With the fifth GfK radio ratings survey released this week, we are now officially over the halfway mark of radio ratings season. As always, Mediaweek speaks to radio bosses around the country to provide insights into their station’s performances. Today, we catch up with Nova Entertainment’s group programming director, Brendan Taylor.
See Also: Radio Ratings 2023, Survey 5: Highlights + Full Results
“It’s an incredible day, there are so many numbers to go through,” Taylor said of survey day. “For Nova Entertainment to have a 6.3 million network cume and be the number one network when it comes to our audience, it shows the Nova and smooth networks are in a good place leading into the final few surveys of the year.”
When it came to picking out some of the highlights for Nova from the fifth radio ratings survey, Taylor wasn’t short of options to choose from.
“We have three out of five number ones. The smooth Melbourne results are just outstanding, number one for Nova in Brisbane, and of course number one for Nova Perth. Just extraordinary figures there in Perth, particularly with Nathan, Nat & Shaun – 22.5 in breakfast and an 18.1 share for the overall as a station is just an incredible result for the team. We’re so incredibly proud. Credit goes to Joel, Dave, Amy and the team there, they do such a great job.”
In Sydney, smooth FM has taken over KIIS 106.5 to land the title of highest cume in the city – and the country – with a cume of 1,352,000.
“That is just outstanding,” said Taylor. “That, and to be point-one off number one in Sydney is, again, a testament to the team. Peter Clay has such a great team. They’re a family environment, and they work so well together. The consistency that the smooth team shows is a testament to the product we hear.”
When asked what it is that is driving these results for the network, Taylor said that it all comes down to genuine audience connection, both now and into the future.
“We’ve got a great connection with our audiences. Our shows are really delivering, so I think that’s the first part of it. It’s about understanding each market, understanding the audience’s needs, and growing that connection with the audience.”
In July, Taylor was promoted to group programming director, a role that sees him responsible for overseeing and delivering strategic leadership and broadcast outcomes for the metro network. In the months since, Taylor and his team have hit the ground running.
“I’m enjoying the role. I’ve been with Nova Entertainment for 15 years, so I know the shows, the music teams, and the product teams around them. It’s an exciting time to be working with the team.”
As for his plans and goals for the Nova network under his guidance, Taylor says that ultimately he’s working towards providing the right environment for the on-air teams to do what they do best.
“Sydney breakfast – we saw an increase, and we’ve set ourselves a benchmark that we want to hit this year.
“Ben, Liam & Belle in Melbourne had a great result, they held their share and increased their cume. We’re just making sure that they’re getting the right support for the remainder of the year.
“Sarah McGilvray is working really closely with The Chrissie Swan Show, and with Ricki-Lee, Tim & Joel, and Smallzy’s Surgery we’re making sure that they’ve got the right support around them to deliver the best content for our audience.”
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Top Image: Brendan Taylor