One of Australia’s most popular podcasts is levelling up. Life Uncut, the wildly honest, deeply relatable podcast hosted by best friends Brittany Hockley and Laura Byrne, has officially joined LiSTNR, taking their iconic show to a whole new level, with a brand new season launching on January 28.

Talking about all things love, life, lust (and everything in between), Life Uncut has built a highly engaged community that feels less like an audience and more like a close friendship group where nothing is off-limits and everything gets thoughtfully unpacked. Now the unstoppable podcast enters its next era, backed by LiSTNR, the home to Australia’s biggest podcasts, performers, and industry leading Ad-Tech.

Listeners can expect the same honest and no-filter conversations that have earned Life Uncut a dedicated and engaged following – from advice on life’s biggest dilemmas and relatable stories from their adventures to unpacking pop culture trends and delivering iconic interviews. Life Uncut helps listeners navigate life and feel a little less alone in a big, crazy world, now amplified by the scale, reach and innovation of Australia’s leading audio platform.

Brittany Hockley said: “Joining the LiSTNR family marks an exciting new chapter for us. Aligning with a network that sees our vision and wants to support us to keep creating the content we love is so important, and LiSTNR has its finger on the pulse. Over the last 6.5 years and 1000 episodes, Life Uncut has amassed over 100 million downloads and built the most incredible community of Lifers, and we can wait to continue to grow our community.” 

Laura Byrne said: “We are so excited for this partnership with LiSTNR. Over the past six years, we’ve grown downloads and built trusted relationships with our brand partners who value our content and brand integration. With the support of a world class sales team, this move allows us to  continue to provide the best strategic brand partnerships.”

Sam Cavanagh, Head of Content LiSTNR Original Podcasts, said: “Life Uncut is one of the country’s original podcast success stories. Brittany and Laura have worked relentlessly to build one of Australia’s most loyal and engaged communities, and their growth is a testament to the authenticity and fun they bring to every episode.

“Their move to LiSTNR further solidifies our position as the market leader in podcasting, backed by the best producers, social teams and Ad-Tech products in the country. There is no better place to grow a podcast audience and revenue in Australia, and we’re proud to welcome Life Uncut to LiSTNR alongside some of the nation’s biggest podcasts, including Hamish & Andy and The Imperfects.”

Life Uncut has become one of the country’s most popular podcasts attracting over 400,000* listeners per month and surpassing 100 million downloads. A testament to its genuine relatable discussions, the podcast consistently appears in the top 10 of the Triton Australian Podcast Ranker, most recently ranking at Number 9*. Since launching in 2019, the podcast has evolved into a powerhouse brand extending its reach across digital, social, broadcast and publishing, with more than 170,000 Instagram followers and 2.1 million TikTok likes.

With a highly engaged listenership and a trusted connection between hosts and audience, Life Uncut offers a powerful platform for brands looking to reach a valuable and loyal demographic. The podcast’s authentic tone, consistently high download numbers, and multi-platform presence make it an attractive choice for advertisers seeking meaningful engagement and measurable impact. 

In partnership with SCA, Laura and Brittany will continue to deliver the same thoughtful, grounded,  and deeply considered podcast, now amplified by LiSTNR’s cutting-edge ad technology, including the world class AdTech Hub. This collaboration allows brands and advertisers access to compelling, audience first commercial opportunities, combining authentic storytelling with highly effective and measurable advertising opportunities.
Life Uncut returns with new episodes from Wednesday, January 28, with episodes dropping on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday on the free LiSTNR app or wherever you get your podcasts.

SCA has unveiled an innovative new brand campaign for LiSTNR, Australia’s leading audio brand, launching on Wednesday, January 28. 

The fully integrated campaign, celebrates LiSTNR’s deep understanding of Australians’ diverse listening tastes, highlighting how LiSTNR creates and curates content locally for every mood, moment, and interest. “What Aussie ears want to hear” is a brand platform that reinforces LiSTNR’s position as Australia’s leading audio brand, connecting with audiences wherever they are. The campaign will roll out across TV, cinema, digital, social, out-of-home, radio and digital audio. 

