they do play that song which I find rather annoying - it’s an instant changer for me.

I do think it’s one of those songs that some radio stations will only play by a particular artist (another example being “Sunroof” by Nicky Youre), despite them releasing subsequent songs.

This is something they also need to do - discover newer songs by these artists.

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[quote=“Avatar5991, post:3812, topic:79”]
Another example is Norwegian singer Sigrid who has struggled to crack the Australian music market despite having already released two albums.
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Sigrid gets airplay on Eagle / Snow fm, but that is about it.

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His first on-air role was doing Nights at Star 104.5 on the Central Coast of NSW when it first went to air back in March 2004.

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Speaking of throwbacks - here’s one that hasn’t been heard on radio for ages:

One of the throwbacks I can genuinely stand as it’s one of my favourite songs from my adolescence.

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I have heard “Strangers” and “Don’t Feel Like Crying” on Nova at least once, though, but those were back in 2018 and 2019 respectively.

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I’ve heard it on both SWR and 2DayFM.

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TikTok-popular songs

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Matt De Groot announced that he will be leaving the Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie show at the end of the year.

Matt will be moving to London next year to support his wife Bronte Coy, who will be heading up news.com.au’s royal and entertainment coverage.

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Will probably appear on the show a few times, maybe as UK correspondent for some things?

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It’s good that Matt had a chance to announce his departure and explain the reason why he is leaving and that there was no malice or hidden agendas. He did say that they did chat to him about whether they could make it work with him being London but somehow staying on as newsreader but in the end he decided to leave. After 10 years with Fitzy and Wippa and 11 and a half at Nova, he was very emotional.

It was well handled and a far cry from when Sarah McGilvray just disappeared overnight, earlier in the year.

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Nothing like the poor treatment of Sarah then?

Can clearly see who management plays favourites with.

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There is a difference because he quit whereas Sarah was dumped and replaced. But this just highlighted the nasty way that was handled earlier in the year.

The show certainly is different now with Kate Ritchie. Some will argue that it has been refreshed but was it worth it? Haven’t seen any improvement in the ratings with this change.

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It is either stagnant or in slight decline, I wonder if MDG leaving will impact the ratings??

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Noticed this today: just after 9:00am this morning, they played “Houdini” by Dua Lipa (it was always going to be serviced to Australian radio, given this release had been anticipated for weeks), followed immediately after by her collab with Calvin Harris, “One Kiss”.

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Next week (November 20-24), Ben, Liam and Belle will broadcast their breakfast show on a pedal boat down the Yarra River, to raise money for Movember.

UPDATE 27/11: the five-day broadcast raised more than $26,000 for Movember.

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Nova 96.9 is recruiting for a breakfast news reader:

Sydney based Breakfast Newsreader position. Work closely with the Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie team, as well as the News Director, Producers and Announcers to ensure on air news content is current, accurate and consistent with brand style.

Apply/Learn more, Here

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Yeah cause Matt is leaving and moving overseas.

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Yahoo Lifestyle understands Fitzy will be relocating to Adelaide with his wife Belinda Jay and their two sons within the next six months, and he’ll be permanently broadcasting remotely from South Australia – despite spending the last 12 years doing the show by Wippa’s side each morning.

A radio insider tells us: “Fitzy moving back to Adelaide and doing the show from there is a huge risk. The chemistry is never the same when hosts are not in the same studio, so Nova will have to work hard to maintain the same energy so the long distance doesn’t convey on air.

"If it doesn’t work, the talent’s contracts may not be renewed – it’s as simple as that and the future of the show is uncertain. Not having MDG [newsreader, Matt de Groot] there is another huge blow for listeners too.”

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