The finalists span ages, backgrounds and experience levels – from first-time audio creators to established regional announcers.
If you were really open to everyday Aussies, I’d argue that the latter should not be considered.
That’s how we end up with an experienced field of finalists to the contrary of the contest’s publicly proclaimed purpose.
i don’t think it’s unreasonable that a metro network invites regional announcers (i.e. most likely from within its own network) to participate. It’s a fairly natural progression to want to go from regional to metro and this is a way to achieve it.
Just heard a MMM BNE promo saying “In 2026 if your old radio show isn’t the same anymore… try Marto Margo & Dan. Jan 19”
Cheeky from Triple M
I’ve been trying to sample a bit of 4MMM lately to see if they’re going to try and capitalise on the disruption in the other FMs, but my god the music is just awful. I have no idea who’s thinking their playlist is appealing, but it just sounds so monotonous. It’s like they are just seeking out the most over flogged, blokey sounding tracks that everyone has heard a million times. I feel like I’m sitting in a pub beer garden. Just unlistenable to my ears. Literally every time I sample the station I groan and change stations immediately.
Only problem with a campaign like that on 4MMM, is those who are listening to it, are likely already listening to 4MMM Breakfast.
They need to run these ads externally to target those listening to other stations.
Mind you, I doubt any KIIS97.3 listeners will now jump to 4MMM given their brekkie show is remaining as is. And Nova106.9 has a very different playlist to 4MMM - and 4BC listeners probably still think it’s FM104, so they won’t be coming across.
So… what’s the point?
Depends if they know KIIS brekkie is back.
Some may already have moved
100% agree. Triple M genuinely has the potential to be a great station. I’ve had it on over the last few days while the Test cricket has been on, and the commentary has actually been really enjoyable — knowledgeable, relaxed, and entertaining without trying too hard.
The problem is there’s nothing that keeps me listening once stumps is called. As soon as the cricket finishes, there’s no real incentive to stick around.
A few times I’ve jumped back into the car with Triple M still on, and it’s been the same old bogan pub rock rotation: Cold Chisel, Australian Crawl, Don Henley… rinse and repeat. It honestly feels like anything released after about 2000 is completely off-limits.
I get that they’re leaning into a certain demographic and “classic rock” identity, but it ends up feeling narrow and stale. If they mixed things up a bit more — even just slightly — they’d be far more likely to hold listeners beyond the sport.
Great post on the repetitive music on MMM. It feels like when the cricket finishes they are playing the same songs that they did when stumps were called in 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012……..you get the idea.
There is only so many decades you can listen to the same songs over and over and over again. I suspect that as time goes on “Triple Your Music” will refer to to the fact that there are only three songs on MMM’s playlist. At this rate we will reach that stage by 2028.
As I type this the last three songs on Sydney’s 104.9 were Start Me Up, To Her Door, Born In the USA. The Triple Plays haven’t changed since 1987.
Triple M. Good Times. Sport. The Same Old Songs.
And the frustrating part is that there is some genuinely great rock being made right now. A perfect example is my current favourite track, “Alright” by Kiwi artist Emma Dilemma. It would fit seamlessly into an MMM playlist, yet it never gets a spin. And let’s be honest, that’s probably because it came out in 2024, not 1984.
The real issue is the limited playlists and lack of creative thinking across the MMMs, which is what’s holding the stations back. I’ve said it before: where is the prog rock? And I don’t mean the same tired token picks either. Outside of The Who, Genesis, and Pink Floyd—and even then it’s usually one overplayed track per artist—there’s almost nothing. That whole genre is treated like an obligation rather than an opportunity.
Where’s the classic chart show? Where’s the sense of occasion? Summer is perfect for doing something ambitious. Imagine playing Dark Side of the Moon in full, synced with The Wizard of Oz, complete with a countdown. You could even turn it into a dual-branded promotion with whichever TV network has the broadcast rights: they air the movie, add free, while on-screen supers encourage viewers to put their radios on the MMMs. That’s cross-platform marketing, audience engagement, and music culture all rolled into one.
But what do I know? I only have a degree in marketing.
And Aussie bands like 5 Seconds of Summer are considered to be too pop or alternative so only get played by Nova or Triple J (or KIIS Australia). But their music is rock and should be played by Triple M without prejudice.
Triple M’s test cricket coverage only started in 2016 and then was on hiatus 2019 and 2020 before returning for the 2021-22 Ashes series.
Had a quick listen. Sorry sounds too polarising for radio play and lacks the production polish of similar songs from that genre.
I also don’t think triple j would even touch that track.
I agree. There are newer songs out there that fit with Triple M. Bands like The Killers spring to mind. But they need to broaden their narrow interpretation of what rock is.
I think back to the 80s and FM104 played new wave stuff from Howard Jones and even selected Spandau Ballet songs. Also why don’t they play stuff like Heartbreaker from Pat Benatar? Rock stations in North America are still all over stuff like that.
I also read an article saying some classic rock and mainstream rock stations in the US and Canada are leaning in to a bit of a “classic alternative” sound, and mixing in more new wave and even some 80s alternative (eg The Cure)
I think they just have to do something, I can’t stand the stuff they’ve had on high rotation for 30 years
It was this one.
I totally acknowledge that people love cricket but I cannot think of a worse way to spend my time than watching or listening to this sport.
I couldn’t understand why there was disappointment when the Ashes test in Melbourne ended in two days instead of four. All the spectators got two extra days of their life back. Bonus.
Even in Perth with the ‘Real Alternative’ format the narrow rotation gets old pretty fast.
Actually it wasn’t, but similar. It was specifically about Winnipeg’s Power 97 though.
I’m with you 100%. I cannot imagine anything worse than having to watch or listen to cricket.
I think we have to acknowledge there is a wide, wide variety of opinions on sport on FM radio… it’s a hard no from me.
I thought Gold/oldies stations used to be better at rotating large blocks of music on a semi-regular basis. So you’d flog the same group of songs for a few months, then rotate them out for a different bunch. A way of keeping the sound consistent yet fresh as well. Triple M seem really poor at doing this.
This is exactly what Triple M SHOULD be doing, but they are the worst in the business at it.