The campaign, via AMOK Creative, brings LiSTNR’s personality to life through inventive, playful creative, personifying the unique audio tastes of Australians via visually arresting “singing ears”. The unique tastes of each ear reflect the diversity of Australian listeners, from RnB loving commuters to footy-enthusiastic remote workers, bringing a visual representation to the platform’s rich, locally curated audio content and celebrating the uniquely personal experience of listening.

The singing ears were crafted locally through a unique blend of practical and visual effects. Physical, oversized silicone ears were created and puppeteered in rhythm with the music, then seamlessly integrated into the final scene. The films were created in collaboration with Hooves and Electric Sheep Music, while all other campaign assets were developed in-house at SCA.

The campaign kicks off on January 28th running in bursts for the remainder of the financial year and beyond. The integrated campaign will run nationally across free to air, BVOD and subscription TV, Hoyts cinemas, YouTube, TikTok, Meta, Hit, Triple M and LiSTNR. In Sydney and Melbourne it will run on large and small format OOH and transit.

Naomi Gorringe, SCA’s Head of Marketing said: “In a media landscape flush with advertising messages, this campaign is designed to grab peoples’ attention and entertain them. By turning the intimate act of listening into something visible, unexpected and unmistakably LiSTNR, we’re showing how deeply we understand our audience and their tastes. Marketers now know ‘the extraordinary cost of dull’, so we set out to create something far from it – it’s bold, memorable, and entirely ownable, exactly the kind of creativity that positions LiSTNR as Australia’s leading audio brand.”

Michael Dawson, Creative Director at AMOK Creative added: ‘Given there are some global players in this category, standing out was non-negotiable. We set out to create a campaign that was bold, memorable, ownable…and a little bit weird. We found some very willing production partners in Hooves and Electric Sheep, and had a lot of fun bringing the concept to life.’

Stephen Haddad, SCA’s Chief Operating Officer said: “LiSTNR is Australia’s leading audio brand because we truly understand what Australians love to listen to. Built on the scale and diversity of our audience, LiSTNR brings together over 800 podcasts alongside live sport, music and news to soundtrack every mood, moment and interest.

“This year marks an exciting new phase of growth for LiSTNR, as we continue to expand our podcast offering and invest in innovation that makes listening more personal, intuitive and impactful. This campaign brings that to life, celebrating the deeply personal relationship audiences have with audio.”

LiSTNR is Australia’s leading digital audio platform, offering free, compelling content including SCA’s FM, AM, and DAB+ radio stations, live AFL, NRL, and international cricket coverage, over 50 music playlists, local news, and more than 800 podcasts from top Australian and global creators. With over 2.4 million signed-in users and a total LiSTNR Audience Network reaching an estimated 10 million people each month, LiSTNR delivers highly personalised audio experiences for every mood, moment, and interest.

LiSTNR’s new brand campaign launches on Wednesday January 28, link to the TVCs here – RnB singing ears and Yacht Rock singing ears.  

Production Credits:

Project Management / production of non-film assets: SCA
Creative Director: Michael Dawson – Amok Creative
Film Production Company: Hooves
Film Director: Nathan Ceddia
Film Producer: Bella Millikin
Music: Electric Sheep Music
Brand Strategy: Neighbourhood Strategy

ABC Music and its renowned country music roster made a splash at this year’s Golden Guitar Awards. The label picked up six Golden Guitar awards and also had four performances on the night. In total, ABC Music had 19 nominations across the awards’ categories.

The Wolfe Brothers dominated the evening, claiming five Golden Guitar Awards and Max Jackson re-claimed the Female Artist of the Year title.

Tasmanian-based brother-duo The Wolfe Brothers cleaned up, winning five Golden Guitar Awards, including 2026 Toyota Album of the Year, Country Music Capital News Group of the Year and Contemporary Country Album of the Year for their studio album Australian Made, produced by Nick Wolfe and Rod McCormack.

The duo performed the title track to Australian Made, written with Grame Connors, which was awarded Heritage Song of the Year. While their single How Many One More Times, recorded with Zac & George won Vocal Collaboration of the Year.

For the second year in a row, Max Jackson has been named Female Artist of the Year. The star’s career catapulted in 2022, after winning Toyota Star Maker and has since gone on to win four Golden Guitar Awards in three years. Max Jackson tonight performed A Country Heart Can which debuted on national television in 2025, A Farmer Wants A Wife.

As Head of ABC Music, Natalie Waller, describes the results, “We’ve had an incredible year of releases —from our established artists to exciting new talent — achieving success both here and internationally as country music continues to thrive globally. We’re absolutely thrilled with these results and extend our heartfelt congratulations to all our artists who walked away with wins or who were nominated in this year’s awards.’”

The award’s ceremony also featured some amazing performances from ABC Music nominees. Prolific indigenous artist, Warren H Williams, received 2 nods in this year’s awards for his song Ntaria with Kasey Chamber and Shane Nicholson, which they performed on the night.  The song’s nominations included Heritage Song Of The Year and Vocal Collaboration. Warren is currently working on his first full album in language due for release in 2026. 

Rising star, Tyla Rodrigues, picked up her first Golden Guitar nomination for New Talent of the Year. Tyla, who has been making waves here and abroad, playing at both CMA Fest and Americana Fest in Nashville in 2025 and heading the Europe for C2C Festival in March. Tyla performed her raucous hit, Hot & Heavy, that features on her forthcoming “Hold on Tight” EP.

Rounding out the long list of ABC Music nominations, Travis Collins and Andrew Swift, both previous winners for Male Artist of The Year; received another nomination each in this category for the 2026 awards. Travis releasing his The Band Album in 2025 and Andrew dropping hit singles in the lead up to his latest release, Lucky Stars. Plus, critically acclaimed Felicity Urquhart and Josh Cunningham received a nod in the Best Group/Duo category. The duo are working towards their new album release in early 2026.

ABOUT 3MDR 97.1FM AND COMMUNITY RADIO SECTOREmpty heading

3MDR 97.1fm is a community radio station giving an independent voice to the community of Mount Dandenong and surrounds since the mid-1980s. Community broadcasting plays a vital role in connecting people to their community.

With a radio licence covering much of the Shire of Yarra Ranges and Cardinia Shire, as well as parts of both City of Casey and Knox City Council, 3MDR broadcasts from our studios at the historic Forest Park Homestead, Upwey, in the foothills of Mount Dandenong.

We pride ourselves on our representation of community and our role in promoting and supporting local artists, environmental sustainability, diversity and inclusion within our community.

As a sector we actively promote community access and participation and volunteers play a major role in the operations of community broadcasting stations.

We provide a media space which enables otherwise marginalised communities to voice ideas and foster diverse and multicultural voices.

Upwey is home to some great eateries, cafes and bars and has an active creative community.

ABOUT THE ROLEEmpty heading

The Station Manager is a leadership role, responsible for the day-to-day operations that keep 3MDR on the air. This position reports directly to the Committee of Management and leads a team of 1 part-time staff and 100 volunteers. As well as the day-to-day operations, the Station Manager will work to strengthen community connections, engage and work with 3MDR volunteers and provide advice and support to the Committee of Management in the implementation of 3MDR’s Strategic Plan.

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED TO PERFORM THIS ROLEEmpty heading

• Demonstrated experience in financial management, managing accounts including both revenue and expenditure
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple stakeholders and effectively partnering to influence decision-making
• Experience in community radio, or similar experience in volunteer led organisations, Not for Profit or Public sector
• Demonstrated leadership of a small team, including good understanding of workplace safety requirements
• Demonstrated experience in an office environment, e.g. managing correspondence, CRM management, and preparing reports

WHAT THIS ROLE CAN OFFEREmpty heading

• Flexibility: we are able to be flexible about the when the 37.5 hours are worked each week and there may be some ability to work part of that time at home
• Opportunities for training and professional development

NEXT STEPS

To submit your application please click ‘Apply Now‘ by the closing date.

For more information please contact Ben via president@3mdr.com, using the subject line: Station Manager enquiry.

3MDR is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

People with disabilities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ people and people of all ages and backgrounds are all encouraged to apply for this position.

Information about 3MDR’s Diversity Policy and a Position Description can be found via the link below.

APPLY HERE

Full-time | Onsite – Redfern

Spots & Space is a specialist media sales company representing community and independent media across Australia. We work with national advertisers and agencies to help them connect with diverse audiences.

We’re looking for a Sales Support Coordinator to join our small, friendly team in Redfern. Reporting to the General Manager, Sales and Marketing, you’ll play a key role in supporting sales activity, keeping information accurate and current, and helping our team deliver strong, well-supported proposals to clients.

What you’ll be doing

• Supporting the sales team with CRM management, proposals and sales support activities
• Assisting with audience, media and market research to support client recommendations
• Liaising with media partners to gather information, reporting and presentation inputs
• Maintaining internal systems, keeping contacts and lists up to date, tracking sales activity and supporting pipeline reporting
• Providing backup support for bookings, campaign coordination and materials dispatch as needed
• Contributing as an active member of a small, collaborative team

About you

• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Confident working with numbers, data and statistics
• Highly organised, with strong attention to detail
• Comfortable managing multiple tasks and deadlines
• Systems-oriented, with confidence using technology and workflows
• Advanced Excel skills, with strong proficiency across the Microsoft Office suite
• Experience using CRM systems
• Familiarity with Mailchimp or similar platforms is an advantage
• Advertising, radio or similar experience an advantage

Why work with us?

• Be part of a small team where your contribution matters
• Learn about First Nations, community, and diverse media
• Understanding how media sales and campaigns work, start to finish

We are interviewing suitable candidates currently so send your resume and cover letter to sara@spotsandspace.com.au

ABC Radio services in the Bendigo region will begin returning to air from today, with a staged restoration plan now in place following disruptions caused by fire to transmission infrastructure at Mt Alexander.

Broadcast network provider BAI Communications has advised the ABC that all four radio services; triple j, ABC Local Radio, ABC News Radio and ABC Classic, will progressively come back online between Friday afternoon and Sunday.

triple j has been prioritised for early restoration beginning today from mid-afternoon to ensure local listeners can enjoy one of the biggest music moments of the year with the triple j Hottest 100 this weekend.

ABC Chief Digital & Information Officer Damian Cronan said the restoration milestone was an important step in reconnecting regional audiences.

“We know how important radio is to the Bendigo community for staying informed and connected, and in the case of this weekend to celebrate a major cultural moment with the Hottest 100.

“Our teams and BAI have been working around the clock installing and testing new equipment, and we’re pleased to say listeners will start hearing services return from mid-afternoon starting with triple j,” he said.

Coverage during this initial restoration phase will reach around 75 per cent of the population normally served by the Bendigo transmitter. Earlier concerns about potential gaps in key areas such as Echuca have been resolved, as these communities receive strong coverage from the Shepparton transmitter.

To help further extend reach while full network capacity is restored, the ABC will prioritise Bendigo Local Radio using a mobile antenna. Complete coverage is expected to take several weeks as permanent infrastructure is reconnected and tested.

“This is the first major step in bringing all services fully back online, and we appreciate the patience the community has shown,” Mr Cronan said.

“We’ll continue to update audiences as coverage expands and the network returns to normal.”

Restoration schedule

• Friday: triple j restored first, ahead of the Hottest 100
• Saturday / Sunday: ABC Local Radio, ABC Classic, ABC News Radio restored progressively
• Approx. 75% of normal coverage initially, with reach expanding as works continue.

Listeners can tune into the triple j Hottest 100 this weekend and find event details, streams and countdown coverage at: https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hottest100

ABC Gold Coast has announced Trevor Jackson will be returning to the national broadcaster as the host of Breakfast in 2026. 

An experienced, award-winning journalist and broadcaster, Trevor’s career at the ABC stretches back more than 20 years. He has covered news and emergency broadcasting, hosted the in-depth interview series Conversations and previously held the role of ABC Gold Coast’s Content and Music Director. He will be returning to the ABC microphone each weekday from 5am to 8am. 

“Mayor Tom Tate reckons there’s two types of Australians – those who live on the Gold Coast and those that wish they did,” said Trevor. “Having lived here for 20 years I couldn’t agree more! I’m incredibly excited to have the opportunity to tap into everything that’s happening across the Gold Coast as it comes to life each weekday morning. 

“The Gold Coast is one of the most fascinating and dynamic young cities in the world. I really want to get to the heart of who we are and why we live here with local stories to keep our listeners informed and entertained. There’ll be no shortage of banging good brekky tunes and plenty of laughs, so Gold Coasters can start their day with a smile on their dial. Bring it on!” 

Current Breakfast incumbent Nicole Dyer will be trading six years of early morning starts to take up the microphone for Mornings, broadcast Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 11am. 

“I’ve loved every minute of hosting breakfast on ABC Gold Coast for the past six years,” said Nicole. “My early morning listeners have entertained and inspired me through good and sometimes challenging times. It was not an easy decision to leave Breakfast, but I’m looking forward to switching it up on Mornings and sleeping in a little later each day.” 

Her first Mornings broadcast will be on Thursday 29 January.

The ABC Gold Coast line-up for 2026 will be completed with Bern Young on Drive from 3pm to 6pm and Tom Forbes at the helm for Saturday Breakfast. 

Audiences can look forward to hearing all ABC Gold Coast teams on the air from 2 February. 

ABC TV, SBS and commercial broadcasters have been restored to the Bendigo region after new transmission equipment was installed to replace the fire-damaged infrastructure at Mt Alexander.

ABC radio is on track for service restoration later this week.

The new transmission equipment tested today sees the restoration of all ABC TV, including the main ABC channel, ABC News, ABC Entertains and ABC Kids in time for tonight’s evening news.

ABC TV, SBS, and commercial broadcasters will remain on-air with a footprint that is smaller than pre-fire conditions and the signal may be unstable initially. This is expected to improve in coming days. 

If TV viewers have difficulty accessing their television channels, they are advised to rescan their TV sets to ensure a signal is received.

Local Radio, triple j, Classic, and News Radio are expected to be back to their regular frequencies by Friday, but will have a smaller footprint until services can be restored to full power in the coming weeks.

“This has been a tremendous collaboration between all the broadcasters and BAI to get transmission services restored after the Bendigo fires,” said Damian Cronan, ABC Chief Digital and Information Officer.

“Trucks arrived in Bendigo early this week with an array of transmission hardware, and teams from BAI have now finalised the connection and testing of new equipment to ensure the community gets back its ABC.

“Once we have all our services back on air, we will then focus on how quickly we can get back to full power. 

“We thank the community for its patience and will continue to update as we know more.”

What audiences should know

• Restoration is a progressive process, expect poorer quality and reduced transmission reliability at first. 
• You may need to rescan your TV to ensure ABC services return. 
• Communities near the Victoria—NSW border north of Bendigo and the Daylesford region may experience ongoing reception issues until full power is restored. 
• Audiences can also listen to radio services on the ABC Listen app and watch TV via ABC iview where internet is available.
• Our teams are working around the clock to restore reliable transmission services as quickly as possible.

ABC Audio has capped off a standout year in digital listening, with ABC Sport’s coverage of The Ashes driving record audiences on ABC listen and contributing to strong growth across live streams and podcasts in 2025.   

In 2025, the average number of weekly digital audio users increased by 17 per cent compared to the previous year, driven by major national moments including The Ashes, the Federal Election, News and emergency broadcasting, the Mushroom Case Daily podcast, and increased usage of the ABC listen app.    

ABC listen grew across every key measure in 2025. 

• Weekly active users increased by 14 per cent across the year, with an average of 554,000 active users each week.    
   
• Ashes coverage proved a major drawcard, with ABC listen usage rising 16 per cent during the series. The ABC Sport stream set a new streaming record, reaching 10.4 million streaming minutes on day three of the Sydney Test.    

Today, the December 2025 Triton Australian Podcast Ranker confirmed a strong finish to the year for ABC podcasts, with overall audiences up eight per cent compared to the same time last year. 

The ABC had 54 podcasts in the Triton Podcast Top 300 – the most of any publisher – including two in the Top 10: ABC News Top Stories at No.3 and Conversations at No.6.   

The ABC Cricket Podcast entered the Top 50 at No.50, jumping 36 places from the previous month, while ABC Sport Daily also ranked in the Top 60.    

ABC Head of Audio on Demand, Jessica Radburn, said: “This marks a record year for ABC listen and digital audio, capped by a strong December. Australians embraced the ABC for trusted breaking news, emergency broadcasting, live sport and binge-worthy podcasts, with Ashes coverage proving a major drawcard and delivering a soundtrack to summer for audiences nationwide.”

2026Image L-R: Jim Moginie, Peter Garrett, Bones Hillman, Martin Rotsey, Rob Hirst, Damian Trotter (Sony Music Publishing Australia). Credit: Tony Mott

We were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of beloved songwriter, drummer and friend, Rob Hirst. 

Hirst was best known as the drummer for Midnight Oil, who he played with for 50 years, from their formation on Sydney’s Northern Beaches in 1972 until their worldwide farewell concerts in 2022. He also performed and recorded with a number of other acts including Angry Tradesmen, Backsliders and Ghostwriters. 
 
He also wrote many of the Oils hits, becoming a member of APRA in 1978 and earning writing credits on songs including “Beds Are Burning”, “Blue Sky Mine” and “Read About It”. He went on to win a number of awards including APRA’s coveted Song of the Year in 2021 for “Gadigal Land” and a Gold Award in 1991 for “Beds Are Burning”.  

For APRA’s 75th Anniversary in 2001, an industry poll of the top 30 Australian songs featured “Beds are Burning” at #3 and “Power and the Passion”, which Hirst co-wrote with bandmates Jim Mogini and Peter Garrett. 

Hirst and the other members of Midnight Oil received the 2018 Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music at the 2018 APRA Music Awards, an acknowledgement of their powerful songwriting, support for environmental causes, and the social justice activism that defined the band on a global scale. 

Midnight Oil was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2006 and received the Sydney Peace Foundation’s Gold Medal for Human Rights in 2020.  

Hirst was a passionate advocate for the industry and has asked that any donations be made to music industry charity, Support Act. 

Jenny Morris, Chair of APRA, says: “Rob was a music man of many talents. For me he will always be associated with writing, crafting and playing some of the most iconic songs in Australian music history. He will be sorely missed.” 

“Rob’s songwriting had a profound impact on Australian culture and on other music creators,” adds Dean Ormston, CEO, APRA AMCOS. “Through his songs and the music of Midnight Oil, Rob addressed vital issues and never shied away from taking a stand. Rob was the passion inside one of Australia’s most powerful bands, the force that made those songs soar – whether they were playing to a packed pub or an arena of adoring fans.”  

Leah Flanagan, Director of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Programs & Strategy, who also played with the Oils, shares: “Rob Hirst was the beating heart of Midnight Oil — a drummer whose power on stage was matched only by his deep compassion off it. A lifelong supporter of Indigenous rights and a steadfast champion of musicians from the bush, Rob understood how music holds stories, heals communities and moves hearts toward change. One of the most influential musicians in Australian music, he inspired countless artists and people from all walks of life. His commitment to environmental and charitable causes never wavered, and his generosity enriched every space he entered.” 

Hirst is survived by his wife Leslie Holland, three daughters and grandchildren. 

Midnight Oil – “Beds Are Burning”